Read Online Hot Basque: A French Summer Novel 2 by Laurette Long - Free Book Online Page B

sliding her hands across his broad smooth back.
    ‘Maybe we’ve just got time...’
    Downstairs, the doorbell rang.
     
    ***
     
    ‘Mmm these are exquisite Caroline.’
    Julie popped another appetiser into her mouth, noted Caroline’s flushed cheeks, and tried not to smile.
    ‘Thank you Julie. They’re very easy to make.’
    ‘You must give me the recipe sometime.’
    ‘Oh it’s simple, you just boil Jersey potatoes in their skins, split them open and spoon in a mixture of cream cheese and herbs, top with a with a twist of smoked trout and a sprig of dill et voilà! ’
    Caroline took a gulp of champagne hoping the chilled bubbles would cool her fevered blood.
    A laugh came from the other side of the room, where Adam and Edward were sitting next to Margaret.
    ‘You never told me about your theatrical career.’ Edward was grinning. ‘Scarecrow in the third-form production of ‘Wizard of Oz’, I’m impressed.’
    ‘I have a lovely photograph somewhere,’ said Margaret. ‘I’ll look it out for your next visit. She looked so fetching, her overalls were stuffed with straw and she had two blacked-out teeth.’
    Caroline threw a death stare at Edward. He winked and smirked. He looked very handsome, she thought, all dressed up in Armani trousers and a white linen shirt. Not at all rumpled, whereas she was sure that everyone had noticed her creased skirt and mussed hair. But he was totally unruffled, damn him. And how did he manage to be so brown the whole year round? Of course he was often out on the river, rowing, and they had taken a week off in winter to go skiing. That was when they had done a detour via Frankfurt to see the new baby. Sweet Baby Joshua. Kissable Baby Joshua. She hadn’t seen him since. And Margaret and Birdie hadn’t seen him at all.
    The sound of the telephone made her jump. Edward had just started to help Margaret out of her chair to escort her through to the dining room. Caroline saw that her aunt almost fell as she turned too quickly to pick it up.
    ‘Annabel dear, what a lovely surprise, how nice of you to remember...’
    Breathing a sigh of relief, Caroline collected the empty champagne glasses.
    ‘We’ll go through in a minute,’ she said to Julie.
    ‘No hurry my dear.’
    Julie patted her arm and gave her an understanding look. Caroline didn’t know how much Edward had told his parents about her sister, but Julie was no fool, and picked up on even the smallest hints. Earlier, admiring the array of birthday cards that adorned the fireplace, she had maybe noticed there was nothing from Annabel.
    Caroline carried the tray of glasses into the kitchen, Edward following with the plates.
    ‘See, ma petite chérie ? Nothing to worry about. Just late, as usual. You know your sister. Now relax, enjoy Margaret’s birthday, and give me my orders. You look positively ravishing by the way. I love that new look for your hair. The ‘just out of bed’ look. Careful with that knife, now...’
     
    ***
     
    The lunch was a huge success. The beef Wellington was melt-in-the-mouth tender, the insides of the pastry perfectly cooked, ‘not soggy at all dear, I told you not to worry,’ said Birdie, beaming. The Madeira sauce was ‘heavenly’, according to Adam. Edward and his father fought over the last roast potatoes, getting into a duel with Margaret’s silver forks. ‘I knew I should have made more!’ said Birdie half disconsolate, half proud, glad to see she hadn’t lost her touch.
    Edward’s parents didn’t leave till almost four o’clock. They’d been sitting out on the terrace over coffee, enjoying the fine weather. It had been unusually warm, but now the sky was becoming overcast.
    ‘I think we might be in for a storm,’ said Margaret, eyeing the clouds.
    ‘Better be making tracks, what do you think darling?’
    Adam stood up.
    ‘We’ll see you for a drink this evening then? About half past seven?’
    He turned to his son, who nodded his agreement. Birdie and Margaret cried