Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde (best books under 200 pages TXT) 📗

the doorway, halfembarrassed, like a father at a teenage sleepover. He didn't know quite where to look. 'Ohmy God!’

Flora felta bit like a cross between a Fairy Godmother and agooseberry. Annabelle was looking surprisingly sexy, andany normal man would want to do something about it. Butnot, apparently, Charles, who just stood and stared at her.

‘Well, doesn't your fiancée look stunning in her new clothes?'

‘She certainly looksdifferent.'

‘In a good way,' said Flora, determined to force him into theright reaction. 'Do a twirl, Annabelle.’

Annabelletwirled and Flora felt her hard work had paid off.

‘Thegirls at the reunion will be very impressed,' said Flora. 'Fancy frumpy old Annabelle turning out tobe so sexy.'

‘Thereunion?' said Annabelle. 'Oh, I'd forgotten about that for a moment.’

Charleswas frowning. 'I think I liked you better the way you were before, pumpkin.'

‘Oh,for goodness' sake!' said Flora, exasperated. 'She hasn't changed her whole personality! Just herclothes! And she looks gorgeous! Admit it.'

‘Well,yes. I suppose she does.' Charles came further into the room and kissed Annabelle on the cheek and then on the lips. 'But beauty is only skin deep.It's what's inside that counts.’

Florarolled her eyes. 'We all know that, we've been hearing it since we came out ofthe egg, but the point is, the inside is still the same! Annabelleis still Annabelle, she just looks younger and prettier and sexier.'It was certainly uphill work teaching Charles not to judge by appearances.

‘Flora'sright, you know,' said Annabelle. 'It's only my clothes and the way I wear them that's different. I'm still your little pumpkin inside.' Florashuddered. 'By the way,' Annabellewent on, getting into the role that wentwith her new look. 'Flora needs a lift home, sweetheart.'

‘Oh.’

Floradidn't bother to check Charles's expression. He was boundto be looking like there was a poker fused to hisspine. 'No, really. I'll order a taxi. I don't want youlove-birds to be kept apart for another minute, and it's a goodhalf-hour to the cottage, and then another back.Annabelle, cook Charles something delicious, and Charles, order me a cab. Please?’

Charlesmoved away from Annabelle and came to looksternly at Flora. 'I'm perfectly happy to drive you.’

This was abit of a surprise. 'No, honestly. I'd much rather take a taxi.'

‘Are you sure?'

‘Ofcourse she's sure,' said Annabelle. 'She's not a child, even if she does look rather young. And do you know, sweetie? Flora's going to invite us fordinner when her friend comes to stay. Such fun.’

Oh God!She'd have to do it now Charles knew about it. Whydid she drink all that wine? Look at the trouble it wasgetting her into. Perhaps Emma was right, and living in the country had got toher, and not in a good way.

‘Youwill have to get me a dining table first, though. I couldn't have youeating on your laps.'

‘Ican certainly arrange that,' said Charles. 'Come down and we'll phonefor a taxi. Are you coming, darling?'

‘I just want totidy myself a little,' said Annabelle. 'My hair's a mess.'

‘Annabelle,'said Flora warningly. 'You're not to put that headband back on!'

‘Yousee, Charles?' she said to him as they walked down the stairs. 'She may have changed on the outside, but she'sstill tidy Annabelle underneath.'

‘I'mvery relieved to hear it. I wouldn't like that aspect of my life beingturned upside down, too.'

‘What do you mean?' She turned to him asthey reached the hallway.

‘You'vecaused quite enough upset in my life without messing about with my perfectly satisfactory fiancée.’

Flora tooka breath and then saw that Charles was almostsmiling. 'Oh. You're teasing. I wish you'd warn me whenyou're going to. It's so unexpected, coming from you.'

‘Youcould make me a little sign that I could hold up when I'm going to doit, like the bidders.’

Florachuckled. 'It's a good idea, but it's unlikely to happen enough to make it worth mywhile.'

‘Oh, I don't know about that. So, yougirls have done some shopping?' He flickedthrough the YellowPages.

‘Some. We've also done a lot of sorting out. But Iwant you to tell meif Annabelle doesn't make a trip to a charity shop very soon.'

‘You'renot telling me you've been shopping in charity shops?’

Floracouldn't tell if Charles's horror was his own, or on behalfof Annabelle. 'No,' she said coolly. 'We haven't. But a lot of Annabelle'scurrent wardrobe is quite wrong for her and she should get rid of it. It's allin a pile. Well, aheap, really.'

‘Oh.'Charles found a number and started pressing buttons.

‘Dowe advertise in the YellowPages?' she asked him while he was waiting to be connected.

‘Justa small entry. Large ads are very expensive.'

‘I reallythink you ought to have a proper advertisement, you know.'

‘Mostof our business comes from local people, who know about us.'

‘Butthink of that valuation we did the other day. They weren't local, even if their uncle was. How did they know toring you?'

‘A friend of the uncle's recommendedus.'

‘But if he hadn't, and they came downhere and wanted an auctioneer, what wouldthey do?' As Charles seemed to bebeing rather slow, she answered for him. 'They'd look in the YellowPages.'

‘Ah, yes.Can you take someone out to Fiddler's Wood, please?’

When thetaxi was arranged, Flora continued, 'I want to have atalk about the business, Charles. I've had some ideas.'

‘Have you?’

He wasobviously very tired. His usually immaculate shirt andtie was looking a little rumpled. A strand of hair hadfallen away from the rest. Flora had a sudden, almost irresistible urge tosmooth it away. Only the fact that she couldn't have reached itunless he had bent downa little stopped her.

‘Ihave. But we won't talk about them now, you look tired.'

‘Oh, I'm allright. It's been a bit of a long day, that's all. You won'twant to come into the office tomorrow as it's Saturday,but I'll drop the Land-Rover off. Annabelle can follow me in her car and give mea lift back.'

‘Are you working tomorrow then?'

‘I have got a few bits and pieces to tieup, yes.'

‘Then I'll comein too, at least for the morning. Apart from anythingelse, it'll save Annabelle having to come.' She frowned asshe realised that she'd only achieved half her goals regardingAnnabelle - she still hadn't found out what sort of business shewould really like to go into. Though probably not anything connectedwith fashion.

‘Are you