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

a vampire, Charles,' said Flora, strangely pleased.

‘You'rea lot more dangerous than that. Come on.’

Charlesand Flora were still drying up when the others came back.They all seemed a little more dishevelled than whenthey went out and Emma had goose-grass draped over her shoes.

Flora putdown her tea towel and picked it off. 'My mothercalls this "wild sellotape". Did you hear any nightingales?’

Annabellesighed. 'No, but it was so beautiful. We should allwalk at night more often, it's a forgotten pleasure.'

‘Well,I think I'm going to take you home now,' said Charles. 'Flora, thank you for a lovely evening.' And he kissedher cheek, disturbingly near her ear.

‘Yes,it's been great,' said Jeremy. 'A really splendid meal.' His kiss was quite hearty. 'Emma? I'll bein touch.'

‘Yes, do,'said Emma, with a smile that was only just short of a smirk.

‘Flora!'Annabelle took hold of Flora's shoulders and kissed her. 'Fabulous mealand everything.'

‘I didn't cook it, Annabelle.'

‘Iknow, but you did set it up and it was all super.’

‘I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself.’

Annabelleturned to William. 'What can I say? That walk was magical.'

‘I'm glad you enjoyed it.'

‘Youknow so much about the countryside and everything.'

‘Well, I spend a lot of time in it.'

‘Come on,' said Charles. 'It's late.’

Charles atlast got Annabelle and Jeremy into the car and Emma,William and Flora watched them drive away from the doorstep.

‘Ithink that went really well,' said Flora. 'What did you two think?'

‘Jeremywas very nice,' said Emma. 'Annabelle was a bit scary, though.'

‘Didyou think so?' said William. 'I thought she was very friendly and she has really interesting features, in that strong, Pre-Raphaelite way. I'd really liketo paint her.’

Flora tookthis in for a moment, wondering if her make-overcould possibly take any credit for Annabelle's strongfeatures, and deciding that it couldn't. 'Well, anyway, you were a star! And soeconomical!’

Williamshrugged. 'Why pay for food when you can get it for nothing?’

*

Later,while Flora was brushing her teeth, she reflected that sheand Charles seemed to have moved on. Now she knewwhy he was so wary of her, assuming she was a bitch because of Justin, thingsshould go much better. She was surprised to realise quite howrelieved she was that the atmosphere between her and Charles hadbeen cleared. It had obviously been getting to hermore than she'd known, and if she was back in his goodbooks then they could both stop treading on eggshellsand get on with getting Stanza and Stanza back on track.

Yes, thingshad definitely changed between them tonight, but it wasn't just thatthey'd gone back to how they were before the row - it felt moreas if they were actually becoming friends, rather than politepartners, and she was surprised again to register how muchthat meant to her. Perhaps if the roadshow went reallywell, he might stop thinking of her as a dumb blonde andsee her as a reallyuseful person.

ChapterFourteen

‘Thank youso much for dinner,' said Charles on Monday morning.

He andAnnabelle were getting out of their car. Flora had justparked the Land-Rover and waited when she saw themarrive. She felt strangely excited to see Charles again andput it down to their new, improved relationship.

‘Yes,it was wonderful! Imagine! All that lovely food for free!' saidAnnabelle.

‘Well,add a couple of pints of double cream and some parmesan,' said Flora. 'Any old weed tastes nice if you know what to do with it.' She smiled, hoping shehadn't sounded churlish.

‘Thechocolate mousse was delicious,' said Charles.

Florasuddenly remembered him looking at the smears ofchocolate on her and found herself blushing. She cleared herthroat. 'Well, I'm really glad you both enjoyed yourselves.'

‘Sodid Jeremy,' said Annabelle. 'He seems very taken by your girlfriend. You must tell me all abouther sometime.’

By now, the three of them had reachedthe back entrance to the office, so Florawas spared having to respond toAnnabelle's request for information about Emma. It was Monday morning and she wanted to focus on the week ahead. She was feeling much more optimistic about everything now things were betterbetween her and Charles. It wouldsurely be easier to get Stanza andStanza profitable now Charles realised she was on the same team. And she was rather hoping for some helpwith the roadshow.

‘Where'sLouisa?' asked Annabelle as they all arrived in the office. 'I'm desperate for a coffee. Oh, of course, it's Monday!'

‘I'll make it,'said Flora. 'How do you like it?’

‘Black, two sugars.'

‘Charles?'

‘The same, please.’

Shebrought a tray of coffee through to Charles's office where Annabelle and he wereensconced.

‘Have youbrought coffee for yourself ?' asked Charles. 'We needto discuss this roadshow on Wednesday'

‘Ah yes. Sowe do,' said Flora, thanking God he'd decided toget involved. 'I'll run and make myself a cup of tea.’

She wasputting off the moment, she knew. By now someone,probably Charles, would have read the various advertisementsshe'd placed and found out what she'd done. Or atleast, some of what she'd done. She hadn't paid forall her sins by the word - some of them would come to light later.

‘Right,' said Charles, when Flora hadpulled up another chair to the desk. 'I'vespoken to Geoffrey. He's on side.And I've got Bob Butler and another couple of retired auctioneers tocome along.'

‘Darling, we won't need all thosepeople,' said Annabelle.'What on earth were you thinking of?'

‘Ithink it's good to have plenty of people there to help,' Charles went on smoothly. 'We don't wantto keep people waiting too long.'

‘Forgoodness' sake! We'll be lucky if anyone comes at all. No way will there be enough people to form a queue.'

‘Younever know,' said Flora brightly, realising that Charles had seen the advertisements but that Annabelle hadn't and he hadn't told her about them. Itseemed to give them a sort ofsolidarity. 'Do you think we should have somewhere where people can getdrinks and snacks?'

‘Excellent idea,' said Charles. 'Theporters will organise that if I ask them.'

‘They'llneed to be paid, don't forget,' said Annabelle,'and this is all very speculative. It's probably far too short notice for them to organise anything, anyhow.'

‘Actually,I spoke to one or two of them at choir,' said Flora.

‘What?' Annabelle frowned.

‘Because Isee them at choir, I took the opportunity to askthem if they could do something at short notice, should itbe necessary.' This wasn't quite how she'd put it