Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde (13 inch ebook reader TXT) 📕

about the fine furniture andstuck to her questions about Annabelle. 'Tell me to mind my own business - I'm sure youwill - but does Annabelle really likeworking for - in - an auction house?’

He was silent, as ifthinking about his answer.

‘If shedoesn't,' went on Flora, trying not to show her impatience,'why does she want to buy the shares so you have the majority shareholding?'

‘Shelikes to be in control,' he said slowly. 'She's very organised.'

‘But she wouldn't be in control,' saidFlora. 'You would.'

‘Annabelleand I are going to be married. It's more or less the same thing.'

‘Charles!It's not the same thing! Marriage doesn't bind you at the hip!' She thought ofhow her mother would react if anyonesuggested that getting married gave eitherpartner 'control'. And remembered, rather uncomfortably, Virginia's comments about Annabelle's plans.

‘Ireally don't want to discuss my private life with you, Flora,' Charles said coolly, at his verystuffiest.

‘You brought it up! I just wanted to knowwhy Annabelle wanted to get involved with abusiness she didn't like. After all, she could run her own business. Shedoesn't have to be linked to yours.'

‘Shecould but she feels . . .' He paused, drumming his fingers on thesteering wheel, apparently going through a mental thesaurus for the right words.

Flora gaveup trying to hide her frustration with his reserve.'She feels that it's a failing business and that you'd bebetter to sell it?' This was probably far too far too fastbut she was fed up with gossip and wanted to know thefacts, straight from the stuffed-horse's mouth. 'Who told you that?' the horse demanded.

‘Allthe porters know, Charles, and they are not at all happy. I don't knowif you were trying to keep it a secret, but you've failed.’

Charlessighed deeply. 'I suppose it's inevitable that it shouldget out. The thing is, we may not be able to stay in business even if Annabelle didwant to. We haven't made a profit for acouple of years.' Flora bit her lip,knowing what he was going to say. 'If we liquidated our property, we - you included - could make an absolutefortune.’

Florathought about the enormous house, only partly used, thehuge hall next door where the day before she'd experienced her first auction, and wherethe local community put on plays and flowershows and held discos, that alsohoused a nursery and a playgroup. With the amount of executive housingthey would provide, the fortune probablyamounted to millions.

‘I can see why you'retempted,' she said.

‘I'm nottempted!' Charles sounded really angry. 'I love thebusiness. But if it doesn't make money, we can't keep it on like a family retainer or anaged pet!'

‘Ifyou feel like that about it,' said Flora quietly, 'don't sell.'

‘Aren't you tempted by the moneyyourself?' He glanced across at her, genuinely curious.

She had hadtime to think about this already, but she consideredthe matter again, to check her feelings. 'Not really,'she said after a while. 'I haven't any dreams unfulfilledbecause of lack of funds. Besides . . .' She paused. What shewas about to say sounded so sentimental, but then shesaid it anyway. 'I'd prefer to see Stanza and Stanzasucceed. I haven't been here long, but I see why you loveit. I think if you gave me a chance I could come to love it too. So, what we have to do,'she went on quickly, before Charles couldpossibly comment, 'is to make thebusiness work, make it make money, then Annabelle won't put you underpressure to sell.’

Charlessighed. 'We could never make as much money as the property would raise.'

‘Iknow, but if it was more profitable, very profitable, possibly, she'd feel happier about it. And as Isaid before, she doesn't have to workin it if she doesn't want to. You've got me now.’

He frowned.'You're just here for the summer. The moment thelanes get muddy and it gets a bit chilly you'll be backoff to London before you can say Jack—'

‘I never,ever say Jack Robinson,' Flora interrupted. 'It's anabsolute rule of mine. Come to think of it, I've never heard anyone else say it, either.’

He pursedhis lips, possibly suppressing a smile -but,thought Flora, more likely suppressing irritation.

‘Tell youwhat,' she said, 'as your far-off cousin and yourpartner in this firm, I will undertake to get this businesson a better footing. Of course I can't promise to put itinto profit, but before the lanes get muddy and I'm eventempted by the thought of bright lights and sushibars, we'll be doing better. I give you my word.'

‘That's verykind of you, Flora,' he said quietly, 'but how onearth are you going to do that when you hardly know moreabout it than you can have picked up on the AntiquesRoadshow?'

‘Iknow a lot more about it now,' she said confidently.

Inc

‘I've been at myfirst sale, don't forget.' She became thoughtful. 'The AntiquesRoadshow,' she murmured. 'Hmm.’

*

The housewhere they were to do their valuation was on what hadonce been a council estate. It was a very tidy,well-ordered estate where many of the houses were nowprivately owned, but as it wasn't a gated community, full of large, detached propertieswith professionally mown lawns and indoor swimming pools, Flora thought she knew why Annabelle hadn't wantedto come.

‘It'sunlikely that there'll be anything of huge value here,' Charles said, 'but it's important to remember that these are the effects of a much-loved relative.You must be tactful. In fact, itwould be better if you didn't say much at all.’

As Charleshad no reason to think she'd be anything other thanthe soul of tact, Flora realised he'd probably sufferedfrom being with a less-than-sensitive Annabelle. 'Ofcourse,' she said. 'And there might very well be a Steiff teddy about to be thrown out.’

Charles frowned at her.'Very unlikely.’

The doorwas opened by a well-dressed woman in her fifties. 'Oh, hello. Was itdifficult to find?'

‘No,not at all,' said Charles, smiling at the woman with a mixture of kindness and charm which Flora couldn't have imagined directed at her. He didn'thave to be so stuffy, Flora noticed.He could unbend if he wanted to.

‘It's my uncle's house,' the woman wenton, still holding the door open, but notletting them in. 'It's in a bit of a state, I'm afraid. He didn't liketo throw anything away.'

‘Don'tworry about