A Sewing Circle in Cornwall by Laura Briggs

Author:Laura Briggs [Briggs, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2018-01-09T05:00:00+00:00

"Of course not," I said. So Matt's weeks of dodging the committee's persistence ended with a single request by Petal.

Yet another awkward silence ensued. The waiter returned to offer us dessert menus. None of us accepted. The same for the offer of yet another glass of wine.

"I can't have a second one and still enjoy a sherry later tonight," said Petal, as the waiter departed to bring our check. "And I shall need one, with all the rather dull 'shop talk' that I'll be exposed to by you and your colleagues," she said to Matt.

I glanced at him. Matt's face changed colors, briefly. He cleared his throat. "I doubt we'll chat very long about the exhibition. A bit of catching up, and we'll undoubtedly all be exhausted by the mere thought of plants."

"What's this?" My tone was as unconcerned as possible, although I felt completely the opposite.

"A little cocktails engagement the horticultural society insisted upon tonight in the hotel bar," said Petal. "There was simply no escaping it, otherwise I would be soundly asleep by ten and avoiding my publicist's calls. You're quite lucky that you won't be subjected to it."

"I see." I didn't feel so lucky. I also didn't feel wanted, as if the point of these remarks was to stress that I needn't be present, whether it was permissible or no. "I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it sound."

"With the head of the fete's exhibition present, it shall be all rules for judges and rather boring business regarding the hosting duties one must fulfill. Rules and regulations, so I can't imagine anyone enjoying it." She sipped her water. "It's rather the cross one must bear for agreeing, isn't it, Matthew? Ah, but of course, you'll be in your element, won't you?"

He would be. And rather than hint that I wished to come — or insist on it — and be the jealous, clingy wife, I simply smiled at Petal. "I wish you luck then," I said. "At least Matt's conversation on the subject is never dull."

I collected my handbag from my lap, and laid my napkin on the table beside my plate. "I have a long day's work tomorrow, so I'll say goodnight." I felt Matt's hand on my arm as I kissed his cheek before I began walking towards the hotel's exit.

My heart was pounding, a drum of fury and self reproach. I was trying not to imagine Matt and Petal sitting side by side at a table of dull, academically-minded gardeners who would yammer on incessantly about plant DNA and cell structure ... with Petal's hand finding Matt's knee under the table and creeping slowly upwards ....

I felt Matt's hand on my arm a second time. "Julianne," he said. "Wait. I'm sorry — I was ambushed by that request, and I didn't feel I could say 'no' politely at that point —"

"It's fine," I said. "You can do what you want with your time, Matt. I just thought you were tired and wanted to be spared those hours in the exhibition tent.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.