Frosty Mornings at Castle Court by Holly Hepburn

Author:Holly Hepburn [Hepburn, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Castle Court was starting to fill up with the post-work Friday night crowds as Cat locked the door of Smart Cookies. The temperature had plummeted and the wind was far too bitter for anyone to dine outside, but there was a queue beside the pop-up crepe cart and a few hardened smokers were shivering beneath the oak tree. Cat checked the time and fixed her gaze on the steamed-up windows of Let’s Go Dutch; with a bit of luck, Jaren would be finished work by now and they could find somewhere quiet to talk. And then she could hurry home and try to get ahead with more stock for the shop . . .

She was halfway across the Court when she heard her name being called. Glancing around, her heart sank when she saw Cherie hurrying towards her. But there was a purposeful look on the older woman’s face and Cat knew there was no escape.

‘Hello, Cherie,’ she said stonily. ‘Did you want something?’

‘I won’t take up much of your time,’ Cherie said bluntly. ‘It’s about Greg and this business at La Perle.’

Cat let out an impatient sigh. ‘I don’t have anything to say about that.’

Cherie waved her comment away. ‘Look, I just want you to know that I had no idea Greg had gone telling tales to François. And for what it’s worth –’ she paused and threw a glance towards the glowing windows of La Clé d’Argent bistro, ‘well, I’m happy to state on the record that you didn’t say anything defamatory in December.’

Cat couldn’t help gaping; whatever she’d been expecting, it wasn’t support. ‘You’ve changed your tune.’

The other woman raised her chin. ‘I was . . . mistaken about you,’ she said, her tone stiff. ‘When I am wrong, I admit it.’

They stared at each other for a few seconds, then Cat gave a single incredulous nod. ‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’

‘You’ll let me know if there is anything I can do?’ Cherie said. ‘I’m not so well-connected as Greg, but I do have one or two friends in high places, thanks to my late husband.’

Cat was almost tempted to ask her who she meant, but time was ticking by and she didn’t want Jaren to think she had forgotten him. ‘I’ll let you know,’ she promised. ‘And . . . thanks again.’

Cherie’s usually haughty expression softened a little. ‘It’s the least I can do. Goodnight, Cat.’

She turned on her heel. Cat watched her walk away, wondering whether she’d somehow dreamed the whole exchange. Of course, there was always the possibility that Cherie was playing a double agent, hoping to win Cat’s confidence so she could feed back anything she learned to Greg, but Cat didn’t think so. Cherie might be hard-faced, but there had been genuine consternation behind her words.

Wait until Sadie hears about this, Cat thought, setting off for the pancake house once more. She’s not going to believe her ears.

*

‘Wow,’ Jaren said, as they dodged the crowds on Eastgate Street and headed for a quiet bar tucked away just inside the old city walls.

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