Flora allowed herself to subside. 'I suppose so. Did you see itall?'
‘Yes, I did and I was genuinelyimpressed. Geoffrey did a really good job of coaching you.'
‘Don't I get any credit?'
‘You know perfectly well you're a natural. And people love you.’
Flora felt a smug little smile startat the corner of her mouthand bit it back, glad she didn't have to go rushing off into the night in a huff without having hadher steak frites. 'I'm not a natural at all. Geoffreyspent hours coaching me.'
‘Well, it was worth it. I didn'tdream we'd get anything like that for them.' He frowned. 'Geoffrey wasof the opinion that people kept bidding just so they could get your attention.'
‘It's not true. People aren't idiots. It was the website that didit. People heard the books were on sale and turned up to buy them. Nothing morethan that.'
‘I'm not jealous of the punters.'
‘Good.'
‘So why did you go?’
Flora exhaled, fiddled with her napkin and ate some more bread. Itwas lovely that Charles had come after her,but it didn't actually change anything. He'd still lose the business ifhe chose Flora over Annabelle -assuming he wanted to, that is. He wasn'tbehaving terribly like a heartbroken lover right now; instead he'd reverted to his bossy older cousin persona.Nothing had really changed, and so Flora didn't feel she could be honest with him about what had happened. Shedecided instead to be a bit economical with the truth.
She fixedher gaze on a flaw in the tablecloth. 'Annabelle saw uskiss. She got the wrong end of the stick and' -she forced herself into an attempt ofcareless laughter -'thought there was something going on between us.' Charles'sexpression changed, but she found she was unableto read it. She carried on regardless. 'So she told me that if you and she didn't get married, you'dlose your half of the company.’
Charles shook his head. 'But why didthat make you leave?'
‘What do you mean? I couldn't ask youto—' She checked herself. She couldn't say she couldn't ask him to choose as that rather presupposed that hewanted her, and she wasn't sure if he did or not. 'I couldn't ask you tojeopardise the company. It's your life.'
‘I thought it was your life too, Flora.'
‘It was - is' - God, this was difficult- 'but it has been yours for longer.'
‘I see.'
‘So what are you doing here?' she asked.'You and Annabelle are going to get married.Don't try to deny it! My mother got the invitation.'
‘Oh God, I'm sorry. I expect Annabelle'smother sent them out before she knew we'd broken up—'
‘Broken up?' Flora couldn't believe whatshe was hearing. 'You mean you and Annabellehave broken up?'
‘Yes,Flora. I rang you on Sunday, and got no answer. I asked Annabelle if she knew where youmight be and she told me that she'd sent you packing.’
Flora's head was spinning. 'But if youdon't marry Annabelle, how will you pay back her father for the rewiring?'
‘Ihaven't a clue about that, either. I expect I'll think of something.'
‘Charles, this is so unlike you!'
‘Iknow. I think I got bored with being like me. I'd rather be more likeyou. I'm living in the office flat. I'm going to pick up my kitten as soon aswe get back.'
‘Is thatthe royal "we"?' she asked cautiously, not wanting to misinterpret.
‘No! It means both of us. You've learnt a lot, you've become reallyuseful.'
‘You said I caused havoc.'
‘It means the same.’
Flora backtracked. There was too much totake in all at once. 'You still haven't told me why you came to find me. Orhow, for that matter.'
‘I'lltake the fifth on that last bit.’
As Flora had a strong suspicion hermother was involved, she let that pass. 'What about the first part of thequestion?'
‘We need you, Flora! And you can't expect Geoffrey to look after your cats for ever.'
‘There's only Imelda, and two of thekittens are his anyway.' She frowned. 'Do youwant to go on living in the flat? Because if we sold it, we could raiseenough to buy Bob and possibly George out. Perhaps there'd be enough to pay offAnnabelle's father, too. If not, there's still my half of the company. We couldraise a loan on that. The wiring couldn't have cost that much.'
‘You'd beprepared to do that?'
‘Uh-huh.' Flora was suddenly aware how much she had exposed herfeelings.
‘For me, or the company?’
She swallowed. 'The company, of course.'This was a lie, but she felt too vulnerable to tell him the truth.
‘So you do care about Stanza andStanza?' he asked softly.
‘Of course I care!' said Flora and, asecond later, she realised she'd beentricked in a way she'd tricked Charles in the past.
‘So why did you run away?'
‘Itold you. I thought you'd lose the company if I stayed. Why did you comeafter me?'
‘Do you really need to ask me that?’
Flora's vehement affirmative wasinterrupted by the appearance of their food. She was grateful. It gave her timeto think. What reason could she possibly give for running away that didn't involve her feelings for Charles? And Annabelle. She cut herself quite alarge bit of steak so she couldn'tpossibly be expected to answer difficult questions for some time.
‘It was quite hard to track you down,'said Charles who, having taken a smallermouthful, was able to speak quite soon.
Flora nodded, chewing.
‘I had to get in touch with Henry in theend.’
Flora frowned. 'How did he know where Iwas?'
‘Itwas he who suggested we got in touch with Emma.' He frowned. 'And strangely, although they were supposed to befriends, William didn't have Emma's number.'
‘Oh?'
‘No.Fortunately your mother had it. She told me where you were working.’
Flora made a note to either kill orhug Emma and her mother later, depending on how thingsworked out. `So were Emma and William old friends?’
Flora shrugged. 'Maybe not.'
‘Still, he paints a very good portrait.'
‘Oh, did Annabelle get it done? What'sit like?' She picked up her glass.
‘It's very fetching. She's naked.’
Florasprayed red wine all over her plate, the surroundingtable and even, a bit, on
