Second Thyme Around (36 page)

Authors: Katie Fforde

Tags: #Fiction, #Contemporary Women

BOOK: Second Thyme Around

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‘Oh, wow! That’s so cool!’ said Janey. ‘But you’d better get married quickly, then. Imagine the scandal if you
went down the aisle with a bump.’

Perdita ignored this. ‘And we’re going to live in Kitty’s house, so you can have this one as long as you like. And take my junk out of it, as well.’

‘That’s great,’ said William. ‘We thought we ought to get married, too.’

‘Brilliant! I wonder if we’ve used up all Kitty’s champagne? If not, we’ll have to buy some and have a celebration!’

Janey and William suddenly seemed a little awkward, as if the thought of getting drunk with their bosses wasn’t terribly attractive.

‘Just a quick glass,’ said Lucas, observing their reaction. ‘And then Janey can go back to work.’

Perdita suddenly grabbed Lucas’s hand. ‘I’ve just thought of something. Come along.’

She dragged him into one of the poly-tunnels and along the rows to the back. ‘I’ve no idea what I’m going to find, but I think, if we’re lucky …’ She lifted out a large pot. There was nothing much to show from the top except something which looked like faded mint. She took a dibber from a ledge and very, very gently, began stirring the surface of the soil. ‘Yes!’ Carefully, she dug her fingers into the loosened soil and brought out a curious spiral shape, like an extremely plump maggot. It had a wonderfully pearlescent surface.

Lucas pushed her aside. ‘I don’t believe it! Crosnes! You’ve managed to grow crosnes! You little beauty! This is fantastic!’

‘Crosnes, also known as Chinese artichokes,’ Perdita added, for the benefit of Janey and William, who were following at a safe distance.

Perdita tipped out the soil and then sought for the pearly pink tubers. ‘It’s like digging for gold,’ she said.

‘Who would have thought that that dried-up crusty
old thing could have turned into something this wonderful?’ said Lucas.

‘I know,’ said his beloved, fondly. ‘And the nes are pretty amazing too.’

Also by Katie Fforde

Life Skills
Stately Pursuits
Wild Designs
The Rose Revived
Living Dangerously

EVERYONE LOVES THE NOVELS OF KATIE FFORDE

Highland Fling

“A light fling of a read, and a breezy, entertaining companion on a cold winter night.”

—The Washington Times

“Another adorable romance.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Artistic License

“A breezy romance that combines a little business, a little travel, and a little art into a diverting … summer read.”

—Booklist

Second Thyme Around

“One of those beguiling stories that charm and engage with wit and sparkling prose.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The characters are all appealing, and romantics will be taken with Fforde’s clever interweaving of love, friendship, horticulture, and cuisine.”

—Publishers Weekly

Life Skills

“Witty, original, and perfect for readers looking for something different.”

—Booklist

“A stylish contemporary love story.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“This charming and captivating romantic summer read is recommended for all collections.”

—Library Journal

Stately Pursuits

“Enormously enjoyable … like listening to Cole Porter or watching
The Philadelphia Story.”

—Newsday

“A delightful, unabashedly unpretentious love yarn.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Cheery, good-natured … stylish romance.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Lively, loopy fun.”

—The Boston Globe

Wild Designs

“A modern Cinderella tale about a good-hearted, underappreciated supermom.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A delicious romp … As pretty a piece of wish fulfillment as can be imagined; enchanting withal.”

—Booklist
(starred review)

“A spirited sense of humor, a light touch, and a real sense of how families work.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“A delight.”

—Detroit Free Press

SECOND THYME AROUND Copyright © 2000 by Katie Fforde. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

First published in the United Kingdom by Century Random House UK Limited under the title
Thyme Out

eISBN 9781466821743

First eBook Edition : May 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in Publication Data

Fforde, Katie.

Second thyme around / Katie Fforde.

p. cm.

ISBN 0-312-27304-5 (hc)
ISBN 0-312-33540-7 (pbk)

EAN 978-0312-33540-3

1. Women gardeners—Fiction. 2. Cooks—Fiction. 3. Divorced people—Fiction. I. Title.

PR6056.F54T48 2004
823’.914—dc22