The Buttonmaker’s Daughter. Merryn Allingham

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      ‘William has a weak heart, or at least he used to have when he was a baby. He seems nowadays to have grown out of it, or so the doctor thinks. But we like to make sure that everything continues well.’

      ‘But, of course. My dear, what a worry that must have been for you. You’ve never said a thing about it.’

      Alice was already regretting her words. Even if she had been close to Louisa, she knew she would have said nothing. The boy’s fragility was real, whatever Joshua might argue, but that was not something the world or the Fitzroys should know. William would inherit the Summerhayes estate and with it everything his father had worked for. He was gentle, breakable, and as unlike Joshua as it was possible to be. But he would need to be strong, or appear strong, to hold what was his against a covetous uncle.

      She schooled her face to lack expression. ‘I’ve not mentioned it before because we have never wanted William to feel in any way a special case. And it has worked. He is a strong boy now. I hope you will keep to yourself what I’ve told you, Louisa.’

      ‘Of course, my dear. You can trust me.’ But even as she said this, Alice knew that word would be travelling back to Amberley in a very short while. Louisa was Henry’s creature.

      ‘I’m glad I came,’ her sister-in-law continued. ‘I’ve been thinking about this stupid disagreement between our husbands. Could we not do something to stop it?’

      ‘What did you have in mind?’

      ‘If I were able to persuade Henry to attend the fête at Summerhayes perhaps…?’

      For a moment she was genuinely touched by the other woman’s concern, but then common sense reasserted itself. There would be a good reason behind her suggestion. The crafty look on Louisa’s face told her that: her sister-in-law did not do plotting very well. But it was possible it could be turned to Elizabeth’s advantage.

      ‘I suppose that might help,’ she said thoughtfully.

      ‘Your brother is obviously unhappy,’ Louisa continued in queenly fashion, ‘but Joshua was quite right when he said that Summerhayes is the better venue. Henry will need some persuading, as I’m sure you know, but I will do all I can. If I’m successful and he agrees to come, can you persuade Joshua to meet him halfway? It could be very helpful to you. I know you are both concerned for Elizabeth’s future, and I would like to think that together we can manage an excellent marriage for her.’

      It was surely worth a try. If Louisa could smooth the way, then it was possible the right husband could still be found. Elizabeth’s marriage was not something she could dismiss as easily as Joshua, and since this latest quarrel with the Fitzroys, she had been nagged by a sense of inadequacy. Every day she had begun to think the matter more urgent. A moment ago, Joshua himself had seemed to realise his daughter enjoyed far too much freedom. It might persuade him to meet Henry in a more conciliatory mood.

      ‘It sounds an admirable plan,’ she said, her voice infused with a new energy, as she ushered Louisa to the front door.

      ‘Splendid.’ Her sister-in-law beamed approval.

      In retrospect, Alice was not sure how comfortable that made her.

Chapter Ten

      Ivy always knew where to find her sweetheart, but for once he was not tending his beloved Wolseley, but cleaning shoes. The boot boy must be ill, and it was just like Eddie to help out.

      ‘Are you sure it will be all right?’ she asked without preamble. He’d promised to ask Mr Summer if they could put fresh paint around Eddie’s apartment.

      He gave her a lazy smile. ‘Don’t fuss, Ivy. It will be fine.’

      ‘You haven’t asked him, have you?’ She didn’t want to sound cross but she couldn’t stop herself.

      ‘Not yet, but I will. In any case, why would he mind us making the old place look better?’

      ‘He’s got fixed ideas of what he likes and don’t like,’ she said darkly.

      ‘Three rooms above a motor house? C’mon. It’s not likely.’

      ‘Then why haven’t you asked him?’ She felt her arms rising to her hips to rest akimbo. Like an old fishwife, she thought, annoyed with herself.

      ‘There’s not been the opportunity, honest. I’ll drop it into the conversation, casual like, when I can.’

      ‘And when will that be?’

      ‘I’m driving him to Worthing this morning. He’s off to collect some antique he’s bought – a Japanese vase, Imari, or something like that. He’ll be in a good mood. I’ll do it then.’

      ‘And mebbe at the same time you could ask for a couple of days off after the wedding?’ Her voice was gentler now.

      He put his polishing cloth down and got to his feet. ‘You don’t stop, do you?’ He grinned down at her, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ‘I’m beginning to wonder what I’m marrying. I’ll be pecked to bits before I even get to the altar!’

      ‘I’m sorry, but I get anxious.’ She looked around then, and seeing the coast clear, reached up and kissed him on the cheek. ‘I don’t mean to nag, Eddie, really I don’t, but I get that worried things won’t work out for us.’

      ‘Why shouldn’t they? We’ll have a bang-up wedding and a bang-up home. The jammiest, you’ll see.’ He narrowed his eyes against the sun. ‘And I’ve a mind to ask an extra favour.’

      ‘Yes?’ Her gaze widened with anticipation and that made him laugh.

      ‘Don’t get too excited. But I’ve been thinking. My ma can’t come to the wedding, you know that, but what if we went to my ma?’

      Her face fell. ‘How would we do that? She lives miles away.’

      ‘How else?’ He turned and pointed at the sleek green beast dozing in the wedge of sunlight.

      Ivy gasped. ‘You’d never dare to ask!’

      ‘Watch me, girl. For you, I’d dare anything.’

      He laughed again and his arms went round her waist, cradling her tight, and swinging her so high into the air that he lost his footing and they tumbled to the ground, landing on the cobblestones in a giggling heap.

      ‘You’ll want to keep your jobs, I’m supposing.’ It was Ripley glaring at them from the rear door.

      Hastily, they scrambled to their feet. ‘Yes, Mr Ripley,’ they said in unison.

       *

      Elizabeth looked wistfully out at the busy scene below. A large marquee had already been erected on the huge spread of lawn and a stiff breeze was whipping to a frenzy the flags flying proudly at each of its corners. A sprinkling of smaller tents, too, had begun to lace the perimeter of the grass, the noise of mallets on wooden staves sounding clearly through the first-floor window. If she pressed her forehead hard against СКАЧАТЬ