Page 13 of The House at Hope Corner
‘Who’s going to mind?’ He gave her hand a squeeze. ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea.’
So did Flora. In fact, it could be the solution to more than one problem.
Chapter Five
Flora turned on her side and snaked an arm across Ned’s chest. The clock showed it was past four o’clock and it would be time for him to get up soon.
‘Are you awake?’ she whispered.
Ned turned towards her slightly, murmuring, but he was still fast asleep, the blankets tucked under his chin. And so Flora lay quietly beside him, fizzing with excitement, until the alarm went off ten minutes later.
Adept at creeping from their bed and getting dressed in the dark, Ned nearly jumped out of his skin when Flora leaned over and turned on the bedside light.
‘Blimey, Flora, you’ll give me a heart attack!’
‘Sorry.’ She grinned. ‘I’ve been awake for ages. I thought I might get up with you.’
He gave her a sideways glance. ‘Are you mad? Why on earth do you want to get up when you can stay here where it’s warm? I wouldn’t be getting up if I didn’t have to, believe me, but the cows won’t milk themselves…’
Flora was already beginning to regret her decision now that Ned had left the bed and a blast of cold air shot underneath the blankets. ‘Well, that’s what I was thinking about actually. I wondered whether I could come and help you today? Then it wouldn’t take so long and you wouldn’t have to get up so early.’
‘Oh aye, trying to entice me back to bed so you can have your wicked way with me, are you?’ He shot her a grin. ‘Don’t tempt me.’ And with that he disappeared towards the bathroom.
Flora lay back for a moment, undecided as to what to do, but then she flung the bedclothes back and sat up. It wasn’t a yes, but then it wasn’t a no either. Hurriedly pulling on yesterday’s clothes, she went downstairs to make them some tea.
‘You weren’t kidding, were you?’ said Ned, fifteen minutes later as he came into the kitchen.
Flora was just pouring hot water into an enormous teapot.
‘No, well I couldn’t sleep so I thought it was about time I made myself useful. The toast is on.’
Ned came across the room to kiss her, nuzzling her neck. ‘I could get used to this. Are you going to get up with me every morning?’
She pushed at him playfully as his still wet hair made her cheek damp. ‘I haven’t decided yet,’ she replied.
He smiled but then his face grew more serious. ‘So how come you couldn’t sleep? I wasn’t snoring again, was I?’
She shook her head. ‘No, not this time, but…’ She gave him a sheepish smile. ‘Well, if you must know, I was too excited. There doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to do all the things I want to do.’ She busied herself bringing butter and jam to the table.
‘Aw, I think that’s sweet…’
She blushed. ‘Yes, but I feel a bit like a six-year-old.’
Ned put his hands on his hips, smirking. ‘Believe me, you don’t look like a six-year-old.’ He grinned at her choice of outfit. ‘Well, maybe… but you definitely don’t act like a six-year-old… At least you certainly didn’t last night…’
Flora looked over her shoulder. ‘Shhh,’ she said. ‘You can’t say things like that!’
‘Why not?’ He sidled up to her across the kitchen, pulling her close, with a wicked grin on his face.
‘What does a man need to do around here to get a cup of tea…?’ Flora sprang away from Ned as Fraser came into the room. She could feel herself blushing, and was about to apologise, when he chuckled.
‘Go on with you, I was just joshing… Does a man good to see that kind of thing first thing in the morning.’ He took a seat at the table. ‘You’re up early this morning, lass. Bed bugs bite, did they?’
Flora brought a rack of toast to the table and smiled. ‘I just thought I might come and give you a hand this morning,’ she said, brightly. ‘I was awake anyway, so just stick me in a pair of wellies and tell me what to do.’
Fraser’s hand paused on its way to claim a piece of toast. ‘Oh, aye… Ned invite you, did he?’ he said – somewhat carefully, thought Flora.
‘I didn’t think you meant to come outmilking,’ said Ned, coming to sit down himself. ‘Just that you’d got up to make breakfast. Were you really thinking you would come out with us?’
