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

a moment.' A thoughtpassed across Charles's face that Flora couldn't identify.

‘Well,you can't go back and look for them now,' said Flora, managing to conceal the nervous laughter that was beginning to erupt. 'But I can easily get alift . .

‘Hardly.'The corner of Charles's mouth began to twitch. 'I'll ring Annabelle on mymobile.’

As hepulled it out, Flora said, 'But what can you say?'

‘Hi,'he said briskly. 'Flora's exhausted and I'm taking her home. Will you get home on your own? Or willyou wait at the pub until I can comeand collect you? Good girl. Fine. 'Night, 'night, sweetie.’

Hedisconnected. 'She and William will get a lift. Now we'd betterget off the premises before Henry comes after me with a shotgun.’

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘This issilly,' said Flora, getting into Charles's car.

‘Iknow, I'm sorry. I'll apologise in the morning. I don't know whatcame over me. I don't usually get into fights.'

‘It wasn't afight. Henry didn't hit you back.’

‘Thankgoodness. He probably could have pulverised me.’

Flora didn't respond. Shedoubted Henry cared enough about her to riskmore damage - and at the momentCharles punched him Flora had been certain that Charles would have followed itup with more had there been an excuse.

‘I'll sendhim a bottle of wine, or something, to apologise.'

‘Yourealise he'll probably never want to go out with me again.'

‘Ican't say I'm sorry about that. I never did like you having anything todo with him.'

‘Inhis defence, up till now, he never laid an unwelcome finger on me.'

‘Buthe did just then?' Charles looked as if he was considering going backand punching him again.

‘No!No, but he might have - I mean - oh, you know what I mean.’

‘I know he fully intended to seduceyou.'

‘That's such a sweet, old-fashionedword.'

‘There'snothing sweet about it, I assure you. You could havegot into serious trouble if you'd stayed with Henry.'

‘I ama grown-up, Charles,' she said quietly. 'Technically, at least.'

‘I couldn't permit it. Sorry.’

Flora beganto smile. 'I don't actually have to ask your permission.'She bit her lip to stop herself chuckling.

‘I know thatperfectly well.' Charles changed gear, drivingrather fast. He sighed deeply, obviously making an effortto calm down. 'I admit I was in the wrong. I shouldn'thave hit him. Violence is never the answer but I actedinstinctively, as I would have done if you were my sister.'

‘You haven't got any sisters.'

‘That'sbeside the point! And really, there are plenty of goodmen out there. You don't have to scrape the barrel.'

‘Well,thank you for that,' she said humbly. 'I'm so glad you don't think I'm so unattractive I have to go looking in seedy bars and gutters to find acompanion.’

Charles bithis lip. 'You know perfectly well what I mean.'

‘Areyou suggesting I get you to vet any man who asks me out, then?'

‘Itwouldn't be a bad idea. After all, you're new to the area.’

Flora wasgiggling openly now. 'Perhaps I should tell you thatmy father didn't have much luck doing that when I was fifteen.’

Charleswas forced to laugh, too, but Flora could tell he wasn't really amused.

‘My father used to try and substitutesuitable boyfriends for the unsuitable ones.'

‘I did introduce you to Jeremy.'

‘That didn't work, either. He fanciedEmma.'

‘Ihave other friends. Good men, who won't mess you around.'

‘Notso long ago you were accusing me of messing your friends around.'

‘Iknow you better now, Flora. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurtanyone, voluntarily.'

‘Unlike you.'

‘Unlikeme.' He chuckled. 'Poor Henry. He just didn't see it coming.'

‘Well,you're lucky I wasn't madly in love with him or I'd never speak to youagain.'

‘Ifyou'd been madly in love with him you wouldn't have hesitated when he asked you in for a brandy. You'd have justgone.'

‘Isuppose so.' Flora tried to sound non-committal but she knew it was nothing but the truth. If Charleshad invited her to drink brandy withhim, however tired she'd been, she'dhave just gone, too. But it wouldn't haveworked the other way round. If Flora had invited him to drink brandy he'd have told her off, said she was far too young to drink spirits, and that sheshould go home and get an earlynight. 'I'm quite glad you haven't got sisters, younger ones at least.'

‘Oh? Why?'

‘Becauseyou would have been a terribly bossy older brother.’

Helaughed. 'I was Head of House at school. I probablylearnt to look out for the younger ones then.’

That washer put in her place, then. He saw her as a sort ofSmith Minor, in danger of getting into the wrong crowd,needing a steady, older boy to keep an eye on him.

He glanced at her. 'Do sleep if you feellike it.'

‘It'sall right. I don't feel so tired now.' She did actually, but was determined not to waste a second ofthis odd yet surprisingly enjoyablejourney. 'So have you and Annabelleand William been socialising?' she asked.

‘Yes.Annabelle needed a spare man for something and thought ofhim.' He frowned. 'I thought you knew that. I thoughtAnnabelle said you'd given him her number.'

‘Oh' - shehadn't, had she? Flora thought rapidly -'yes, but Ithought Annabelle just wanted some hurdles made orsomething.' Hurdles, that sounded suitably rustic and FarFrom the Madding Crowd. 'I didn't realise it was for social reasons.'

‘We must have you and Hermione todinner.’

Flora feltshe'd rather sing a solo in a cathedral than endure anevening of watching Charles and Annabelle play HappyCouples. 'She's not here for long. Next time she comes, perhaps?'

‘Do you know when she's coming back?'

‘I'm notsure. Sometime before Christmas, I hope.’

‘Annabelleand I might well be married, by then.' He stared ahead at the road.

‘Youmight,' agreed Flora, discovering tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away and yawned.

He saw her. 'You're shattered.'

‘Yes.'People seemed to have been telling her that all evening.

‘Nearly there, now.'

‘Good.'The tears were falling faster now. In a few moments he was going to leave her at her door and then drive back toAnnabelle, and probably (she forced herself to confront this thought) have passionate sex with her.

They turnedinto her lane. 'It's still quite muddy, isn't it?’

Shecleared her throat. 'It's OK as long as you take it slowly.'

‘Yourvoice sounds a little strange. Perhaps you've strained it, singing.’

She wantedto say, 'Actually, it's my heart. It's breaking and nowthe tear has reached up into my