‘No,’ Anna said. ‘No, he didn’t.’

She looked back at the door, her mind racing. No wonder the shop was empty. At least half their customers bought on tick, paying up at the end of the week after they’d been paid. Not everyone could afford to settle their bills in full, and sometimes they would go weeks or months stacking up their credit, but her father never minded.

‘They’ll pay in the end,’ he said, and they always did.

And now Edward had decided to put a stop to it.

‘But I don’t understand. Why would he do something like that?’ she spoke her thoughts aloud.

‘Same reason he’s put the prices up, I daresay. To make money.’

Anna turned to her sharply. ‘He’s put the prices up?’

‘Didn’t he tell you that, either?’ Mrs Church’s brows rose. ‘Seems like he’s making a lot of decisions without consulting you,’ she remarked.

‘Yes,’ Anna said, ignoring her sly look. ‘Yes, he is.’

She went to the kitchen to look for Edward, but there was only Charlie in the kitchen. He was lounging against the sink, reading through the Racing Post. He glanced up at Anna, then went back to leafing through his newspaper.

‘If you’re looking for Eddie, he went out,’ he said.

‘Where did he go?’

‘I don’t know, do I?’

Anna glared at Charlie, but he didn’t look up. ‘When Mr Stanning comes back, tell him I want to see him,’ she snapped, and walked out of the kitchen.

She was restless all morning, waiting for Edward to come home. She did her best to help in the shop and keep up a cheery smile for what few customers they had. But all the time, she kept her ear cocked, waiting for his return.

They were shutting up the shop at noon for lunch when she finally heard his voice in the kitchen. Anna hurried down the passageway, Mrs Church at her heels.

Edward was laughing with Charlie about something as he took off his coat. He was still laughing when Anna walked in.

‘All right, love?’ He looked from her to Mrs Church standing at her shoulder. ‘Charlie’s just told me you wanted to see me. Is something wrong?’

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were putting up the prices?’ Anna blurted out.

Edward’s smile faded. He looked away, peeling off his gloves. ‘I didn’t think I had to,’ he said.

‘It would have been nice if you’d consulted me. This is my bakery, after all.’

Something in his expression changed, like a light going off behind his eyes.

‘I had no choice,’ he said. ‘The suppliers put their prices up, we were barely breaking even—’

‘Is that why you’ve cut off our customers’ credit?’

Edward looked at Mrs Church. ‘My, you have been busy, ain’t you?’ he said softly. ‘Bet you couldn’t wait to tell tales.’

‘I’m glad someone’s seen fit to tell me what’s going on!’ Anna shot back.

Edward’s face was taut with anger. Even Charlie looked wary, his glance flickering from one to the other.