Flora's Lot

by Katie Fforde

‘If only I'd practised when I first arrived. That first sale we had was quite little, with hardly any people, I could have coped with that! Oh, why did I meddle and make everything so busy?’

  Imelda purred consolingly. Although she'd lost a little condition after having her kittens, she was turning into a very elegant cat. Flora had never seen her unpregnant and was pleased to see her filling out.

  When Richard and Judy said goodbye, Flora got up and started her chores.

  *

  Flora wished she'd taken the opportunity to have a little nap while she'd been at home. 'I'm going to coach you until you're word perfect,' Geoffrey announced as she got through the door.

  ‘But not until you've eaten, love,' said Edie. 'I've got a nice cottage pie waiting for you.'

  ‘I love your cottage pie! You gave me one when I first arrived, do you remember?'

  ‘Certainly. I know some people don't eat food like that in summer, but I think it's comforting. I've done peas and carrots with it. I'm afraid we've had ours. Cup of tea, Flora?'

  ‘Give the girl a glass of wine,' said Geoffrey, pulling up the chair opposite Flora's.

  ‘And how are my kittens?' asked Edie as she poured the wine. 'I can't wait to have them. Just let us get our fence sorted out so that next door's dog can't get in and menace them.'

  ‘Edie, could you find us some paper and a pen? Flora might like to take notes.’

  Edie went over to a drawer and produced a pad and pen. 'You should think about getting Imelda done, dear. You don't want her getting pregnant again, do you?'

  ‘Certainly not, she's only young. Too young to be a mother, really,' said Flora. 'Although she's managed brilliantly.'

  ‘Flora, we really should get on,' said Geoffrey.

  ‘Let the girl eat her supper first, Geoffrey.' Edie set Flora's supper down in front of her. 'She's got enough on her plate without you giving her indigestion.’

  Flora, confused as to whether Edie was referring to the food or the fact that she might have to conduct her first auction tomorrow, stuck her fork into a pile of mashed potato that had been browned in the oven.

  ‘This is delicious, Edie. Comfort food - you're quite right. Just what I fancied.'

  ‘Now, don't you worry about tomorrow,' said Edie, ignoring Geoffrey's frown and pulling up a chair so she could talk to Flora. 'It'll go swimmingly. Geoff'll be on hand to see nothing goes wrong.'

  ‘I probably won't have to do it anyway. Charles will rush back from the dentist,' said Flora.

  ‘And I keep telling you, Edie, that if it's my books going under the hammer, I can't have anything to do with it.' Geoffrey pulled the top off a pen and started fiddling with it.

  ‘I hope they go for a good price,' said Flora. 'What do you hope to do with the money? Or shouldn't I ask?'

  ‘It's a bit of a secret,' said Geoffrey. 'I'll tell you if I get what I need.'

  ‘It won't be me—'

  ‘It's not for a cruise,' broke in Edie, but Flora couldn't tell if this was a bit of a disappointment for her.

  ‘You'd have to tell me if you were going away,' said Flora, 'so I could keep - what have you decided to call them?'

  ‘Flora and Fauna, after you, and, well - Fauna sort of goes, doesn't it?’

  Suddenly overcome with emotion, Flora hid behind another forkful of pie. 'That's so sweet!' she squeaked, as soon as she decently could.

  ‘We really should be getting on,' said Geoffrey. 'We haven't got all night.'

  ‘Flora is staying over,' Edie reminded him. 'Although I think she should have an early night. She looks all in. Have some more veg?’

  Flora nodded. As long as she was eating, Geoffrey couldn't teach her to count in twos, fives and tens. Or threes and eights, or any other complicated way there might be that she had never heard of.

  ‘And you've got homes for all of the kittens?' Edie spooned carrots and peas on to Flora's plate.

  ‘Well, Charles was going to have one, to live in the office, but I don't know . .

  ‘That Annabelle! She always was selfish,' said Edie. 'But if he loves her . . .' said Flora.

  ‘Well, I hope he does, but they never seem very lovey dovey, do they?' She turned to her husband.

  ‘No one knows what goes on in anyone else's marriage, Edie.'

  ‘But they're not married yet, are they? More pie?’

  ‘No, thank you. I can hardly move as it is. It was so delicious.'

  ‘You could do with feeding up a bit. Nothing but skin and bone, you are.'

  ‘Stop fussing, Edie. Flora and I have got work to do.'

  ‘There's apple and rhubarb crumble for pudding.’

  Even her desire to put off Geoffrey's crash course in auctioneering didn't make it possible for Flora to accept this offer. 'I'd love some later, but I need to have a bit of time to digest this.'

  ‘And we must get on!' insisted Geoffrey.

  ‘I'll just make a cup of tea for you both, and then leave you in peace.’

  *

  'The thing you have to remember is that you only deal with two bidders at a time. There may be other people waving their numbers in the air who think you haven't seen them, but until one of the other two drop out, you just ignore them.'

  ‘Right,' said Flora, writing this down.

  ‘And you know about the book?’

  Of course Flora knew about the book, but Geoffrey obviously felt it was his duty to explain everything. 'The place where the bids that people have placed are written down?' she said, to indulge him.

  ‘Yes. And you have to make sure that the person in the room is not at the same place in the bidding as the amount on the book.’

  Flora thought she understood this, but did feel a bit blank. 'Don't you just pretend that they're a person and that they drop out when their bid's been overtaken?’

  Geoffrey had to think about this. 'I think so. Anyway, Louisa will keep you straight on that. She's very good.'

  ‘I don't know why Louisa couldn't do the selling.'

  ‘She could if your voice gives out completely, but this is your opportunity to take your proper place in Stanza and Stanza. It's all very well you having all these good ideas, but until you've been on that podium you won't be seen by the world as a proper partner in the business. You'll just be the pretty blonde.’

  Flora had spent quite a lot of her life being seen as the pretty blonde, and while it did have a lot going for it, it wasn't her preferred sobriquet. 'OK, I'll do it, but only if Charles doesn't get back from the dentist.'

  ‘Of course. Now,' said Geoffrey, 'you know about the counting? When you get someone to open, you go up in fives. If that won't wash you do threes, but then jump to the ten.’

  Flora realised she had a long evening in front of her. 'Tell you what,' said Geoffrey. 'Me and Edie will pretend to be punters. You run the auction. I'll help you.' Eventually Edie sent Flora to bed, having run her a bath and put Lily of the Valley perfumed bubbles in it. She was very glad to go. Her brain had turned to soup and she felt more confused about the whole process than she had done before Geoffrey started. She climbed into the little narrow bed in Edie's spare bedroom and fell asleep almost instantly, knowing her hair would be a sight in the morning and that she'd left her hair straighteners in the cottage.

  *

  'Annabelle phoned,' said Louisa, as soon as Flora and Geoffrey arrived. 'Charles's appointment is at twelve. He wanted to come in this morning, but I told him not to. We don't need him and he's in a lot of pain.'

  ‘Poor Charles,' said Flora, weakly. 'Louisa, what time do you think Bob will finish? I mean, um - how likely is it that I'll actually have to do some selling?'

  ‘Flora! Why don't you want to do it? You'll be great! And it's such good experience for you. After all, you are the senior partner.'

  ‘No I'm not! Not really, the thing with the will was just a sort of fluke.' She frowned. 'Anyway, I didn't think anyone knew about that.'

  ‘Oh, nothing's a secret in this place.'

  ‘So tell m
e what time we'll get to the books that Geoffrey can't do?'

  ‘Well, Bob's very fast, so we'll get through his really quickly. Then Geoffrey. He hasn't done it for a while so he'll probably be a bit slower.'

  ‘And if he's truly my friend, he'll spin it out until Charles gets here,' put in Flora.

  ‘Which means we should get to the books at about two.'

  ‘Plenty of time for Charles to get back from an appointment at twelve!' said Flora, relief flooding over her. 'I suppose so,' said Louisa.

  ‘I do wonder why he didn't make the appointment for earlier, though,' said Flora.

  Louisa shook her head. 'Have you any idea how difficult it is to get a dentist appointment in this town? They always keep one at about midday for real emergencies, otherwise you have to wait weeks.'

  ‘Oh.' Chastened, Flora went to check what else needed doing, grateful that she would be too busy to worry too much about having to conduct an auction. For once the words 'cheer up, it may never happen' seemed appropriate.

  She was doing a stint in the little café area, selling rolls and cups of tea in between washing up. She liked it in there. You got to see all the punters, you could overhear their opinions of the sale, but the work wasn't too stressful and was almost completely free of any decision-making. She'd just coped with a little flurry of customers when she checked her watch. It was half past one! Where was Charles? The almost-octogenarian Bob was getting through the remaining furniture in record time. He'd once sold cattle at auction and hadn't lost the rapid delivery required, in spite of his bad heart.

  ‘Slow down!' Flora urged him from the back of the room when she'd abandoned the café, leaving any other customers to make their own tea. She'd sold all the rolls already.

  Virginia loomed up beside her. 'Geoffrey's on next, then you.'

  ‘But where the hell is Charles?' Flora whispered. 'His appointment was at twelve, and it's half past one. He should be back by now!'

  ‘Stop fussing about where Charles is and just focus on what you've got to do. I'm willing to bet that when you come down from the podium you'll be aching to go back up there again.’

  Geoffrey apparently had only a few lots to sell, either that or the time it took him to sell them whistled past so quickly that Flora blinked and missed it. Virginia took her elbow and marched Flora to the front of the building, just as he was finishing.

  ‘You're going to be fine,' said Louisa, as Flora, her legs shaking, climbed up beside her at the desk.

  Geoffrey winked. 'You'll need this,' he said, and put a gavel into her hand. 'It's Charles's. He told me to make sure you had it.’

  Flora clutched it tightly, willing the years of experience it had gained with Charles to flash into her like a bolt of electricity. At the same moment she realised that Charles had never intended to be there, either because of the dentist, or because he thought it was good experience for her. She loved him and hated him in the same heartbeat.

  She thought about the time at school when she'd been the compere for the end-of-term show, how she'd held the audience's attention, in spite of being terrified. She thought of her drama classes, how she'd been taught to think herself into the role. She thought of Charles, how she wanted to do well for his sake, and for Geoffrey and Edie and everyone else who'd been so kind and welcoming to her. She glanced down at the ledger in front of her, checked to see where the porter was standing, holding the book up, and took a deep breath. She looked at everyone and waited until they were all looking at her. Then she smiled - as brave a smile as she could manage - and began.

  ‘A fine example of The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk, nice edition, good condition, who'll start me off? A hundred pounds? No? Fifty then, yes! Fifty pounds I'm bid. Fifty-five? Yes? You, madam . .

  She soon got into the swing of things. She found she had taken in Geoffrey's coaching with regard to counting in threes, fives and tens, and with Louisa at her side keeping her on track with the book, and both phones in use, she found she was exhilarated. It was like spinning plates, trying to keep all the balls in the air at the same time. She was surprised how quickly she learned to identify the bidders, to keep their attention. Virginia was manning one of the phones and having her calm presence was an added support.

  Halfway through she noticed Charles, standing at the back. But she hadn't got time to decide how she felt about this, she was too preoccupied with what was going on.

  Sips of water kept her throat lubricated when she thought her voice would fail and eventually, when Geoffrey came to relieve her, she realised she was exhausted.

  ‘I thought you couldn't do it because it wasn't ethical,' she said to him as he waited for her to give up her seat.

  ‘My books are all sold. Do you know you raised over twenty thousand pounds for me?'

  ‘Did I? I realised we were getting some good prices, way above the estimates, but I didn't know which, or how many of the books were yours, of course.'

  ‘Go and get a cup of tea. You deserve one.’

  Flora's knees nearly gave way as she climbed down and the audience, most of whom had learnt that it was her first time, gave her a round of applause.

  Virginia was there and hugged her tightly. 'Well done, Flora! You were fantastic! You did so well. We all knew you would.’

  Suddenly, everyone was congratulating her on her success.

  ‘That's thousands of pounds' worth you've sold - and for far more than it's worth, going by the guide prices,' said Louisa.

  ‘But you know the guide prices are always fairly low to encourage people to come,' said Flora, embarrassed.

  ‘Those last two bidders just competed with each other for your attention! They must have known they were paying over the odds.'

  ‘Well, as long as everyone is happy. I think I did make a couple of mistakes with the book.'

  ‘Yes, but you put it right by inventing an imaginary bidder,' said Louisa. 'Did Geoffrey tell you to do that?'

  ‘He certainly did. He was coaching me for hours last night.'

  ‘Well worth it! You've made him thousands!'

  ‘I'm glad about that, but we can't stand around here feeling smug, we've got loads to do before we can go home.’

  Then she was caught from behind and turned round. Almost before she registered who it was, Charles had his arms round her and was crushing her half to death. 'Well done, Flora,' he breathed into her ear. 'I knew you could do it.’

  Then he kissed her, full on the lips.

  For a moment, it was just a kiss between friends, a congratulatory kiss, that she might have exchanged with anyone, but then, for the briefest moment, it took on a quality of passion that made her catch her breath.

  They broke apart, both astounded and horrified. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. A lifetime passed before Flora licked her lips. 'Um . .

  ‘So,' said Annabelle in a flat voice. 'Flora Pulls It Off! Or something. How does it feel to be the title of a girls' school adventure novel?’

  Flora tried to laugh. 'Er - fine.' She looked at Charles's white face and knew it was a reflection of her own. 'I, er . . . excuse me. I think I'll just pop to the Ladies'.’

  She was washing her hands when Annabelle came into the room and stood with her back to the door, so they couldn't be interrupted. Flora felt shaky, a mixture of shock, guilt and a nervous reaction to her performance as an auctioneer.

  ‘What the hell do you think you're doing?' Annabelle looked hot and bothered, but her gaze as she stared at Flora was icy.

  ‘I . . . I don't know what you mean,' Flora stammered. How much had Annabelle seen?

  ‘Don't give me that. I saw you. You and Charles.'

  ‘Oh,' said Flora weakly. 'You mean when he kissed me just now? It was just over-excitement, Annabelle, really, don't read anything into it. He was just—'

  ‘I'm not talking about the kiss, Flora,' Annabelle said furiously. 'That was a bit of meaningless sentimentality. I mean the look.'

  ‘Look?' echoed Flora weakly. 'What look?'


  ‘Oh, grow up, Flora,' snapped Annabelle. 'You're in love with him, aren't you?’

  `No—' said Flora hotly.

  ‘Don't try to deny it! It was plain as a pikestaff.’

  Flora shook her head. Everything suddenly seemed to be happening so fast that she didn't know what to think. Charles's kiss had been unnerving enough, but Annabelle was right. It was the way he had suddenly pulled back, the way they had looked at each other, that gave everything away.

  She felt an inappropriate little rush of pleasure. Charles didn't just think of her as his little cousin, he thought of her as a woman. And clearly found her attractive. But what about Annabelle?

  ‘Look, I'm sorry, Annabelle, really, I—'

  ‘Honestly, Flora, I don't want to hear it. I can't imagine there's anything you could say that I'd want to hear. But there's one thing you should know. Even if Charles did think you were more than just a minor irritation in his life, he'd never leave me for you.'

  ‘Why not?' Flora was surprised to find she'd spoken out loud.

  ‘Because without me, he'd lose everything.’

  ‘Everything? What do you mean, everything?'

  ‘I mean he'd lose the company. He'd lose Stanza and Stanza.'

  ‘That can't be true.' Flora didn't understand. 'I'd know about it, if that was the case.'

  ‘Not necessarily. He doesn't tell you everything, you know,' Annabelle said nastily. 'In fact, he doesn't tell you much at all.'

  ‘So you tell me then. How would he lose the company if he left you?'

  ‘The office building needed completely rewiring. My father paid for it, with Charles's half of the business as collateral.'

  ‘You mean, your father lent Charles the money?'

  ‘Sort of, but the arrangement is that the debt will be written off when we get married. So however much he loved you - even if he does, which I sincerely doubt -he'd still never leave me. His precious company will always be more important to him than any woman.'

  ‘I see. Well, thank you for making things clear to me. And I hope you'll be happy knowing that Charles is only marrying you for your father's money!'

  ‘Not "only", darling, but he has got an awful lot of it.' She looked pityingly at Flora. 'I did try to tell you. I thought I'd made it quite clear how things are. Charles and I are going to get married, we've always been going to get married, and that's that.’