Page 117 of A Girl's Best Friend
‘Ahem,’ The discreet cough was immediately followed up with, ‘Excuse me, I’m terribly sorry to interrupt.’
Devon and she stiffened.
‘Hello, Vicar,’ said Devon, giving Ella a slightly panicked sidelong glance.
Richard beamed at them, standing there looking very vicarly in his dog collar and long black cassock. ‘Ella. Devon. Isn’t it a gorgeous day? Lovely weather for being outdoors, but I’ve been asked to remind you of your duties.’
‘Duties?’ Ella swallowed hard, feeling her cheeks turning bright red. Vicars probably frowned at public displays of affection and kissing in the middle of the street. ‘Sorry, Vicar.’ She looked at Devon, whose mouth twitched. He was no help at all. ‘Sorry we just . . . erm . . . just got a little carried away.’
Richard peered over his little round glasses at her, looking very surprised, reminding her of Englebert whenever he was about to deliver news to his naughty brothers. ‘No, no, my dear. The shop. Everyone’s waiting for you to open up. You do have the keys, don’t you?’
‘Oh, sh— shoot.’ Ella and Devon turned to their right. Across the green a queue had formed outside the village shop. ‘Yoo-hoo,’ called Audrey. ‘I’d be very grateful if you could put my son down. He’s supposed to be taking me to the station.’
‘He’d better get a move on, then,’ said George, as usual wearing his trademark mustard cardigan, ‘and put her down. It’s almost coffee o’clock and no one makes a cappuccino like our Ella.’
‘Leave them alone,’ Doris, behind George, stuck both her thumbs up. ‘You’re only young once and he’s a handsome devil. If I were ten years younger I’d fight her for him.’
‘Ten years, Doris, steady on,’ giggled Bets from behind her, waving to Devon and Ella. ‘Hey guys, get a room.’
‘I’ll have you know I was a Tiller Girl.’
‘In your own time, love,’ yelled Greta, ‘but I have a pub full of punters and I’ve run out of lemons.’
Ella looked ruefully at Devon. ‘I’m really sorry, would you mind taking Tess for me? Duty calls.’
‘Bloody shop rota,’ muttered Devon, taking her hand. ‘Can’t we tell them we’ve got a veterinary emergency?’
‘Devon Ashcroft! Where’s your sense of community?’ she teased, waving back at the waiting crowd. ‘Just coming!’
Together they crossed the green. Ella held on tight to Tess’s lead with one hand, her other tucked into Devon’s, feeling a warm glow as she approached them all. It was difficult to remember why she’d been so reluctant to accept Magda’s offer of a bolthole in Wilsgrave. Now she couldn’t imagine ever leaving.
