The Oyster Catchers

by Iris Gower

William seemed taken aback by the suddenness of her decision. He thrust his hands into his pockets and looked around him.

  ‘Yes, I suppose so.’ He seemed to pull himself together. ‘If you could just take off your apron and put away your basket, I’ll show you what I’d like you to do first of all.’

  As carefully as if it was of the utmost importance to her, Eline folded her spotless apron, keeping the creases in place as she put the apron away in the empty basket.

  Will led the way to the back of the shop. ‘I’d like you to chose some ladies’ shoes, anything you think appropriate, and then later, perhaps you’ll set them out in the small window.’

  ‘I don’t think I’m clever enough to make up a window display,’ Eline said doubtfully. She watched as William set up some boards, covering them with black silk.

  ‘Of course you are,’ Will said confidently. ‘What do you think of the window with the boots in, effective, isn’t it?’

  ‘Very,’ Eline agreed and William paused to look at her, his smile warming his eyes.

  ‘I did that myself.’ He spoke with an endearing air of boyish pride. ‘I didn’t think I was capable of such imagination but, you see, we all have a little bit of creativity in us.’ His smile widened. ‘And you, I’m sure, have more creativity in your little finger than I have in my entire body.’

  He dropped the silk into place and turned to face her. Eline could smell the freshness of his skin and almost touch the streaks of light gleaming in his hair. She stepped back at once, her heart beating swiftly. Her emotions felt raw, she was like a foolish child adoring that which she could not have.

  ‘Of course,’ he said gently, ‘if there are lady customers in the shop, leave everything and serve them.’

  He led her to where the ladies’ boots were stored and soon Eline forgot herself in her preoccupation with the task in hand. She knew nothing about fashions, she was only too aware of that, but she knew just what footwear would appeal to the women of the village.

  For some time Eline worked silently and then, looking up, she became aware that there were customers in the shop, four women gathered together like a flock of birds in their black skirts and white aprons. They were all staring at her, waiting to be served.

  Eline moved tentatively forward. ‘Can I help you in any way?’ she asked and the women turned to stare at her in open curiosity.

  Eline drew a deep breath as she faced Nina Parks whose eyes were suddenly filled with almost hostile glee.

  ‘Duw, what you doing here then?’ Nina Parks twitched her shawl into place and her three daughters gathered closer as if to watch some sort of contest.

  ‘I work here,’ Eline said evenly. She knew that Nina didn’t like her, had never liked her and yet she had never reciprocated Nina’s hostility.

  ‘Do Joe know about this?’ Nina’s voice rose as though in disbelief and Eline, glancing over her shoulder, saw that Will Davies was out of earshot. She took a deep breath.

  ‘I don’t really see that it’s any of your business,’ she said quietly. ‘Now, can I help you? Would you like to see some of our stock of boots and shoes?’

  ‘Go on, Mam,’ Gwyneth said, her beautiful dark eyes resting on Eline. ‘Let her serve you, that would be a laugh, wouldn’t it?’

  Gwyneth was the eldest of Nina’s three daughters, an attractive girl, but now her lower lip was thrust out as though in scorn. She tossed back her hair and with her chin raised looked at Eline as though daring her to say anything out of place.

  ‘Make a change from us working for her, won’t it?’ she added, her words falling like stones into the silence. When her mother stood uncertainly to one side, Gwyneth sat on one of the chairs provided for customers and lifted up her slim ankle.

  ‘I’d like to try on a pair of nice soft pumps,’ Gwyneth said quietly, ‘something costing a lot of money.’

  Eline hesitated; it was clear the girl was wasting her time. She moved then to the shelf of pigskin shoes and brought out a pair she judged to be the right size.

  ‘Perhaps you would like to try these?’ she asked, holding them out.

  Gwyneth disregarded the shoes and looked up at her mother. ‘Don’t she talk posh, not like a village girl at all.’ She looked back at Eline. ‘Come on then, unbutton my boots for me.’

  Eline was about to bend forward when William appeared at her side. ‘Can I help?’ he smiled warmly at the women and, at once, Gwyneth smiled up at him from under her long lashes. Shaking out her skirts, she still managed to show a little of her neat ankle.

  It was Nina who broke the silence. ‘We all want a pair of good boots,’ she said, glancing round angrily at her daughters. ‘Tidy boots, mind, not fancy things that cost the earth and will fall apart as soon as a bit of sand gets in them.’ Her down-to-earth tone seemed to ease the air of tension in the shop and Eline felt herself relaxing.

  With William’s help, Eline managed to find the most practical boots in stock. She admired his smooth handling of the women and soon, Nina Parks was deferring to him, fluttering and blushing like a young girl.

  When they finally left the shop, all of them were giggling, happily clutching their purchases. Eline watched with a feeling of relief as the Parks women walked along the street away from the shop.

  ‘Why are they so hostile to you, Eline?’ Willam was standing at her side and Eline felt protected and safe with him so close.

  ‘I’m not a village girl born and bred,’ she explained, ‘and so I’m different. I’m what they call a “townie” even though I was born on farm.’

  ‘I see.’ William smiled down at her. ‘Well, once they get used to you, I’m sure it will all sort itself out.’ He paused, head on one side scrutinizing her.

  ‘Of course I could see at once that you were different from the village women, but then you would stand out in any crowd.’ He moved a fraction closer. ‘Eline,’ he said and she moved away from him quickly.

  ‘I’d better get on with the window.’ Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven and Eline suddenly doubted the wisdom of being here alone in the shop with William Davies.

  Eline worked industriously and in silence, but she was always aware of William’s presence in the shop. After a few false starts, she found that she had a natural aptitude for creating an eye-catching window display and, as she worked the silk into small puffs like dark clouds around the array of ladies’ boots and shoes, she felt a tremendous excitement fill her.

  Eline had always liked painting pictures, she had handled paints ever since she was a child and now she found that to make up a window display was very much like composing a picture.

  An idea struck her and she searched at the back of the shop for some other materials with which to enhance her display. Eventually, outside in the alleyway behind the shop, Eline found some discarded wooden crates and a length of rope and eagerly she took them back to the shop.

  ‘Have you got any tools in here?’ she asked William, her eyes avoiding his. ‘Anything that will serve to pull the slats of the boxes apart?’

  With a few twists of his strong wrists, William broke the boxes into tiny planks of wood, smiling indulgently as Eline carried them to the window.

  Behind the clouds of silk, Eline began to construct a roughly tethered ladder of wood. She worked quickly, so absorbed in her task that she failed to notice that there were customers in the shop and that William was good-naturedly serving them himself.

  When the ladder was fixed, Eline arranged some light slippers on the shallow steps, balancing them by the small heels so that the fronts of the shoes were facing the window.

  At last, she stood back in satisfaction and admired the simplicity and effectiveness of her work.

  She became aware that William was standing on the pavement, head on one side in a way she recognized as being characteristic of him, studying the display. After an agonizingly long wait, Eline saw him return to the shop.

  ‘Do you like it?’ she asked tentatively and bit her lip in anxiety.

>   ‘Excellent!’ Will smiled down at her. ‘I think even Hari Grenfell would be impressed with what you’ve done with a few bits of wood and a piece of rope. Well done, Eline!’

  He raised his hand as though to touch her cheek and then let it fall to his side. Eline felt a thrill run through her; she knew it was absurd but she realized in that instant that she was in love with William Davies.

  Something of her feeling must have shown in her eyes because William was about to speak when the door opened and a group of ladies came into the shop on a wave of chattering voices.

  Eline could see at once that these were not village women but ladies of quality from the town. Their clothes were of good cloth, not made for working the oyster beds and the three of them wore expensive hats above well-groomed hair.

  Eline moved forward and wondered if she should bob a curtsy to the obviously affluent customers. After a moment, she decided against it and, with her head high, moved forward.

  ‘Can I be of any assistance?’ she asked pleasantly and one of the women sank into a chair.

  ‘Is this another of Mrs Grenfell’s shops?’ she asked setting down her large bag on the floor. ‘I seem to recognize her touch in the beautiful window display.’

  William stepped forward from the shadows and the woman’s face was suddenly wreathed in smiles.

  ‘Will! I wondered if I’d see you here, how lovely.’ Her voice was smooth and cultured, that of a lady of refinement.

  ‘Emily – Mrs Miller, didn’t you see the name over the door and me so proud of it?’ He took her hand and smiled ruefully.

  ‘I saw the name, Will, and that’s why I came in. But to be honest with you I’m so impressed with that wonderful window of ladies’ boots and shoes, I thought that surely Hari must have done the display.’

  William shook his head. ‘As a matter of fact it was done by Eline here, my new assistant. Isn’t she talented?’

  Mrs Miller smiled at Eline. ‘You are very clever, Eline, perhaps you should do some of the windows in my Swansea boot and shoe emporiums. You could easily make a career of window displays.’

  ‘Don’t entice her away!’ William said. ‘I’ve only just found her!’

  He smiled and waved his arms around the shop. ‘What can we do for you and your friends? Anything you want I’m sure Eline and I can find it for you, though I can’t think of anything we’d have here that you haven’t got in your own emporium.’

  Mrs Miller smiled. ‘I’ll be honest, Will, my new shoes are killing me, the heels are too high for walking; pride must pinch, it seems,’ she added ruefully.

  Eline, warmed by the praise and by the way William made her feel a valuable part of the team, was anxious to please.

  ‘We have some lovely calf boots in stock, I could bring you those.’

  Emily Miller nodded. ‘I’ve come to buy something comfortable to wear for the rest of the day.’ She looked up at Will. ‘But while we are here, I’m sure my friends and I would be happy to patronize your shop, Will, get you off to a good start with a few orders.’

  Eline served the ladies eagerly and when at last they left the shop, each of them was carrying several parcels of new shoes.

  William smiled down at Eline. ‘It was my lucky day when I first set eyes on you,’ he said softly.

  It was drawing near to closing time and Eline was just clearing up after the last of the customers had departed when the door was flung violently open. She looked up startled to see Joe standing in the doorway framed by the evening sunlight.

  ‘What in God’s name do you think you are doing, woman?’ Joe stomped over the polished floor regardless of the clinging sand and mud on his boots.

  William stepped forward at once. ‘How can I help you, sir?’ he asked and there was an edge of anger to his voice.

  ‘There’s nothing I want from you.’ Joe stared past him at Eline. ‘Come on home and don’t you ever do this sort of thing to me again.’ His voice rose. ‘Do you think I’m not capable of earning a living for us now?’

  ‘Joe,’ Eline said anxiously, ‘don’t make a fuss, I’m not doing any harm.’

  ‘Not doing any harm; do you think I want you working in a shop when I wasn’t even willing for you to work on the oysters like the other women? Spoiled you’ve been, Eline. Ever since you were a child I’ve given in to you readily, but not in this, Eline, oh no! Get your things, we’re going home.’

  William turned to Eline. ‘Who is this man?’ he asked quietly. ‘Is he your father, your elder brother, what?’

  Joe’s face reddened and Eline felt the breath leave her body as, shoulders hunched, he moved forward aggressively.

  ‘I tell you who I am, you young whipper snapper, I’m her husband, that’s who I am.’ Joe caught Eline’s arm and drew her towards the door.

  Eline had time only to glance quickly over her shoulder, but that brief look was all she needed to tell her that Will was devastated by the news. With a mingling of joy and despair, she realized that William Davies had been drawn to her, perhaps was even beginning to fall a little in love with her. But at what cost? Her silence had made her a liar and now William could never ever trust her again.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘How could she do it to me, Hari?’ William rubbed his hand through his hair so that it stood up on end. ‘I was falling in love with her and all the time she was married to an old man!’

  He looked at Hari, wondering why she was not agreeing with him, but she was staring silently down at her hands.

  ‘You knew, didn’t you?’ he said accusingly. ‘You knew she was married.’

  Hari nodded miserably. ‘I saw the gold ring on her finger, I’m sorry, Will.’

  He sank down into a chair, and took Hari’s hand in his own. ‘How could you tell me? It wasn’t your place to destroy my dreams, was it?’

  ‘She could have been a widow, Will,’ Hari said softly. ‘Although she is very young, the fishermen risk their lives every day.’ Hari shrugged. ‘Anyway, I couldn’t hurt you.’

  William rose to his feet and thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘I don’t understand it, the way the man was talking, it was as though he’d known her since the day she was born. I thought she was his daughter or at least his young sister.’

  He paced around the room. ‘It must have been an arranged marriage, one of convenience. I expect Eline was more or less forced to marry the man – there’s no other explanation.’

  ‘Why couldn’t she have told you about it?’ Hari said softly. ‘Then at least it wouldn’t have been such a shock.’

  Will rubbed his hand through his hair. ‘I think she was embarrassed,’ he said. ‘I know she feels the same way about me as I do about her, so she must have had good reason for remaining silent.’

  ‘Don’t let a pretty face blind you to the truth, there’s a good man,’ Hari said rising and putting her hand on Will’s arm. ‘Eline is a sweet girl, but she’s married and whatever the reason for her marriage, it is legally binding, nothing can change that.’

  ‘I must see her.’ Will felt the blood rush to his face at the memory of the way the man had dragged Eline unceremoniously from the shop. ‘I must talk to her.’

  ‘Look,’ Hari spoke quietly, placatingly, ‘find out all you can about the two of them but be discreet.’ She looked up at him and Will could see her eyes imploring him to be careful.

  A feeling of warmth washed over him. Hari was the one person in the world who loved him without reservation, she would do anything for him, he knew that, and her words to him now held a certain wisdom.

  ‘It may be that your guess is right about Eline being pushed into the marriage and, on the other hand, perhaps she was very happy to be the wife of a self-sufficient fisherman, but whatever the truth, don’t do anything reckless.’

  The door opened and Craig Grenfell entered the drawing room, his dark hair sweeping back from his high, intelligent forehead.

  ‘Good heavens! It’s like winter out today with that easterly breeze coming in off the
sea. Oh, hallo William, good to see you, how’s the new store coming along?’

  Will squared his shoulders, he had always been a little in awe of Hari’s husband and never more so than now when the Grenfell and Briant Leather Company was a flourishing concern with branches all over the country. It made his venture in Oystermouth seem very small indeed.

  ‘Fine, it seems to have started well enough, I’ve even been patronized by Emily Miller, though by accident rather than design.’ He smiled down at Hari as she pouted in a pretence of anger.

  ‘Didn’t I tell you?’ He smiled at Hari’s raised eyebrows. ‘It was only that her shoes pinched and the heels were too high, so she bought a pair of practical shoes made for comfort from me.’

  Craig sank into a chair, his long legs stretched out before him, a big, handsome man with breeding in every line of his face and in the casual elegance of his body.

  ‘Can’t ask for a better patron than that.’ He smiled broadly. ‘The owner of the biggest emporium in Wales buying at William Davies’s shop is an accolade not to be sniffed at.’

  Craig looked at Hari and there was a world of love in his dark eyes. ‘Where’s that son of mine?’ he asked softly and Hari reached out and touched her husband’s hand.

  ‘David is having a nap.’ She spoke the ordinary words as though they were a caress and Will envied the couple their obvious happiness. That was just the sort of happiness he might have had with Eline.

  ‘Duw,’ Hari continued, ‘the poor boy was worn out from running along the beach, that nanny of his is a great believer in fresh air!’

  Will suddenly felt an outsider, looking in on a world of warm fires and even warmer emotions. He moved to the door. ‘I’d better get back to Oystermouth,’ he said, forcing a smile. ‘Mrs Marsh will be sure to have a hot meal ready for me.’

  Hari was on her feet in a moment. ‘Oh Will,’ she said catching his arm, ‘I thought you might like to stay and have supper with us.’

  Will covered her hand with his own, ‘That’s very generous of you, Hari, but I want to go over the books this evening. Another time?’