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

hard. The roadshowhas put a huge extra load oneveryone, although they're all reallypleased about it,' he added, possibly aware that Flora might feel this was a criticism. 'But I must admit, at home there's a very nice single malt that's gotmy name on it.'

‘Hasit? That's very grand, Charles. I know you can have—'

‘Notliterally.' He took his eyes off the road for just a second. 'It actually has the name of anunpronounceable Scottish island on it.'

‘Imust say I might well change my name to Svetlana, or something. Emma brought some vodka with her. There'sa bit left.'

‘It won't be long now before you can getat it.’

Flora frowned. 'Not at this rate. We'reonly going about five miles an hour. How many miles is it?'

‘Idon't know. It's not far, really. It's such a nuisance about the Land-Rover. I probably wouldn't have letyou drive alone, but I could have gotyou home safely.'

‘You're notimplying you can't get me home, are you?' Thethought of spending the night with Charles in a roadsideinn set up a feeling of panic she couldn't quite explain.

‘Notat all. It would have been easier in the Land-Rover, that's all.'

‘Atleast Annabelle is OK. That's the important thing.'

‘Yes. And Idon't expect the Land-Rover will have anythingwrong with it either, once it's out of the ditch. I don'tknow what's got into her. She isn't usually so careless.'

‘Theroad conditions are awful. She probably wasn't careless at all.’

Charlesdidn't answer and they sat in silence. The road was getting worse and, likeCharles, she was concentrating on it, tryingto see through the rain that thewipers couldn't quite keep up with, watching for flooding orobstructions.

‘How was choir tonight?'

‘Alot of people didn't make it. I probably wouldn't have come out in thisif I'd gone home.'

‘And what did you do beforehand?'

‘I had a drink and a snack with Henry.'

‘Ohyes.' Charles cleared his throat, fiercely focusing on the road ahead. 'So are you and he "anitem"?’

Florastifled a laugh. The words sounded so strange coming outof Charles's mouth. The inverted commas were almostaudible. She was about to deny there was anythingserious going on between her and Henry, but thenremembered his original opinion of her. She didn't want him to think she was ahussy just when her hard work and dedication to duty hadconvinced him she wasn't. 'We're not an item yet, but who knows? He's very good company.'

‘That rather depends on your definitionof "good company". I don't knowif I'd describe him like that myself. He's divorced, after all.'

‘Soare lots of people! It doesn't necessarily make you a bad lot! Besides, Idefine "good company" as someone who makes me laugh.'

‘That rules me out, then.’

Floraallowed her chuckle to escape. 'You do make me laughsometimes, Charles. But sometimes - like now, for instance - you can be awfullystuffy.'

‘I think you've told me that before.'

‘Well then. Stop being stuffy!'

‘I'lldo my best.' He took his eyes off the road again and smiled at her. 'But it's hard to go against nature.'

‘It's notnature! It's habit. Anyway, did I tell you? We've gota concert coming up. The choir, I mean, not you and me.' Flora was aware that she'dsuddenly become flippant, but couldn'tdecide if it was a good or a bad thing.

Charlesignored the flippancy. 'A concert? How nice. Annabelle and I should come.'

‘I'mthinking of asking Mum if she'd like to come over for it. She hasn't been to England for a while and she really wants to see the cottage. She can'tquite believe how I've taken to country life.’

Charleslaughed. 'Well, I must say, you've surprised us all.'

‘I don't see why!’

He laughedagain. 'I know now that I was quite wrong, but whenyou first appeared you didn't look like such a hard worker.'

‘I'vetold you before, you shouldn't judge by appearances. It's a greatmistake.'

‘It's not a mistake I'll make again. Notwith you, anyway. So, how are the kittens?'he asked, as the road improved a little.

‘Fine. Theyhaven't changed much since the weekend.’

‘Idon't suppose they have. I was just making conversation.'

‘Well,please don't on my account. I'm your work colleagueand your cousin, not someone you need to charm.'

‘Oh, I don't know about that.'

‘Charles?'

‘Isometimes wish I had your social skills, that's all.’

‘But I'm always putting my foot in it!'

‘Youmake people feel relaxed and good about themselves. It's a great gift.One I don't share.'

‘Yes,you do!' Flora was indignant. 'Think how lovely you were with those people in that grisly house. You made out it was all perfectly normal and theybelieved you. Hell, I believed you! Iwas really worried that I'd be facing squalor like that every week!'

‘That's different. That's work.'

‘Well,as you work most of the time, that's OK. You probably don't have much time for a social life anyway. Talkingof which, how's Jeremy?'

‘He'sfine. Very keen on your chum Emma, by the way. Is she available?'

‘Yesand no. She's with someone but I don't think he's anything like goodenough for her.'

‘And what does Emma feel?'

‘Idon't think she knows, really. But she liked Jeremy, too. It would be good for her to be with someonewho's kind to her.'

‘Ireally brought him along for your benefit, Flora. I thought it would be nice for you to havesomeone to take you out while you'redown here.' He scowled through therain-drenched windscreen. 'But you didn't need my help in findingsomeone to squire you around.'

‘Thatis a lovely, old-fashioned expression,' she said, refusing to be drawn on Henry. 'Only you woulduse it.'

‘Don't change the subject.'

‘I'mnot, I'm just not willing to talk about Henry.’

‘It's not my place to comment, but—'

‘Thenplease don't comment. As you said yourself, it's not your place. And it's only been a couple of drinks and perhaps a lunch.' Just at that moment, Floracouldn't think how many times she'dbeen out with Henry. 'Like you, I'm far too busy to go out much.'

‘Forgiveme if I doubt that it's always like that for you, Flora.'

‘Ofcourse I'll forgive you, and no, it isn't always like that for me. It's just that this time it's half mybusiness. It does make it a whole lot more interesting.' She frowned. 'Although actually, I think if I wasjust working for Stanza and StanzaI'd feel the same. It's so fascinating.

I'mseriously considering training, although I know it