Read Shopaholic to the Rescue Online
Authors: Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic to the Rescue (38 page)
Elinor is looking pretty relaxed too. She and Luke are chatting away about the holiday we might all take in the Hamptons, with Danny chipping in every now and again with local gossip that makes even Elinor snort with laughter.
If you were brutally honest, you might say that Danny has
mostly
become best friends with Elinor because she’s planning to spend a small fortune on his clothes and help him launch a whole new older women’s market, which will do great things for his profits….But there’s more to it than that. There’s a genuine bond between them. I really do believe that. Like, they’ve already discussed how they’ll give Cyndi a wonderful time at the Met Ball because none of this was her fault. (I’m going to try and go too.)
As for Suze and Tarkie, they’re completely different people. Suze has relaxed. She’s the old Suze. She laughs at silly things. Her frown has eased. And Tarkie is a revelation! I keep watching him, trying to work out what’s different—but I don’t think it’s one thing. It’s lots of little things. Apparently one of the pieces of advice Dad gave him on the road was, “Fake it till you make it.” Well, I don’t know what’s fake and what’s real, or whether he even knows himself—but it’s working. He’s going to make a kick-ass lord of the manor when he gets back to England.
“We’re going to plant over a thousand trees next year,” he’s telling Dad. “Of course, Suze won’t notice any of them.”
At once, Suze flushes red and says hastily, “I will! I’ll help plant them and look after them and everything. I
love
trees!”
Tarkie flicks a tiny, teasing smile at her, and she flushes even deeper, and it’s quite obvious she’s confessed all about Owl’s Tower. Well, that’s good. It was stressing
me
out, never mind them.
As if she’s reading my mind, Suze gently nudges my foot with hers under the table. We’re both wearing our cowboy boots. They feel so right, I can’t believe I’ll ever wear anything else again. The Wild West has really got under my skin. Into my soul. The clothes, the sunshine, the desert, the music…
Ooh, which reminds me of something.
“Hey, Luke!” I say brightly. “I forgot to tell you. When I was out with Suze this afternoon, I tried out a banjo, and I think we should get it.”
“What?”
Luke looks up from his conversation with Elinor, aghast.
“I told her you wouldn’t go for it,” puts in Suze, spearing a piece of steak.
“Don’t look like that, Luke!” I say, affronted. “It’ll be good for Minnie to learn an instrument, so why not the banjo? And we can all have lessons together and become a family folk group, and it’ll
totally
be a good investment….”
Mrs. Luke Brandon
c/o The Pines
43 Elton Road
Oxshott
Surrey
Dear Mrs. Brandon,
The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for the good wishes which you have sent to Her Majesty.
I am glad to hear that Mr. Derek Smeath of East Horsley (formerly of Fulham) has proved such an invaluable friend, not just to you but to “the causes of love and justice.” I can well believe that he has made the world a better place.
However, I’m sorry to say, there is no “instant fast track” to a knighthood; nor does the Queen have any “spare OBEs” that she could “just put in an envelope for him.”
On behalf of Her Majesty, I thank you again for writing.
Yours sincerely,
Lavinia Coutts-Hoares-Berkeley
LADY-IN-WAITING
T
OWN
H
ALL
K
ING
S
TREET
L
ONDON
W6 9JU
Mrs. Rebecca Brandon
c/o The Pines
43 Elton Road
Oxshott
Surrey
Dear Mrs. Brandon,
Thank you for your letter. It is always pleasing to hear from former residents of Fulham.
I was glad to hear about your friend Derek Smeath, who managed the Fulham branch of Endwich Bank for so many years. He sounds a most helpful man, and I’m sure you are right that many residents of Fulham have benefited from his wisdom.
However, it is unfortunately not within my powers as councillor to “award him a medal or the freedom of the city.”
I thank you for your interest in the council and enclose a leaflet on our latest progress in green waste management.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Elaine Padgett-Grant
Hammersmith & Fulham Council
Dear Mrs. Brandon,
Thank you very much for your letter. What a story you have to tell!!!
As one of Derek’s gardening “chums,” I could not agree more with your sentiments that he is an all-round good egg. I was delighted to learn that Lord and Lady Cleath-Stuart are naming a new avenue of trees on their estate “Smeath Walk” after him. He deserves no less!!!
It will be my absolute pleasure to organize a society “day out” to Letherby Hall for the “opening ceremony,” and your check should amply cover our expenses. I assure you, Derek will be none the wiser, until you land the “surprise” on him. I should think he won’t believe his eyes!! Meanwhile, “mum’s the word.”
I look forward to meeting you on “the day.” Meanwhile, stay well and no more adventures!!!
Yours very kindly,
Trevor M. Flanagan
President, EHHS
P.S.—Are you the “Rebecca” who gets into such trouble in Derek’s book? Don’t worry, your secret’s “safe” with me!!!
The End
To Linda Evans,
with love and thanks for everything
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book is much like going on a road trip, what with the snacks, the constant looking out the window and the panics that you have no idea whatsoever where you’re heading….I’m endlessly grateful to all who have been in my metaphorical RV. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you. xxx
The British RV
Araminta Whitley, Peta Nightingale, Jennifer Hunt, Sophie Hughes, Nicki Kennedy, Sam Edenborough and all the team at ILA, Harriet Bourton, Linda Evans, Bill Scott-Kerr, Larry Finlay, Sally Wray, Claire Evans, Alice Murphy-Pyle, Tom Chicken and his team, Claire Ward, Anna Derkacz and her team, Stephen Mulcahey, Rebecca Glibbery, Sophie Murray, Kate Samano, Elisabeth Merriman, Alison Martin, Katrina Whone, Judith Welsh, Jo Williamson, Bradley Rose
The American RV
Kim Witherspoon, David Forrer, Susan Kamil, Deborah Aroff, Kesley Tiffey, Avideh Bashirrad, Theresa Zoro, Sally Marvin, Sharon Propson, Loren Noveck, Benjamin Dreyer, Paolo Pepe, Scott Shannon, Matt Schwartz, Henley Cox
BY SOPHIE KINSELLA
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Shopaholic Ties the Knot
Can You Keep a Secret?
Shopaholic & Sister
The Undomestic Goddess
Shopaholic & Baby
Remember Me?
Twenties Girl
Mini Shopaholic
I’ve Got Your Number
Wedding Night
Shopaholic to the Stars
Shopaholic to the Rescue
About the Author
S
OPHIE
K
INSELLA
is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series, as well as the novels
Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number,
and
Wedding Night
. She lives in London.
Facebook.com/SophieKinsellaOfficial
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