Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [72]
Florence's attention had been on her curtains, whose health was in danger of being seriously damaged by Bev's dramatic way with a cigarette. Now, her head swivelled round as she realised that Fenn had leapt from his chair and was lifting Chloe on to the sofa.
Amazed, Florence said, `Chloe? What's happening?' `Just lie back and breathe slowly,' Fenn instructed Chloe. `Is it the baby? Shall I phone for an ambulance?'
Oh no, not a miscarriage, Miranda prayed, not on my birthday. And please don't make it all my fault because I forced Chloe to drink that glass of champagne.
Swallowing her bagel at last, she gazed in horror atthe scene being played out before her. All the colour had drained from Chloe's face and she was clutching Fenn's hand. Fenn, down on one knee - for all the world like Hardy at Nelson's deathbed - was taking her pulse and exchanging serious-looking glances with Florence.
The doorbell rang.
Chloe visibly flinched
`I'll call an ambulance,' Florence decided, reaching for the phone.
Chloe blurted out, `No.'
`Where does it hurt?' demanded Fenn.
`I'm okay, I'm okay.' She brushed his hand away from her wrist and tried to sit up, her gaze fixing on Miranda. `Look, I'm really sorry about this, but is that your boyfriend out there?'
As she spoke, the doorbell shrilled again.
Mystified, Miranda said, `Who, Greg? Of course he's my boyfriend!'
`Ah. Pass me that glass, would you?' Puffing her hair out of her eyes, Chloe nodded at Fenn. `It's okay, I don't need an ambulance. Just a drink. You could probably do with another one as well.' She returned her attention to Miranda. `You see, I'm Greg's wife.'
All eyes were now on Miranda, who looked astonished. Fancy making a silly mistake like that, jumping to conclusions and giving everyone a fright.
`Don't be daft. No, no, it's a coincidence, that's all,' she explained to Chloe, her tone reassuring. `My Greg isn't married.'
Chloe didn't breathe a sigh of relief.
She said steadily, `Is his name Greg Malone?'
`Oh, shit,' Bev gasped.
It was Miranda's turn to sit down, on a plate of bagels, with a bump.
Chapter 30
Florence answered the front door.
Well, somebody had to.
And there he was on the doorstep, smiling that boyish, winning smile of his, clutching a gaudy bunch of flowers in one hand and a Happy Birthday helium balloon in the other.
Florence smiled at Greg in much the same way as she had once smiled at her first husband upon discovering that he had been sleeping with the wife of his commanding officer.
`Hello,' said Greg, `I-'
`She's not here,' Florence lied smoothly, as she had been instructed to do. Well, more or less. In reality, Miranda had covered her face with her hands and gabbled, `Don't let him in, just get him out of here, I can't see him now!'
`It's okay.' Greg nodded easily. `I wasn't expecting to see Miranda. I just wanted to drop these off for her, so she'd see them as soon as she got back from lunch.' He grinned at Florence. `You know how girls are when it comes to flowers.'
`Quite,' said Florence. Reaching forward in her chair, she took the bobbing balloon from him. `I'll tell Miranda you called.'
`And I'll be round to pick her up at six.' Greg handed over the flowers. `Ask her to be ready on time, would you?'
This was accompanied by a charming smile, to make it sound more of a joke and less of a command.
`Fine.'
Greg's smile faded.
`Is everything all right, Florence? Have I done something to upset you?'
Florence longed more than anything to tell him. The words were swelling up inside her like rush-hour commuters on a tube train, jostling to spill out. Oh, what she wouldn't give to be able to speak her mind…
But it wasn't her job, it was Miranda's. And Miranda needed time to collect her own tumultuous thoughts. The last thing she had gibbered to Florence was, `Just get rid of him… don't say anything…'
Mentally, Florence zipped her mouth shut and triple-padlocked it.
`No.' Wheeling herself backwards, she prepared to close the front door. `Everything's