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Shopaholic to the Rescue

Page 29

by Sophie Kinsella


  Mrs. Luke Brandon

  c/o The Pines

  43 Elton Road

  Oxshott

  Surrey

  Dear Mrs. Brandon,

  The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for the good wishes which you have sent to Her Majesty.

  I am glad to hear that Mr. Derek Smeath of East Horsley (formerly of Fulham) has proved such an invaluable friend, not just to you but to “the causes of love and justice.” I can well believe that he has made the world a better place.

  However, I’m sorry to say, there is no “instant fast track” to a knighthood; nor does the Queen have any “spare OBEs” that she could “just put in an envelope for him.”

  On behalf of Her Majesty, I thank you again for writing.

  Yours sincerely,

  Lavinia Coutts-Hoares-Berkeley

  LADY-IN-WAITING

  TOWN HALL KING STREET LONDON W6 9JU

  Mrs. Rebecca Brandon

  c/o The Pines

  43 Elton Road

  Oxshott

  Surrey

  Dear Mrs. Brandon,

  Thank you for your letter. It is always pleasing to hear from former residents of Fulham.

  I was glad to hear about your friend Derek Smeath, who managed the Fulham branch of Endwich Bank for so many years. He sounds a most helpful man, and I’m sure you are right that many residents of Fulham have benefited from his wisdom.

  However, it is unfortunately not within my powers as councillor to “award him a medal or the freedom of the city.”

  I thank you for your interest in the council and enclose a leaflet on our latest progress in green waste management.

  Yours sincerely,

  Councillor Elaine Padgett-Grant

  Hammersmith & Fulham Council

  Dear Mrs. Brandon,

  Thank you very much for your letter. What a story you have to tell!!!

  As one of Derek’s gardening “chums,” I could not agree more with your sentiments that he is an all-round good egg. I was delighted to learn that Lord and Lady Cleath-Stuart are naming a new avenue of trees on their estate “Smeath Walk” after him. He deserves no less!!!

  It will be my absolute pleasure to organize a society “day out” to Letherby Hall for the “opening ceremony,” and your check should amply cover our expenses. I assure you, Derek will be none the wiser, until you land the “surprise” on him. I should think he won’t believe his eyes!! Meanwhile, “mum’s the word.”

  I look forward to meeting you on “the day.” Meanwhile, stay well and no more adventures!!!

  Yours very kindly,

  Trevor M. Flanagan

  President, EHHS

  P.S.—Are you the “Rebecca” who gets into such trouble in Derek’s book? Don’t worry, your secret’s “safe” with me!!!

  The End

  To Linda Evans,

  with love and thanks for everything

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Writing a book is much like going on a road trip, what with the snacks, the constant looking out the window and the panics that you have no idea whatsoever where you’re heading….I’m endlessly grateful to all who have been in my metaphorical RV. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you. xxx

  The British RV

  Araminta Whitley, Peta Nightingale, Jennifer Hunt, Sophie Hughes, Nicki Kennedy, Sam Edenborough and all the team at ILA, Harriet Bourton, Linda Evans, Bill Scott-Kerr, Larry Finlay, Sally Wray, Claire Evans, Alice Murphy-Pyle, Tom Chicken and his team, Claire Ward, Anna Derkacz and her team, Stephen Mulcahey, Rebecca Glibbery, Sophie Murray, Kate Samano, Elisabeth Merriman, Alison Martin, Katrina Whone, Judith Welsh, Jo Williamson, Bradley Rose

  The American RV

  Kim Witherspoon, David Forrer, Susan Kamil, Deborah Aroff, Kesley Tiffey, Avideh Bashirrad, Theresa Zoro, Sally Marvin, Sharon Propson, Loren Noveck, Benjamin Dreyer, Paolo Pepe, Scott Shannon, Matt Schwartz, Henley Cox

  BY SOPHIE KINSELLA

  Confessions of a Shopaholic

  Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

  Shopaholic Ties the Knot

  Can You Keep a Secret?

  Shopaholic & Sister

  The Undomestic Goddess

  Shopaholic & Baby

  Remember Me?

  Twenties Girl

  Mini Shopaholic

  I’ve Got Your Number

  Wedding Night

  Shopaholic to the Stars

  Shopaholic to the Rescue

  About the Author

  SOPHIE KINSELLA is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series, as well as the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, and Wedding Night. She lives in London.

  sophiekinsella.com

  Facebook.com/​SophieKinsellaOfficial

  @KinsellaSophie

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