Page 94 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
Shelley blinked. Citrus andpurple?
To her relief, Alex looked less than impressed. “A statement — yes.” He glanced across at Shelley with a smile. “How are you? I haven’t seen you for a while.”
“Oh, I’ve been around.” She shrugged, attempting an air of casual unconcern. “Busy.”
The woman spared Shelley a perfunctory glance then swept past her to the en-suite bathroom. “Now this will all have to be ripped out and replaced. Everything must be black. Very dramatic. With gold fittings.”
“Ah, Shelley, this is Georgina. She’s an interior designer.”
Oh, of course. “Hello.” She tried a smile.
All she got in return was a brief, cold look before the woman turned back to Alex. “I see a whole concept. Something medieval — a nod back to the history of the building, but in a way that says twenty-first century.”
“It’s Victorian.”
“Ah, yes. But it can be every period.”She trilled with laughter. “I can’t wait to begin mood boarding my ideas.”
Heaven help us!Behind the woman’s back, Shelley rolled her eyes. She didn’t intend for Alex to see her, but he did, and the slight crease of his mouth suggested that he was thinking the same thing.
Now the woman had commandeered all his attention again. “I think you should show me some of the other rooms,” she purred, tucking her hand into his arm. “Your . . . um . . . assistant can take notes.”
Georgina gestured with a flick of her fingers towards the doorway where Lisa was standing.There wasnothing to read on her face but a taut smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
The interior designer’s voice was echoing down the corridor as she drew Alex along with her. “I have to tell you. ..” From the horror in her tone, it was clearly something appalling. “I saw adogin here earlier.”
“Yes.” His voice was very level. “We’re a dog-friendly hotel.”
“Oh?” How could you tell from someone’s back view that they were wrinkling their nose in distaste? “I really don’t think that’s a good idea. None of the top-class hotels would ever permit dogs.”
“Really? I think there are actually quite a few. The Savoy does, I believe. Besides, I’m getting one myself soon.”
Lisa’s face cracked as she suppressed her laughter. “Don’t worry,” she whispered to Shelley. “I don’t think it’s very likely that she’ll be getting the contract.”
“Thank goodness for that.” Shelley shook her head. “Yellow and purple, in here? I couldn’t think of anything more hideous.”
“But she’s the very latest thing,dahling!” Lisa’s eyes danced. “She’s worked withsomany celebrities, and they’ve justlovedher work.”
Shelley giggled. “I’m sure. Aren’t you supposed to be taking notes?”
“I’m not bothering — we won’t be hiring her. What’s that you’re reading?”
“Oh . . . um . . .” She quickly tried to hide the magazine behind her back, but realised that there was no point. “Just . . . The guests left it here when they checked out. They didn’t want it so I thought there was no harm in me having a look.”
“Of course there isn’t.” Lisa smiled. “What’s in it?”
“Just . . . a couple of articles. An interview with that girl who won a gold medal at the Olympics.”
“Oh, yes. I remember her. Was it interesting?”
“Yes. And there’s a thing on Agatha Christie.”
There was a warmth in Lisa’s eyes. “Mum said your reading was coming on by leaps and bounds. I knew it would once you got started.”
“Well, I . . . Your mum’s been really lovely, the way she’s been teaching me. She’s so patient. She hasn’t made me feel stupid at all. And I’ve been practising as much as I can.”
“That’s good. I think we’ve got a couple of Agatha Christie paperbacks in the library here, if you’d like to try one. They’re not too long. They’d be a good place to start.”
“I . . .” She drew in a breath. “Yes, thank you. I’ll try.”
