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

‘To do the washing-up?' suggested Flora.

‘No.She has staff!' Annabelle regarded Flora as if she'd gone mad. 'AndHugo. He's her husband.’

Floranodded. The Asylum for the Bewildered seemed both nearer and more attractive thanever.

‘You wereawfully good,' said William, whom Flora hadn't seen for ages.

Florasmiled at him. He was very good-looking and seemed tohave become very civilised since his days of living inthe woods. And when had he become part of Annabelle's social circle?

‘Haveyou met my mother?' she asked him. 'Mum, this is Emma's friend,William.'

‘Who's Emma?' said Annabelle.

‘Youmet her at my dinner party,' said Flora firmly. 'The dinner party where you and Charles met William.'

‘Oh yes, Iremember, the one Jeremy fancied.' Emma satisfactorilydismissed, Annabelle went on, 'Is there any chance we could get a look roundthe house, do you think? We did have that very jolly dinner withhim. We're hardlystrangers, after all.’

Henry wastalking to James and a couple of other choirmembers, Flora could see. 'He's very touchy about lettinganyone in. I was only allowed across the threshold myself because I knew him already.'

‘Heknows me already, too. We all had that dinner together,' she repeated. 'I'll go and ask him. Are you coming,Charles?'

‘Iwant a quick word with Flora and if she says we wouldn't be welcome in the house, I'm not going to press thepoint,' said Charles.

‘Thenyou come with me, William.' Annabelle took hold of William's arm andmarched off.

Hermione drew Geoffrey and Edie to oneside. 'I gather we can't see the house, butshall we go and get a breath offresh air before we leave? I want to see if that's jasmine I can smell or someone's perfume.’

As theywent off together, embarrassment, which had been ebbingand flowing over Flora all evening, suddenly flooded. She had no idea what to say toCharles.

‘Youwere wonderful,' he said. 'I mean, the choir was wonderful. I had no idea my porters were all so talented.'

‘Itwas nice of you to come. Oh, here's Virginia.'

‘Charles! Idon't think you've ever come to one of our concertsbefore,' said the ruler of Charles's saleroom, not unreproachfully. 'It must be Flora'sinfluence.'

‘I'veseen the error of my ways, Virginia. I'll come to all of them now. I wasvery impressed.'

‘SoI should think. I'm not sure "The Lamb" was quite right, was it, Flora? I thought the tenors were abit off.’

Florashook her head. 'I'm afraid I was just concentrating so hard on my own bit, Icouldn't pick out the other voices, really. My ear is just not good enough.'

‘Never mind. You got us a lovely venue.Are you coming for a drink?’

Floraneeded a drink, and certainly wanted one, but she wanted it in the privacy ofher own home, where it went with a bath, and bed immediatelyafterwards. 'I've gotmy mother with me.'

‘Oh,she's up for it! I've just been talking to Geoffrey and Edie.'

‘I'll take youhome if you're tired, Flora,' said Charles. 'That's settledthen,' said Virginia. 'Your mother can drive your car home from Geoffrey's, can't she?’

Flora nodded. She ferretedout her car keys and handedthem to Virginia.

‘AndCharles will take you home, so I'll just run and confirm which pub we're going to. You're sure you don't want tocome?’

‘Quite sure.’

Just asVirginia left and Charles turned to talk to someone heknew, Henry appeared. 'I thought I'd never get away from that lot. Come on, Flo.'He drew her away from the crowd a little.'Let's go in for a nightcap. I'lldrive you home later. I've got some very nice brandy. You certainly deserve some reward for all thathard work.'

‘Actually. . .' Henry had never called her Flo before, and Flora wasn't at all sure she liked it. She only put up with it from close friends and family. '. . .I am quite tired.'

‘Nonsense.You need something to help you wind down. And then, whenever you're ready, I'll take you back and tuck you up in bed. I'll even make you hot chocolate.’

As he camenear her, Flora realised that he had been drinking,which was unusual for him. 'Really, Henry, I'd rather not. I'm exhausted.’

Henry wasbeginning to get belligerent. 'Oh, come on! I putmy house at the disposal of your bloody choir and youwon't even have a glass of brandy with me?’

Flora drewbreath, not certain how to deal with the situation,and then suddenly Charles joined them. 'Actually,I'm taking Flora back,' he said smoothly.

‘No need,' said Henry. 'You've got yourfiancée -what's her name? Annabelle - tolook after. Flora and I have things to attend to.’

By nowthere was no doubt about what things he had in mind andFlora started to feel very uncomfortable. She'd madeit plain she didn't want to be anything more thanfriends, and had been careful not even to flirt with him since Grantly Manor.

‘Flora'scoming with me,' said Charles, ratcheting up his determination severalnotches.

Floralooked at the two men squaring up to each other and said nothing. She didn't know whatto say.

‘She'smy girlfriend,' claimed Henry, beginning to get cross.

‘She's my cousin and I'm taking her home.’

Flora beganto feel anxious. This was by no means the first timemen had competed for the privilege of taking her home,but they didn't usually get quite so tense.

‘I thinkthe relationship between us takes precedence over some distant blood link, don't you,Flora?'

‘I—' began Flora.

‘I don't think—' began Henry.

‘Ohshut up,' said Charles, and punched Henry in the nose.

Flora'sfirst thought was relief that no one was about to witness Henry clutching athis now bloody nose. Her second was a mixture of thrill andhorror as Charles took hold of her elbow and marched her away fromthe scene of thecrime.

‘I'mso sorry, Flora,' he said when they were back at the car.

‘Don'tapologise to me! You didn't punch my nose.'

‘I couldn'tlet him take you back. He'd been drinking and afterwhat happened between you and Justin - well, I could see it happening all overagain.'

‘Meand Justin?' For a moment, Flora had forgotten all about Justin.

‘Yes,when he - hit on you, I think the expression is, because he'd taken you out to dinner. Henry obviously felt youowed him something.’

Flora feltshe owed him something, too, but not a free pass to her body. 'But what aboutAnnabelle and William?'

‘OhChrist! I'd forgotten about them - I mean William - for