Angels at War Read Free

strange regret when he let it go.
    ‘Perhaps later, after you have partaken of your lunch, you may care to view the changes I have made already, now that we are again open for business.’
    Livia had been about to snap that she wasnot at all the kind of person who had little to do with her day beyond partake of lunch, even when it was not her wedding day, when his last words registered. ‘Open? The store is already open and no one has thought fit to inform me?’
    The old solicitor, looking decidedly flustered, quickly intervened. ‘My dear lady, I didn’t wish to trouble you. You were busy with your wedding arrangements.’
    ‘I’m sure I could have found the time to attend such a momentous occasion.’
    ‘I beg your pardon,’ Grayson smoothly apologised, plucking a stray rosebud that had escaped the confines of her sensible hat and was lolling by her ear. ‘I’m surprised you have time to discuss business at all, in the circumstances. Isn’t a wedding day the highlight of a woman’s life?’
    Livia snatched the flower from his hand, feeling a burst of irritation at his evident amusement. She could tell by the suppressed laughter in his eyes that he was enjoying her discomfiture. ‘For some women, perhaps. You should appreciate, Mr Grayson, that your job is but temporary until Angel’s reaches firmer ground.’
    ‘He is on a two year contract,’ put in Blamire hastily. ‘With an option to renew for a further year, naturally. By which time I predict the business should be on its feet. I trust that is satisfactory to you both?’
    Livia glared at the solicitor as if it were anything but. ‘I shall visit tomorrow and …’
    Grayson’s eyebrows shot up into his unruly hair. ‘The day after your wedding? Do you not have better things to do?’
    Livia ignored the remark. ‘… and would naturally welcome any suggestions you may have.’ She wanted to make it absolutely clear from the start that she had no intention of being sidelined.
    ‘I understood I would be working alone, and fully in charge.’ The teasing tone had vanished, the voice now dangerously low, with a timbre to it which indicated he was a man used to getting his own way.
    Livia looked away, not quite meeting his gaze, which was alarmingly direct. But if he thought he could order her about, he would soon realise his mistake. The arrogance of the man, opening the store – her store – without so much as informing her, without even issuing an invitation for her to attend.
    ‘I fear you have been misled,’ she caustically informed him, forcing herself to look at him. ‘Perhaps Mr Blamire misunderstood, but I intend to be fully involved in the business, and take control of it myself just as soon as I can.’
    The iris of his eyes were rimmed with green around the dark grey, she noticed with surprise,but did not in any way warm his gaze as they now matched her own for frost. ‘And what experience do you have, Miss Angel?’
    ‘None whatsoever, but I’m a quick learner. I’m quite sure I won’t find it difficult to get the hang of things, at which point your services will no longer be required.’
    He laughed, and the sound shocked her even more than the challenging glitter in those beguiling eyes.
    Mr Blamire, she noticed, was frantically pouring coffee into china cups, desperately attempting to offer her one. She made no move to take it. ‘Have I said something funny?’
    ‘Not at all. I do, however, have a suggestion to make. If you are to learn the business, may I suggest that you begin, as does everyone else, on the shop floor. I believe a Miss Caraway is responsible for recruiting the female shop assistants. I recommend you speak to her about a job.’
    ‘ Shop assistant ?’ Livia repeated, in the kind of tone she might use to describe a woman of the streets.
    Twin brows rose in quizzical enquiry. ‘Too grand are we for menial work? Not quite what you had in mind?’
    Livia was instantly ashamed, and furious with herself for