Read Online The Wedding Diary (Choc Lit) by Margaret James - Free Book Online Page B

down on her desk. ‘It’s for you,’ she said.
    ‘Oh, God,’ said Cat, assuming it was Fanny – had she given Fanny the number of the office? ‘Wh-who did you say—’
    ‘I didn’t, but it’s a guy called Adam something, whoever he might be? He says he bought some roof tiles here a week or two ago, and you did the paperwork for him.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Cat and breathed again, relieved it wasn’t Fanny, but also hoping there weren’t any problems with the tiles, that they weren’t made of concrete after all. She was aware that she was colouring up. ‘He’s—’
    ‘He’s waiting, dummy.’
    So Cat picked up the phone. She knew her face was pink, that Tess would notice, and she told herself to get a grip. ‘Good morning, Mr Lawley,’ she began. ‘What can I do for you?’
    ‘I noticed some Elizabethan chimneys in a corner of your yard,’ said Adam Lawley. He clearly didn’t believe in bothering with superfluous stuff like hi-Miss-Aston-how-are-you, or what-a-strange-coincidence-meeting-you-in-Dorset. ‘I don’t know if they’re genuine? I didn’t get a proper look at them. They might be garden ornaments from Homebase or from B&Q.’
    ‘They’re genuine Tudor terracotta, Mr Lawley,’ Cat replied, as she clicked through the database. ‘Barry got them from a place in Lewes. They’re signed with somebody’s initials, it looks like ATD, and they’re dated 1565. Do you want to come and see them?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Adam Lawley. ‘May I come today?’
    ‘Of course you may,’ said Cat. ‘The yard is open until three.’
    ‘I’m in Gloucestershire right now and I won’t be back in London until after four.’
    ‘That’s not a problem, Mr Lawley. I’m here until half five. So just ring the bell, then I can come and let you in.’
    ‘
Ooh, Mr Lawley
,’ simpered Tess, as Cat put down the phone. ‘
Do you want to come and see my genuine Tudor chimneys, and would you like an after-hours appointment?
What’s with all the smarm and charm, then – are you trying to pull?’
    ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
    ‘What’s he like, this Adam Lawley geezer, is he fit?’
    ‘I really couldn’t tell you. I’ve only met him once, and that was in the pouring rain.’
    ‘Then why’ve you gone all red?’
    ‘I haven’t.’
    ‘Yes, you have – you’re blushing like a poppy. Go and look in a mirror, and you’ll see.’
    ‘Tess, I’m not remotely interested in Adam Lawley. When he comes, or if he comes, why don’t you take him round the yard yourself? I’ll get on with this database. Barry’s messed it up. He’s been putting stuff in the wrong columns and it will take a while to sort it out.’
    ‘Sorry, but tempting though you make it sound, I can’t do anything with Mr Lawley.’
    ‘Why?’ demanded Cat.
    ‘I’m going out.’
    ‘You never said.’
    ‘I’ve only just remembered.’
    ‘Why don’t you ever put things in the diary?’
    ‘I’m a dealer, buyer and negotiator, not an office manager. I don’t write in the diary, that’s what you’re supposed to do. I’m almost sure I told you, anyway.’
    Tess stood up and shrugged into her coat. ‘I’ll be out all day, in fact,’ she added. ‘I have an appointment with a lady who’s demolishing an outhouse. She wants to know how much we’ll give her for a ton of blue Victorian slates. She asked if we’d consider taking them in part exchange for a new bathroom suite – like as if we’re Homebase? I explained this is a salvage yard.’
    ‘What about this afternoon?’
    ‘I’m calling on a man in Hillingdon. He’s got some genuine Arts and Crafts stained glass. Or so he says. All studio of Rennie Mackintosh, all signed and dated. I’ll believe it when I see it. So you’ll have to deal with Mr Lawley all by your little self.’
    ‘I dare say I can manage.’
    ‘You’ll have to, won’t you, love?’ said Tess. ‘Barry’s gone to Chesterfield to fetch those Georgian spindles and a big Victorian cast iron fireplace