Lizzie's Secret Read Online Free Page A

fine straw when the door opened behind her and someone swore loudly.
    â€˜What the hell has happened here?’
    Lizzie swung round to see a man staring at the shelves in disgust. He had light brown hair that waved back from his forehead, but because it was too long, a bit of it fell forward into his eyes. His eyes were a greenish brown and his mouth was wide, his nose a little long.
    â€˜What’s wrong? I’m doing the stocktaking and putting everything together so that it’s easier to check what we’ve got…’
    â€˜You foolish little girl.’ He looked so arrogant that Lizzie was angry too. ‘We put all the same colour together, regardless of what the material is and then it’s easy to find what you need… now we’ll be searching for ages to find the right match…’
    â€˜But it will be easy when I finish,’ Lizzie argued. ‘Everything was all jumbled up…’
    â€˜It was where I wanted it.’ He glared at her. ‘Where are the cottons and braids?’
    â€˜Over there by the window. They don’t need a huge shelf to themselves. This way you can see how much you’ve got in felts and silks and grosgrains and – you’ve hardly got any pink felt left and only that bit of blue and no black at all…’
    â€˜I meant to order all of those last week, but we were too busy,’ he said, examining the shelves. ‘What would you do if I said I wanted it all back the way it was?’
    â€˜I’ve got no idea how it was, except it was a jumbled-up mess.’
    â€˜Oh, was it?’ He glared at her for a moment and then suddenly grinned. ‘I suppose it may be better when you’ve finished and we all know where to look… I’m Harry Oliver by the way. I presume you’re Lizzie Larch?’
    â€˜Yes. So you’re Mr Oliver’s nephew,’ Lizzie said, still wary. ‘He called you lazy and said you were supposed to do the stocktaking last week…’
    â€˜I never have the time,’ Harry said. ‘Oh, well, we’ll give your system a try, Lizzie. I need some red silk grosgrain and some black veiling…’
    â€˜That shelf has all the grosgrain – and that one is going to have silk and the straw is going there, and that one is for velvets, and stiffening materials here– and all the veiling and silk ribbons are here on the floor.’
    â€˜We haven’t got much black veiling left. Are you certain this is all of it?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Lizzie looked at her list. ‘It says there’s only a third of a roll left and there are three yards in a roll…’
    â€˜Damn it! That won’t trim six hats.’ Harry glared as if it were her fault. ‘I’d better go and fetch some from the wholesaler.’
    He went out without another glance in her direction. Lizzie looked at her watch. She’d been left to get on all day and no one had brought her a mug of tea through, though she knew they were supposed to stop for one at three o’clock. She’d almost got the shelves to her liking and she would just about finish the materials today. Tomorrow, she would have to start on all those trimmings and lengths of ribbons, to say nothing of the feathers and the silk flowers…

Chapter 3
    â€˜So how did you get on today?’ Beth’s mother asked when she entered the kitchen. ‘Was it all right?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Beth sniffed appreciatively. ‘Something smells good tonight?’
    â€˜I hope you’re hungry? We’re having lamb chops.’
    â€˜Everything you cook is lovely, Mum.’ She hesitated, then, ‘If I gave you an extra couple of bob a week could you put another bun or sausage roll in my lunch packet?’
    â€˜Were you still hungry?’
    â€˜I’d like to offer Lizzie a bun or something. I don’t think she gets very much nice at home – and I’m so