Her first concern was unwarranted. Only joy lit up Jonathan and Dorothy’s tired and worried faces when they saw the carriage pull up on Stanley Street. When they alighted and entered the store, Lillian was upset to see the state of the interior. Filthy bolts of fabric lay stacked against the shelves. As at the cottage, watermarks streaked the wallpaper right up to the ceiling, yet the clean-up was well under way. An army of helpers – employees and volunteers –was busy throwing ruined goods out on to the street while still others swept muck from the floorboards.
Dorothy threw down her broom and embraced Nicholas as soon as he crossed the threshold.
‘Welcome home, Nicky! How was the voyage?’
‘We weathered a storm while crossing the Equator but otherwise it was fair.’ Nicholas gazed around
