Mari pointed at Joey.
âI have no doubt that Llan Houseâs Mrs Williams will have heard that we left Tonypandy on the same train this morning by now.â Joey perched on the arm of the sofa next to Rhian and Bella.
âWeâre not spending the day together, Mari,â Rhian explained. âWeâre spending it here. I happened to mention that I was going to visit Sali and Joey decided to tag along.â
âJust so long as that is all it is,â Mari pronounced disapprovingly. âGiven his reputation, you shouldnât need telling what heâs like.â
âI am here and Iâm not deaf, Mari.â Before Joey could say another word in his defence the front door closed.
Harry leapt to his feet and ran out into the hall. âItâs Daddy, Bella,â he shouted back excitedly. âDaddy, youâll never guess whoâs here.â
âAuntie Rhian.â Lloyd carried Harry back into the drawing room on his shoulders.
âAnd Uncle Joey.â
âSo I see.â Lloyd swung Harry down. âHello, sweetheart.â He kissed Saliâs lips and Rhianâs cheek. âJoey,â he acknowledged his brother. âI didnât think you could take a Thursday afternoon off.â
âI can now I have the store running like clockwork. Four sugars in my tea, please, Sali. And Iâd love one of the scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream, Mari.â
âYouâre worse than Master Harry and he has the excuse of being eight years old,â she grumbled. âAs I keep telling him, no cakes, jam or cream until heâs eaten at least two sandwiches and as youâre twice his size, in your case thatâll be four. Ham, chicken or tongue?â
âChicken, please, Mari. They look delicious.â
âAnd you can stop flattering me. Cook made them and Iâm too long in the tooth to be taken in like one of your Tonypandy floozies.â
âWhatâs a Tonypandy floozy when itâs at home?â Joey laughed.
âA kind of cake,â Lloyd broke in, with a significant look at Harry and Bella who were apt to pick up every word.
Sali busied herself with pouring the tea. Fond as she was of Joey, she couldnât help feeling that a courtship between him and Rhian might prove disastrous. The only question was, for which one of them?
âYouâre not returning to the store again today, Joey?â Lloyd sat in an armchair next to the hearth.
âEven clockwork needs checking every couple of hours. I told Sam and the ubiquitous Miss Robertson that Iâd be back at seven oâclock before the rush. Thank you, Mari.â He took the plate of sandwiches she gave him.
âWhy is Miss Robertson ubiquitous?â Harry set his plate down next to his soldiers.
âBecause itâs impossible to run away from her,â Joey answered.
âWhy do you want to run away from her when she works in your shop, Uncle Joey?â
âItâs not my shop, Harry, I only manage it.â
âAnd your Uncle Joey was joking, Harry. How about I drive you and Rhian back to Tonypandy?â Lloyd avoided Saliâs eye because he knew sheâd guess heâd only made the offer out of concern for Rhian.
âIâm sorry, Mr Lloyd.â It had taken two years of living in the same house for Mari to stop addressing Lloyd as âMr Evansâ. Although heâd asked her to call him Lloyd, âMr Lloydâ was as familiar as the housekeeper was prepared to get. âRobert told me to tell you that the car is out of service again. The mechanic at the garage has promised to call round first thing in the morning to look at it.â
âThat car spends more time out of commission than working,â Lloyd complained.
âWe could ask Robert to harness the carriage.â Sali placed four of Lloydâs favourite ham and cress sandwiches on to a plate and handed them to him.
âPlease, Mam, can I go