Florashook her head. 'You make me sound like an advertisementfor a room fragrance, and I only know what I've picked up from afternoon tellyprogrammes. A few editions of the Antiques Roadshow and that one where they have to buythings at an antiques fair and thensell them at auction. That isn't going to be enough.'
‘I'll teach you,' saidGeoffrey. 'I've forgotten more than you'llever need to know. I was a dealer for years, before I came back here.’
Flora smiled at him. 'That's a wonderful offer, butit isn't only that. There's the whole living-in-the-country thing. Would I be able to cope with that? Charlesand Annabelleobviously think I'm a waste of space already, and will fall apart if not exposed to a shoe shopand a wine bar atleast twice a week. And that's before I've even made any awful blunders.' She regarded himseriously. 'I do likeshoes, but I did want to give this thing a go.'
‘Ifyou really mean that, I might be able to help you fit into the way of life, too.' He smiled, his eyescrinkling at thecorners in a friendly way. 'I can't point you to a wine bar within thirty miles, but there areother ways of keepingyourself amused.' He paused. 'Ever done any singing?'
‘Apart from in the shower, you mean?I always sing in the shower. And Iliked it at school. I was always askedto do the descants for the carols, and I sang a solo at the school concert once.' She frowned. 'It wasa long time ago, though. Why do you ask? Are you offering to take me toa karaoke night?’
He chuckled. 'Not exactly. I was going to ask youif you'd like to join my choir.’
Floraalmost laughed at the absurdity of the idea. 'What, the one that opened thefestival?’
He nodded. 'It's a good way to get to know people, and although we've got high standards, we're atolerant bunch. We need some higher voices. You'd be welcome.'
‘But Icouldn't possibly! I haven't sung for years and my sight-reading was never very good.' She couldn'timagine what her friends inLondon would say if she announced she'd joined achoir.
‘Your sight-reading will reallyimprove when you get back to doing it, and we'll all help you along.’
Flora considered. Geoffrey was the first person to make her feel remotely approved of since she'darrived and she was touched. 'Are you sure? They won't think I'm an awful townie, and resent me?’
He chuckled. 'A pretty girl like you would cheer usall up. Not that we're all old,I don't want to imply that, butthere's been no one young, single and female in the choir for years. You are single, aren't you?'
‘Currently. A bit of a first for me, actually.’
He laughed again; he seemed to find her very amusing, but in a fond way, not because he found her ridiculous,unlike Charles and Annabelle.
‘Then come along with me tonight, andsee how you like it.’
It was tempting, particularly when the alternativewas staying at home alone in a holiday cottage. And guessing at Charles and Annabelle's standards ofwhat a holiday cottage required, she probably wouldn't even have a television to distract her from Imelda'syelling. Thinking ofImelda, she said, 'There's my cat. She might have kittens at any moment.'
‘I'm sure she'll be fine - cats havebeen doing this for quite a whilenow. In fact, while there's no one here, why don't youlet her out of her box for a bit? It may only be beingshut up that's making her so vocal.’
Flora felt a rush of affection for this man; he'dsaid 'vocal' not 'noisy'.
‘Then would you mind watching herwhile I go and fetch her litter trayfrom the car? I'm sure she would neverdo anything she shouldn't, but can you imagine how much Annabelle would hate me if my cat peed on the carpet?'
‘About as much as she hates me, Ishould think.' He smiled. 'You go andget the litter tray and we'll let Imelda out for a bit.'
‘You obviously like cats.'
‘And so does my wife. I'm fairly surethat she'll be wanting one of thekittens when they're ready. This firm isn'tthe only thing which needs some young life.' He grinned broadly.
It was such a relief to be with someone whoresponded to her, who sawher as a person, not just a strappy dress, a pair of unsuitable shoes and expensive highlights,that Flora smiled fondly back. If this man wanted her to stay, she would stay, for his sake as much as her own.'I'll go and get the litter tray.’
While Imelda was prowling round the office, after Geoffrey had gone back to work, Flora decided togive her best friend a call and got outher mobile.
‘Hi! It's me! Good time?'
‘Yes,' said Emma. 'I'm at home. How is it?'
‘Well, not all that promising, to be honest, but I'm determinedto stick it out. For a while, anyway.’
‘What's the cousin like?'
‘Absolutely dire.'
‘Oh. That's a bitdisappointing. I was hoping he would providea bit of entertainment for you while you're out in the sticks. Is hemarried?'
‘Engaged. And so stuffy he could doat-a-glance taxidermy.'
‘Andhideous? Or just spoken-for?'
‘Well, I suppose hisfeatures are more or less in the right place, but he has minus amounts of charmand zero sense of humour. I think,' she added.
‘So they're not exactly welcoming thenew member of the family business?'
‘You could say that,' Flora said grimly. 'They've already tried to buy me off. Annabelle lied to Charles about me wanting to stay, implying she had no ideaI wanted to.'
‘Ohno.'
‘And I've got to livein a cottage out in the wilds. It might be a bit spooky.'
‘But one of the advantages of beingin the diplomatic service is surelythat you've lived in all sorts of scary places with your parents,haven't you?'
‘Yes, but the "with myparents" part is the thing. It'seasy to be relaxed about cockroaches if you have staff.' She sighed. 'I am a bit of a poor little rich girl, Em.'
‘Nonsense! You're a tough cookie. You'll be fine.' Emma knew what sort of reassurance Flora wasseeking, and was quite happy to provide it.
Flora responded. 'I will, of course, and there's a sweetold man who's been really kindand asked me to join his
