‘Yes.'
‘And you're going to get married, so between you, you could dowhat you liked?'
‘Yes, but you'd still have forty-eight per cent which would bring you in anice amount of money, when we make a profit.'
‘Which you're not doing now?'Actually, Flora knew they weren'tdoing that well. She and her father had discussed it at length, but Charles was so prim and bossy thatshe wanted to make him say it.
‘Not at the moment, no,' Charlesadmitted, 'but we do have plans to improve things.'
‘Oh good. And now you've got me! Idon't know all that much about thebusiness, obviously, but I can learn. Andtwo heads are better than one - or should that be three heads are betterthan two?' She glanced at Annabelle, whodid not seem to be enjoying herself.
Charles frowned. 'Have we got you, Flora? Iwas under the impression'- he glanced questioningly at Annabelle again - 'that you were only down here for a visit.'
‘Well, yes, but I was planning tostay for quite a long time. Sixmonths, at least. To see if I can stand - like -country life.'
‘Six months!' said Annabelle. 'Butwhere are you going to stay?’
Flora had been faintly hoping for an offer ofsomeone's spare room, forat least a couple of days. As this was obviously not going to be forthcoming, she said, 'I thought a nice little bed and breakfast? Wherethey like cats?'
‘Flora, before we get into the insand outs of where you can stay, andI'm sure we can put you up for a short time—'
‘No, Charles!' interrupted Annabelle. 'I'm terribly allergic to cats. Youmust have forgotten.'
‘Sorry, yes I had.' He looked pained for a moment.'But anyway, putting all that aside for one moment, I think I should make myself perfectly clear. There's really nothing for you to do in this business. It'll bebetter for us - I mean Stanza and Stanza - and ultimately you, if you just sell three per cent of your shares—'Imelda yowled again. 'Have a shortholiday if you must, and then take yourself and your cat back toLondon.'
‘Ah - well,' beganFlora, not willing to admit to being temporarily homeless.
‘Your parents still own that nicelittle flat in Lancaster Gate?'
‘Yes.'
‘And you live there?'
‘When I'm in London, yes.' And I'mnot in London now, you prig, and I'vesub-let it for slightly more than Ipay in rent to my parents so I can pay off my credit cards, she added silently, knowing not even thumbscrews would make her admit any of that toCharles.
‘So you could go back?'asked Annabelle.
‘I thought I was coming down here tolive. For the time being, anyway.Downsizing!' she added glibly, not feeling remotely glib. 'It's terriblyfashionable!'
‘But if you sold me the shares, you'dhave quite a lot of money. You couldrent another flat, pay off your overdraft,' said Annabelle, who also hadgrey-blue eyes and an irritatingly patient tone of voice.
Bitch! thought Flora, she knows I'm short of money. She and Charles deserve each other. 'Well, put likethat, your offer doessound quite tempting. Of course I will have to consult my father. Although I'm over twenty-one - obviously—'
‘Not that obviously, actually,' murmured Charles, and earned himself a flicker of a frown from Annabelle.
‘I dousually discuss things like this with him. My parents aren't in the country right now, but wetalk on the phone and email all the time.'
‘Good,' said Charles. 'I'm sure he'dadvise you to accept Annabelle's offer.'
‘He might if he knew how much thatwas,' said Flora and smiled. 'Have you got a figure in mind?'
‘Ten thousand pounds,' said Charles.'Quite a lot more than three per centis worth, of course, but we want to be generous.'
‘That does sound generous,' saidFlora, who had no idea if it was orwasn't. `Do you mind if I think about it?'
‘How long do you need? To get intouch with your father, discuss it, etc.?' asked Charles.
‘A trip to the loo would be a goodstart.' Flora not only needed theloo, but to rinse her wrists in cold water, to clear her head a little. It was hot and she was tired. She didn't want to find herself bullied intosomething against her wishes by this Country Life couple with colour-coordinated eyes.
‘Of course,' said Annabelle. 'Sorry, I should have offeredwhen you first arrived. Stupid of me.’
‘No, that's fine,' Florareplied graciously.
‘Follow me,' saidAnnabelle.
‘If you could just keep an eye on the cat?' Flora smiled endearingly at Charles, knowing it would annoyhim.
*
Flora dried her hands on the roller towel in thedingy lavatory.Horrid soap, bad light and cheap loo paper, all things she would have changed if she'd been allowed.
But although she was very disappointed at thethought that all herplans for country living had been thwarted, ten thousand pounds would sort out her remaining credit-card bills, put a deposit down, and pay quitea few weeks' rent on a new flat.Or she could pay off the tenant in her parents'flat.
She should have felt excited about these newoptions, but somehow, as she emerged from theconverted corridor that was now the Ladies', she felt flat and deflated. Her skills might not have been directlyrelevant to an auction house, butshe did have them.
An elderly man in a brown warehouse coat stopped her before she'd turned into the main passage.'Excuse me, are you Miss Stanza?'
‘Yes.' He was silver-haired and wellspoken and yet the shirt and tie,visible beneath the long coat, looked rather worn.
‘I'm Geoffrey Whiteread. I knew yourgreat-uncle, years ago. I'm the head porter.’
Flora struggled for a moment. 'The man who holds things up at the sales?’
The man smiled. 'Well, yes, but there is a bit moreto it than that.' He looked abouthim, strangely furtive. 'Thingsare a bit difficult. I wanted to speak to you.’
Never one to refuse to share a trouble, Florasmiled, even if it didall seem a bit Gothic. 'Speak away.' The man looked kindly and a little troubled.
Just then they heard the office door open and both jumped. The Gothicness was obviously getting tothem.
‘Thiswill improve the air circulation, at least,' they heard Charles say.
Theold man frowned. 'We obviously can't talk here,’
he whispered. 'But perhaps we could arrange to meet later? It's very important you don't let thatAnnabelle woman get her
