Hotel Portofino by J. P O'Connell

Author:J. P O'Connell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2021-12-23T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Betty was taking a tray of Fat Rascals out of the oven as Constance entered, bearing two empty sandwich trays.

The cook looked up at her. ‘All the sandwiches gone?’

‘Every last one.’

‘That were quick.’

‘They wolfed them down!’

‘I had to beg every cucumber within three miles for those.’

Constance put the empty trays in the sink. ‘Count Albani had most of them. I lost count at seven.’

‘I love a man with a good appetite. There’s plenty to hold on to!’

‘Betty!’

They both burst out laughing.

Betty said, ‘It’s hard to imagine him with that slip of a girl.’

Constance looked confused.

‘You haven’t noticed, then?’

‘Noticed what?’

‘Him making eyes at Mrs Mays-Smith.’

‘Alice is half his age!’

‘Aye, but she could do a lot worse. I bet he’d put a smile back on that sourpuss face of hers.’

Constance loved it when Betty spoke like this. Said the things she herself thought but dared not say.

‘I meant to ask you – what happened to Lottie’s father?’

‘The same as happened to the rest.’

The good humour of a moment ago gave way to something more sombre and reflective. The two women fell silent.

Then Betty shook herself. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s plate these up. There’s nowt so sad as a cold Fat Rascal!’

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