He said nothing for a while. Then he nodded, and he turned his face to hers. When he bent his head, when his lips moved towards her lips, Flora felt as though the world had stopped turning. Her limbs burned with heat and desire and she closed her eyes and sank into him, thinking only about the kiss, the kiss, and then nothing. Just this moment. The moment she had thought would never come.
Chapter 16
‘Leaving already?’
Sidney was standing on the drive when Flora and Marshall came out of the house. Their bags had been loaded onto the van, while Celeste’s boxes along with the rest of Rojo Productions’ equipment had been unloaded into the hall outside the props room. Marshall had spoken to Jack’s replacement and given their names and addresses, but Flora was relieved that they didn’t have to hang around any longer.
‘Well,’ she said, giving the butler a hug, ‘I’d say it’s been fun, but I’d be lying.’
‘You won’t be coming back to stay at Hanley Manor again?’ Sidney said, frowning.
‘Hm–m. Probably not.’
‘When hell freezes over,’ Marshall put in.
Sidney smiled. ‘Ah, well. Only to be expected.’ He matched Flora’s pace as they crossed the drive. ‘Thank you. For everything.’
‘I didn’t do anything, Sidney. It’s me who should be thanking you.’
‘It was nice, though,’ he said, looking off into the distance. ‘Nice to have someone to talk to, someone who knew the truth about this place. To not have to keep up the pretence. You know?’
She nodded. ‘Listen, I have a few ideas about all that. Have you thought about getting in another couple of yurts?’
‘Yurts?’ Sidney said the word as though it was something disgusting.
Flora laughed. ‘You might not believe it, but they’re brilliant fun. More fun than staying in a stuffy room in the house …’ She clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘No offence.’
‘None taken, Miss.’ Sidney gave her a little bow.
‘Seriously, you should talk to your employers about it. Get a few in the grounds, dotted around, put it out on social media, get in with the glamping community.’
‘Social media? Glamping? Miss Lively, you are talking a foreign language.’
‘Oh, don’t be such an old goat.’ She linked her arm through his and walked him around to her side of the van. Marshall looked on, his eyebrows raised.
‘I’ll help you,’ Flora said. ‘Let’s give it a few weeks for all this to die down, then I’ll come back and help you work it all out.’
Sidney stared at her, his eyes puffy. ‘You’d do that? For me?’
‘For you and your wife. I want you to be able to stay here.’ She turned in a circle, taking it all in with her arms. ‘Despite everything, Hanley Manor is a beautiful place. I think you could make a go of it yet.’ She shrugged. ‘It’d be fun trying, anyway.’
‘What was all that about?’ Marshall said when she climbed into the van.
‘Oh, nothing. Just helping him out with something.’
Marshall turned to her in mock surprise. ‘What – you, helping someone out? Never. I can’t believe it.’
She slapped him on the arm. ‘Oh, shut up. I have ideas – I’m an ideas person. You’re just jealous because people confide in me. Because they can see my creative, caring side.’
‘That’s fine,’ he said, sliding across the cab to put his arm around her shoulders. ‘As long as it’s only me who gets to see that other side you’ve kept hidden so long.’
‘And what side is that?’ she said, throwing him a mischievous look.
‘The wildcat side,’ he whispered. ‘Who’d have thought it of you?’
‘Shut up!’ She hit him again, then settled back into her seat, smiling. She pulled her seatbelt across her lap and lifted her feet up onto the dash.
‘Where to now, Miss Lively?’ Marshall started the engine. He doffed an imaginary cap and grinned.
‘Anywhere,’ she said. ‘Anywhere but here.’
As they motored away, down the long gravel drive, the van swaying slightly and the looming form of Hanley Manor receding in the mirror, Flora wondered where exactly they were heading, her and Marshall. She closed her eyes. Like all the best journeys, sometimes it was best to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
THE END
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank the following people who contributed to the writing and production of this book: first and always Jez Phillips, my amazing husband, whose continued support no matter what else is going on in life makes writing a joy. Jude White for her brilliant proofreading and editing, which in this case also included Spanish phrases! Truly above and beyond the call of duty. Chris Howard for yet another wonderful cover - I don’t know how you do it, but I’m glad you do. A special thanks to everyone on my mailing list - knowing you are there, and the feedback you give me, is always such a comfort - and to my Facebook friends Ros, Bev, Lynsey, Donna, Bee and Julie for helping with the blurb. And finally I’d like to thank my readers – without you none of this would have any point. Every time you download, buy or borrow one of my books you make my world an even brighter place.
Thank you for reading A Date With Death. If you enjoyed this book, please join my mailing list so I can tell you about new releases, giveaways and special promotions. I often send out exclusive short stories to the lovely people on my mailing list, and you’ll always be the first to hear big news! The next installment in the Flora Lively series - The Sign of Seven - will be released in November 2015 - keep in touch to find out more.
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About the author
Joanne Phillips lives in rural Shropshire with her husband and young daughter. She’s the author of romantic comedies Can’t Live Without, The Family Trap and Cupid’s Way, and the Flora Lively series of contemporary mysteries. Can’t Live Without was an Amazon top 20 bestseller in 2012 and her books regularly appear on category bestseller lists. Before becoming a writer, Joanne had jobs as diverse as hairdresser, air hostess and librarian, but now divides her time between writing and finding creative ways to avoid housework. She’s a fan of super-dark chocolate, iced coffee and Masterchef.
Books by Joanne Phillips
Can’t Live Without
The Family Trap
Cupid’s Way
Flora Lively Investigates:
Murder at the Maples
A Date With Death
Short story collection:
A Life Unpredicted and other stories
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Acknowledgements
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, localities and incidents portrayed in it are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Mirrorball Books
An imprint of Bostock Publishing
www.bostockpublishing.co.uk
Kindle Edition 2015
Co
pyright © Joanne Phillips 2015
Joanne Phillips asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author and/or publisher.
Cover design by Blondesign
A Date With Death: Cozy Private Investigator Series (Flora Lively Mysteries Book 2) Page 20