Page 64 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘OK – I’m actually in there now,’ I agreed. ‘Do they need milk?’
‘No, there should be plenty of long-life stuff in the mini fridge under the sink.’
‘I’m off to the vet to get Golightly microchipped shortly,’ I told her, fumbling one-handed for the right key and inserting it in the lock.
‘Have fun,’ she said, and rang off.
Two workmen were hovering hopefully in the foyer, but when I invited them to come in and make themselves some tea, they insisted on showing me the new toilet cubicle first. They were very proud of it and I think just wanted an admirer, so I duly admired the gleaming white fittings and tiles, the two handbasins at different heights, to make one accessible for wheelchair users, and the flap-down baby changing unit.
‘It is a thing of beauty and a joy for ever,’ I assured them, and the younger of the two men gave me an attractive, gap-toothed grin.
I had to dash off back to the cottage then and get Golightly into his basket, which was not a fun experience for either of us. I pushed him in headfirst in the end, but it was a big basket and he could turn round quite easily, to hiss at me through the grille at the front.
He wasn’t thrilled to meet the vet, either, but the pleasant young woman, who had introduced herself as Treena, handled him with the skill of long practice. He didn’t really seem to notice when the microchip was inserted and then she gave him a quick check over, while I told her his history, as far as I knew it.
‘He must be getting on for twenty, I think,’ I finished.
‘I suspect he’s so skinny because he’s an old cat, but you must try and get a bit of weight on him,’ she advised. ‘His teeth are in quite good condition, considering.’ She gave him acouple of shots and filled in his brand-new vaccination card, while her assistant hung on to him with practised efficiency.
‘He doesn’t look like any other cat I’ve ever seen,’ I told her. ‘His fur sort of goes in whorls, like Persian lamb, and he’s a weird colour.’
‘Oh, I think he’s mostly Devon Rex, but with a good dash of something else.’ She shrugged.
Golightly gave her his best Silent Scream face.
‘He pulls those faces all the time – you don’t think he’s in pain, do you?’
‘No, I think he’s just weird,’ she said casually, then gave me some leaflets, including one about pet insurance, along with a hefty bill.
I tottered home with the cat basket, listing to one side. At this rate my arms would be so stretched my knuckles would drag along the ground.
In my absence, all the local takeaways had pushed menus through my door and I wondered if they somehow knew a potential customer had moved in.
I let Golightly out in the hall, then stowed his basket under the stairs, hoping I wouldn’t need it again for a long time. He led the way through to the utility room, where he seemed to be indicating that treats were called for.
I’d bought some healthier high-protein ones in the surprisingly well-stocked shop part of the vet’s reception and I tried him with those. He ate them, but didn’t seem wildly enthusiastic.
The receptionist had also persuaded me to buy a cat toy – a feathery one on a string dangling from a stick. I thought Golightly would treat it with contempt, but the moment I trailed the bright feathers in front of him, he tried to grab them and then chased it all over the place, until after tenminutes he suddenly lost interest, or perhaps was simply tired, for he headed to his chair for a snooze.
I went to my desk and made a new folder marked ‘CAT’, in which I put the first of what I was sure would be many bills.
Then I decided to reply to Will’s email. I wasn’t going to tell him where I was. I supposed eventually Marco would discover I’d left the flat and might then think of my connection with Honey, but I hoped before then he’d have lost interest – and Will would have, too.
Rosa-May
Sara duly approached Mr Blake for me, and secured his promise that he would receive me and hear me in some part of my choice, which both excited and alarmed me!
But I was quite determined on my course, and Letty, although loath to have me leave Bath before she herself did, agreed to help me – and also loan me a little of her generous pin money to augment the ten guineas that the squire had given me, for I needed to obtain a seat in the Mail coach to London and then would need a conveyance to the house of Sara’s sister. There would be other expenses, too, for I would not be able to leave the house carrying more than a small cloak bag.
Letty’s maid was sworn to secrecy and dispatched to buy me a ticket for the Mail … It was often quite full inside but she managed to secure me the last place for the following day and I took this as a good portent.
I hoped Letty’s maid would keep a still tongue so Letty did not get into any trouble for helping me. I have told her, if they should ask, that she had no knowledge of my plans.
With fear and trembling in case my plans might somehow be discovered, I packed a few necessities. It seemed to me best not toleave a note for Lady Bugle, but to write once I reached London, when there would be little chance of any pursuit.
Not that I thought she would stir herself much in this direction, once she found that I had run off, and when she and Papa had received my letter of explanation as to my intent to become an actress, I was convinced both would wash their hands of me.
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