Page 87 of A Good Heart is Hard to Find
‘One hundred and ten,’ Jason’s voice said firmly, and Dante immediately capped it, catching me staring at him again and holding me inthe tractor beam of his gaze.
Oh, beam me up, Scotty!
Had I somehow tacitly agreed with either Dante or Jason to do over a hundred pounds worth of something? And if so, what? When? Where?Why?
I mean, I may have been sex on legs personified for Mr Browne or even Jason, but Dante could have no need to pay for anything I might give him … except the most expensive singing telegram in the world?
Perhaps he just didn’t like to be beaten?
I came back to earth with a start to find a small bidding war had erupted, though Jason retained enough good sense (or lacked sufficient chivalry) to waste his money and dropped out when Dante offered two hundred pounds.
Just as well, because Dante seemed quite prepared to go on for ever.
This was Survival of the Richest.
‘Sold to Mr Chase!’ the vicarsaid, crashing his hammer down excitedly.
‘And I’ll double that, if I can have Miss Leigh’s services for two days instead of one,’ Dante called clearly.
The room couldn’t have gone more silent if he’d announced that he was about to ravish me on the pool table in the bar.
… the castors squeaked beneath their entwined bodies, the green felt a field of …
No, scrub that one: I’m definitely notwriting that sort of novel.
‘Two days?’ The vicar, taken aback, looked doubtfully at me. ‘Er … the arrangement is always one day only, Mr Chase. Though of course it’s up to Miss Leigh, and it is a good cause? But no, I can’t ask anyone to give up more than one day!’
Everyone looked expectantly at me, including the speaking dark eyes of Kylie Morgan from her photograph on the wall.
A life-savingoperation: what could I do?
‘All right,’ I muttered unwillingly and, I fear, ungraciously.
‘Done!’ the vicar said delightedly.
I certainly felt as if I had been.
‘You lucky dog!’ Orla whispered.
‘Yes,’ Clara agreed enthusiastically from my other side. ‘I wonder what he wants? From me, he could have any—’
‘Shh!’ I said desperately. ‘It’s the last lot – you, Orla!’
Mr Browne, rallying, boughtOrla for thirty pounds, and then as the usual finale the vicar sold himself.
And as always his housekeeper bought him for ten pounds. She uses the day to force him into town for all the new items of clothing and household goods he has avoided shopping for in the last year.
‘Here do be coming your young master, wench!’ Orla said.
‘Ho, ho,’ I said hollowly. ‘Consider your copies ofPoldarkconfiscated.’
Dante stopped in front of me unsmiling, and I stared inimically right back. His eyes looked like cold chips of good turquoise, so perhaps he was regretting his deal already.
‘I’m not doing anything that isn’t on my list!’ I told him bluntly.
‘I need your skills,’ he said ambiguously. ‘Easter weekend – the Saturday and Sunday.’
‘What about them?’
