attacked by the man who had first married and then caused her aunt’s death and consequently lost her own baby. Sally had read in the paper a report that said Gerald Makepeace’s trial was coming up soon. He was being charged with one count of murder, three of embezzlement and one of grievous bodily harm. It was likely the man would hang, and if ever a rogue deserved it, it was surely the man who had deceived and then beaten and killed Beth’s aunt for the insurance money and the shares she’d secretly left to her niece, which had become so valuable now and enabled Beth to set aside money for her and her husband’s future. Beth hadn’t expected anything and she’d been stunned by the value of the shares, doubled because her mother had also owned shares they’d all believed worthless. Because of the bequest, Beth’s husband, Jack, had been able to buy a controlling interest in the hotel he’d always wanted and was doing well, making it into a profitable business.
Sally wondered how the news of Gerald’s trial was affecting Beth. Did she feel satisfaction that Gerald was going to pay for his crimes or was she still too upset over it to even read the reports in the newspapers?
Clearly, she didn’t want to talk about it, so Sally smiled and said, ‘Is Jack pleased with the way the hotel is going?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ Beth said and then saw a customer making her way towards her counter. ‘Excuse me, Mrs Harper, I should serve that lady. I know just what she’s come for…’
Sally nodded and moved away, watching as Beth smoothly served the woman with a beautiful silver locket and chain and a leather bag. They were good friends but at work called each other by their surnames, as was the practice at Harpers.
Sally had been buying in extra stock since Christmas where she could. Some things were seasonal and she couldn’t lay in extra because fashions change, but wherever she could, she’d bought more than they would normally need so that while she was confined with the birth, the various departments she was in charge of buying for would survive her absence without suffering.
Wandering over to the counter selling scarves, Sally spoke to the junior who was wrapping one gentleman’s purchase of a pair of ladies red leather gloves, while Maggie Gibbs served a young woman with a pretty pink and blue silk scarf. Marion Kaye, the junior salesgirl, blushed, clearly overwhelmed to be noticed by the boss’s wife, but went on with her task without faltering.
Sally spoke with all of the staff before moving on and taking the lift to the ground floor. There were sufficient customers for her to feel that all was well as she moved from counter to counter, noting stock levels. The exquisite French overlaid glass vases that Jenni Harper had ordered and sent over were sticking a little; Sally had thought them expensive at the start and an idea came to her as she took the lift back to the top floor. She would suggest it to Ben over lunch…
For a moment as she stepped out of the lift her head seemed to spin and she clutched at the wall. She felt slightly nauseous and stood for a moment to steady herself.
‘Are you unwell, Mrs Harper?’ Ruth Canning, the girl she’d employed as her personal secretary looked at her anxiously as she entered her office. ‘May I get you a drink of water – or a cup of tea?’
Sally drew herself upright. She wasn’t going to give into a silly little dizzy spell. ‘I should like a cup of tea when you’re ready,’ she said, glancing at a sheaf of papers in Ruth’s hand. ‘Is that the stock list I requested from the men’s department?’
‘Yes, Mrs Harper,’ Ruth said. ‘I was just going to check one of the figures with Mr Simpson. It didn’t look right to me…’
‘I’ll deal with it,’ Sally said and took the sheaf of papers. Ruth was an excellent helper and if she said there was a mistake there would be one, but any challenge must come from her, Ben or Mr Stockbridge. She could just imagine the reaction of the head of the men’s department if her secretary challenged him. Ruth was eager and bright but apt to charge in too quickly.
‘Yes, Mrs Harper. I just thought he might like to correct it himself before it came to your attention…’
‘He probably would,’ Sally said, ‘but that won’t do, Miss Canning. You must leave these things to my discretion…’ the reprimand was mild, hidden by a smile, but it was there. The staff had a hierarchy all its own and any breach of etiquette was frowned on by the supervisors. However, Sally knew that she’d done much the same when she was just a new buyer and not the wife of the Store’s owner. So, she didn’t want to scold Ruth for what she knew was a good intention. ‘Thank you for pointing it out to me… your sharp eyes are such a help…’
Ruth beamed with pleasure and Sally reflected that it did far more good to praise than to scold. ‘Now, I could just murder that pot of tea…’
Sitting in her comfortable office chair, Sally realised that the brief moment of dizziness had passed, just as it had twice before. There was nothing wrong. It was all part of carrying a baby, but if she told Ben, he would wrap her in cotton wool for the last months of her pregnancy and that was the last thing she wanted…
2
Marion Kaye left work at the same time as Miss Gibbs. Miss Gibbs had told her she could call her Maggie outside working hours, but as her junior, she didn’t feel that she ought, even though Miss Gibbs was very friendly towards her.
‘What are you doing this evening?’ Miss Gibbs said, smiling at her. ‘I’m going to my first-aid classes and I wondered if you would like to join? It’s for a good cause…’
Marion looked at her uncertainly. ‘I’m not sure… how much does it cost? Only, I give Ma all but a shilling of my wage and I couldn’t afford to pay more than tuppence…’
‘It is absolutely free,’ Maggie told her, her eyes bright with warmth. ‘If you want something to eat, you have to pay, but the classes are given free – it’s because the organisers think if ever there is a war, we ladies ought to know how to bandage someone properly and lots of other useful things…’
‘It sounds really interesting and I’d love to come…’ Marion said, a note of longing in her voice. She loved working at Harpers and being one of the girls and would like to go out with friends in the evening, but her mother needed her help at home. ‘I can’t manage it this week – but I’ll ask Ma. She might let me come next time…’
‘You tell her it is all very proper and safe,’ Maggie said. ‘We’re taught by trained nurses and a respectable doctor lectures us once a month. I would see you got on the right bus home…’
‘Thank you, Miss Gibbs…’ Marion said with a little blush. ‘You’re so kind to me…’
‘I told you, call me Maggie outside working hours,’ Maggie said and impulsively squeezed her arm. ‘I know what it feels like when you have to get home, because you’re needed. My father was ill for months before he died and I needed to help look after him…’ She sighed. ‘I still miss him…’
‘Do you miss your mother?’ Marion dared to ask.
‘Sometimes, but not the way I miss Poppa.’ Maggie’s smiled wobbled. ‘He loved me so much and he was so disappointed when his accident prevented me from training to be a teacher – but I’m happy at work…’
‘You live with Mrs Craven and Miss Minnie from the dress alterations…’ Marion blushed. ‘I’m sorry. She told me to call her that…’
‘Yes,
