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

her life was as much of a road smash as the pile-up ofplastic vehicles behind her.

She had togo to the little room they used as an office to get herbag. She didn't know if it was good or bad that only Charles was in there.

‘Flora! Are you all right? Where haveyou been? You look awful!'

‘Ijust feel a bit shell-shocked,' she said, trying to brush it off. 'The excitement, I suppose. How's yourtooth?'

‘Oh fine, now. Shall I drive you home?'He stared at her with what was unmistakably an echo of the look in his eyes after they kissed. 'We need to talk,Flora. I want to—'

‘No.'She stopped him before he could get any further. She had to sort things out inher mind before everything got any more confused, and the last personshe could talk it all over with now wasCharles. 'No, Charles, sorry.' Good,she was sounding more composed. 'I would like to go home, but I don't want you to drive me. Really. I'll be fine. Could you just pass my bag? It's inthe bottom drawer of that filing cabinet.’

He lookedhurt and confused. 'But, Flora, I don't want you going home on your own when you lookso ill. And we have to—'

‘I reallywill be fine on my own.’

Lookinginto her eyes, he could see her determination andbacked off gracefully. 'You were a star today, Flora. Isaw it all. And we can talk tomorrow, can't we?’

Flora regarded him, feeling she didn'tknow whom she was lookingat. 'I'm glad I didn't let you down, Charles.’

And then she left, too miserable to weep.

Chapter Twenty-Four

 Flora feltovercome with loneliness and despair once she got back to the cottage. She put thekettle on and then realised she didn't want tea, so she opened a bottle of wine,poured a glass, and didn't want that either. She knew that a really good crywould release some of her tension and be healthy, but tears wouldn't come. Shecollapsed on to the sofa and let Imelda and the kittens comfort her. Thekittens weren't interested in her for long, but Imelda was satisfyinglysoothing. She sat on Flora's lap and purredloudly, dribbling as she kneaded Flora'sknee with her paws. Flora sat there with her eyes closed, strokingImelda on automatic pilot.

‘This is ridiculous!' she said aloud.'You came to the country to learn about your family business and you've done it! You've learnt about it and improved itand today you made thousands of pounds for Geoffrey. You should feelecstatic! The whole thing with Charles is neitherhere nor there, really. He was engaged to Annabelle, and he's still engaged to Annabelle. Nothing's changed.’

Butsomething had changed. That kiss, that look, and Annabellewitnessing both. Even if she'd wanted to, she felt shecouldn't pretend nothing had happened -Annabellewouldn't let her. And Annabelle held the whip hand -over her, over Charles and, currently, over Stanza and Stanza. A lot of things now madesense.

She went into the garden to ring hermother. She wasn't ready to talk about Charles yet. When she'd got her thoughtstogether, she would, but not now. But her motherknew she might have had to do some selling today and would be longing tohear how it went.

At first the call went to plan. Hermother was even more excited that Flora expected.

‘Oh,darling, I knew you'd find out what you were really good at eventually!'

‘Whatdo you mean?' Flora was indignant. 'I'm good at lots of things. People always want to give me jobs and hate itwhen I leave.'

‘I know, I know, but an awful lot ofthat's because you're blonde and pretty. And they were just jobs. This is a career, and you're good at it in spite ofbeing blonde and pretty.’

Flora didn't want to pass on what Louisahad said about the last lot, when shethought the two bidders just kept bidding so they could watch Flora.'I've never thought that not being a dog to look at was a disadvantage. People have been very kind to me. Do you thinkthat's why? That's a dreadful thought.'

‘Well, maybe, initially, but if you'rejust a pretty face they won't go on indulging you. That's what I mean, really. This is a job where looks don't count. I'mso proud of you, darling.'

‘Thanks, Mum.'

‘Your dad's here. Do you want a word?’

Flora really wanted a hug, but a word would have to do. After a longchat with her father, who wanted to knowexactly how it all worked, Hermione came back on.

‘So, what about you and Charles?'

‘We're not - a "we", I mean.He's with Annabelle and will be for ever.' She sniffed. The tears she had triedto force away earlier threatened now.

‘Are yousure?'

‘Yes!He kissed me after I got down off the podium and Annabelle saw.'

‘Buteveryone would have kissed you, surely?'

‘Not like that. And we looked at eachother. That was the worst, the most revealingpart. Then she followed me to the Ladies' and told me that if Charles .. .' She gulped back a sob. 'That even ifCharles wanted to leave her for me hecouldn't because . . .' Another hiccup. '. . . he owes her father loads of money and he put up his half of thebusiness as security.'

‘Why does he owe Annabelle's fathermoney? Was it gambling debts or something?'

‘No! Hehad to have the office building rewired.’

‘Oh, good. I mean, I'm glad itwasn't anything dreadful.'

‘Quitedreadful enough. Mum, I've got to leave. I can't stay around and watch him marry Annabelle. And I couldn'task him to do anything that would risk him thebusiness.' This realisation had been filtering through to her slowly, but now it had arrived it wasperfectly clear.

‘But are you sure it's true? This story?Before you do anything irrevocable, check that Annabelle's telling the truth. She might easily have made it up. PhoneGeoffrey. He'll know.'

‘There's still the kiss thing. She knows I'm in lovewith Charles—'

‘And is he in love with you?’

Flora wassilent for a long moment. 'I think so. I mean, that's what it felt like. When hekissed me, and then when he looked at me afterwards. But—'

‘Don'tturn your back on the business you love and have put so much into without making sure there's absolutely nochoice. Ring Geoffrey. And then