A Little Seduction Omnibus Read Free

business...’
    Beth thought quickly. It was true that she would find it hard to manage for what sounded as though it was going to be close on five or six weeks without her partner, but if Kelly was away then at least it meant that Beth wouldn’t have to tell her about the stemware. Cravenly Beth admitted to herself that, given the opportunity to do so, she would much rather sort out everything discreetly and privately without involving anyone else—even if that meant getting someone in part-time to help with the shop whilst Kelly was away.
    ‘Beth? Are you still there?’ she heard Kelly asking her anxiously.
    ‘Yes. Yes, I’m here,’ Beth confirmed.
    Taking a deep breath, she told her friend and partner as cheerfully as she could, ‘Of course you must go, Kelly. It would be silly to miss out on that kind of opportunity.’
    ‘Mmm...and I would miss Brough dreadfully. But I do feel guilty about leaving you, Beth, especially at this time of the year. I know how busy you’re going to be, what with the new stemware... Oh...did it arrive? Is it as wonderful as you remembered? Perhaps I could come down...?’
    ‘No. No...there’s no need for that,’ Beth assured her quickly.
    ‘Well, if you really don’t mind,’ Kelly said gratefully. ‘Brough did say that we could drive over to Farrow today. I’ve been given the address of someone who works there who makes the most wonderful traditional hand-crafted furniture. He’s got one of those purpose-built workshops in the Old Hall Stables there. It’s been turned into a small craft village. But if you need me at the shop...’
    ‘No. I’m fine,’ Beth assured her.
    ‘When are you putting the new stemware stuff out?’ Kelly asked enthusiastically. ‘I’m dying to see it...’
    Beth tensed.
    ‘Er...I haven’t decided yet...’
    ‘Oh. I thought you said you were going to do it as soon as it arrived,’ Kelly protested, plainly confused.
    ‘Yes. I was. But...but I want to get a few more ideas yet; we’ve still got nearly a fortnight before the town’s Christmas lights and decorations are in place, and I thought it would be a good idea to time the window to fit in with that...’
    ‘Oh, yes, that’s a wonderful idea,’ Kelly enthused. ‘We could even have a small wine and nibbles do for our customers...perhaps have the food and the drinks the same colour as the glass...’
    ‘Er...yes. Yes...that would be wonderful,’ Beth agreed, hoping that her voice didn’t sound as lacking in enthusiasm to her friend as it did to herself.
    ‘Oh, but I’ve just realised; we’ll be leaving at the end of the week so I shall miss it,’ Kelly complained. ‘Still, we’ll definitely be back for Christmas; that’s something I have insisted on to Brough, and fortunately he agrees with me that our first Christmas should be spent here at home...together... Which reminds me. Please save me a set of those wonderful glasses, Beth.’
    ‘Er, yes, I shall,’ Beth confirmed.
    With luck, she would be able to get the mistake in her order reversed and the correct stemware sent out to her whilst Kelly was away. Whilst Kelly was away, yes, but would she get it in time for the all-important Christmas market? When selecting the pieces for her order she had deliberately focused on the colours she deemed to be the most saleable for the Christmas season; deep red, rich blue, fir-tree green, all in the lavishly baroque style and decorated with gold leaf. Beautiful though the pieces were, she doubted that they would have the same sales appeal in the spring and summer months.
    * * *
    One hour and five unanswered telephone calls after she had finished speaking with Kelly, Beth sat back on her heels and stared helplessly around her chaotic storeroom.
    The horror and the anger she had initially felt at having received the wrong order were giving way even more to frantic unease and suspicion.
    The factory she had visited had been a large one, and the sales director she had spoken with suave