Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher

Author:Rosamunde Pilcher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

8

BRIAN

Early the next morning, as Flora came down to breakfast the telephone rang. Crossing the hall, she hesitated. When nobody appeared to answer it, she answered it herself, going to sit on the edge of the chest and pick up the receiver.

“Hello.”

A woman spoke. “Is that Fernrigg?”

“Yes.”

“Is that Isobel?”

“No. Do you want Isobel?”

“Is … is that Rose?”

Flora hesitated. “Yes.”

“Oh, Rose, it’s Anna Stoddart.”

“Good morning, Anna. Do you want to speak to Isobel?”

“No, it doesn’t matter, you’ll do just as well. I only wanted to say thank you for the dinner party on Saturday. I … I enjoyed it so much.”

“I’m glad. I’ll tell Isobel.”

“I’m sorry about ringing so early, but I forgot to ring yesterday, and I’m just off to Glasgow. I mean, I’m leaving any moment now. And I didn’t want to go without saying thank you.”

“Well, I hope you have a good trip.”

“Yes, I’m sure I will. I’m only going for a couple of days. Perhaps when I get back you’d like to come over to Ardmore and see me. We could have lunch, or tea or something…”

Her voice trailed away uncertainly as though she felt she had already said too much. Flora could not bear her being so diffident. She said quickly, making her voice enthusiastic, “I’d love it. How kind of you. I’d love to see your house.”

“Really? That would be fun. I’ll maybe give you a telephone call when I get back.”

“You do that.” She added, “Have you heard about the dance yet?”

“Dance?”

“I thought perhaps it might have got through to you via the grapevine. There’s going to be a dance here next Friday night. Tuppy thought the whole thing up by herself yesterday morning.”

“This Friday?” Anna sounded incredulous, as well she might.

“This very Friday. Poor Isobel’s got to spend the morning on the telephone, ringing people up. I’ll tell her I’ve told you; and that’ll be one less call she’ll have to make.”

“But how exciting. I’m so glad you told me, because now I can get a new dress when I’m in Glasgow. I need a new dress anyway…”

Once more her voice faded uncertainly. Anna was obviously a person who found it difficult to round off a telephone call. Flora was just about to say, in a conclusive sort of way, well, have a good time, when Anna said, “Just a minute. Don’t ring off.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

There were a few murmurs from the other end of the line, and then Anna said, “Brian wants to talk to you. I’ll say goodbye.”

Brian? “Goodbye, Anna. Have a good time.” Then Brian Stoddart spoke in his light, clear voice.

“Rose!”

“Good morning,” said Flora warily.

“What an unearthly hour for a telephone conversation. Have you had your breakfast yet?”

“I’m just going to have it.”

“Has Antony gone?”

“Yes, he went yesterday after tea.”

“So you’re bereft. And Anna’s just on the point of abandoning me. Why don’t we keep each other company tonight? I’ll take you out for dinner.”

A number of thoughts chased themselves through Flora’s mind, the most important being that

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