Sinners and Shadows

Sinners and Shadows by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online

Book: Sinners and Shadows by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online
Authors: Catrin Collier
Mari pointed at Joey.
    â€˜I have no doubt that Llan House’s Mrs Williams will have heard that we left Tonypandy on the same train this morning by now.’ Joey perched on the arm of the sofa next to Rhian and Bella.
    â€˜We’re not spending the day together, Mari,’ Rhian explained. ‘We’re spending it here. I happened to mention that I was going to visit Sali and Joey decided to tag along.’
    â€˜Just so long as that is all it is,’ Mari pronounced disapprovingly. ‘Given his reputation, you shouldn’t need telling what he’s like.’
    â€˜I am here and I’m not deaf, Mari.’ Before Joey could say another word in his defence the front door closed.
    Harry leapt to his feet and ran out into the hall. ‘It’s Daddy, Bella,’ he shouted back excitedly. ‘Daddy, you’ll never guess who’s here.’
    â€˜Auntie Rhian.’ Lloyd carried Harry back into the drawing room on his shoulders.
    â€˜And Uncle Joey.’
    â€˜So I see.’ Lloyd swung Harry down. ‘Hello, sweetheart.’ He kissed Sali’s lips and Rhian’s cheek. ‘Joey,’ he acknowledged his brother. ‘I didn’t think you could take a Thursday afternoon off.’
    â€˜I can now I have the store running like clockwork. Four sugars in my tea, please, Sali. And I’d love one of the scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream, Mari.’
    â€˜You’re worse than Master Harry and he has the excuse of being eight years old,’ she grumbled. ‘As I keep telling him, no cakes, jam or cream until he’s eaten at least two sandwiches and as you’re twice his size, in your case that’ll be four. Ham, chicken or tongue?’
    â€˜Chicken, please, Mari. They look delicious.’
    â€˜And you can stop flattering me. Cook made them and I’m too long in the tooth to be taken in like one of your Tonypandy floozies.’
    â€˜What’s a Tonypandy floozy when it’s at home?’ Joey laughed.
    â€˜A kind of cake,’ 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 couldn’t help feeling that a courtship between him and Rhian might prove disastrous. The only question was, for which one of them?
    â€˜You’re not returning to the store again today, Joey?’ Lloyd sat in an armchair next to the hearth.
    â€˜Even clockwork needs checking every couple of hours. I told Sam and the ubiquitous Miss Robertson that I’d be back at seven o’clock before the rush. Thank you, Mari.’ He took the plate of sandwiches she gave him.
    â€˜Why is Miss Robertson ubiquitous?’ Harry set his plate down next to his soldiers.
    â€˜Because it’s impossible to run away from her,’ Joey answered.
    â€˜Why do you want to run away from her when she works in your shop, Uncle Joey?’
    â€˜It’s not my shop, Harry, I only manage it.’
    â€˜And your Uncle Joey was joking, Harry. How about I drive you and Rhian back to Tonypandy?’ Lloyd avoided Sali’s eye because he knew she’d guess he’d only made the offer out of concern for Rhian.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Mr Lloyd.’ It had taken two years of living in the same house for Mari to stop addressing Lloyd as ‘Mr Evans’. Although he’d asked her to call him Lloyd, ‘Mr Lloyd’ was as familiar as the housekeeper was prepared to get. ‘Robert 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€˜That car spends more time out of commission than working,’ Lloyd complained.
    â€˜We could ask Robert to harness the carriage.’ Sali placed four of Lloyd’s favourite ham and cress sandwiches on to a plate and handed them to him.
    â€˜Please, Mam, can I go

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