A Whiff of Scandal by Matthews Carole

Author:Matthews, Carole [Matthews, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Carole Matthews INK Ltd
Published: 2015-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

HELLISH HANGOVER REMEDY

Rosemary, Fennel, Juniper.

It’s very easy to over-indulge during the festive season or at a special celebration. In the party mood the inclination to have ‘one more drink’ is all too tempting. And it’s usually only when we wake up in the morning that we regret the night before – by which time the damage is well and truly done! This highly effective remedy will help to ease the discomfort of the punishment that will be exacted upon you!

from: The Complete Encyclopaedia of Aromatherapy Oils by Jessamine Lovage

It was nine o’clock. Rose lay frozen to the spot as the church bells dolefully informed her with slow, relentless chimes that echoed painfully in her head, calling the upright citizens of Great Brayford to Sunday worship.

She wasn’t one of them. She was a slumped citizen. Slumped on the sofa, her head on a cushion, the empty bottle of brandy beside her. Reluctantly, she followed the line of her body to check that this wasn’t a dreadful nightmare. Dan, unfortunately, was still there, as large as life. Or as large as lifeless in this particular case.

His mouth had flopped open and his face bore a greenish-grey tinge. On a Martian it might have been appealing; on a builder it was a definite no-no. At some point she had obviously removed her slippers, for which she was grateful, because her legs were sprawled across Dan’s chest and she had a bare foot resting either side of his stubbly chin.

As she looked at him, he opened his eyes and looked back at her.

‘Good morning,’ she said flatly.

He jumped and pushed her feet ungraciously out of the way while he rubbed his eyes. ‘What time is it?’ he croaked.

‘Time you weren’t here,’ Rose said sagely.

‘What hit me?’ He sat up gingerly, only to fall back against the cushions as the effort proved too great.

‘I would hazard a guess at Reg’s Carlsberg and half a bottle of brandy.’

‘I think I’m going to die.’

Rose removed her legs from his chest and curled up at a safe distance at the other end of the sofa. ‘Not in my lounge, you’re not,’ she warned him. ‘We’re in enough trouble as it is.’ She gave him a sideways glance. ‘Though it might be easier to explain a corpse . . .’

Dan looked at her through half-closed lids. ‘Forget what I said. I think I’m going to live after all.’

‘Do I forget the other things you said?’ she asked softly.

‘Oh my word.’ He rubbed his hands over his stubble. ‘Would you like to remind me of them?’

‘Do you need reminding?’

‘No.’ He shook his head and looked as if he regretted such a rash movement. ‘I don’t think I do.’ He eased himself upright again. ‘I’m really sorry, Rose. I shouldn’t have done this. Or not done this.’ Wincing as he moved, he continued tentatively, ‘I don’t know what I should apologise for first.’

‘How do you intend to explain this to Gardenia?’

‘Preferably not with a carving knife at my balls,’ he said succinctly.

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