Page 88 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘Er, the one on the high street, a little way down from your friend’s art shop.’
‘The Feathers?’ I say, surprised Julian has even set foot in there, let alone engaged with the locals.
‘Yes, that’s the one.’
‘Why did you go in there?’
‘You said I should try to make some new friends, so I thought I’d make a foray to the local pub. Turns out they weren’t all that friendly though.’
‘You should have gone to The Merry Mermaid – they’re much friendlier in there. The Feathers is mainly full of locals who play darts and pool. It’s not a family pub at all.’
‘Yes, there were some rather portly-looking gentlemen in there throwing sharp objects at a numbered board.’
‘That would be the darts team. You didn’t try to make friends with them, did you?’ The thought of Julian trying to bond with the local darts team was highly amusing to me.
‘No, I did not. I sat at the bar and tried to converse with the barman … but when he found out who I was he became very unfriendly indeed.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. Something to do with his relatives. He was a little vague, to be honest. Apparently my father had had some dealings with them which hadn’t gone all that well.’
‘Oh.’
‘So I drank my gin and tonic and left. There was another reason I didn’t go to The Merry Mermaid though.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I was concerned I might see you in there with your …friend.’
‘My friend?’ I ask, trying to think who he might mean. ‘Do you mean Jack?’
Julian nods.
‘But why would that matter?’
‘Oh, Kate, do you really not see it?’ Julian says dramatically, moving closer to me along the sofa. ‘I’m in love with you, and seeing you with another man – even if you claim he’s only a friend – it’s too much for me to bear.’
‘Ah.’ I wish I hadn’t sat right at the end of the sofa now, because then I could have slid further along it myself. ‘That’s very lovely of you, Julian,’ I say, again pulling my robe a little tighter around me. ‘And I’m incredibly flattered … but the thing is, I only see you as a friend. A very good friend,’ I add, hoping this will help. ‘But friends it has to be, I’m afraid.’
‘I see,’ Julian says, his head drooping. ‘Your heart is with another.’
‘No, it’s not that.’
‘Ah, Kate, even if you don’t see it yet, I do. You’ve given your heart to another man, and it is no longer mine to claim.’
‘Perhaps.’ I wonder if it will be easier to agree with his reasoning than argue against it.
‘If only we had met earlier.’
Julian to my horror slides further along the sofa now so he’s right next to me. I’m about to leap up and make a break for it when he grabs my hand and kisses the back of it.
‘Yes,’ I say, attempting to gently remove my hand from his. ‘If we’d met earlier then who knows?’
‘I shall do the gentlemanly thing and relinquish my adoration for you … for now,’ Julian adds, letting go of my hand. ‘But if anything should change?’ He stares at me longingly.
‘You’ll be the first to know!’ I finish, leaping up. ‘Right, I think it’s time to see if my clothes are dry.’ I hurry through to the kitchen.
Even if my clothes are still soaking, escaping in wet attire is much preferable right now to staying here with St Felix’s answer to Casanova!
