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

He glancedat her briefly before turning his gaze back to theroad. They were still travelling very slowly. 'You could doit part time, while you work. Lots of people do.'

‘Well, isn't that nice? That's the firsttime you've behaved as if I'm going to behere for longer than the summer!’

Hechuckled. 'I must be beginning to believe your propaganda.'

‘Propaganda, indeed.'

‘Youwouldn't think there could be so much rain in the sky, would you?' hesaid a little later.

‘No.I expect the land needs it though, doesn't it?’

‘Mm, if itdoesn't all run off. Slow, steady rain that sinks in is what farmers like.'

‘So Annabelle's father will be happy?'

‘He'snot really a farmer in a way most people would recognise. More an "agri-businessman". He makes most of his money from investments. Property, by andlarge.' He paused, as if debatingwhether or not he should pursue thisconversation. 'I owe him a great deal, and he'd like me to join him.'

‘Oh.' Flora stopped herself from sayingmore. It explained why Annabelle only likedStanza and Stanza for the property it owned.

‘ButI can't really see myself getting interested in renting office blocks inLondon.'

‘You could getinterested in starter homes, though?’

‘Annabelle'sfather doesn't do starter homes. He's not interested inanything other than the top end of the market.'

‘Oh,' said Flora again.

‘Besides, I have a business I love.'

‘And I love it too.’

His sighwas audible over the sound of the engine. 'Annabelle and her parents think Ishould sell out to you.Let you take it over.’

Flora realised that for him it must belike them suggesting to a mother that theyput their child up for adoption. Theyhad probably tried to convince him that it would all be for the best.

‘I'dnever buy you out, Charles. Apart from the fact that I'd never have the money, I couldn't run Stanza and Stanza without you - even if I trained and had abit more experience. It would takeme years and years before I had even a tiny fraction of your knowledge.'She frowned. 'What on earth must they havebeen thinking to suggest something like that?'

‘That you're very enthusiastic, youalready own slightly over half of it, andcould employ Geoffrey to help you.'

‘They reallyhave discussed it, haven't they?' He nodded.

‘They're talking absolute gibberish, aren't they?' He noddedagain.

‘Youwouldn't sell out to me if I offered you a million pounds, would you?’

He shookhis head. 'Not to you, and not to anyone, unless I absolutely had to.'

‘Well,you won't have to. Not if I have anything to do with it,' said Florabriskly.

Charleslooked at her a little oddly, and she wondered why. Yet she didn't feel able to askhim.

‘Iwon't be able to give you alcohol,' she said, 'but I can offer you a nice cup of tea when we get home,'she said. 'Possibly a biscuit.'

‘I'dreally appreciate that,' said Charles. 'Especially the biscuit. It'staking longer than I expected.'

‘Andwe're not there yet. I'll ring Annabelle and tell herhow slow we're being. We don't want her to worry.’

‘Oh, I'm sure she's not doingthat.’

*

'I thinkI'll stop here,' said Charles a little later. 'Before it getstoo narrow. Will you be all right on foot?’

‘Of course. But how will you turn round?'

‘Ishould manage to turn here OK. But I won't take you up on your kindoffer of tea.’

Floracouldn't decide if she was relieved or sorry. 'I'll stay with you in case you need a push.'

‘There's no need—'

‘Oh, shut up and do your three-pointturn.’

He did.Perfectly. Flora was forced to get out into the mud.'Thank you so much!' she said through the car window.

‘I should have just taken you home withme.’

The wordstugged at her heart in a strange way. 'I couldn't have gone. The kittens.'

‘Ohyes. Well, goodnight, Flora. Don't stand there in the rain. Go home. And I suggest you take yourshoes off and go barefoot.’

Shegrinned, already soaked down to her knickers.

It seemeda very long time since she'd left home that morning.She was completely drenched. She padded to thekitchen to wash the mud off her feet before going upstairsto feel the hot tank and check on Imelda and her brood.The tank was hot and Imelda and the kittens were allfine, and Flora began to relax. She turned on the tapsand began to run herself a bath. While the water wasrunning, she climbed out of the skirt that was sticking toher, and pulled off her top and then her underwear. Shewas chilly without her clothes and pulled on herdressing gown. What she needed was a hot cup of tea. Sheturned off the taps and went back downstairs.

The kettlehad just boiled when she heard the knock on thedoor. It was either William or Charles, she decided, and went to answer it. It was Charles.

‘Igot stuck a bit further along the lane,' he said, dripping on thedoorstep. 'Can I come in?’

Floraopened the door wide, finding a smile forcing its waypast her embarrassment at being caught in her dressing gown when she wasn'texpecting visitors. She found herself very pleased to see him.'Oh dear. But never mind, I've just run a bath and the kettlewill have boiled by now. Which would you like first, a bathor a cup of tea?'

‘Youmust have run the bath for yourself. I couldn't take it from you.’

The thoughtthat they could share it floated into Flora's mind fromnowhere, like a wicked butterfly. She mentally brushed itoff. 'Tea then? Or coffee? Will you ring the AA or someone?'

‘No. I've rung Annabelle and told her Iwon't be home.'

‘Oh! And she didn't mind?'

‘Shesaid you had a very comfortable sofa and it would be better to sort it all out in the morning, whenthe rain will have stopped.’

‘Oh.' Almost too generous, Annabelle.

‘Irealise you probably don't want guests tonight, when you must be sotired.'

‘You'retired too. And you don't need to sleep on the sofa. There's a perfectly good guest room. I'll make some tea.' Suddenly feeling very naked under herdressing gown, Flora retired to thekitchen and then turned in the doorway. 'Or there's the vodka?'

‘Let's have the vodka and the tea.’

She found aglass and some tonic and made him a drink. 'I tell you what, I'll get inthe bath, just quickly, and then you can have it after me. You must be chillyand it