Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde

Author:Katie Fforde [Fforde, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Chick Lit
ISBN: 0312359632
Google: PCcDnScKaccC
Amazon: B004E10RVS
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2005-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

‘Of course it's not poisonous!' said Annabelle, who obviously found Jeremy irritating, in the way that women often found their partner's male friends irritating. 'William's been doing this for ages!'

‘And I think I should go back and check on it all,' said William. 'I'm not used to having to leave my cooking and make polite conversation.'

‘I'll come with you!' declared Annabelle and dashed after him.

Flora looked up at Charles. He didn't seem remotely bothered. 'Don't you mind Annabelle spending all her time in the kitchen?'

‘No. It'll make a nice change for her.’

And so, with Emma and Jeremy deep in the exchange of information that goes on when people meet and fancy each other, Flora was left to entertain Charles. She still couldn't think of a word to say to him. Her guilt loomed between them and she couldn't get past it. She'd have to find an opportunity to do it. This was too painful. She put her glass down on the coffee table, which was a bit wobbly on the grass, and sank back into the sofa, wishing she could go to sleep, then wake up and find that everyone had gone home.

‘So, what are we having to eat?' Charles asked. He was sitting on the arm now.

‘Do you really want to know?' Flora wasn't quite sure of the details, having blanked out a lot of what William had said about the rules of picking from the countryside and what you could eat when. He could get a bit obsessive.

‘No. I was just making conversation.’

Flora chuckled. 'We could talk about work.'

‘We could, but I don't think we should.' But he did smile as he spoke.

‘No. And I can't show you the kittens because really, they haven't changed at all since you last saw them.'

‘They were very sweet. I wouldn't mind seeing them again.'

‘Well, you could pop up and have a look. You could see how tidy my bedroom is now. But I won't come with you. I must stay down here and see to things.'

‘What things?'

‘Oh, you know, just unspecified "things".'

‘Then I won't bother with the kittens again.’

Flora wondered briefly if this was a good moment to get her apology out of the way. She and he could nip up, she could say sorry, and they could nip down again. But Emma would notice and perhaps say something embarrassing.

‘I think I need another drink,' she said. 'And I'll make it wine, this time.’

He took her glass. 'Red or white?'

‘White, please.’

He was back with it in an instant. If Flora hadn't known better she'd think that Charles was being gallant. It couldn't be, it was impossible. Charles couldn't be gallant with her any more than she could hang-glide, but he was doing quite a good impression of it.

‘Here's to us, then,' she said, taking a gulp, realising too late it was probably quite the wrong thing to say. 'To Stanza and Stanza, I mean.'

‘To Stanza and Stanza.' Charles raised his glass and looked down into her eyes. 'Which is comprised of "us".

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