Angels at War Read Free Page A

making the slip. She hadn’t meant it atall as it had sounded. ‘I was surprised, that’s all. I rather anticipated a more … administrative role, since I do own the store after all. Nevertheless, I’m more than ready for the challenge.’
    ‘I think you’ve made your status very clear, although ownership could easily change, of course, if the business fails to thrive.’
    A long, breathless silence as she glared at him. ‘Is that meant to be some sort of threat? Are you planning a takeover?’
    He was smiling at her again with that air of quiet amusement, and gave a slight shrug, almost as if he couldn’t care less what the outcome was. Livia wasn’t fooled by this show of unconcern. He was as sharp as a drawer full of knives.
    ‘I shall look forward to watching your progress,’ he said, holding that infuriating smile. Then turning his back, he politely declined the cup of coffee saying he had work to attend to, and graciously thanking the solicitor, presumably for securing him the post in the first place, he strode from the room without a backward glance. Livia watched him go, open-mouthed.
    ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Well! What an insufferable man.’
    ‘But highly qualified, dear lady, as I said. I’m sure he will do all he can to save Angel’s Department Store.’
    ‘We shall see, Mr Blamire. We shall see.’

Chapter Two
    By the time Livia returned to the house on Gooseholme, Ella was in a lather of panic, running hither and thither in her smart powder blue two-piece costume, fussing and fretting over the children, the food, the carriage waiting at the door, but most of all the fact that Livia was going to be late for her own wedding. She pounced upon her sister the moment she walked through the door.
    ‘There you are, at last!’
    Livia glanced at her fob watch. ‘There’s ample time yet, a whole—’
    ‘Fifteen minutes. You have fifteen minutes to get dressed,’ Ella scolded, pushing her up the stairs.
    Livia went, albeit with a heavy heart. Whatwas the matter with her? What was it she wanted? The wedding was to be a small, quiet affair, as they had little in the way of family, although there would be quite a few friends present. The excited squeals of the children told her that someone at least seemed to be in a mood to celebrate.
    ‘Is Mercy here yet?’
    Ella helped Livia into her bridal gown, smoothed the close fitting sleeves, fluffed out the ruched swirls of skirt and began fastening the long row of pearl buttons down the back. ‘She’ll meet us at the church, with George. They’ve stayed home as long as they could to look after the farm, then they’ll leave it in Tom Mounsey’s capable hands for the rest of the day.’
    Mercy was their half-sister, being the illegitimate child of Joshua Angel’s one-time mistress, a fact that had resulted in a huge chip on the girl’s shoulder, not least because he had banished her to the workhouse for a time. Livia was rather fond of the girl, difficult and prickly though she undoubtedly was, but wondered if her gloom meant she was still in mourning for her other, beloved sister.
    ‘Oh, I do so miss Maggie. There should be three Angel sisters here today.’
    ‘There are.’
    ‘You know what I mean. There should be four of us then.’ Livia’s eyes filled with a sudden rushof tears. ‘How can I possibly be getting married without darling Maggie?’
    Ella put her arms about her. ‘Because she would expect you to go on, to look forward and not back. Maggie will live in our hearts forever, even if she did tragically choose to end her own life. We can still love her, and remember her.’
    ‘How could we ever forget? Our father drove her to do what she did.’
    ‘This isn’t the moment for such morbid thoughts, dearest. Now wipe those tears, brides are expected to look radiant.’
    More guests arrived with yet more hugs and tears, Ella’s stepchildren racing around and a great deal of noise and commotion, love and good wishes. Livia was deeply