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

Geoffreyanswered the phone, sounding very cheerful. 'Hello,dear! How nice to hear you. I didn't see you to say goodbye, are you all right?'

‘I'm fine, Geoffrey,' she said,realising she sounded anything but. 'Tired,of course, but otherwise fine. I wasjust wondering if you could tell me something. I was thinking about thewiring in the office building.' She hopedGeoffrey didn't think it a strange thought, but she had to know ifAnnabelle was telling the truth.

Fortunately,Geoffrey didn't seem to think her thoughts were all that strange. Or if he did, he didn't mention it.'What about the wiring?'

‘Does itneed redoing?'

‘Oh,I shouldn't think so. They had it all redone about a year ago.Annabelle's father paid for it all.'

‘How onearth do you know that?'

‘Ihad to check the bills. He wouldn't write any cheques until I'd reportedthat the work was done. Annabelle was very cross that her father had asked meto do it. You know she never had any time for me.’

Good manners forced Flora to continuethe conversation for a bit longer, then she rang her mother and reported thenews.

‘Oh,love! My heart bleeds for you! My friend said that the hardest part of motherhood was watching them break their hearts and being able to do nothingabout it. Now I know what she means.'

‘I'll be fine, Mum. I'm strong. I'vejust got to decide what I'm going to do now.’

There was another long pause.

‘Well, darling' - Hermione stepped intothe silence -'you know we're always thrilledto have you. If you'd like to come and stay—'

‘No,Mum,' Flora said tiredly. 'It's a lovely thought, but I need to bepractical, and you're not exactly round thecorner, are you? I think I do have to leave though -I can't faceCharles.' A memory of his face looking worriedly at her after her confrontationwith Annabelle came back to her. He'd beenvery keen to talk - presumably abouttheir kiss - but whatever it was he wanted to say, she couldn't bear tohear it. If he wanted to tell her it was amistake, and he was in love with Annabelle and Annabelle alone, it would breakher heart. But if he told her he wasin love with her but tied to Annabelle byStanza and Stanza, that wasn't any better. She couldn't ask him to give up the business he cared so passionatelyabout - and to be honest she didn't really want to know what choice he would make were he forced to make that decision.No, there was nothing for it. She couldn't stay in Bishopsbridge.

‘I might go and see Emma for a bit,' shesaid slowly, thinking it out. 'But you mustpromise not to tell Charles whereI've gone. He might want to follow me to make sure I'm all right, but I don't want him to. Do you understand?Leaving is going to be quite hard enough, but it'llbe even worse if I have to talk it all through with him. I couldn't bearthat.’

Reluctantly, her mother agreed.

When shedisconnected she burst into tears and drank the glass of wine.

After that,and some bread and Marmite, she felt robust enough to ring Emma. She might not be in, but Flora thoughtshe could leave a message, warning her thatshe might be getting a visit very soon. But, luckily, Emma was there.

‘Sweetie!'she shrieked. 'How are you?’

Flora feltutterly exhausted, suddenly. 'Well. I've just conducted my first auction. It wasbrilliant. Very exhilarating.'

‘So areyou celebrating with a glass of wine?’

‘Mm.'

‘So why don't you sound happy?’

Flora bit her lip. Crying was healthy,but it did interrupt conversation rather.'Because the rest of my life has gone pear-shaped.'

‘Is itHenry?'

‘Henry? No! Charles! I'm in love withhim, Ems, and he'll never leave Annabelle.'

‘The one that William wanted to paint?She did have a sort of heavy,pre-Raphaelite sort of beauty. Well, just get him away from her. Shouldbe easy, pretty girl like you,' Emma said briskly.

‘It's not that simple. Even if I could,if they don't get married he'll lose his half of the business. Oh, my God. Canyou imagine sharing a business with Annabelle's dad! How scary!'

‘But itwould be OK, because you'd have Charles.

Then you could do anything.' Emmapaused. 'Is he still as stuffy as ever?'

‘Prettymuch. I'm just so in love with him I don't mind any more.'

‘He is extremely attractive, in thatMr-Darcy-in-need of-an-enema kind of way.'

‘Emma!That's very unkind. You should see how kind he can be—'

‘He's not being very kind if he'sbreaking your heart,' she retorted acidly.

‘He's not doing it on purpose!'

‘Iknow, I know, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit off men at the moment.'

‘Oh, Emma, I'm so sorry! I've been sowrapped up in my own problems – are you and Dave OK?'

‘Yes,because he doesn't live here any more.’

‘What?'

‘Life is so much easier without him.Man-free and proud, that's me. Jeremy ringsme from time to time but we haven't met up yet.'

‘Does that mean . .

‘What?'

‘That I could come and stay for a bit?I've got to get away from here.' Then shetold Emma everything. When she'd finished, Emma said, 'Get in the car assoon as that glass of wine has gone away, and get your arse up here!’

Flora rang Geoffrey, although it wasquite late, and arranged to leave Imelda andthe kittens with him, early in themorning. Then she cleaned. She knew she wouldn't sleep and so didn'teven attempt to go to bed until the cottage was as gleaming as it could be.Every plate, cup and knife was washed andstacked in a freshly wiped cupboard. The future Mrs Stanza would not beable to criticise her housekeeping.

When the physical exercise of sweepingand wiping and dusting had finally exhausted her, she had a bath in what was left of the hot water and fell intobed, Imelda on top of her.

She awokeat dawn and packed her clothes. Downstairs she saw the teapot on the mantelpiece. Should she leaveit? Or take it as a souvenir? Or would her heart break all over again whenevershe saw it? Without consciously making a decision, she wrapped it in the cashmere sweater of her father's that shehad once lent to Charles and put it in her little flowery shopper, alongwith her make-up.

Loading Imelda and the kittens into theLand-Rover, which she was now going to steal,