Page 39 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
The same thought had been occupying Daisy’s head almost constantly. She nodded. ‘Should we start with breakfast? I had no idea they did this sort of thing on trains.’ She handed Lawrence the card.
‘I believe it’s just in first class,’ he replied, bending his head to see what was on offer. ‘Ah, excellent. You wouldn’t think so, but the eggs Benedict is surprisingly good.’ He tapped the card. ‘I can recommend it.’ His eyebrows were raised in enquiry.
‘I don’t even know what that is,’ admitted Daisy. There was no point trying to pretend. ‘I always have Weetabix.’
Lawrence smiled, a sideways twitch of his lips. ‘Eggs Benedict is a breakfast muffin served with a poached egg on top, bacon, and hollandaise sauce.’
Daisy was still none the wiser. ‘Um…’ She scanned the menu, looking for something that would satisfy her simple palate.
‘Why don’t you try it?’ suggested Lawrence. ‘I doubt they do Weetabix.’
She looked up at his comment, but his expression hadn’t changed. She thought back to her day out with Bertie. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’ll give it a go.’ She slid the card back into its holder on the table and looked around her again. ‘Is it always this quiet in first class? We’re the only ones here.’
‘Not usually. I would imagine that other people will get on. It’s quite a long journey.’ He gave a brief smile. ‘We should make London by half eleven though and I’ve arranged transport at the other end. We’ll arrive at our destination soon after.’
‘So wherearewe going then?’ she asked. ‘You still haven’t told me.’
Lawrence’s face brightened. ‘Where every woman wants to go. To Harrods, of course.’ He sat back in his seat, a triumphant expression on his face. ‘And not only that but we have the services of a personal shopper for the entire day. Monique is wonderful. We wouldn’t ordinarily be able to do this of course, but she knows why we’ll be there and won’t expect us to buy anything. Extraordinarily generous of her, particularly at this time of year.’
Daisy kept the smile plastered on her face, but her heart sank. She couldn’t think of anywhere she’d less rather be than a swanky department store, being waited on hand and foot. It was Buchanans multiplied one hundredfold. She swallowed her dismay. ‘Oh, I’ve never been before,’ she replied.
‘Well I know what you ladies are like,’ said Lawrence. ‘And I thought that taking you shopping would be the best way to get to know what you do and don’t like.’
Daisy wanted to reply that she didn’t like shopping, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She was well aware that she wasn’t like most women, but Lawrence wouldn’t know that.
Moments later the steward arrived with their drinks and she was saved from having to make any further comment.
‘Thank you,’ said Lawrence. ‘And we’ll both go for the eggs Benedict, please.’
‘Of course, Sir, an excellent choice.’
‘May I ask you a question?’ said Lawrence, as soon as the steward had retreated.
‘As long as it’s not one off your list.’
He grimaced. ‘It’s not. I just was wondering about what you said earlier. And you’re right, I didn’t consider that come the new year things could be very difficult for you… So, if you’re not able to carry on working at Buchanans, what will you do?’
It was a question that was beginning to fill more and more of Daisy’s head space as time went on. It would be so wonderful to confide in one of the brothers about her dreams of running a business of her own but, out of them all, Lawrence was probably least likely to understand. Besides, how could she possibly convince him she could make it work when she hadn’t yet managed to convince herself?
‘I honestly don’t know,’ she said. ‘Rather naive of me, but I didn’t think I’d ever need to find another job; there’s just always been Buchanans. It feels as if I’ve been there a lifetime… and I guess, in a good way, it has been.’
He tipped his head to one side and gave her a searching look. ‘Which is odd, because I always thought you hated your job.’
‘Hated it?’ She gave him a puzzled look. ‘Why would you think I hated it?’
‘I don’t know exactly. It can’t be much fun working with Kit.’
She frowned. ‘But Kit doesn’t bother me,’ she replied.
‘No, Kit doesn’t bother anyone.’
‘Well, that’s hardly surprising, is it? I mean, in between you bossing everyone around and Bertie trying to hold you all together, what space could Kit possibly occupy?’
Her hand flew to her mouth. Where had that come from?
‘Oh God, I’m sorry, Lawrence. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded… It’s just that you’re each so very different, but that’s a good thing, I guess.’ She closed her mouth. There was a whole lot more she could say, but if she carried on she’d only be digging herself a deeper and deeper hole.
To her relief, however, Lawrence smiled too.
