Page 51 of The Winter Bride

Annie nodded and smiled. ‘Yes, I do. His name is Adam and I can’t imagine my life without him. I think he helped keep me going after I lost Monty.’

‘I can understand that. Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t survive her birth and I lost both her and my wife. Sometimes you can’t help but think of how things should have been, can you? Still, life goes on and we have to make the most of what we have. Now, tell me all about your new business. Marie told me about your shop. Is it going well?’

Annie gave a wry smile. It seemed Marie had told him an awful lot about her, and she wondered if perhaps there was a little matchmaking going on. Even so, she liked Simon and soon they were chatting as if they’d known each other for years.

When they went into dinner, Annie was tickled to see that Marie had seated them next to each other, but she didn’t mind. It was quite nice to have a man show her attention again, especially one as nice as Simon Walters.

The night seemed to pass in the blink of an eye until eventually she glanced at the clock on the ornate marble mantelshelf and said, ‘Oh dear, I didn’t realise how late it was. I really should be getting home now.’

‘Then please allow me to give you a lift,’ Simon said immediately. ‘I have my car parked outside and it would be no problem at all.’

‘In that case, thank you very much,’ Annie told him warmly, and after saying goodbye to Marie and John and the rest of the party they left.

In his car, Simon tucked a warm rug about her knees and Annie thought what a gentleman he was as he went round the car and climbed into the driver’s seat.

She chuckled as he drew the car away from the kerb. ‘Have you got the feeling that Marie is trying to play matchmaker with us?’

He laughed heartily. ‘It did occur to me. But to tell you the truth, I’m very glad she did. You’re quite a remarkable woman, Annie.’

She frowned as she glanced at him. ‘There’s nothing remarkable about me, I assure you.’ She’d told him her life’s story that night and he’d listened to every word she said.

‘Oh, but there is.’ He sighed. ‘Most of the women Marie has tried to match me with have been incredible bores. Silly little debutantes who just want to snare a rich husband and have an easy life. All they can talk about is where they’ve holidayed and what clothes they’ve bought that week. But you . . . Well, to work your way up from being abandoned on the steps of the workhouse as a baby to where you are now as the owner of two shops. It’s quite remarkable.’

‘Oh, there’s still so much I long to do,’ she confessed. ‘I desperately want to find my birth family one day, although I haven’t figured out a way to do it yet. And, of course, I want to get myself into a healthy financial position for Adam and Nancy.’

‘And I’ve no doubt you will,’ he answered as he drew up outside the shop.

‘Well, thank you for the lift and your company this evening,’ she told him as he came around to open the door for her. ‘I’ve really enjoyed myself.’

He helped her out and, keeping hold of her hand, he looked into her eyes. ‘So have I, and I was wondering . . . would you think me too forward if I asked if I might see you again? We could perhaps go to the theatre or out to dinner? Whichever you prefer.’

Annie blushed. ‘That would be very nice,’ she told him quietly.

‘Excellent. In that case I shall be in touch. Goodnight, Annie.’ He stood and waited until she was safely inside and the door had closed behind her, before driving away. Annie watched him go through the window, then with a smile she made her way upstairs.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nancy was helping Annie dust the shelves in the shop the next morning when the bell above the door tinkled and a delivery boy bearing the most enormous bouquet of red roses entered.

‘Mrs Annie Taylor-Lloyd?’

‘Y-yes that’s me.’ Annie was so shocked her voice came out as a squeak as the boy handed her the flowers and departed.

‘Cor! Who are they from?’ Nancy asked excitedly. ‘Look, there’s a little card there.’

Annie extracted the card and laid the flowers on the counter while she opened it, blushing furiously.

‘Oh, they’re, er . . . from a friend of Marie’s. I met him last night at her dinner party.’

Nancy grinned. ‘Well, he must ’ave liked yer. What was he like an’ what’s ’is name?’

‘He was a very nice man and his name is Simon,’ Annie informed her primly as she pushed the card into the pocket of her skirt. ‘Why don’t you go and fetch a vase from upstairs for these? They’ll look nice on the counter.’

While Nancy was gone, she retrieved the card and quickly read it again with a little smile on her face. Thank you so much for a lovely evening, Simon xx

Once Nancy had arranged them in a vase, the blooms looked beautiful on the counter and soon the shop was full of the scent of them.

‘So, what’s this Simon like? I mean what does he look like an’ how old is he?’ Nancy questioned. Adam was having a nap, so she was happy to help Annie for a while. She was also very curious.