Read Online The Tennis Party by Sophie Kinsella - Free Book Online Page B

then perhaps tidy up a bit.’ Cressida was waiting patiently to serve. ‘Sorry about this,’ called Caroline cheerfully. ‘All right, Mrs Finch?’
    ‘Yes, Mrs Chance.’
    So this was Mrs Finch, thought Annie, glancing up from the court. Not the apple-cheeked retainer that Annie had imagined whenever Caroline had referred to her, but a thin, determined-looking woman in her mid-thirties, with dyed-red, curly hair. She had the local accent, but her voice was sharp and strident;she and Caroline had obviously failed to get a cosy employer-employee relationship going.
    Annie watched Mrs Finch survey with disapproval the dishevelled scene of tennis racquets, bottles, ashtrays and glasses, then pick up her shopping bag and disappear up the path. Perhaps her family once owned the village, thought Annie romantically. Perhaps she can’t bear to come back and clean the house where her grandfather was once lord. Then it occurred to her that The White House was only about ten years old. But maybe this had been the site of the manor.
    ‘Annie!’ Annie started as the ball went whizzing past her.
    ‘Gosh, sorry,’ she said, and giggled guiltily. ‘I wasn’t concentrating.’
    ‘Game, set and match,’ said Stephen.
    ‘Oh no! Did I just lose us the match? How awful.’
    ‘Six-one,’ said Charles, approaching the net, hand outstretched. ‘Thanks very much. Good game.’
    ‘You are kind, Charles,’ said Annie. ‘I should think you were bored rigid.’
    As she came off court, her mind returned to Mrs Finch.
    ‘Valerie,’ she said. ‘Is there a manor house in the village? Or was there ever?’
    ‘Ooh!’ said Valerie. ‘Didn’t you know? Dad boughtthe old manor house. He’s going to turn it into a hotel. It’s ever so pretty.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Annie, disappointed.
    ‘Are we changing for lunch?’ asked Cressida.
    ‘Christ, no,’ said Caroline. ‘Unless it’s into a bikini. I wouldn’t mind doing a bit of sunbathing.’
    The players collapsed on the grass and Patrick began dispensing the drinks.
    ‘I might have a go at the Pimm’s,’ said Valerie. ‘This fruit cocktail’s really delicious,’ she added to Caroline. ‘I can’t think what you put in it.’
    ‘Most refreshing,’ agreed Don, who was reclining on the grass. ‘And a very interesting flavour to it.’ He smiled beatifically. Annie gave Valerie another glance. Her cheeks were pink and she seemed in very good spirits.
    ‘Let me try it,’ she said casually, taking a sip from Valerie’s glass. ‘Ahh, I see what you mean,’ she said, catching Caroline’s eye. Caroline snorted into her glass of Pimm’s. ‘Maybe you should stay with it if you’re going to play again later.’
    ‘Nonsense,’ said Don jovially. ‘This is a party, is it not? I always say, it’s a mistake to take the sporting side of these events too seriously.’
    ‘I hear you’re going to open a hotel,’ said Stephen conversationally to Don.
    ‘That’s right! I’ve found a super location here inBindon. The old manor house, no less. Bound to be a winner. Although it still needs a lot of work done to it.’ His face clouded over slightly. ‘It’s been an expensive business.’
    ‘Were you in the hotel trade before?’
    ‘Me? No! I trained as an accountant. Worked in the City for twenty years, then thought, sod this, I’m going to do something I enjoy. Fine wines, good food, company all the year round – and a beautiful house. What could be better?’
    ‘It sounds wonderful,’ said Annie. ‘When do you open?’ Don drew in breath sharply.
    ‘We were scheduled to open this autumn,’ he said. ‘Now it looks as though it’ll be Christmas. There’s still some building and decorating work to be done, and getting the brochures ready. Valerie’s going to take care of that. Then all I need to do is find a good cook and a housekeeper – someone with a bit of class. You know what I mean.’ He looked at Annie thoughtfully. ‘In fact, if you hear of anyone – or