'Doc's furious with me,' she sobbed into Jeff's shirt. It was getting rather damp and she moved her cheek to a drier patch. 'He's so angry, and I don't know why! But he – he thinks I'm moving, selling the house, and he won't believe me when I tell him I'm not!'
It was at that moment Doc walked into the kitchen.
*
She felt a bit like a parcel. Jeff patted her back, pushed her away from him and handed her over to Doc, and she found herself clutching him instead.
'You'll be OK now, Lucy,' Jeff said, and she raised her head to see him slipping out of the kitchen and, after giving her a thumbs up sign, pulling the door to behind him.
'Lucy, darling, I'm so sorry! I jumped to the wrong conclusion, I didn't stop to think. When I came back I saw the men moving the sign and they told me what had happened. Will you forgive me?'
She snuffled, and managed to nod, but he was holding her so tightly she could barely move her head.
'But you're going to Australia, and when I thought the cottage was being sold it seemed as though it was for good.'
She pulled away. 'I'm not! What makes you think that?'
He picked up the postcard which she'd left on the table. 'This. Flights booked? Good to have you with them again? What else does that mean?'
She was beginning to get angry. 'It doesn't mean what you think. Mum meant it would be good to be with us again, when they get back from Scotland. Just because she said us with them rather than them with us doesn't prove anything.'
'Lucy. Oh, my darling, I thought I was going to lose you, and I couldn't bear it. But sell the damn cottage, and come and live with me. I need you. Marry me.'
She stared back at him, and then he pulled her closer and began kissing her so that she had a job to breathe. She couldn't think. Was he really asking her to marry him? Did he mean it, or was it just relief when he knew she wasn't going away?
He laughed, a trifle unsteadily. 'You might as well sell the cottage. You won't want it any more.'
'But Kate will.'
'She'll find a flat in Oxford. Lucy, this is no time to be talking about silly things. We have a wedding to arrange. Come inside.'
Actually it was a couple of hours before they were competent enough to discuss anything sensible. Doc was especially tender as he made love to her, and Lucy felt there was something more than just enjoyable, fantastic sex between them. They were making a very special commitment to each other, and mundane details could wait.
Eventually, though, they were sated, and went downstairs for some food, and a bottle of wine.
'Sorry, I don't run to champagne,' she apologised.
'Who needs champagne except for seduction? I'll happily drink water with you.'
There were questions she wanted to ask.
'What about Alice?' she said.
He sighed. 'I was bowled over when she came to live here. Like most of the men! But I soon realised that perfect veneer cracked when she didn't get her own way. Don't misunderstand. She is genuinely sweet and helpful most of the time, but I think she's had her own way so much, because she is so pretty, that she can't bear to be thwarted. We were seeing less of one another, I was trying to break it off without upsetting her too much, and then you appeared. That was it for Alice.'
'You mean – but me? I can't compete with Alice!' she gabbled.
'No,' he said thoughtfully, and she felt a little let down. She knew she was far from beautiful, but he didn't have to emphasise it. 'You're fun to be with,' he added, and she forgave him instantly.
'But I'm stupid. I drop things, say silly things.'
'You make me laugh. Life with you is interesting, fun, as I said. And you don't make a grand fuss when my dogs slobber all over you, or push you into the river.'
That reminded her. 'Doc, I went to the dog rescue place, and saw three dogs, but couldn't choose. Will you come with me and help?'
'Why do you think I've been putting you off? Of course you can have a dog, but we must make sure it will get on with my collies.'
So that was why. She felt immensely cheered.
'Never mind dogs. Now, we have plans to make.'
*
She didn't feel like making plans. She'd suddenly remembered her clients, waiting for her. She glanced at the clock, and saw she'd already missed two of them.
'I must telephone!' she gasped, and explained.
'OK, but tell them to go to Cuticurls and have whatever they need, on the house. I'm not letting you go right now. Let me phone Evelyn first to tell him to expect them. Who are these clients? And do the same for everyone else you have booked. Give Evelyn a list. If you want, you can start again when we get home, but you'll be too busy for now.'
They arranged this, managing not to explain why. They both felt their families should be the first to know. Then Doc forced her to sit at the kitchen table and concentrate.
'Your parents will be home next weekend?'
'Yes, and they're going back the following week. You read the card. They'll have to fly back for the wedding.'
'No they won't. We'll get married next Saturday, or the following Monday, while they're still here.'
'Next – but can we fix it in time?'
She was frantically thinking of dresses and invitations and receptions, all the paraphernalia that had attended her wedding to Karl.
'We can't have banns by then.'
'Your parents can change their flight. But if they don't want to, and I imagine they are anxious to get back home, we can have a special licence. You can find a dress in Oxford, or go up to London for a couple of days. The King's Head can do the reception. Give Flick a list of the people you want to invite and she'll telephone them and explain we want to marry before your parents go home.'
She felt as though a whirlwind had caught her, but it was undeniably good to have someone else make decisions for her when for so long she'd had to make them all for herself. If she'd been responsible the preparations would have taken months as she dithered over one thing or another.
'Bridesmaids? Kate and Flick?'
'Of course they must be.'
'Anyone else?'
She shook her head.
'Robert will be my best man. Have you any preference for a honeymoon, or will you leave it to me?'
She was in such a whirl she was happy to leave everything to him. When he left, saying he must get on with things right away, she sat in the kitchen for hours, thinking of all that had happened since Rosa came visiting. Yes, she had changed her life, and for much the better.
*
Somehow they managed it. She took her list of clients in to Cuticurls, and Caroline gave her a hard stare. No doubt she'd have preferred to see Alice marrying Doc. Evelyn was polite, but rather superior. He almost sneered when he read the names on the list.
'I expect some of these will begin to patronise us when they see what we can do,' he said, emphasis on the 'we'. 'Most of them, I think, went to Oxford before you came along, as they couldn't, or wouldn't, afford our charges.'
There and then she decided to open a rival salon and employ her own staff. She'd be able to afford it if she sold the cottage. It didn't occur to her till later that Doc and she would be in direct competition.
Flick and Lucy went to Oxford, met Kate, who had wangled a half day off courtesy of the new man, who was, she reported, seriously interested, and found gorgeous outfits.
Lucy had a pale blue suit embroidered in dark blue and silver, and they had dark blue dresses. They chose elaborate hats, which Lucy knew she would never wear again, straw cartwheels turned up to one side, with artificial flowers of pale blue sitting on dark green leaves. They made her buy a going away dress, this time in cream silk, but she utterly refused to get another hat.
She was tempted to buy a hat for Mum, in case she didn't feel like going to Oxford on Friday, the only day she would be able to buy a new outfit, but Kate dissuaded her, saying Mum would be offended and pretend she didn't like it even if she did.
'You know Mum al
ways wants to be in charge,' she said, and Lucy agreed. It was part of the superwoman persona.
She'd spent Sunday making a list of the friends and relatives she wanted to invite, and gave it to Flick. By Wednesday she gave it back with ticks or crosses. Most people had accepted, probably because they wanted to know what kind of man Lucy was marrying this time, and in such a hurry. Several aunts and cousins had warned her about Karl, but of course she'd taken no notice. When one was in love, as she had been, one didn't. She was in love this time, but she rather complacently decided no one could possibly find anything to object to with Doc.
She had no way of contacting her parents, so had to wait until they arrived at the cottage on Thursday afternoon. Doc had suggested they had dinner at the farmhouse, to save her cooking, and to meet his mother and step-father, who had driven down that day from London.
'It will be Daisy's swansong,' he said, grinning. 'She told me last night she had been offered another post, in what she almost said was a superior household, and as they were former clients she felt she had to oblige them.'
'What will you do? Leave poor Flick to cope?'
'I'm sure she and Kate can exist on takeaways or freezer meals for a couple of weeks, and then Tommy will be back, thank heavens. She's coming to the wedding, by the way, says she's managing her crutches well now.'
Mum, when Lucy broke the news, was sent into a tearful tizzy. She was offended they had gone ahead with the arrangements without her to organise them, but cheered up when she heard they were going to sample Daisy's cooking, and she was going into Oxford the next day to choose a mother-of-the-bride outfit. Doc also promised her that before long he would bring both Lucy and Kate to visit them in Australia.
She had been afraid Daisy might produce cottage pie, or sausage and mash, to spite them, but she had salmon cutlets and salad, perfect for a warm summer evening, followed by lime sorbet and home made raspberry ice cream. Lucy wished her well in her search for a rich husband.
Saturday was a perfect summer day, bright sunshine but with a slight breeze to cool it down to an acceptable temperature. She drifted through the ceremony, waking up only when the Rector asked her if she took Damaso Otokar Casimir to be her lawful wedded husband. Who? She glanced at Doc in a panic, but he was still there, and he squeezed her hand. No wonder they called him Doc. Afterwards he told her his grandmother had been part Spanish, part Polish, and had been very ill when he was born, so his parents had agreed to the names she wanted.
'I have thought of changing it by deed poll,' he grinned, 'but hardly anyone knows, and Doc suits me. We'll call our sons safe English names.'
'Our sons?' she almost squawked. How many did he think they'd have?
The reception at the King's Head spilled out into the gardens at the back. They'd had lots of presents, and Flick and Kate had arranged these on a table in the big function room. They had just finished shaking hands in the receiving line when Flick came to fetch her.
'You're wanted outside,' she said, and took Lucy out into the garden.
Coming towards them, decked out in garlands of flowers she was trying her best to eat, was Rosa. The Thorpe twins were leading her, looking rather apprehensive, but whether it was Lucy, Doc or Rosa they were wary of she couldn't decide. In amongst the flowers was one of the largest envelopes she had ever seen, and one of the boys detached it and handed it to Lucy.
'A wedding present to my beloved wife, Cas.'
She burst into tears and flung her arms round Rosa's neck, then round Doc's, leaving a few strands of fawn fibre on his morning suit.
He patted her on the back.
'I think you deserve her,' he said, and kissed her for so long the guests began to chant 'Why are we waiting?'
Some time later, when Rosa had stolen the show and been admired by everyone, the twins led her away, and she turned to Doc.
'Why them? Do you trust them?'
'They are actually scared of the llamas, and had to be persuaded to lead her here. They'll be helping Flick while we're away. I believe giving them that responsibility will help them, stop their stupidity.'
She hoped he was right, but soon it was time for them to go, and they said goodbye.
They went to Madeira, an enchanting island, which they explored when they were not relaxing at Reid's, the premier hotel in Funchal. They went to lovely gardens, walked the levadas, sampled the delightful local restaurants, and even found a few llamas in a small zoo. It was a blissful three weeks, and they were sad to leave, but promised themselves they would return soon. They flew back to begin life together.
*
AFTERWORD
In due course Rosa produced a delightful daughter, a fawn replica. Rosetta became a present to the son Lucy produced a month later. Her parents came over from Australia to see their first grandson and attend Kate's wedding to her rich colleague, and celebrate Flick's engagement to the man who had bought both Jeff's cottage and hers, and joined and converted them to a superb house.
Alice had moved away, they didn't know where, and Miss Brown was polite but distant when they met. With Doc's active encouragement Lucy bought a small shop on the square, right opposite Cuticurls, and started a downmarket salon, with reasonable prices, but she left the management to others. Between them they coiffured almost all the female population of the area.
Tommy was in full charge, domestically, to Lucy's relief. She helped Doc and Flick with the llamas, of which they now had a couple of dozen more and a very superior-looking male, and the flock of alpacas, also increasing. Lucy discovered a talent for designing clothes and other things from the fibre, and several of the WI women who enjoyed knitting made them up for her. She began a mail-order business, Kate designed a website for it, and she was fully occupied.
If anything, Doc and she became even more infatuated with one another as time went by. He was a skilled and considerate lover, a wonderful companion, and in time became a doting father. She continually blessed her good fortune for moving to Shorter's Green.
THE END
###
Marina Oliver has written over 60 novels, and has converting most of them to Ebooks. Others have been or are being published as Ebooks by other publishers.
For the latest information please see Marina's web site:
http://www.marina-oliver.net
Once Bitten is another contemporary Ebook involving animals:
ONCE BITTEN
BY MARINA OLIVER
Judy Morton doesn't want a man in her life. She breaks off her engagement to two-timing Mark Simmons, and is grateful to her sister Fay who asks her to look after her dogs while she and husband Paul have a long holiday in Australia.
She is delayed starting out, arriving after Fay and Paul have left. Letting herself into the house she tosses some luggage onto the spare room bed only to find Justin Danby occupying it. He is Paul's cousin, offered a room by Paul until he can move into his own flat, which is being rented out while Justin, an architect, was working in Oman. He tells her Fay, an interior designer, often works with him and Judy suspects he and Fay could be closer than just colleagues. Justin is also recovering from a broken engagement from Barbara, who ditches him for a rich Texan.
Justin offers to move out, meanwhile they agree they can co-exist. Justin suspects there is something worrying Judy. Walking the dogs Judy meets a neighbour, Ken, talkative and hospitable. Then their pasts begin to catch up with them. Late one evening Mark arrives, aggressive and attempting to resume the engagement. Barbara comes, having decided her Texan is not for her.
Judy, meanwhile, is hoping to expand her small business designing and selling greetings cards, and Ken's wife Magda suggests she takes a stall at a local craft fair.
*
Or something different – The Cobweb Cage:
THE COBWEB CAGE
BY MARINA OLIVER
Marigold Smith, born into the small mining town of Hednesford, is devoted to her family, especially the small and delicate Ivy, for whose accident she blames herself.
She is determined to try and make life easier for Ivy and her middle sister, Poppy, as well as her hard-working parents.
When she is given the chance of going into service in Oxford she meets the wealthy and charming Richard Endersby, whose father owns a factory in the Potteries. Despite the differences of class, education, and background they fall in love. Then comes the Great War, and Richard, a qualified pilot, joins the army.
He is reported missing, Marigold's family is struck by tragedy, and she has to make an agonising decision in order to be able to help them. Through her they can escape from poverty and she can build a business to support them all.
Reviews of The Cobweb Cage
'A riveting, pacy read' - Emma Blair
'The Cobweb Cage is very atmospheric and the intriguing story never falters. This is a story that won't let you go, filled with people and places you recognise with your inner eye, and situations that are at once familiar and surprising' - Susan Sallis
'I enjoyed this well-researched book immensely - ideal escapism on a cold wet day' - Anita Burgh
'An absorbing family saga with a splendid cast of characters' - Annabel magazine
'I hope a sequel is planned' - SWWJ
*
Mating the Llama Page 22
