and my father seemed to be in a mellow mood.
‘Paul has invited you to a concert in Cambridge next Saturday afternoon,’ he announced. ‘What do you say to that, Emma?’
‘A concert?’ I stared in surprise. ‘It sounds nice.’
‘It will do you good,’ Father said. ‘Improve your mind. Your mother is too busy to come with you, but you may go if you promise to behave yourself.’
‘Of course I shall, Father.’
My heart was racing. Was he really going to let me go alone? And on a Saturday afternoon, which was often our busiest day in the shop?
‘That’s settled, then,’ Paul said. ‘I shall call for you at one. My mother will be pleased to meet you, Emma. And to return the hospitality your parents have so kindly shown me.’
I was puzzled as I took him downstairs shortly afterwards.
‘Are we going to the concert with your mother?’
‘You’ll see.’ He gave me a mysterious look and kissed me briefly on the lips. ‘Just trust me, Emma. Trust me …’
Chapter Four
‘I’m going out with a special friend on Saturday,’ I explained to Mrs Henty that Wednesday afternoon. ‘I know I still owe you thirty-five shillings – but could I possibly wear the costume this weekend? I’ll bring it back afterwards and keep paying until I’ve settled in full.’
Mrs Henty hesitated. I knew she wouldn’t normally consider giving credit. She didn’t mind her customers paying weekly, but she always put the goods by until they were paid for. I was about to apologize for asking when she nodded and smiled at me.
‘Seeing as it’s you, Emma, of course you can take it. And you needn’t bring it back. I’ll trust you for the money.’
‘I’ll pay five shillings on Saturday,’ I promised. ‘This is very good of you, Mrs Henty. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to do something for you.’
‘You could always come and work for me. I would be willing to pay you fifteen shillings a week – more when you’d learned the trade.’
‘I wish I could.’ I must have sounded wistful, because she looked at me with sympathy. ‘Father wouldn’t let me, of course.’
‘You’re too useful to him,’ she said and smiled. ‘Wait a few minutes. I’ll pack the costume for you.’
Mother was surprised when I showed her the costume later.
‘I thought you still owed nearly two pounds on that?’
‘Thirty-five shillings. I’ve promised to pay five shillings a week from now on.’
‘Will you be able to manage?’ She looked doubtful. ‘I’ll help you if you can’t – but don’t tell your father you still owe Mrs Henty. He wouldn’t approve.’
‘I couldn’t wear my old costume to meet Paul’s mother, could I?’
‘No, of course not, love – and this one does suit you.’ She reached out to pat my cheek. ‘You can borrow my best cream silk blouse and my pearl earrings. You’ll want to look smart.’
‘I’m so nervous,’ I said. I had thought of nothing else all week. ‘Paul must like me quite a lot, mustn’t he – if he’s taking me to meet his mother?’
‘It does sound promising,’ she admitted, though still looking a little doubtful. ‘I was surprised when he said it. After all, you only met him a few weeks ago.’
I knew she was right. I sometimes felt as if I had known Paul all my life, but it was only a few weeks since he’d come into the shop for the first time, and rather soon for him to be taking me home … unless he was serious about me.
The thought made me tingle all over with excitement. I had tried very hard not to get too excited, not to hope for too much, but I couldn’t stop myself dreaming. I was in love with Paul and it really did seem as though he felt the same.
I couldn’t wait for the weekend to come!
‘How is your friend?’ Sheila Tomms asked when she popped into the shop on Friday morning. ‘The one that looks a bit like Clark Gable – have you seen him recently?’
‘Paul has been busy this week but I’m seeing him this weekend.’ I was glad my
‘Paul has invited you to a concert in Cambridge next Saturday afternoon,’ he announced. ‘What do you say to that, Emma?’
‘A concert?’ I stared in surprise. ‘It sounds nice.’
‘It will do you good,’ Father said. ‘Improve your mind. Your mother is too busy to come with you, but you may go if you promise to behave yourself.’
‘Of course I shall, Father.’
My heart was racing. Was he really going to let me go alone? And on a Saturday afternoon, which was often our busiest day in the shop?
‘That’s settled, then,’ Paul said. ‘I shall call for you at one. My mother will be pleased to meet you, Emma. And to return the hospitality your parents have so kindly shown me.’
I was puzzled as I took him downstairs shortly afterwards.
‘Are we going to the concert with your mother?’
‘You’ll see.’ He gave me a mysterious look and kissed me briefly on the lips. ‘Just trust me, Emma. Trust me …’
Chapter Four
‘I’m going out with a special friend on Saturday,’ I explained to Mrs Henty that Wednesday afternoon. ‘I know I still owe you thirty-five shillings – but could I possibly wear the costume this weekend? I’ll bring it back afterwards and keep paying until I’ve settled in full.’
Mrs Henty hesitated. I knew she wouldn’t normally consider giving credit. She didn’t mind her customers paying weekly, but she always put the goods by until they were paid for. I was about to apologize for asking when she nodded and smiled at me.
‘Seeing as it’s you, Emma, of course you can take it. And you needn’t bring it back. I’ll trust you for the money.’
‘I’ll pay five shillings on Saturday,’ I promised. ‘This is very good of you, Mrs Henty. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to do something for you.’
‘You could always come and work for me. I would be willing to pay you fifteen shillings a week – more when you’d learned the trade.’
‘I wish I could.’ I must have sounded wistful, because she looked at me with sympathy. ‘Father wouldn’t let me, of course.’
‘You’re too useful to him,’ she said and smiled. ‘Wait a few minutes. I’ll pack the costume for you.’
Mother was surprised when I showed her the costume later.
‘I thought you still owed nearly two pounds on that?’
‘Thirty-five shillings. I’ve promised to pay five shillings a week from now on.’
‘Will you be able to manage?’ She looked doubtful. ‘I’ll help you if you can’t – but don’t tell your father you still owe Mrs Henty. He wouldn’t approve.’
‘I couldn’t wear my old costume to meet Paul’s mother, could I?’
‘No, of course not, love – and this one does suit you.’ She reached out to pat my cheek. ‘You can borrow my best cream silk blouse and my pearl earrings. You’ll want to look smart.’
‘I’m so nervous,’ I said. I had thought of nothing else all week. ‘Paul must like me quite a lot, mustn’t he – if he’s taking me to meet his mother?’
‘It does sound promising,’ she admitted, though still looking a little doubtful. ‘I was surprised when he said it. After all, you only met him a few weeks ago.’
I knew she was right. I sometimes felt as if I had known Paul all my life, but it was only a few weeks since he’d come into the shop for the first time, and rather soon for him to be taking me home … unless he was serious about me.
The thought made me tingle all over with excitement. I had tried very hard not to get too excited, not to hope for too much, but I couldn’t stop myself dreaming. I was in love with Paul and it really did seem as though he felt the same.
I couldn’t wait for the weekend to come!
‘How is your friend?’ Sheila Tomms asked when she popped into the shop on Friday morning. ‘The one that looks a bit like Clark Gable – have you seen him recently?’
‘Paul has been busy this week but I’m seeing him this weekend.’ I was glad my
Similar Books
