done to me china.’ He bent down and began to pick up the pieces.
As the other stallholders came over to help Reube, Charles Grey took Lily’s arm. ‘Are you hurt, Lily?’
She smiled shakily. ‘No, I don’t think so.’
‘You’re still trembling.’
She didn’t know whether she was trembling because of the Blackshirts or because she was looking into the face that she had thought she would never see again. His dark eyes were concerned
for her.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘I came to find you.’
Lily gasped. ‘Has the aspidistra died?’
‘No, in fact, it’s flourishing.’ The smile he gave her made her feel weak at the knees.
‘Oh, that’s a relief.’
He laughed softly and Lily’s heart went off at a tangent again. Why had he come to find her?
‘Lily . . .’ He moved her across the pavement to the shelter of the café which was now empty because of the disruption. ‘I wonder if you have the time one day to join me
on a trip to the city? I would like to buy some more pieces for the house. And would value your advice – and of course, your company.’
Lily stared up at him. The noise from the stallholders and shoppers was growing as the excitement of what had happened created a stir. Reube was busy telling the story of how he had sent them
off with a flea in their ear.
‘I . . . well—’ she stammered.
‘I shan’t be offended if you say no, of course.’
‘It’s not that.’
‘What is it, then?’
How could she explain that she didn’t have any spare time? How would a gentleman like him be able to understand that she was the breadwinner of the family?
‘I only have Sundays free,’ she said at last.
‘Oh dear. I was hoping to buy in the city and on Sundays the shops are closed.’ He glanced across at Reube. ‘Is this young man your employer?’
Lily nodded.
‘Would it be possible to ask him for a Saturday off?’
Lily felt disappointed. He was making it plain that their outing wouldn’t be a social one. ‘I could ask. Pedro might be able to take my place.’
‘And who is Pedro?’
‘Just a friend who helps out.’
‘I shall certainly recompense both you and he for your time.’
Charles Grey looked at her for a long while, then replaced his hat over his smooth black hair. ‘This Saturday would be most convenient.’
Lily wanted to accept. Would Reube agree? And even if he did, what would she wear?
But before she could decide on what to do, Charles Grey settled the matter for her. ‘It’s obviously not the right time to ask him,’ he smiled, looking once more at the noisy
group of stallholders talking about the Blackshirts. ‘But if you find yourself free next Saturday, at say twelve o’clock, I would be most pleased to meet you.’
‘Would you go up to the city anyway?’ Lily asked.
‘Yes, indeed I would. I’m very happy to collect you in my car – that is, if you can come?’
Lily didn’t want everyone peering out of the windows. She knew that a motor car of any description would draw attention, let alone someone of Charles Grey’s appearance climbing out
of it.
‘If Reube gives me the time off, I’ll walk up to the top of Westferry Road. You’d be going that way to the city, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes, I would.’
‘I’ll wait on the corner.’
He frowned, then gave a slow smile. ‘As you wish.’
Lily could do nothing but nod, as he stared into her eyes, causing her to feel faint again. Giving her the briefest of bows, he turned and slipped quietly away.
Lily stood there, bewildered and excited. She could hardly believe Charles Grey wanted to see her again even if it was only in a business capacity! She just hoped Reube would allow her a whole
day off.
Lily turned back to the stall, Reube was still in full flow about how he had fought off the gang and given one a black eye. No one it seemed had heard what Charles Grey had quietly said to the
thugs.
The next day they replenished the stall with new stock, a few
As the other stallholders came over to help Reube, Charles Grey took Lily’s arm. ‘Are you hurt, Lily?’
She smiled shakily. ‘No, I don’t think so.’
‘You’re still trembling.’
She didn’t know whether she was trembling because of the Blackshirts or because she was looking into the face that she had thought she would never see again. His dark eyes were concerned
for her.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘I came to find you.’
Lily gasped. ‘Has the aspidistra died?’
‘No, in fact, it’s flourishing.’ The smile he gave her made her feel weak at the knees.
‘Oh, that’s a relief.’
He laughed softly and Lily’s heart went off at a tangent again. Why had he come to find her?
‘Lily . . .’ He moved her across the pavement to the shelter of the café which was now empty because of the disruption. ‘I wonder if you have the time one day to join me
on a trip to the city? I would like to buy some more pieces for the house. And would value your advice – and of course, your company.’
Lily stared up at him. The noise from the stallholders and shoppers was growing as the excitement of what had happened created a stir. Reube was busy telling the story of how he had sent them
off with a flea in their ear.
‘I . . . well—’ she stammered.
‘I shan’t be offended if you say no, of course.’
‘It’s not that.’
‘What is it, then?’
How could she explain that she didn’t have any spare time? How would a gentleman like him be able to understand that she was the breadwinner of the family?
‘I only have Sundays free,’ she said at last.
‘Oh dear. I was hoping to buy in the city and on Sundays the shops are closed.’ He glanced across at Reube. ‘Is this young man your employer?’
Lily nodded.
‘Would it be possible to ask him for a Saturday off?’
Lily felt disappointed. He was making it plain that their outing wouldn’t be a social one. ‘I could ask. Pedro might be able to take my place.’
‘And who is Pedro?’
‘Just a friend who helps out.’
‘I shall certainly recompense both you and he for your time.’
Charles Grey looked at her for a long while, then replaced his hat over his smooth black hair. ‘This Saturday would be most convenient.’
Lily wanted to accept. Would Reube agree? And even if he did, what would she wear?
But before she could decide on what to do, Charles Grey settled the matter for her. ‘It’s obviously not the right time to ask him,’ he smiled, looking once more at the noisy
group of stallholders talking about the Blackshirts. ‘But if you find yourself free next Saturday, at say twelve o’clock, I would be most pleased to meet you.’
‘Would you go up to the city anyway?’ Lily asked.
‘Yes, indeed I would. I’m very happy to collect you in my car – that is, if you can come?’
Lily didn’t want everyone peering out of the windows. She knew that a motor car of any description would draw attention, let alone someone of Charles Grey’s appearance climbing out
of it.
‘If Reube gives me the time off, I’ll walk up to the top of Westferry Road. You’d be going that way to the city, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes, I would.’
‘I’ll wait on the corner.’
He frowned, then gave a slow smile. ‘As you wish.’
Lily could do nothing but nod, as he stared into her eyes, causing her to feel faint again. Giving her the briefest of bows, he turned and slipped quietly away.
Lily stood there, bewildered and excited. She could hardly believe Charles Grey wanted to see her again even if it was only in a business capacity! She just hoped Reube would allow her a whole
day off.
Lily turned back to the stall, Reube was still in full flow about how he had fought off the gang and given one a black eye. No one it seemed had heard what Charles Grey had quietly said to the
thugs.
The next day they replenished the stall with new stock, a few
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