in his eyes. Having been rejected by Kitto, it was solace to her soul.
A few days later, having spent her evenings frantically cutting and sewing, Colenso appeared in the workshop wearing her new outfit. She’d added the lace they’d found in the sewing drawer to the collar and cuffs of the dress and there’d been enough of the pink material left to make a matching scarf. Seeing how terrible the worn black boots looked against the beautiful bright material, she’d discarded them in favour of the new red shoes.
‘Goodness, what a transformation,’ Garren cried, looking up from the rock he was making. You look like one of those French bonbons, all shiny and tempting.’ Seeing the look of admiration in his eyes, she turned away. She liked Garren, but he was her employer and she didn’t want to complicate matters. Besides the cage around her heart was still firmly locked. ‘Sorry, that remark was out of order,’ he added.
‘It’s just that I was known as Bonbon at the Panam,’ she told him, seizing on the excuse so as not to offend him.
‘Bad memories, eh?’ he asked, looking searchingly at her. ‘Well, don’t worry, I won’t mention it again.’
‘You will deduct the cost of the materials from my wages, won’t you?’ she asked, eager to change the subject.
‘I promised, didn’t I?’ he replied, turning back to his task. Colenso watched as he cut the glistening mixture into sticks, releasing the fragrance of the rose flavouring.
‘Now that I’ve finished sewing, I wondered if I could help make the sweets in the evening?’ she asked. Scissors poised mid-cut, he looked up and shook his head.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,’ she sighed.
‘You’re not,’ he laughed. ‘It’s just that one minute you insist I charge you for material and a scrap of lace, the next you’re offering to work on after the shop closes. You’re most welcome to, of course, but regrettably I can’t pay you any extra at the moment.’
‘All the same, I’d love to learn how to make the sweets as well as sell them,’ she said, excitement bubbling at the thought. The whole process of taking raw sugar and mixing it with a handful of ingredients to turn them into the jewel-like confections fascinated her.
‘Very well. You can have your first proper lesson this evening after supper. Now, you’d better take these through and replenish the jars. I can’t believe how quickly the last lot disappeared. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’d been sampling them yourself.’
‘I wouldn’t do that,’ she retorted, then saw he was teasing. ‘Oh you,’ she muttered, gently slapping his arm before taking the tray through to the shop.
Colenso loved the quietude of the early morning as she prepared the displays ready for opening. There was something almost magical about the sweet-smelling atmosphere, she thought, pulling the big white apron over her new dress. Humming happily, she restocked the jars then set about dusting the counter and shelves. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help smiling. The material looked even brighter in the daylight, putting her in mind of the vivid camellias she loved so much. In her new pink dress with the matching scarf holding back her dark hair, she looked quite the part of the sweetshop assistant and would be a match for that snooty proprietress next door. Remembering the woman’s jibe about the pavement, she snatched up the besom and hurried outside.
With autumn turning to winter, the air was colder now, the wind whipping in from the sea and bringing litter from the docks with it. At least it was dry and she was spared from having to sweep in the mud, she thought, catching sight of her bright red shoes.
‘Look at you all dolled up like a fancy trollop. Hasn’t taken you long to get your feet under the table, has it?’ Colenso looked up to see the shopkeeper from next door glaring at her.
‘Good morning, Miss Chenoweth,’ she said, ignoring the barb. For some reason the woman had taken a dislike to her, but Colenso was determined to be pleasant.
‘Think you’re going to lure him by prettying yourself up, do you? Well, handsome is as handsome does and Garren Goss likes a bit of class,’ she sniffed before, with her nose in the air, she stomped back inside. Bemused, Colenso shook her head.
‘Don’t mind her,’ Mr Goss said, appearing at her side. ‘Had her sights set on Garren ever since her parents took over the shop. Luckily, he’s more sense than to fall for the wiles of a wisp of spun sugar.’
‘You mean she’s not the proprietress?’ Colenso asked.
‘Good Lord no, ’tis her father who runs the place. Mind, it’s her that insisted on turning it into an epicurean though,’ he sighed. ‘Was always a normal grocery store before.’ Colenso’s spirits soared. For all her hoity-toity ways, it seemed Miss Chenoweth was just an assistant, the same as her.
‘Well, that’s a turn-up for the books,’ she grinned.
‘Might I say how attractive you look in that new outfit. Knew that colour would bring a bloom to your cheeks. It were a good day Garren took you on,’ he winked. ‘Oh, and he told me to let you know breakfast is ready.’ Colenso smiled as he shuffled down the street towards the seafront. Not having to help out in the workshop had already done wonders for his well-being.
The day sped by in a flurry of serving customers, replenishing the little jars, and tidying up. Before she knew it, she was preparing for her first proper lesson in sweet-making.
‘The fundamental thing to remember is that time is money,’ Garren told her, his hazel eyes serious. ‘A sweetshop proprietor needs to keep up with demand or he’ll never turn a profit and, believe you me, the margins are small to start with. Ingredients are too expensive to waste. Might seem obvious, but if you really want to learn how things are done, you need to start with the basics.’
‘I’m interested in every single detail,’ she told him. ‘Mammwynn used to say magical results come from mundane beginnings.’
‘Sounds a wise woman,’ he nodded. ‘Right, as you know, as the mixture cools it firms and so you need to work quickly before it sets. Therefore, it pays to set out all your ingredients and have your equipment ready before you begin. Tonight, we are making lemon drops, one of the easiest confections, as the acid helps prevent crystals forming in the hot liquid. It’s still important to start over a low heat to give the sugar a chance to fully dissolve.’ Colenso watched as he stirred, helping him wash down the sides of the pan when it reached the boil. Once he’d transferred the pan to the heatproof mat he turned to her and smiled.
‘Right, now you can add the colouring and flavouring.’ Excitement bubbled as she reached for the two little bottles he’d selected. ‘A couple of drops of each at most,’ he told her, brows furrowed in concentration as he watched her pour. ‘That’s enough, too much and the taste will be overpowering.’ Picking up the copper, he poured the lemon mixture onto the cooling table and turned it with a knife a couple of times. ‘Right, it’s beginning to hold its shape so you can knead and fold it over. Good,’ he said as soon as Colenso felt it stiffen.
‘Oh, it’s turning opaque,’ she exclaimed.
‘It’s ready then,’ he said, forming it up into a sausage shape and throwing it over the hook on the wall. ‘Now we stretch it to incorporate the air.’ She watched in
