Page 16 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
I swallow, my throat bone dry. ‘I…definitely had the windknocked out of me.’
‘We took “breathless” to a whole new level,’ he agrees, amischievous glint in his eyes, and my heart flips over. I have an urge tolinger and carry on talking, but I need to move on. And quickly…before anyonenotices 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 soanimatedly, I almost don’t want to disturb them. Then Rhoda, whose curlyred-brown hair is drawn back rather glamorously in a barrette, suddenly noticesme and smiles, her dark eyes twinkling, and she and Bob spring apart to allowme 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 ofher hand, tumbling to the table and flooding the pristine white cloth with redwine.
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 hisseat.
But Fergus gets there first.
Standing up, he quickly and efficiently moves the dishes andglassware from the spillage and uses his napkin to soak up the red wine. Ihurry 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 thespilt red wine.
‘Do you think it’ll come out?’ asks Melanie, frowning at thestain.
‘Salt generally does the trick,’ says William.
‘If you soak it in sparkling water, the bubbles will pushout the stain,’ adds Fergus.
Noah grins affectionately. ‘So speaks the scientist.’
‘A scientist, eh? What area do you work in?’ Bob asksinterestedly.
‘Microbiology,’ Fergus says, folding his arms and reddeningslightly. His awkwardness at being the centre of attention is evident.
‘Thanks, Fergus,’ says Melanie, blushing herself. ‘I’mrubbish in situations like this.’
He darts a smile in her direction and shrugs as if it wasnothing.
‘Really, don’t worry, Melanie. It’s absolutely fine.’Marjery smiles. ‘I’ve got a drawer full of tablecloths. Now, let’s tuck intothis glorious food. Thank you, Jenny.’
I duck out, pleased to have been of some use.
‘At leastyoudidn’t spill the wine.’ Flo is grinningwhen 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 dowith the wine spillage chaos, either…
CHAPTER SIX
Later, as Flo is clearing away the main course and I’marranging dessert on Marjery’s beautiful white bone china dishes, Fen comesinto 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 herwhen 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 meand 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 withmushrooms,’ says Fen.
I smile, pleased. ‘Rhoda and Bob seem like a really nicecouple.’
She nods. ‘They are. They’re Mum and Dad’s oldest friends. Bob’svery creative. He’s won prizes for his art installations. And Rhoda’s just theloveliest person in the world.’
Fen wanders over to the bench where I’m working. ‘If thatmeringue is anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat in the dessertdepartment as well.’
