Changing Times at Harpers by Rosie Clarke

Author:Rosie Clarke [Clarke, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

21

Andrea looked at herself in the mirror as she prepared to meet Mr O’Sullivan for tea. Three times she’d changed her dress and then her hat, but it was a fine day and she’d finally settled on a grey linen dress, a light wool jacket and her best red felt hat with a curling feather that she always felt was a bit too jaunty for church but sometimes wore if she treated herself to a cream tea. It wasn’t often that she did anything nice, so the hat was still almost new. She’d bought it from Harpers in a sale once and it was the prettiest one she’d owned for years.

Her mood lifted as she set out for the bus that would take her up to the posh end of town. She’d never been in the Savoy Hotel and she was so excited – and she needed that lift, because she’d been feeling out of sorts this past couple of days. If she was honest with herself, she was feeling guilty for having been so sharp with Lilly Ross. Andrea had known the story about Mr Harper flirting with Lilly couldn’t possibly be true. He had a charming smile, which was easy to respond to, as she knew only too well, but she still didn’t think he was the type to take advantage of a girl like Lilly.

There were bound to be rumours when the boss took an interest in one of the girls, of course there were. Andrea knew that spiteful tongues could ruin a girl’s reputation and it had annoyed her that one of her girls should have attracted that kind of attention. It was probably jealousy on the part of whoever had started the tale she’d happened to overhear. There was always jealousy when one girl seemed to be luckier than others – though she wasn’t sure that really applied to Lilly Ross. Mrs Harper had explained to her that Lilly had to care for her invalid mother as well as her younger siblings so it might mean that she was occasionally late in to work in the morning. It hadn’t happened much.

Andrea really shouldn’t have blamed Lilly for the few minutes she’d spent talking to Mr Harper. He had delayed her. Yet she’d felt a spark of jealousy herself when she heard the spiteful tale. Mr Harper hadn’t so much as looked her way since the day he’d asked her to see that salesman.

It was ridiculous and Andrea was ashamed of herself for picking on Lilly – but it was hard sometimes. The young girls in her department had everything to live for; love in the future, and the promise of happiness with the man of their choice, a family and home. All the things Andrea had lost. Sometimes, she envied them their freedom. She was still young, but everything she earned went into supporting her son at his exclusive boarding school and paying rent for the home he came back to in the holidays. Clothes,

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