Thorns And Roses

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Eleanore was woken up by Toby shaking her arm. "Mum. Mum, It's the mornin', there's someone knockin' at the shop door."

Lifting her head to gaze at him through her mess of curls she looked at him and then lay back down and turned over, thinking she was dreaming. This annoyed Toby who shook her harder "Mum! There's someone outside! Please wake up!"

Finally registering what he was saying, she turned back over and moved the hair out of her face to gaze at him properly. "People outside?"

"Yeah," He nodded "Two of 'em."

"Toby it's Sunday, they should know the shop is closed..." She said in confusion.

"I know mum, but they won't leave. They've been knockin' for a bit now. They seem to wanna speak to ya."

Eleanore sat up on her elbows, sufficiently more awake now that she had fully realised the situation. "Toby, 'and me my robe would ya son?" She threw off her bedcovers and slipped on her robe before making her way out of the bedroom and towards the shop. Her body tensed up when she saw two figures behind the glass door of her shop. But she relaxed almost instantly when she realised that the two were women, both dressed immaculately in pretty dresses and bonnets.

She tied her robe around her waist and opened the door, poking her head out. It was then that she recognised one of her visitors. "Edith!"

"Hello Eleanore, I'm sorry for the hour but my sister and I insisted upon seeing you today." She smiled then looked sheepishly at her nightgown clad body "If this is a bad time, we can come back a different day..."

"No, no." She insisted, opening the door. "Please. Come in, I'll get the kettle on for you."

"Thank you." Edith was the first to step inside when her sister, a younger and fresh-faced doe-eyed version of herself strode in behind her and grinned broadly at Eleanore.

"I'm Amelia, Mrs Lovett. It's so lovely to finally meet you. I have so much to say to you, to give to you. I-"

"Oh, would you stop blithering on and let the poor woman inside her own shop." Edith rested her head on Amelia's shoulder, and the younger woman nodded, stepping aside so Eleanore could walk around the counter and hang the kettle ready to boil.

Behind her, Amelia looked around the shop with awe in her big blue eyes. Eleanore was suddenly reminded of Lucy. The two were very similar in looks, so much so that it gave her a memory of a young and chatty Lucy coming into her shop with that lovely smile of hers. One Eleanore admittedly missed every so often.

"I've heard so much about this place!" Amelia said enthusiastically "They say you have the best pies in London. Are they just meat pies or do you do apple ones? Or just fruits in general? Or I suppose you might do a range of pastries?"

Eleanore was cut off each time she opened her mouth to answer a part of her question. This woman was like a child or an excited puppy. She talked at about a hundred miles per hour. Now she was beginning to remind her of herself.

"Amelia often talks," Edith said, taking off her bonnet with an amused smirk. "Trouble is she can't hear over the sound of her own voice."

Amelia bit her lip and blushed a little "Sorry."

The baker chuckled "Think nothin' of it love, I do meat mainly but I've started makin' fruit pies and cakes, and they're starting ta sell too. In fact, would ya care for a piece?"

"Ooh yes please!" She nodded.

Edith rolled her eyes and placed a box she had been carrying on the seat of the booth. "That would be lovely, thank you."