A Brambleberry Manor Christmas - Rosie Green Page 0,17

to do my job!

I swallow, my throat bone dry. ‘I…definitely had the wind knocked out of me.’

‘We took “breathless” to a whole new level,’ he agrees, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and my heart flips over. I have an urge to linger and carry on talking, but I need to move on. And quickly…before anyone notices the perspiration under my armpits.

The next people I serve are Rhoda and Bob, owners of Wilbur, the gorgeous cockapoo. They’re sitting close, heads together, chatting so animatedly, I almost don’t want to disturb them. Then Rhoda, whose curly red-brown hair is drawn back rather glamorously in a barrette, suddenly notices me and smiles, her dark eyes twinkling, and she and Bob spring apart to allow me to serve them. But in doing so, Bob knocks into his neighbour, Melanie. She’s raising her glass to her lips and the sudden nudge makes it slip out of her hand, tumbling to the table and flooding the pristine white cloth with red wine.

Everyone gasps, including me, and Melanie wails, ‘Oh, no, I’m so sorry! I’m such an idiot.’

‘That was my fault,’ says Bob, and Noah half-rises in his seat.

But Fergus gets there first.

Standing up, he quickly and efficiently moves the dishes and glassware from the spillage and uses his napkin to soak up the red wine. I hurry out and return with a container of salt. And Marjery stands up and says, ‘Good idea, Jenny.’

I hand the salt to Fergus and he pours it liberally over the spilt red wine.

‘Do you think it’ll come out?’ asks Melanie, frowning at the stain.

‘Salt generally does the trick,’ says William.

‘If you soak it in sparkling water, the bubbles will push out the stain,’ adds Fergus.

Noah grins affectionately. ‘So speaks the scientist.’

‘A scientist, eh? What area do you work in?’ Bob asks interestedly.

‘Microbiology,’ Fergus says, folding his arms and reddening slightly. His awkwardness at being the centre of attention is evident.

‘Thanks, Fergus,’ says Melanie, blushing herself. ‘I’m rubbish in situations like this.’

He darts a smile in her direction and shrugs as if it was nothing.

‘Really, don’t worry, Melanie. It’s absolutely fine.’ Marjery smiles. ‘I’ve got a drawer full of tablecloths. Now, let’s tuck into this glorious food. Thank you, Jenny.’

I duck out, pleased to have been of some use.

‘At least you didn’t spill the wine.’ Flo is grinning when I walk back into the kitchen.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ I say, stripping off my cardigan. I’m feeling flushed and hot from head to toe, and I’m not sure it’s all to do with the wine spillage chaos, either…

CHAPTER SIX

Later, as Flo is clearing away the main course and I’m arranging dessert on Marjery’s beautiful white bone china dishes, Fen comes into the kitchen with Katja and Melanie.

I’ve already met Katja, who’s Fen’s brother’s girlfriend. She works at the Little Duck Pond Café with Fen, and I was introduced to her when I popped into the café the other day to talk over the menus for this week.

‘I knew the food would be amazing,’ says Fen, grinning at me and Flo.

‘The beef was melt-in-the-mouth,’ agrees Katja.

‘And those mini Yorkshires…total heaven.’ murmurs Melanie. ‘Mine always go soggy when I make them but those were so scrummy and crispy.’ She licks her lips. ‘I honestly could have eaten twenty of them.’

‘Rhoda was asking for the recipe for that beef stuffed with mushrooms,’ says Fen.

I smile, pleased. ‘Rhoda and Bob seem like a really nice couple.’

She nods. ‘They are. They’re Mum and Dad’s oldest friends. Bob’s very creative. He’s won prizes for his art installations. And Rhoda’s just the loveliest person in the world.’

Fen wanders over to the bench where I’m working. ‘If that meringue is anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat in the dessert department as well.’

‘Hopefully.’ I smile, feeling shy at all the praise, and Flo gives me an encouraging sideways look, as if to say: See! I told you they’d love it!

‘When does Connie get here?’ Fen asks Melanie, and I look up, wondering if she’s talking about another guest arriving.

‘The day after tomorrow.’ Melanie grins. ‘But don’t for heaven’s sake call her Connie. She hated the name at uni and now she refuses to answer to anything but her full name. Constance.’

Ah. Constance, who likes to make an entrance.

I start spooning black cherry compote onto each dessert plate.

‘Oh, right.’ Fen looks confused. ‘It’s just I heard someone refer to her as Connie.’

Melanie grins. ‘That would be Noah. He calls her that to wind her up. He’s the