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

Imight give Henry a ring! We could have a drink,' she said before remembering how Charles felt about Henry. But honestly, she was perfectly capable oflooking after herself – and Charles should realise that.

‘Oh.Very well,' he said stiffly. 'I'll put the keys under the dustbin by theback steps.'

‘Fine.'Flora smiled more genuinely. Ringing Henry was a very good idea. It would do her good to see him.

*

WhenGeoffrey heard that Flora was stuck in town and wasplanning to go for a drink with Henry, he shook his head,very disapproving. 'You could have had some tea with meand Edie, Flora. It would have been no trouble.'

‘You'revery kind. Do you think it will matter if I turn up without my music? I had actually put it in the car, butAnnabelle's got it.'

‘Noone will mind sharing. I'm just not all that happy about this Henry Burnet.' Geoffrey obviouslyconsidered himself in loco parentis.

Because itwas Geoffrey, whom she loved, rather than Charles being bossy, Flora found thisrather sweet. 'This way I can finally keep a date with him, but notspend a whole evening, or have to get him to drive me home or anything. And really, you don't needto worry.’

Notentirely pacified, Geoffrey went home and Flora made her way to the pub.

‘It'sgood to actually see you, Henry,' she said, kissing his cheek. 'I've been so busy lately, and thenyou couldn't come to my dinner party.'

‘I'mflattered you could find the time to see me now.' He raised a slightly cynical eyebrow that tweakedat Flora's conscience.

She pattedhis hand. 'And I'm really flattered you still want tobother with me. I know I'm far too busy to be any fun.’

Mollified,Henry smiled. 'Better the occasional drink togetherthan none at all. Now, what would you like?'

‘Thesedrinks are definitely on me. And do have a bar snack withme. I've got to be at choir in a couple of hours.’

Henry sighed. 'I'm lucky you could fitme in.'

‘You are! But now the roadshow's overthings shouldn't be quite so frantic. I'llmake it up to you, I promise.’

As shecarried the drinks over to where Henry was sittingshe reflected that she had treated him very badly and thatshe must do something nice for him soon. As long as hedidn't expect anything she wasn't prepared to give, hewas good company. And good for her slightly bruised ego.

*

Floraarrived at choir slightly late, having had one and a halfglasses of wine. She apologised profusely, but luckilyMoira had brought in a very nice station clock the daybefore, which had been valued for five hundred pounds; Flora was definitely in her goodbooks.

Afterwards,she was surprised to see lights on at Stanza andStanza as she approached. Geoffrey, who hadinsisted on walking with her, hurrying through the pouring rain, was too.

‘Charlesdoes keep very late hours, sometimes,' he commented, 'but half past nine is later than usual.’

Charlesgreeted them at the top of the steps. 'I'm afraid Annabelle didn't get back.’

Flora feltsuddenly sick. 'My God, how awful! What could have happened?'

‘She'sall right. She rang, but I'm afraid she put the Land-Rover in the ditch. She's spending the night with herparents.’

Reliefmingled with a Cassandra-like feeling that all would havebeen well if she hadn't given Annabelle her car keys.'As long as she's all right. What about the Land-Rover?'

‘It'sall right, too. We'll get it pulled out in the morning. In the meantime,I'm going to drive you home.'

‘As Isee you're in good hands now, I'll be off,' said Geoffrey. "Night,Flora, 'night, Charles.’

When hehad gone, Flora said, 'There's no earthly need for you to take me home. I'll drivemyself. My car's just in the yard.'

‘It'll never get down the lane inthis.'

‘Then I'llcall a taxi. You've been here hours. You must be longing to get back.'

‘I'm fine,and I'm not having you waiting hours for a cab that will probably get stuck, too. We'll be fine in my car.’

Florarealised that Charles was annoyed and could sympathise,but she didn't really want him driving her home in that sort of mood.

‘I'llcall a cab. It's miles out of your way and you'd have to come and pick me up in the morning. It's silly for youto drive me. Logistically.'

‘Don'tuse words you don't understand. Now come on.’

Floraopened her mouth wide with indignation. 'Only joking. Have you goteverything?’

Chapter Sixteen

‘It's stillraining,' she said, aware that she was stating theblooming obvious for about the eighteenth time, but finding itnecessary to break the silence. They were drivingvery slowly, the windscreen wipers going at doublespeed. 'Was Annabelle with her parents all day?'

‘I don'tknow. Her mobile was switched off for most of it.'

‘Well,there's not much point in wasting the battery when there's not much coverage.' Flora did her best to sound nonchalant, but she couldn't help wonderingif William might have had something to do with her absence. But he hadn't had any painting materialswith him, so they couldn't haveactually made a start on the portrait, could they?

‘No.'

‘Ihaven't seen rain like this for a long time,' said Flora, a little later. 'Thelast time I did, I was in the Caribbean.'

‘Andit's been dry for so long, the water's all staying on the surface and the drains can't cope. Still,don't worry, I'll get you home all right.'

‘I'm sure you will. And I can always geta taxi in tomorrow morning. You reallywon't want to drag yourself all the way out there to collect me.’

Charlesgave her the briefest smile. 'There's always thekittens, Flora. They make any journey worthwhile.'

‘But won'tyou have Annabelle with you? She doesn't like kittens, remember.'

‘Shecan drive herself in, like she did today. It suits us better sometimes. She likes to come in a bitlater and I'm not always ready to finish at five.’

Annabelledid not deserve such a hard-working fiancé. No wondershe was set on marrying him. In Annabelle's eyes, ifshe could only get Charles to give as much dedication andenergy as he did to the auction house to somethingmore lucrative, he would become the perfect husband.

‘Iknow. I'm so sorry about you having to drive me back. You've been working so hard today, you must want to gohome and pour yourself a large drink.'

‘It'snot your fault you can't drive yourself, Flora, and you've been working just as