Sinners and Shadows by Catrin Collier Page A

pulled it out as if he were a conjurer producing a rabbit from a top hat. ‘And in your size, I believe, madam.’
    â€˜You told me you couldn’t get one,’ she said accusingly.
    â€˜I lied. I had it sent up from the Cardiff store.’
    â€˜I have to pay you for it.’
    â€˜It’s a present.’
    â€˜There is no way that I am accepting an expensive present, let alone clothes, from you,’ she said heatedly.
    â€˜I’d swap it for a photograph.’
    â€˜The answer’s no!’
    â€˜â€œA lady may only accept a token gift from a gentleman,”’ he recited in a high-pitched voice that was a fair imitation of Mrs Larch’s. ‘“An embroidered handkerchief, an unostentatious box of sweets or chocolates or a very small bottle of cologne. She may never, never accept anything expensive, especially clothing, and expect to”’, he reduced his voice to a whisper, ‘“remain a lady.”’
    â€˜You read the lady’s manual?’ She laughed at the idea of Joey reading a guide to etiquette.
    â€˜How else would I know how to behave around a real lady?’
    â€˜And you’ve met Mrs Larch?’
    â€˜She deigned to come into the store once, although she wasted no time in letting us know that it wasn’t up to the standards of the stores she usually patronized.’ He shook out the coat. ‘Try it on.’
    â€˜Not until I pay for it.’
    â€˜I won’t pay for it until the end of the month when the purchases I’ve made against my personal account are due, so why should you pay me sooner?’
    She gazed longingly at the coat that she had coveted for so many months. ‘I won’t try it on until you take the two guineas.’
    â€˜If you absolutely insist on paying, it’s two guineas less twenty per cent discount, which is,’ Joey looked to the ceiling for a few seconds, ‘one pound thirteen shillings and fourpence halfpenny, rounded down to the nearest halfpence.’
    â€˜That was quick.’
    â€˜I’m not just a handsome face, although that’s all most girls see.’ He lifted her cloak from her shoulders and held out the coat. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and fastened the buttons.
    â€˜You two ever coming?’ Lloyd shouted impatiently. He glanced back at them. ‘Nice coat, Rhian.’
    â€˜The girl has taste,’ Joey agreed.
    â€˜Sali and the children are waiting.’
    â€˜One second and we’ll be with you, Lloyd.’ Joey stuffed Rhian’s cloak into the bag. ‘I forgot all about the toffees I bought for the children. See what a bad influence you are on me.’ He set the tin on the hallstand.
    â€˜I’ll pay you the two guineas for this or nothing at all.’ Rhian gazed at herself in the hall mirror. The coat looked even better on her than she had hoped it would. The fashionable slim cut flattered her trim figure and the sheen on the cloth gleamed in the electric light of the hall.
    â€˜Then I’ll take nothing at all.’ Joey crossed the hall and handed the butler the bag. ‘Mr Jenkins, would you be kind enough to pass this on to someone who can use it?’
    â€˜Yes, Mr Evans.’
    â€˜Goodnight, Mr Jenkins.’ Rhian caught up with Joey.
    â€˜Goodnight, Miss Rhian.’ He gave her a rare and rusty smile.
    â€˜I’ll still pay you the two guineas,’ Rhian hissed as Joey helped her up the iron steps into the carriage.
    â€˜You will pay me exactly what I paid for the coat, and one more thing,’ he whispered in her ear as she took his arm. ‘Ask your Mrs Williams if you can change your day off with one of the other girls. And preferably not for a Friday or Saturday. A Tuesday or Wednesday would suit me perfectly.’
    Bronwen bustled into the kitchen. ‘More tea, toast and butter please, Cook.’ She turned to Rhian. ‘They’ve almost finished their porridge