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

got some nice ones, but they're rather large, you can't fit manyround the table.'

‘Andyou could always put the ones you've got now in the next sale.'

‘Of course.I don't know why I didn't think of that.' Flora didn't know either, after allshe'd worked in an auction house much longer than Flora had.

‘It's exciting, having a half-decentsale for once,' Annabelle went on. 'There'sbeen loads of interest. And I think that little item we had on the localnews probably helped quite a lot. Several local antique shops have put in stuffthat's been hanging around too long. You just need one or two items to attracta lot of attention, and people realise there's going to be extra interest andput their own stuff in. Charles has roped Bob Butler in to help as he can't doit all.'

‘Well, I'm glad you see it my way atlast,' said Flora evenly.

Annabelle was inspecting the undersideof a Windsor chair. 'It's a bit wormy - still,caveat emptor and all that.’

Flora didn'tspeak Latin. 'As long as we don't imply it'sperfect in the catalogue. Oh, I never asked you about the school reunion.' Flora had losttrack completely of when it was and felt it must have happened by now.

‘The school reunion?' Annabelle lookedblank for a moment. 'Oh, that! It was fine, thank you. Caught up with some oldchums I must invite to the wedding.'

‘How are the preparations going? And theportrait?’

Annabelle smiled, looking a littledreamy, which was perfectly understandable.'Fine for both. And by the way, I was going to ask you - it's a bitshort notice I know, because dresses takeages to be made, but I wondered ifyou'd help me choose mine? I was originally going for something very traditional, but since you tookme in hand, I thought I might havesomething a bit simpler. I've got thedressmaker all lined up, but she tells me I've got a week or so before she really gets going so there'stime to make a few changes.'

‘I'dbe thrilled to help!' Manfully, Flora summoned up enthusiasm for awedding that was going to end her chance of happiness for ever. 'I see you insomething quite slim-fitting, oyster satin, something like that. Elegant andsimple.'

‘Great.We'll have a look at some mags together soon, but we'd better get this sale over first. I'm going to be on the phones most of the day. Will you and Louisashare the book for Charles? You know, make sure he doesn't overlook any commissioned bids? God! I hopeI wasn't being patronising! I've had a lot on my mind lately.’

She strode off, leaving an amazed Floradumbstruck. Annabelle apologising for being patronising! It was like the seaapologising for going in and out all the time, apparently never able to make upits mind. Annabelle had definitely improvedlately, and not just because she'd hadher hair cut shorter, and was emphasising her physical assets to thefull. She had more enthusiasm for life. Flora decided it was because Stanza andStanza was looking up at last, becoming more the sort of business Annabelle would like to be concerned with. And shewas going to help Annabelle decide ona wedding dress . . . Flora sighed.Usually, she liked irony, but now, it felt like a poisoned dart.

There wasn't much time for further philosophical speculation as teno'clock came and the public were let in for half an hour's viewing before thesale started at ten-thirty.

*

The sale had been going fantasticallywell, but now, at nearly four o'clock, it was almost over. Flora had beendeputed earlier to apologise to the landlord of the local pub, whose car park had become full of buyers.Fortunately Flora had managed to convince him that the extra busi-ness would make up for some loss of local trade. It was something to thinkabout. If they were going to become much bigger, parking space had to beconsidered.

Although the room was still quite full,earlier it had been positively heaving with people. A lot of bids had been left'on the book' by people who had put in a bid but were unable actually to bepresent, and most of the day, Flora had sat next to Charles (or whoever was onthe podium), just in case a bid got overlooked. It never was overlooked when Charles was there, but he had saidit was good training for her.

Having been sent off for a break, Florahad taken her cup of tea to the back of the room, not wanting to leave the excitement of the saleroom. Or at least thatwas what she'd told Virginia when they'd met at the tea counter. Flora knew it was so she could watch Charles inaction.

I'm sure it's not just that I'm in lovewith him, she decided, watching him hold the attention of the room with suchskill and mastery. He's simply a fantastic auctioneer.And having the room so full and so busy was making him even better. Itwas brilliant! She found herself smiling with joy because he must be happy.

She shifted her position so she wasstanding in front of a complete set ofGeorgette Heyers, early editions and potentiallyvery valuable. Charles and Geoffrey had been a little dismissive aboutthem when they were discovered in BurnetHouse, but Flora knew they were special and her instinct was borne outby the interest in them shown on the website.

Her attention was distracted by awoman's striking, obviously home-madecardigan for a moment, but when shelooked up again, she saw Louisa hand Charles a cup of tea and ahome-made rock cake. He didn't usually drinktea while he was at the podium, but he'd been there a long time. Louisaprobably felt he needed some sustenance. He acknowledged the tea, took a sipand a bite of the rock cake and then winced sharply, as if in pain. Louisa,having taken her seat beside the podium, stoodup again and put her hand on Charles's arm. Her face as she looked up athim was worried, and he leant down andwhispered something in her ear, at which she looked even more worried,and urgently whispered something back. Charles shook his head.

‘I'm awfully sorry, ladies andgentlemen,' he said awkwardly, 'but I seem to have done something to my tooth.I hope you can hear me