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

shereally wanted to know what Virginia had to say aboutCharles and Annabelle - because, personally, she found themrather mystifying. 'I don't think Charles and Annabellewere ever in love, really,' said Virginia after a moment's thought. 'Or if theywere, it never showed when they were in the office together.'

‘Iwould think they're both quite private people, really. They wouldn'tcanoodle in public.’

Virginiagiggled. 'Canoodle! That's a nice old-fashioned word. ButI didn't mean that, really. On the other hand, how can youtell what goes on in anyone else's relationship?It's hard enough to keep track of your own, sometimes.But with Charles and Annabelle it always seemed more like a sort of businessrelationship than anythingelse.'

‘Oh.'This tied in with what Charles had told her at the dinner party - not in so many words, but it gave the sameimpression.

‘Wellnow,' said Virginia, 'if you've had your tea, you'd better take some over to Eric Expert. He's aboutdue for another cup.’

Floranodded. 'I'll find Charles first, and check on his name.'

‘Oh, he's got ahuge queue. Take him some tea, too.’

Flora setthe cup and saucer at his elbow and Charles glanced upfrom the cow-creamer he had just described as 'having a nice touch of antiquityabout it' and smiled. She felt inordinately pleased for amoment and then realisedit should have been Annabelle who was supporting him, not her.

Florahadn't realised she knew so many people in Bishopsbridge,or that they knew her. So many people came up andsaid hello, all thoroughly enjoying themselves. 'That man off the telly told memy old pot's worth thirty pounds! Can youbelieve it! It was the dog's waterbowl. Better buy him a plastic one instead.'

‘Well, myaunt died a couple of months back. I was going toget one of those house-clearance people in, but I reckonI'll get one of your lot over to value the furniture.'

‘That'sthe best thing to do,' said Flora. 'There's bound to be a few valuable things there.' Flora wasn'tsure if she knew this woman or not,but as she seemed to know her, she carried on as if she did. 'Have aleaflet.’

She'd goneback to the office to print off more fliers twice already, and had nearly run outagain.

Flora sawthat Charles had handed his queue over to Geoffrey.The crowds were thinning now and he came over, carrying his cup and saucer.

‘I've askedAnnabelle to open up the office to use as a temporarystore. There are people who don't want to come back withstuff they've agreed to put in the next sale.' He lookedat Flora, particularly at her dirty face and feet. 'We'll have to put on anextra one. We didn't have anything scheduled until the autumn.'

‘You mustbe thrilled, Charles,' said Virginia. 'This was a brilliant idea of Flora's.’

Annabelle joined them. 'Yes, it was anamazing success. Who'd have thought it? Howdid everyone know they were going to be on television? Eric only agreed to come at the last minute. And then thelocal TV news turned up. It musthave been pure fluke.'

‘Not quite afluke, Annabelle,' said Charles. 'I did contact the news office.'

‘Yes, but why did all those peoplecome?'

‘Floraput a very attractive advertisement in all the local papers,' saidCharles.

Floralooked down at her feet, which were now very grubby.She should have worn jeans, or a suit, not a skimpy summer dress and sandals.

‘Imust say, Flora,' said Annabelle. 'You've turned out to be surprisingly useful.' She put her hand onFlora's shoulder. 'Come and have alittle word. There's something I want to ask you.'

‘Don'tkeep her too long, Annabelle,' said Charles. 'She's been here sincebefore dawn and must be exhausted.'

‘Notbefore dawn,' said Flora. 'I think Dawn and I arrived at about the sametime.’

He laughed, showing his teeth, whichwere very straight and white, either theproduct of good genes or good orthodontics.

‘I won't keep her long, you don't haveto worry. There's just a little question Iwant to ask her about clothes. School reunion?’

TrustAnnabelle, thought Flora, to have ducked out of all the work involved in theroadshow and then just expect Flora to put her mind to what she should wear to her school reunion.

Annabelle checked that the little roomthey had squashed themselves into, full ofchild-sized chairs and tables, plasticride-on toys and space hoppers, was far enough away from the main hall to be safe from anyone listening. 'First of all, it's lovely that youand Charles are getting on better. He was so annoyed with you at first.'

‘I know.'

‘And I was thinking of wearing a navysuit, but' -she raised a hand in mockreproof - 'I knew you'd tell me offif I didn't add a scarf or something. What colour, do you think?’

Aware thatoutside everyone was clearing up and sharing in the aftermath of theirsuccess, Flora tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Ireally wouldn't wear a suit, Annabelle. Terribly matronly,unless you wear it with nothing underneath and show a lot ofcleavage.'

‘Oh.'

‘Andnavy? It sounds more suitable for a Conservative Party meeting than agirlie night out.'

‘TheConservative colour is royal blue, you know.' Flora slumped in her tinychair. 'So it is.’

`So Iwon't wear the suit then, but there was something else I wanted to ask you.'

‘Yes?'Virginia and some of the others were going to the pub afterwards. Flora was hoping that Charles was going too. If Annabelle kept her too long, theymight all go off without her.

‘Can you give meWilliam's mobile number?’

‘He hasn't got a mobile.'

‘He hasn't! How on earth does he manage?’

Florashrugged, as mystified as Annabelle. 'Why do you want it, anyway?'

‘I've had an idea. It's a bit of asecret.'

‘What?'Annabelle didn't seem a 'secret' sort of person, really.

‘I want him to paint my portrait. As awedding present, for Charles! Do you thinkhe could do it by November?’

It seemedterribly soon, somehow. 'Is that when the wedding is? What a funny time of year.'

‘Yes,it is, rather, but the abbey gets terribly booked up in spring and summer. It's also when Daddy'sinsurance policy matures, to pay for it.'

‘You're all practicality, Annabelle.'

‘Iknow, and a jolly good thing too. But I do think a portrait of me would be something Charles wouldreally like. Don't you?’

Florathought. Her father had had a pastel done of her motherwhen they were first married, and it was a lovelything to