Page 30 of Wild About You

OMG! Verdict?she replied.

It was fine.

Fine?!

I wasn’t swept away. But that’s OK, isn’t it? Maybe it’s a good thing if we’re just going to have a fling.

Flings are, kind of mechanical, aren’t they?I typed.

Mechanical is not the word I have in mind when I think of a fling, she replied.

Oh dear.

It’s fine. Next time have a couple of drinks and I’m sure you’ll be swept away in no time.

I jabbed at the keyboard.I did have a couple of drinks.

Confused face.

I messaged her goodnight and made myself some toast. I went to the window to eat it, looking out at the hypnotically beautiful sky. Perhaps I was far more broken than I’d realised. It felt easier to be alone. Perhaps saying no should extend into my romantic life, I thought.

‘Goodnight stars,’ I said. ‘Goodnight cottage.’ And after I got into bed, and lay there in silence, I had just the time to think this was enough, perfectly enough, before I fell deeply asleep.

CHAPTER 10

‘We’re going to have a fete!’

Nine in the morning was too early to hear Tally screeching at her highest pitch. I unwrapped the round of buttered toast I’d put in my bag and took a savage bite. I felt awful – headachey and embarrassed. That would teach me for drinking a litre of white wine and confessing my infertility to the world. ‘When?’ I said, mid-munch.

‘April 2nd.’ Fi was smiling at Tally’s glee.

‘Bit risky, weatherwise,’ I said gloomily.

‘Perhaps we can hire a marquee in case things go south,’ said Fi.

‘Or north,’ I said, taking another bite. ‘What’s the occasion?’

‘The anniversary of the earldom being bestowed upon Henry Gervase Mulholland,’ said Tallulah loftily.

‘Ohthat,’ I said. ‘Can’t believe I’d forgotten.’

‘It’s an old tradition,’ said Fi. She and Tally were smiling at me, so it seemed I’d kept withering sarcasm out of my tone. ‘But Jamie hasn’t done it for a while. He thought he’d revive it this year.’

‘All the tenants, volunteers and estate workers are invited,’ said Tally.

‘Why would he revive it?’ I said.

Fi shrugged. ‘George and Roshni are visiting this weekend. Maybe he was thinking over old times.’

I raised my eyebrows as I munched the toast. I’d seen the names on the family tree that Tally had pointed at on my first day, hung prominently on the office wall with its beautiful calligraphy: Jamie’s brother George, his wife Roshni, and their two little boys Kes and Jake. And if he was dwelling on the family dynasty, he might be ready to give romance another go. Prepare yourself, Lucinda.

‘You okay, Anna?’ Fi said.

‘Fantastic,’ I said, taking another bite of toast. ‘I’m just about to go and rake over Belheddonbrae with Keith. We’re preparing it, ready for planting. Almost there. You?’

‘I’m not too bad,’ she said, smiling. ‘Make sure you pop back mid-afternoon. Tally volunteered to buy office cake today.’

‘I did what?’ said Tally.

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