Janine chuckled, and it occurred to Albert that the chuckle had been the first genuine reaction his daughter had displayed since entering the shop. Possibly, he thought wryly, the first genuine reaction she had shown since returning to her own home. But Janine, turning away from the guinea pigs, was speaking directly to him. ‘Isn’t this all nice, though?’ she said approvingly. ‘Tell you what, Dad, if it would help I wouldn’t mind giving a hand here. I’ve noticed when I’m in a confined space with folks smoking all around me I get to feel sickish. I even felt kinda squeamish when I were helpin’ Mr Clarke with a batch of Gold Flake just now.’

Albert frowned. Where had he heard those words before? But Edie was suggesting that Janine might enjoy taking over the fancy goods side of her father’s business, and Janine seemed to think this was a good idea. ‘I saw Dad had gone in for brasses, but there’s other things that would bring in customers,’ she was saying enthusiastically. ‘Would you let me do the orderin’, Dad? It’s a bit late for the Christmas market, I suppose, but how about a notice in the window saying you are now selling gifts? I’d make the notice – I’m real good at lettering – and if necessary I’d ring your suppliers and bully them into giving us a special pre-Christmas order.’ Albert thought she must have read the doubt in his face, for she added hastily: ‘But I’d only do that if we were running out of stock and were sure we could sell more.’

Albert agreed to all these plans, secure in the knowledge that they might come to nothing and would, for a time at least, keep his daughter happily occupied. He could see that she now no longer saw herself modelling gowns, but turning the fancy goods side of his business into a far more profitable concern. Edie, much taken by the idea, said that when Tess returned she would be all in favour, for she had long thought Albert did not make the most of the possibilities of his shop.

Realising that Janine was still uncomfortable with the animals and birds, Edie sat her down at the back of the shop and set her to measuring out small quantities of pet food, labelling and pricing the bags, and putting them on the shelf. Customers came and went, sales were made and the till rang merrily, but at one o’clock Albert decided that he and Janine should have a proper lunch break, for he noticed with a little concern that his daughter was looking pale beneath the rouge.

Edie reminded Albert that she had made sandwiches and brewed a pot of tea for everyone to share, but Albert, though he thanked her politely, said that he rather thought his daughter had done quite enough for one day, and helped her into her smart coat. ‘I’ll see you later,’ he said to Edie, donning his own overcoat, for the rain had turned to sleet and the crowds which had thronged the pavements earlier in the morning had become a trickle. He picked up Mr Clarke’s umbrella and smiled at his daughter. ‘Come along, my dear. Do you fancy going to Dorothy’s Tearooms for a light luncheon? Or we can pop into the bakery and buy a pasty.’