Page 22 of An Ill Wind in Seabury
Lionel’s beaming face instantly straightened out. ‘Why… you’re not going to make a scene, are you?’
‘As if I’d do a thing like that,’ said George, batting his eyelashes and doing his best to look innocent. ‘I just… I’d like to have a proper look. Just a peep to see if itisthe same Claudia from years ago.’
‘But she’s only just settled down in the dining room,’ said Lionel. ‘She’s behaving herself at the moment, but you might set her off again. I could do without her giving Hattie a hard time…’
‘Okay, what if I promise just to have a peep from the doorway?’ said George. ‘I’ll just do a little drive-by on my way through to the bar… just a quick look and I’ll be on my way.’
‘On one condition,’ said Lionel.
‘Go on?’ said George.
‘You don’t talk to her, and you buy me a drink.’
‘That’s two conditions,’ said George.
Lionel shrugged and crossed his arms, clearly not willing to budge.
‘Fine. I accept.’
‘She’s at table two over by the windows,’ said Lionel.
‘Then I’ll have to take a walk through the dining room and into the kitchen to get a proper look,’ said George. ‘I won’t be able to see from the doorway.’
‘Okay, fine!’ huffed Lionel. ‘But that means my drink’s upgraded to a single malt.’
‘You drive a hard bargain,’ said George. ‘Right, here we go.’
‘Remember… not a word. If you set her off again, you can deal with her!’ said Lionel. ‘I’m not coming to your rescue.’
‘Deal,’ said George, brushing down his shirt. He couldn’t decide which way he wanted this to go. If she wasn’t the Claudia who’d broken his heart, he’d be a bit relieved and a bit disappointed all rolled into one. And if she washisClaudia? Well… he’d be a bit relieved and a bit disappointed all rolled into one.
‘Wish me luck.’
‘You’ll need it!’ said Lionel with a smirk.
‘Always so supportive,’ tutted George. Then, before he could chicken out, he headed straight for the door of the dining room and peered inside.
CHAPTER 9
CLAUDIA
‘George? George Slatter, is that you?’
The man who’d just wandered into the dining room of the Pebble Street Hotel had taken one look at Claudia and promptly made a u-turn. The sound of her voice brought him to an abrupt halt, and now, he was standing as still as a statue.
Claudia became vaguely aware that she’d left her chair and was in a strange kind of half-crouch as she stared at his back.
It had to be him… didn’t it?
After the most horrible day, had the universe finally decided to give her a break? If she was right and that reallywasGeorge Slatter, then her hidden agenda for being in Seabury—discovering what had become of her blast from the past—had just landed in her lap.
‘George?’ she said again, more quietly this time.
Claudia stood up straighter, wincing as her dining chair scraped against the parquet floor. She sent an apologetic look at the people on the table nearest hers, but they were all watching her with interest rather than annoyance. Claudia didn’t care either way. She just wanted the man to turn to face her again so that she could be sure she hadn’t been imagining things.
Maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe it was just the fact that she’d been feeling so lonely, sitting there waiting to eat alone, that it was simply wishful thinking that the best thing from her past had just wandered into her present.
Claudia watched as the man turned slowly on the spot.
