Your Cat — November 2017

her pretty front door and

midnight dashes for cat

food became the norm. He

would demand her attention

as she rushed off to work,

and the vet became Carol’s

second home.

“And what did Lawrence

teach you?”

Carol smiled. “Lawrence

taught me how to be more

responsible and think of

others. It was a steep learning

curve, but I got there in

the end.”

Grace rested her arm over

the back of her chair. “You

should get another cat, Auntie

Carol, so you won’t be lonely

when we move to Australia.”

“I don’t need another cat.”

Carol looked at Mr Darcy as

he arched his back, inviting

her to stroke him. She could

no longer resist and reached

down to touch his soft coat.

How gentlemanly he looked

with his tuxedo colouring.

The name, Mr Darcy, suited

him well.

“You could keep Mr Darcy.”

“Mr Darcy belongs to my

neighbour. Richard loves

him very much.”

Married with

two grown-up

children, Victoria

Cornwall enjoyed

a 25-year career as

a nurse before picking

up a pen to write

historical romance.

Her debut novel,

‘The Thief’s Daughter’,

published by Choc Lit,

is based in 18th-century

Cornwall, and follows the

story of Jack and Jenna

— two people from

different sides of the

smuggling trade, whose

lives become entangled

after a chance meeting.

Victoria can trace her

Cornish roots as far back

as the 18th century. This

background and heritage

has given her an

understanding

and knowledge

of Cornish rural

life, which is

the inspiration

for her writing.

*We have

five copies

of ‘The Thief’s

Daughter’

to give

away! Turn

to page 82

for your

chance to win.

http://www.yourcat.co.uk 73

CURL UP & READ

“Lawrence taught me how to be more

responsible and think of others. It was a steep

learning curve, but I got there in the end.”

as

Win!

They were well suited;

both were calm, friendly,

and gentle.

“Mum wants you to meet

someone and marry again,”

announced Grace. “Someone

kinder than Uncle Ray.”

“Tell your mother not to

worry about me. I’ve got used

to being on my own now.”

In companionable

silence, they returned to

their paintings, with Mr

Darcy resting in the

shadow of their chairs.

LATER THAT DAY

Carol watched Grace

walk away. Under her arm

she carried her painting,

a memento of her last visit

before emigrating. How she

would miss her.

She looked at her own

painting of Richard’s magnolia

tree, with a sleek black and

white cat sitting at its base.

“Well, Mr Darcy, you

seem to have made an

appearance in my painting

after all,” said Carol, tickling

him behind one ear. “What do

you say if I give this painting

to your owner? Do you think

Richard would like it?”

Mr Darcy rubbed his

cheeks against her fingers

in agreement.

WEEKS LATER

“Hello.”

“Hello Auntie. It’s Grace.”

Carol swapped the

telephone to her left ear

and blocked the other with

her fingers.

“It’s lovely to hear from

you. You sound so clear. How

is Australia?”

Grace’s enthusiastic chatter

came loud and clear across

the ocean.

“I started my new school

today and I made some new

friends. I miss you though.

How is Mr Darcy?”

Carol looked at the cat

resting on her lap. “He is

very well. In fact, he’s with

me now.”

“What has he taught you?”

Carol looked at

Richard, who was toasting

marshmallows on her open

fire as a November gale raged

outside. Richard lifted his gaze

to hers and smiled. It tugged

at something deep inside her

and she responded with one

of her own.

“He taught me I am not

too old to fall in love again,

Grace, and that was the most

valuable lesson of them all.” —

72-73 YC Short Story CS AM RA EW.indd 73 26/09/2017 16:23