Read Online Echoes of Love by Rosie Rushton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosie Rushton
Ads: Link
line.’
‘It’s one of her pet phrases,’ Felix replied. ‘She’s using it as her campaign slogan.’
‘So what’s she campaigning about this time?’ Anna asked.
‘She’s into politics now – wants to be an MP,’ he said. ‘She’s hoping to stand as an Independent candidate at the Muckleborough and Bythorn by-election.
Championing the cause of those with no voice – that’s her other catchphrase. As if!’
‘But that’s wonderful,’ Anna exclaimed. ‘Rooting for the underdog and all that – sorry, don’t get me going. I adore politics. I’m doing it for
A-level.’
‘Really?’ Felix stared at her in disbelief.
‘Mmm. I’ll need it for the future. Hey, just think – if your mum gets elected, she’ll get the chance to do some real good.’
‘Oh sure,’ he replied cynically. ‘She’s more about saying one thing and living another.’
Anna was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Her own father could be a pain in the neck sometimes, but she couldn’t imagine talking to a comparative stranger about him in that kind of
way.
‘You’re lucky to have your mum around,’ she said softly.
He put an arm round her shoulder. ‘I know, I know, and I’m sorry – I guess I’m just wound up at the moment because of what’s happened, but you’re right.
She’s doing her thing, and I’m going to do mine, no matter what she says. Like Roo’s always telling me, you only have one go at life.’
He smiled ruefully. ‘You’re not really serious? About wanting to be a politician?
Anna shook her head and laughed. ‘No, not a politican. I want to be a political correspondent. I’ll do a degree in politics, and then maybe a Masters, get an internship . .
.’
Felix laughed. ‘So you’ve got your life mapped out then?’
‘No more than you have,’ she said. ‘I guess when you want something enough you just have to do whatever it takes to get it.’
‘You’re right,’ he replied. ‘See, I knew we had loads in common.’
She glowed under his affectionate gaze. Little did she know that afternoon how her own words would come back to haunt her.
They had been sitting in Anna’s car, saying a lengthy and somewhat hands-on farewell, when Felix’s mobile rang.
‘Hello? Roo – hi!’
Anna made to get out of the car and give him space, but he gestured to her to stay put.
‘What’s that? Tomorrow evening? Oh. No, sorry. I’m supposed to be going out with some mates. Oh. Really? You think so? Hang on then.’
He covered the phone with his hand and turned to Anna.
‘You’re going to hate me,’ he began, biting his lip, ‘but Ruth’s flying back to Barbados the day after tomorrow and there’s this stuff she’s been trying
to sort out for me and she wants to meet up – of course, I’ll say no because . . .’
‘No, don’t!’ Anna protested. ‘Honestly, it’s fine. We can go out any time.’
The relief on his face told her she had said the right thing. ‘You’re sure? I wouldn’t do this, only she and Joseph – that’s her husband – they’re
flying off to do this research project in Patagonia in two weeks.’
‘Go! It’s fine, honestly. Just tell her!’
When he’d rung off, he turned to face her. ‘You’re amazing,’ he said. ‘Most girls would have sulked for England. Thanks, Anna – and I’ll make it up to
you. I promise.’
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ she teased.
‘In fact,’ he said, pulling her towards him, ‘I could start doing that right now.’
CHAPTER 5
‘Her regrets . . . clouded every enjoyment of youth.’
( Jane Austen , Persuasion )
O N THE HOTTEST DAY OF SUMMER SO FAR, THE E LIOTS moved out of Hampton House. The Crofts had been happy to pay the exorbitant
rental that Walter was demanding on the proviso that they could move in speedily and be guaranteed at least a three-year tenure. Since Marina, ever the diplomat, had arranged for the Dalrymples to
invite Walter to take part in a regatta at Eastbourne just days
‘It’s one of her pet phrases,’ Felix replied. ‘She’s using it as her campaign slogan.’
‘So what’s she campaigning about this time?’ Anna asked.
‘She’s into politics now – wants to be an MP,’ he said. ‘She’s hoping to stand as an Independent candidate at the Muckleborough and Bythorn by-election.
Championing the cause of those with no voice – that’s her other catchphrase. As if!’
‘But that’s wonderful,’ Anna exclaimed. ‘Rooting for the underdog and all that – sorry, don’t get me going. I adore politics. I’m doing it for
A-level.’
‘Really?’ Felix stared at her in disbelief.
‘Mmm. I’ll need it for the future. Hey, just think – if your mum gets elected, she’ll get the chance to do some real good.’
‘Oh sure,’ he replied cynically. ‘She’s more about saying one thing and living another.’
Anna was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Her own father could be a pain in the neck sometimes, but she couldn’t imagine talking to a comparative stranger about him in that kind of
way.
‘You’re lucky to have your mum around,’ she said softly.
He put an arm round her shoulder. ‘I know, I know, and I’m sorry – I guess I’m just wound up at the moment because of what’s happened, but you’re right.
She’s doing her thing, and I’m going to do mine, no matter what she says. Like Roo’s always telling me, you only have one go at life.’
He smiled ruefully. ‘You’re not really serious? About wanting to be a politician?
Anna shook her head and laughed. ‘No, not a politican. I want to be a political correspondent. I’ll do a degree in politics, and then maybe a Masters, get an internship . .
.’
Felix laughed. ‘So you’ve got your life mapped out then?’
‘No more than you have,’ she said. ‘I guess when you want something enough you just have to do whatever it takes to get it.’
‘You’re right,’ he replied. ‘See, I knew we had loads in common.’
She glowed under his affectionate gaze. Little did she know that afternoon how her own words would come back to haunt her.
They had been sitting in Anna’s car, saying a lengthy and somewhat hands-on farewell, when Felix’s mobile rang.
‘Hello? Roo – hi!’
Anna made to get out of the car and give him space, but he gestured to her to stay put.
‘What’s that? Tomorrow evening? Oh. No, sorry. I’m supposed to be going out with some mates. Oh. Really? You think so? Hang on then.’
He covered the phone with his hand and turned to Anna.
‘You’re going to hate me,’ he began, biting his lip, ‘but Ruth’s flying back to Barbados the day after tomorrow and there’s this stuff she’s been trying
to sort out for me and she wants to meet up – of course, I’ll say no because . . .’
‘No, don’t!’ Anna protested. ‘Honestly, it’s fine. We can go out any time.’
The relief on his face told her she had said the right thing. ‘You’re sure? I wouldn’t do this, only she and Joseph – that’s her husband – they’re
flying off to do this research project in Patagonia in two weeks.’
‘Go! It’s fine, honestly. Just tell her!’
When he’d rung off, he turned to face her. ‘You’re amazing,’ he said. ‘Most girls would have sulked for England. Thanks, Anna – and I’ll make it up to
you. I promise.’
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ she teased.
‘In fact,’ he said, pulling her towards him, ‘I could start doing that right now.’
CHAPTER 5
‘Her regrets . . . clouded every enjoyment of youth.’
( Jane Austen , Persuasion )
O N THE HOTTEST DAY OF SUMMER SO FAR, THE E LIOTS moved out of Hampton House. The Crofts had been happy to pay the exorbitant
rental that Walter was demanding on the proviso that they could move in speedily and be guaranteed at least a three-year tenure. Since Marina, ever the diplomat, had arranged for the Dalrymples to
invite Walter to take part in a regatta at Eastbourne just days
Similar Books
