Page 51 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
There was a definite twinkle in Bea’s eye that Daisy didn’t like one little bit.
‘But I haven’t had all my days out yet,’ protested Daisy. ‘So I can’t really tell you how everything went.’
‘Bertie and Lawrence then,’ said Bea, pouting. ‘You can tell me about them. Start with Bertie.’
Daisy wasn’t going to be let off, that much was clear, and past experience had told her that there was no point in arguing with Bea when she was in this mood.
‘So Bertie took me to the Winter Wonderland in Nottingham,’ she began. ‘Which was lovely. Very festive and, I thought, a pretty good place to go for a day out. It was fun, and he was a very considerate companion. I enjoyed it,’ she added as an afterthought.
‘Yes, yes, but what did you think about Bertie?’
‘Bea, I can’t tell you that! How is that possibly fair?’ Even though it was nearly a week ago, the images from her day out with Bertie were still very clear in her head. As were their conversations. Perhaps most important had been the realisation that she would be very happy to have Bertie run the shop, or at least she had been up until last night… But she couldn’t give Bea any indication of who she thought should run the business, that wouldn’t be fair to any of them. She felt the weight of responsibility that Bea had placed on her lying heavy on her shoulders.
‘All I can say, is that we had some conversations which I think Bertie might find quite useful going forward. It was an opportunity for him to take stock and so I’m sure that Bertie has been thinking very carefully about what he wants to do. In any case he has a friend who runs his own business, doesn’t he? I met Luka and he seemed the sort who would be only too happy to help. I’m sure Bertie could go to him for advice if he’s successful.’
Daisy took another mouthful of tea, signalling the conversation was at an end.
Bea rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘I hardly consider that a full answer,’ she said. ‘But I suppose you’re right in that it wouldn’t be fair for you to tell me what you think about Bertie’s suitability as far as Buchanans is concerned. Though I am glad to hear that he is taking the competition seriously.’ She touched a hand to her hair, her rings sparkling in the bright lights. ‘So now, how about Lawrence?’
‘Well you already know where he took me,’ challenged Daisy.
‘Of course I do. Lawrence has very little imagination where certain things are concerned, but I hope that the day was a success nonetheless?’
Daisy was tempted to ask her which part of the day she meant; some parts had been rather more successful than others.
‘I’ve never been to Harrods,’ she said. ‘So that in itself was a change for me. London at Christmastime too… goodness, the windows were…’ She trailed off, wondering how to phrase her feelings; she didn’t want to lie. ‘Well, they were quite extraordinary. And of course Lawrence showed me the fine jewellery room. I had no idea that Buchanans was modelled on it.’
‘A fact that is completely lost on the inhabitants of our little town. Lawrence’s idea, naturally.’
Daisy frowned. ‘But he made it sound as if you were really keen on the idea.’
‘It appeals to my sense of irony,’ replied Bea. ‘And I find it quite amusing, but I never thought it was going to make us the sure-fire success that Lawrence seemed to think it would.’
‘Oh…’ Daisy was rather taken aback by her words. She had always thought that Bea had the last word on everything, and yet, from the way she described it, she had simply indulged Lawrence. It was something that seemed to happen far too often in Daisy’s opinion.
‘Shall I let you into a little secret, Daisy dear?’ When she nodded, Bea continued. ‘It’s no secret that I love London and all that it has to offer. But have you ever wondered why I choose to make my home here?’
Daisy was tempted to say because it was cheaper, but she knew that probably wasn’t of concern to Bea.
‘You see, I was only young when I met the boys’ father and for a young girl like me who had hopes of going on the stage it was a dream come true. William was terribly well connected and we got invited to all the best parties, the shows, the opera. It was like dressing-up and playing pretend all the time, and I loved it.’
Bea paused to give Daisy a twinkling smile. ‘I still do, as you are probably well aware. But… it is also incredibly wearing to do itallthe time. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret any of it for a minute but, particularly as I’ve got older, I’ve realised that it’s only a part of me and the other part needs feeding too, on trees and fresh air and going the whole day without doing your makeup, making fried-egg sandwiches and sitting in your pyjamas until noon. So that’s why I have never lived in London.’
‘But Charles? I thought he was—’
‘Something big in the city?’ interrupted Bea. ‘Or a playboy perhaps? No, he doesn’t even live in London. Charles is a farmer, actually.’
‘Never!’
Bea grinned at Daisy’s astonished face. ‘It’s easy to make assumptions, isn’t it? But in fact, not everyone is as you might first imagine.’
No, Daisy was beginning to realise that.
‘And so when Charles and I move out to Spain, we’re going to live on an olive farm and spend our days walking and watching sunsets, and becoming incredibly tanned and wrinkly no doubt.’
Happiness was oozing out of Bea’s every pore. Daisy couldn’t quite believe it, but she could see how utterly in love with the idea she was.
‘Do the boys know about all this?’
