Page 7 of Lost in Love

Katherine and Rebecca followed Gloria inside. Rebecca gawped at the decor as Katherine had.

“What’s up with those two?” Rebecca questioned, nodding in the direction of the twins.

“Don’t worry about them. They just think we’re lovers.”

“Are you breaking hearts already?”

Katherine choked down laughter and was glad to see Gloria appear with the smoothie. She popped a note on the counter and passed the smoothie to Rebecca. “Keep the change,” she called to Gloria.

Rebecca grinned and took Katherine’s hand, leading her out of the tearoom. They burst into giggles outside much to the annoyance of the two faces glaring at them from the window.

“Right. Let’s walk and earn our lunch,” Katherine said.

Rebecca hooked her arm through Katherine’s. “Lead on.”

Katherine took Rebecca on the circular walk that started beside her house, then looped around the back of the abbey site and along the river to the other end of the village. They ambled back along the high street to the pub.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.” Rebecca collapsed onto a chair at one of the outside tables overlooking the road.

“It was only two miles. I do it most days, so it has little effect on me. Have a glass of wine to revive you.”

Rebecca beamed at the suggestion.

Katherine checked her watch. “Our tour is booked for two o’clock, so we’d better order.” She levelled a look at her best friend. “And you ought to only have one glass of wine.”

“Do I have to come?” Rebecca moaned. “Can’t I just sit here in the sun and drink?”

“No, you can’t! I’ve been waiting for you to come so I could visit. No one wants to turn up for a tour on their own. I know I’m sad and lonely. I don’t need everyone else knowing it.”

“You have Virginia,” Rebecca teased.

Katherine scowled at her. “Don’t bring my cat into this.”

“What on earth?” Rebecca said, suddenly surprised. “Is she training for the Nunswick Marathon?”

Katherine turned to look in the direction Rebecca was staring. A figure sprinted past them on the other side of the road and headed into one of the small, Edwardian council houses.

“I think that may be Miss Walker on her lunch break.”

“She’s cute.”

“Is she?” Katherine lifted her eyebrows.

“Like you hadn’t noticed. Look at the long, brown hair. Just your type.”

Katherine frowned at her. “I think my type is a little more than long, brown hair, thank you.”

“Chiselled face, brown eyes? Has she got those too?”

Katherine booted her under the table. “You can see for yourself later. She’s our tour guide.”

“Uh-oh.” Rebecca put her hand to her mouth. “She works at Nunswick Abbey — a history buff too? No wonder you’re so desperate to visit.”

Luckily for Katherine, a waitress appeared beside them and took their order.

Katherine hadn’t — well, she didn’t think she had thought about Anna in that way. In the short time she had spent with her during her father’s appointment, she had found the woman impertinent.

The waitress disappeared, and Rebecca gave Katherine a look that told her the conversation was far from over.