One way or another, the fear that it might not last would not lessen its torment. How could he relax when fate had taken Abigail? When, sooner or later, he would have to return to Culford Manor and face his mother, no matter how little he wanted to?
Thirty-Five
Esther trembled with suppressed excitement as she stood behind the emerald green drapes that concealed Pennington’s Coronation window. From outside came the sound of murmuring voices, whereas even a dropped pin would have been heard where she stood behind the glass. At exactly ten to nine, she would draw back the drapes and her team’s window would be revealed to the waiting public. Shortly afterwards, the store’s gilded double doors would open and customers would be admitted through the entrance as staff greeted them for what promised to be a truly exhilarating day.
She couldn’t be sure what made her prouder; today or when she’d given her address at the rally.
Straightening her shoulders, she glanced at her watch.
Three minutes.
She turned to the papier-mâché Britannia standing centre stage. Her golden helmet gleamed and her shimmering, gold-edged toga glittered, her trident held high. Tall marble plinths stood on either side, one swathed with the Union Jack flag, the other in a scarlet cape, trimmed with fur and dotted with balls of black thread to give the illusion of ermine. A crown dazzling with paste diamonds and jewels had been placed on top.
The backdrop was a black and white montage of enlarged newspaper pictures and headlines of the King and his beautiful queen, Mary of Teck. The floor, covered in a gold sheet and sprinkled with hundreds of sequins, would dazzle and delight the waiting crowds.
Esther breathed deep and silently applauded herself and her staff. The display could not have been more mesmerising or astounding for such a momentous event.
She glanced again at her watch.
Five seconds.
She stepped to the rope pull at the far side of the window and tightly gripped it, her heart thundering.
Three… two… one…
Briefly closing her eyes, she eased downwards on the pull and slowly drew back the drapes.
A loud, unified gasp sounded outside and then an ear-splitting roar of applause and cheers. Esther’s cheeks ached with the breadth of her grin as she walked to the side at the front of the window and held out her hand to encompass her team’s achievement.
She laughed when she caught Elizabeth and Joseph’s gazes as they applauded alongside the hundreds of passers-by surrounding them. She gave a semi-bow and, when she lifted her eyes again, she met Lawrence’s proud gaze.
His eyes glittered with pleasure and possession, making her heart skip. She moved her focus to his side. Rose, Nathanial, Cornelia, Alfred and Francis clapped, their eyes shining. Even Aunt Mary looked fit to burst with awe and, maybe, a little familial pride, too.
Esther quickly waved and retreated to the window exit.
As soon as she stepped into the small corridor, Amelia came forward, her hands outstretched. ‘Congratulations, Esther. They absolutely love it. All our hard-pressed time and energy was worth it to hear the public applaud so unreservedly.’
Esther gripped Amelia’s hands, enjoying how their friendship and camaraderie continued to deepen since Amelia had joined the Society. She laughed. ‘It isn’t congratulations just for me. It’s for you, too.’ She looked around her assembled team as they filed into the corridor, smiling and clapping. ‘I could not have done this without you. All of you. The long hours you’ve worked, the enthusiasm and commitment…’ She shook her head. ‘Thank you so much.’
They gathered around and Esther accepted and gave embraces and congratulations. ‘We really should go to the shop floor where the rest of the staff will be waiting for the doors to open. I’m sure Miss Pennington will have jobs for us, even if they’ve nothing to do with window design. It’s all hands on deck today, regardless of our roles.’
Her staff dispersed and Esther followed, her blood pumping and her grin stubbornly refusing to dissolve.
She had just got into position, lined up with the rest of her team when the store’s doors were opened, and the crowds filed in, their eyes and smiles wide with anticipation. She looked above their heads to where Elizabeth stood with Joseph, shaking hands and welcoming customers into the store.
Esther was cheered to see her friend and her husband smiling so sincerely when they had so much more serious things in their hearts and minds.
Pushing down her threatening sadness, Esther turned and smiled at a trio of well-dressed women, their huge hats swaying as they turned their heads this way and that. ‘Please visit the ladies’ department as well as the jewellery departments, ladies. We have much on offer as well as some special pieces commissioned in the spirit of the Coronation.’
They each tipped her a nod and smile before eagerly approaching the grand staircase leading to the upper floors.
‘Esther?’
She turned to Lawrence’s voice and her heart kicked. He stood before her with his family all around him. Tears pricked her eyes that they were there with her on this special day. She couldn’t wait to surprise the children by taking them upstairs to watch the Coronation procession from the toy department windows.
Taking Lawrence’s hand, she smiled around the group. ‘Do you like the display? Was it everything you hoped it would be?’
Rose slipped her hand into Esther’s and squeezed. ‘It’s magical, Esther. You are a fairy godmother.’
Esther laughed and hugged her close. ‘And you are my princess.’
She met Lawrence’s gaze and he blinked as he cleared his throat. ‘It’s astounding. Truly.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Esther?’
She turned to Aunt Mary, where she stood smiling, tears glistening in her eyes.
‘It’s magnificent. Truly magnificent. Come.’
She opened her arms and Esther glanced at Lawrence. He smiled. Did her aunt mean to embrace her?
Turning, she stepped forward and her aunt pulled Esther into her arms and squeezed.
‘I am so proud of you.’
Touched and more than a little surprised, Esther squeezed her and then eased back to hold Aunt Mary at arm’s length. ‘And I’m glad you’re here to share this special day with us.’
She nodded and released Esther’s hands, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Cornelia stepped forward and touched Esther’s arm. ‘I can’t wait to see more of what you do here.’ Her gaze darted over the glass counters filled with colour and light, to the huge stained-glass dome high in the ceiling, to the opulent grand staircase that wound higher and higher to each floor. ‘Pennington’s is like a kingdom of dreams. A palace of possibility.’ She laughed, her blue eyes shining. ‘A haven of hope.’
Lawrence laughed. ‘Never one for melodrama, are you, sister?’
She shot him a glare and Esther eased her hand from Lawrence’s and touched Cornelia’s arm. ‘Pennington’s is all that and more. Come on, everyone. Miss Pennington promised me a reserved place at the toy department window to watch the procession.’
The children cheered and skipped ahead to the staircase, leaving Esther, Lawrence and Aunt Mary to follow behind as Cornelia hurried after them, seemingly as excited as the children. As Esther watched them go, her gaze was drawn to Elizabeth and Joseph once more as they talked in a discreet corner of the atrium. Their expressions were now sombre as Elizabeth gripped Joseph’s hand. He looked down at her and curtly shook his head. Esther frowned as concern whispered through her. They looked to be in a hushed argument. Something Esther had never witnessed between them before, at the store or anywhere else. How was she to help if Joseph continued to battle his demons alone? Elizabeth was one of the strongest women Esther knew, but even her friend could not continue to carry such a heinous burden without the aid of others.
‘Esther? Are you coming upstairs?’
She started and turned to her aunt, forcing a smile. ‘You go with Cornelia and the child
ren, Aunt Mary. I would hate for you to miss a good spot by the window.’
‘Thank you, my dear.’ Aunt Mary flashed a beaming smile to Esther and then Lawrence before following the others up the grand staircase.
Once her aunt was out of earshot, Esther turned to Lawrence. ‘Thank you so much for being here with your family.’ She tipped her head back to look into his eyes. ‘It means the world to me.’
He ran his gaze over her face. ‘As you do to me. I’m happy, Esther. Really, really happy.’
‘Me, too.’
As they neared the staircase, a cloud of familiar perfume cloyed Esther’s nostrils. She halted and closed her eyes.
No, please. Not today.
‘Esther?’ Lawrence’s gaze burned into her temple. ‘What is it?’
Opening her eyes, she slowly turned.
Her stepmother smiled, her green eyes glinting with malicious amusement. ‘Hello, Esther.’
Esther slid her gaze to her father and her heart quickened painfully as she fought to keep her face impassive. It had been so very long since she’d seen him and despite her wanting to feel ill towards her father, a wave of inexorable love swept through her.
She swallowed. ‘Father.’
He looked so much older and sadder than when she’d last seen him. His dark brown hair was streaked with grey, his once bright eyes hooded and his skin drawn about his cheekbones.
Battling the worry squeezing her chest, she glanced past him. ‘What are you doing here? Are Benedict and Peter with you?’ she asked, suddenly wanting to see her young half-brothers more than anything.
‘Our sons are none of your concern.’ Viola sniffed. ‘And we’re here to see your window display, of course. Mary told us that posters and advertisements have been circulating all over town for days, so we thought we would come to see what all the fuss is about. We’re staying at a darling hotel across town for the night.’
Esther glared. Please don’t let them be staying at The Phoenix. ‘Which hotel?’
‘Again,’ Viola sneered. ‘None of your concern. Apparently, Pennington’s was to give the whole of Bath a wonderful surprise.’ She gave a thin smile. ‘I have to say the fuss was entirely misplaced.’
Lawrence took a step closer to Viola. ‘Excuse me—’
‘That’s enough, Viola.’ Esther’s father snapped. ‘We are here to visit with my daughter, not make further trouble.’
Esther stared at her father. ‘What do you want, Papa?’
‘To see you, of course.’
A sadness seeped into his gaze and straight into Esther’s bruised heart. She glanced at Viola who stared at her through narrowed eyes. Esther faced her father again, her defences firmly in place. ‘And now you’ve seen me, I see no reason to delay you any further.’ She smiled, the strain making her cheeks ache. ‘The doors are just behind you.’
‘Esther…’ Her father lifted his hand as if to touch her, hesitated and dropped his arm to his side. ‘The window is splendid and we didn’t bring the boys as they are too young for the crowds. We didn’t want to risk losing them.’
Esther’s eyes immediately burned with the threat of tears. Her father seemed to be inexplicably pleading with her. What had happened to bring him here? Why did he seem changed? Softer? She quickly tilted her chin to curtail her love for him. If he were to reject her a second time… ‘I see. Well, thank you for your kind praise, but I really must get on.’
Lawrence coughed and put out his hand. ‘Mr Stanbury, Lawrence Culford. How do you do?’
Esther stilled. Having Lawrence meet her father and Viola was as if he’d placed his neck beneath the blade of a guillotine. One wrong move and the blade would come crashing down, slicing through their new-found happiness and spraying a bloody despair over them that neither he, nor she, would be able to wash away.
Her father slowly extended his hand, studying Lawrence with undisguised curiosity as they shook and released. ‘Mr Culford. You’re the owner of The Phoenix hotel, are you not?’
‘I am, sir.’
‘Viola Stanbury, Mr Culford.’ Viola tipped her hand as though expecting Lawrence to kiss it. ‘How do you do?’
Lawrence merely nodded. ‘Mrs Stanbury.’
Despite Esther’s satisfaction of Lawrence rebuffing Viola’s absurd invitation, it did not overshadow Esther’s unease that her father knew Lawrence’s name and his ownership of The Phoenix. Had her aunt told her father and Viola that Esther had been stepping out with Lawrence? She suspected she had, along with news that he owned not just a hotel, but a magnificent carriage and horses… and was extremely wealthy. Why else would they choose to visit her now?
Viola’s eyes flashed with fury and an unnatural smile curved her scarlet-painted lips as she addressed Lawrence a second time. ‘Did I see your children and wife go upstairs ahead of you, Mr Culford?’
Protectiveness of Lawrence’s family unfurled inside Esther and she touched Lawrence’s arm to halt his response. She held Viola’s stare. ‘They were Lawrence’s sister and her children, as well as Rose and Nathanial, Lawrence’s children. All of whom are none of your concern.’
‘So, you’ve found yourself a ready-made family? How wonderful.’ Viola turned to Esther’s father. ‘There, you see, Wilfred. Esther is quite all right and clearly capable of wheedling her way into another man’s affections. As I have said a hundred times, she has absolutely no need to bother us or our little family, my love.’
Esther curled her hand into a fist at her side, her nails biting into her palm. ‘You really are quite amusing, Viola.’
‘I am, aren’t I?’
Esther faced her father. ‘Take care of yourself and my brothers, Papa. Goodbye.’
Turning on her heel, Esther slipped her hand into Lawrence’s offered elbow and they ascended the grand staircase. Her legs shook, and her pulse beat in her ears, but she kept walking despite the carpet moving beneath her feet and the lights blurring her vision.
She would not show weakness in front of her father or Viola. Ever again.
Thirty-Six
A few hours later, Lawrence glanced at Esther as the carriage slowed to a stop outside his house, worry for her continuing to harangue him.
The Coronation procession had been a glittering, wonderful sight, the crowds four-deep along the pavements either side of Milsom Street. Colourful banners and Union Jack flags had been clutched in the hands of excited children as they waved and flapped, their parents and guardians joining in with equal aplomb. A lengthy line of street performers with men on stilts, some blowing bubbles from a huge hoop, had marched by Pennington’s, headed up by a brass band dressed in smart red and black military uniforms, their gold epaulettes and buttons glinting beneath the hazy sunshine.
Yet, throughout the entire spectacle, the sadness had not once dissolved from Esther’s eyes. Although she smiled and lifted the children onto her hip in turn, so they had a better view, the tension in her shoulders never dissipated. After the procession, she’d asked him if they might walk her aunt home, her voice cold and detached. Lawrence had presumed Esther would stay at home, too, but once Aunt Mary was safely inside her house, Esther had asked Lawrence if she could come back to the house with him for a while. He had, of course, agreed.
So, Esther had made an excuse to her aunt and he and Esther returned to Pennington’s to catch a cab with Cornelia and the boys, all the while Esther insisting she was fine and she’d not allow her father’s visit with her stepmother to spoil the day. The truth was, it had. The line between her brows had remained clear, the colour in her face not returning.
Now they were outside his home and as Charles opened the carriage door, Lawrence forced a smile. He stepped from the carriage, helped Esther onto the pavement along with Rose, who seemed reluctant to let go of Esther’s hand for a moment. Esther barely looked at him as they walked past him towards the house.
‘Daddy, down please.’
Turning, Lawrence lifted Nathanial into his arms and swung him around in a circle before se
tting him on his feet on the pavement. ‘Have you had a good day?’
Nathanial grinned. ‘Yes. I loved everything.’
‘Everything? Even when we had to watch Aunt Cornelia look at one hat after another? One pair of shoes after another?’
‘Everything.’ Nathanial giggled. ‘You liked it, too.’
Lawrence winked. ‘I did, but don’t tell Aunt Cornelia or she’ll take me shopping every day.’
Turning, he paid the driver for their carriage as well as the second one that had come to a stop behind it. As Cornelia and his nephews alighted, Lawrence slowly walked to the house. Esther turned and finally met his eyes. He took a single look at her smile and genuine delight in her eyes as she smoothed her hand over Rose’s curls and fell a little deeper in love.
It was as though now she was away from the spectre of her father and stepmother’s visit, away from her aunt and just with his family, she could relax. He prayed his hopes were true.
She sighed as he reached her. ‘Hasn’t today been wonderful?’
He touched her hand. ‘You’ve no idea the pleasure it gives me to hear you say that. You looked so distracted throughout the procession.’
‘I was. But now I’m here, my father and Viola seem a million miles away.’ She slipped her hand into his elbow. ‘I was mad with Aunt Mary for telling father and Viola about us so soon, but I was foolish to think she would keep our courtship to herself for any amount of time.’
Before he could respond, Alfred and Francis tore towards the house, barrelling straight past Esther and Lawrence towards the front door just as it opened. Helen stood on the threshold, her worried gaze fastening on Lawrence as the children rushed inside.
Frowning, he slowly eased his arm from Esther’s. ‘Helen? What is it?’
‘It’s Miss Harriet, sir. She’s been waiting inside since eleven o’clock this morning.’ She glanced over his shoulder towards Esther and Cornelia as they chatted a few steps behind him. ‘She’s here about your mother.’
Dread whispered through him and Lawrence briefly closed his eyes before facing Esther and Cornelia and the laughter immediately vanished from his sister’s eyes. ‘Lawrence?’
A Rebel at Pennington’s Page 25
