‘Tasty,’ Peder grinned through a mouthful of food. Colenso looked away in disgust. Really there was nothing to choose between the two men, she thought. Both were swine out to sate their differing appetites. Feeling the Ferret’s eyes on her again, she stared boldly at him.
‘Is something wrong, Mr Fenton?’ she asked. He raised his eyes.
‘Far from it,’ he smiled. ‘I was merely thinking that a gold necklace would look more becoming than that heavy star thing you always wear.’
‘It belonged to my grandmother and is the dearest thing I have,’ she cried, her fingers automatically reaching up to touch it. His gaze followed her move and she quickly put her hands in her lap.
‘I would be delighted to buy you something more, er, delicate and dearer,’ he replied, deliberately choosing to misunderstand.
‘Very kind, Mr Fenton, sir,’ Peder said quickly.
‘But I don’t …’
‘That’s very generous of Mr, er … Henry, isn’t it, Colenso?’ Caja said, shooting her a warning look before turning back to him. ‘Our Colenso’s made a fine job of your drapes and covers.’
‘I would expect no less,’ he replied.
‘You’ll find an invoice with them,’ Colenso told him. ‘I had to purchase tape and thread and of course there was my time.’ Taking no notice of her mamm’s sharp intake of breath, she continued. ‘I’m sure you will agree that I have now more than repaid your debt?’ He raised his brows but chose to ignore her question.
‘I expect your cooking is far superior to the humble fare we’ve just eaten.’
‘But I was …’ she began, seeking an answer to her question.
‘Cooks lovely, she does,’ Caja interrupted. ‘Would be the perfect hostess too,’ she said.
‘I’m sure she would,’ Fenton agreed. ‘Now if you’ve had enough to eat,’ he said, looking pointedly at Peder’s plate before smiling at Caja and Colenso. ‘Perhaps you ladies would like to adjourn to the parlour and I’ll get Mrs Grim to bring some tea. Mr Carne, if you would like to join me for a port or brandy, there is something I wish to discuss with you.’ Her father beamed knowingly at Colenso and her spirits plummeted.
‘Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Off you go, women,’ he said, shooing them away like dogs. Charming, Colenso thought, although she was only too pleased to escape the confines of the dining hall.
‘This is a lovely room, isn’t it?’ Caja enthused. ‘Although it will look a lot better when those nice drapes are hung. You could make some matching cushions for these chairs, put up some pictures, make it real homely.’
Colenso, busy staring out of the window, didn’t reply. Down below, she could see that construction of the showroom was already taking place and the workshops had been extended. The Ferret obviously worked quickly. She wondered how Kitto was getting on in London. Dare she ask if he’d heard anything?
The arrival of Mrs Grim with the tea tray interrupted her musing. Her mamm, presuming the role of lady of the manor, was telling the housekeeper exactly how she liked her tea.
‘No good if you can’t stand your spoon up in it, oh and I’ll have three sugars, if you’re asking.’
‘I wasn’t,’ the housekeeper sniffed, making a great show of measuring out the sugar. ‘What about you, Miss Carne, do you have any specific wishes as to how you’d like your tea served?’ she asked curtly.
‘In a cup, please,’ Colenso smiled.
‘Oh, ha, Colenso, that’s funny,’ Caja chuckled. Clearly the housekeeper thought otherwise, for having poured the tea, she sniffed again and strode from the room.
‘Seen happier corpses,’ Caja mused, holding her cup high and eyeing the bottom. ‘Ooh, Royal Worcester, no less.’ Hearing the door to the dining hall open, Caja put down her cup and turned to Colenso. ‘That didn’t take long,’ she whispered.
‘Ah ladies,’ Fenton greeted them. ‘I’m wondering if we should be celebrating with something more festive.’
‘Celebrating?’ Caja squeaked, almost falling off the chair with excitement.
‘Indeed. Your husband has just given permission for me to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage,’ he said, beaming so widely Colenso felt sick.
‘Course I did. All we has to do now is set the date. June be a really good month for a wedding,’ he declared, rubbing his hands together.
‘But I haven’t said anything yet,’ Colenso began.
‘Forgive me, my dear. We are being somewhat presumptuous. You wish for time to think?’ Fenton asked, although from his expression he clearly thought it a foregone conclusion.
‘I do,’ she replied, seizing on the excuse. ‘It’s a big decision and I would like to give it careful consideration,’ she added, smiling at him sweetly.
‘Now come on, Colenso, ’tis no good playing hard to get,’ Peder scowled. ‘Mr Fenton, er … Henry here ain’t got all day.’
‘On the contrary, I’m happy to wait until Colenso feels happy to accept. I, myself, shall be busy for the next two weeks showing Mr Quinn around the works and quarries.’
‘Our Colenso could act as hostess for you,’ Caja offered excitedly.
‘Had Colenso felt able to accept my proposal today then, I agree, that would have been an excellent idea. However, under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be right or proper.’
‘But …’ Peder began. ‘Say something,’ he growled, glaring at Colenso.
‘Now, Peder, this has obviously come as a wonderful surprise to your daughter. She needs time to take in her good fortune,’ Henry Fenton said magnanimously. He turned to Colenso, for once staring her in the face. ‘Of course, when you accept, my dear, you can consider your debt repaid in full.’
Seeing his triumphant grin, she was seized with the urge to slap it from his face. Clearly he’d planned this all along, she thought, clenching her fists at her side. Oblivious to her turmoil, he continued.
‘In the meantime, Mrs Grim can hang those beautiful drapes and covers you’ve made. Although of course, I shall be saving the principal bedroom cover for a special occasion.’ He gave Colenso a smirk, his meaning so obvious she had to turn away.
‘Ooh Colenso, did you hear that,’ Caja gasped. ‘Imagine it.’ She’d rather not, Colenso thought, her stomach threatening to bring back the little food she’d managed to force down.
‘Now, regrettably, with the owner arriving tomorrow, I have things to attend to. Thank you for coming and I shall see you on the evening of Sunday 3rd, my dear, when I trust you will have the right answer for me.’
‘But I can’t make that …’ she began, thinking of her date with Kitto.
‘Of course, she can, Mr Fenton,’ Caja interrupted, almost
