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

have. 'Yes, I do. And William did say . . Should shetell Annabelle what William had said? She decidedthat she should. 'He said he'd really like to paint you.'

‘Did he? Oh, that's so cool.’

Floralaughed. It was nice to hear Annabelle using contemporary language. 'Mm.’

Annabelleappeared inordinately pleased, but then, thoughtFlora, it was a nice thing to hear about oneself.

‘But how canI get in touch with him if he hasn't got a mobile?' said Annabelle, allpracticality again.

‘I'lltry and see if I can get a message to him.' She didn't want to say she could just ask William to ring her, as she didn't think Annabelle knew thatWilliam was more or less living with her.

‘Couldyou do that? He could ring me. But it would have to be on my mobile as Ireally wouldn't want Charles to find out.It would spoil the surprise,' she added.

‘I'll see what I can do.'

‘Do please try quite hard, Flora.'

‘Iwill!' Honestly, once Annabelle decided she wanted something, she wanted itimmediately. Flora got to her feet, longing to go back to the others.

Annabellegot up too. 'Tell me, Flora, rumour had it that you were going out with HenryBurnet?'

‘Oh, well, sort of.'

‘Ijust wondered why you didn't invite him to your dinner party, or wasthat because of Charles?'

‘Idid invite him but he couldn't come. But why would Charles care? Don'the and Henry get on?'

‘No,not really, and I don't think he'd like it if he knew you two were goingout.'

‘Why not?'

‘Henry'sa bit of a bad lot, actually. Charles knew his ex-wife Natasha a little, and I think Henry treated her quite badly – Iknow Charles ran into her shortly after she'd found out about the affair and she was utterly distraught. He was horrified. And he feels quiteprotective towards his baby cousin.'She smiled, in case Flora was in anydanger of misinterpreting the word 'protective'. 'Come on. Let's get out of this hell-hole. By the way, Flora, do you really think that dress issuitable for an event like today?’

Chapter Fifteen

 The hallwas nearly empty when they got back to it. Charles was there,looking impatient, and all the euphoria seemed to have evaporated. They were just in adusty hall, waiting to go home.

‘Theothers have all gone to the pub, Flora,' he said. 'They wanted you to join them, but I thoughtperhaps we three might go out for a meal.'

‘That'sa lovely idea,' said Flora, keen to celebrate their success. 'I'mstarving.'

‘Ohgood.' He seemed very pleased. 'Then let's think where to go.'

‘But,Charles,' said Annabelle sharply, 'have you forgotten? We're havingdinner with Clarissa and Benjamin.'

‘Oh.I'd completely forgotten.' He looked at Flora, who instantly felt like a remnant from a jumble salethat no one wanted. 'Could we bring Flora with us?'

‘Don'tbe silly! They don't know her. And she wouldn't want to be dragged along and make things difficult for them!'

‘No,I wouldn't,' Flora agreed, suddenly feeling near to tears.

‘You go to thepub with the porters,' said Annabelle. 'Have a nice drink with them.’

Flora knew she had to get out of Charlesand Annabelle's presence very quickly ormake the most awful fool of herself.'Actually, I'm quite tired. I might just go home. Goodbye, both of you!'

‘Flora?'Charles called after her, but she didn't stop.

Once inthe car park, Flora took some deep breaths and thoughtabout what she wanted to do. She could ringHenry. He'd already rung her during the sale and asked herout, but she'd hoped - assumed, possibly -that she'd be going out with the peopleshe'd been working so hard with for the past few days.

But if shewent out with Henry now, while she was feeling soanti-climactic, she might drink too much and getmaudlin and depressed. So, should she join Virginia and the others? No. She'd go home, have a glass of wine, and tell William that Annabelle wanted her portraitpainted. Then she remembered she hadn't actually got Annabelle's mobile number. Oh well, she couldalways get it tomorrow.

*

As shedrove home, summer seemed to gather its skirts, and prepareto leave. Thunder began to rumble and in thedistance, sheet lightning lit the darkening sky. It had not yetstarted to rain, but the air smelt of it, and even London-bredFlora, who wasn't so aware of the signs, knew that when it came it would betorrential.

The firstspots of rain hit the windscreen as Flora turned theLand-Rover into the lane that led to the cottage. They were the size of pound coins and afterthe first few seconds, they became awaterfall. She slowed right down andswore mildly. As she negotiated the car through the rain the events of the day ran through her head.It would have been so nice to havegone out for a cosy meal with Charlesand the others, and that hadn't happened, but otherwise it had been a huge success. People had come in droves and, according to Geoffrey, who was theonly person she'd been able to ask,the quality of the items had on the whole been reasonably high.

And therewas Henry. She hadn't accepted his invitation forthat evening, but when she'd said no, he hadn't sounded too fed up: he'd ask her again.

It was onlywhen she thought about Charles her spirits got low,which was silly. They were getting on much better andhad really worked together well. That's all she wanted,after all. She was inordinately pleased to see William.

Aftershe'd had a hot bath and come down again in her dressinggown, he handed her a glass of wine. 'I expect you deserve that,' he said.

‘Oh, I definitely do!'

‘How did it go?'

‘Wonderfully.We had loads of people, the local paper sent someone and we might even be on the local news on telly.'

‘So,what's bothering you?' He handed her a bowl of sunflower seeds and cashew nutsthat he had roasted in the oven and sprinkled with soy sauce.

‘Nothing. Why do you ask?'

‘You'rejust not your cheery little self, that's all. And if something you've organised has gone reallywell, you should be on cloud nine.’

Flora tooka sip of wine. She'd been trying hard to convinceherself that she was perfectly fine, but she wasn't,really. 'I expect I'm just tired. And I did think we mightall go out for a meal together, afterwards. But Charles andAnnabelle had