Free What Happens in Tuscany... by T A Williams Page A

they’re smelly and disobedient and you have to run around clearing up after them.’
    Katie glanced at Jenny. ‘After seven years with Dean, I know all about that, thank you. No, a dog might well be the answer for me. I really don’t know if I fancy hooking up with anybody again for a while. Like I’ve been telling you, I’m looking for a new career and I’m prepared to do what you’ve done and bury myself in it. There’ll be time for men once I’ve got the work side of things sorted out. Although, I must admit that if I was thinking of it, Martin would be high on my list of potential conquests.’
    â€˜Well, that’s up to you, but I did tell him I’d ask you to give him a call.’
    â€˜And I will. Promise.’ At that moment they emerged from the trees into the wider part of the valley. The rain was still falling, but the visibility was better out here. Katie pointed across towards Iddlescombe Manor as it emerged from the murk. ‘We’re almost there. Not a bad little place, is it?’
    â€˜Bloody hell.’ For once, Jenny was totally at a loss for words.
    â€˜Welcome to Iddlescombe Manor, Jenny. I’m so glad you decided to come.’ Victoria was waiting for them in the sitting room, where a fire had been lit in the huge fireplace, even though they were in the month of July. She glanced at Katie. ‘Not the nicest of nights for driving.’
    Katie shook her head. ‘Definitely not great. There was a moment on the way up here when it looked like we were driving up a river.’ She accepted a glass of champagne and grinned at the expression of awe on Jenny’s face as Rosie in her maid’s uniform went over to her with the silver tray.
    â€˜Thank you so much for inviting me here, Victoria. It’s an amazing place.’ Jenny remembered her manners.
    Victoria gave a shrug of her shoulders. ‘I suppose it is really, but for me it’s just the place I live. I don’t really have any standard of comparison.’
    Katie wasn’t going to let her get too introspective. ‘Well, if it helps, the whole flat I lived in for seven years with Dean would fit into this room quite easily.’
    â€˜But I don’t have a Dean.’ Victoria’s tone was still a bit melancholy. Katie wondered if she had been watching something gloomy on TV.
    â€˜Well, you’re better off without one of those. We were just saying on the way up that a dog would be far less trouble.’
    â€˜But you can’t have a conversation with a dog.’
    Katie gave her a grin. ‘Try talking to a man when there’s football on the television. Trust me, you get much more in the way of communication from a dog.’ She turned to Jenny. ‘Isn’t it about time you got yourself a dog? Or a man?’
    Jenny smiled. ‘I don’t think I’ve got time for either at the moment.’ She looked across at Victoria and explained. ‘I run my own business. It’s a six day a week job, but I love it. It doesn’t give me much in the way of free time, but that suits me fine for now. I’m a bit like Katie at the moment. Men; I can take them or leave them for now. There’ll come a time, but not yet.’
    Victoria looked across at Katie. ‘So you’re not on the lookout for another man? I thought you told me there was one on the horizon.’
    Katie glanced across at Jenny. ‘There’s Martin. He’s a nice man.’
    Even Victoria realised that “nice” was a bit feeble. She caught Katie’s eye. ‘Is that all?’
    â€˜Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like he’s boring. I like him a lot.’ She addressed herself to Victoria and did her best to explain. ‘He’s tall, handsome and clever. He’s a solicitor and he plays rugby as a hobby. He would make a really good choice for a boyfriend; maybe more.’
    â€˜So, why the hesitation?’