Could It Be I'm Falling in Love? by Eleanor Prescott Read Free Book Online Page B

that
voice
. Roxy was sure she’d heard it before. She remembered the lecturing tone.
    Roxy looked at Smug Cousin. She didn’t recognise her at all, but maybe she was too bland for Roxy’s radar.
    And then there was Woody. Well, she definitely knew who he was.
Everyone
knew who he was.
    ‘Are you …?’ Her heart suddenly quickened. ‘Are you all …
famous
, or something?’
    Her question hung in the air. Her skin tingled with excitement. Could they
really
be celebrities? Could all these
ordinary
famous people have been plodding around Lavender Heath under her nose?
    ‘Not exactly,’ Macaroon Man replied.
    They all swapped glances. Roxy looked at Woody wildly.
    ‘No, we’re not famous,’ he smiled. ‘We’re has-beens!’
    ‘Hanging on to the fact that we
used
to be,’ Sue added.
    ‘I couldda been a contender!’ Macaroon Man joked limply.
    Roxy’s mouth fell open. Slowly she looked from person to person and a series of pennies began to drop.
    ‘I
know
you!’ she jabbed her finger at Macaroon Man. ‘You’re Sick Nick!’
    ‘No, I’m Simon Drennan,’ he corrected. ‘I’m an actor who used to play the morally flawed character, Nick Fletcher, in the television soap opera
Down Town.’
    ‘You were in
Downton?’
Roxy looked at him, impressed. Now she thought about it, she could see him in a bow tie. He hadn’t been one of the posh lot, but she was sure he’d been one of the servants.
    ‘Not
Downton Abbey,’
Terence sniggered, enjoying the moment. ‘Simon was in
Down Town
. Not quite the same thing.’
    ‘And you’re …’ Roxy’s finger moved to Pervy Uncle. ‘You’re that weatherman off the telly. The one who made everyone bankrupt.’
    ‘Say hello to Tornado Terry,’ Simon smirked, enjoying a swift revenge.
    ‘A simple Terence would suffice,’ Terence said stiffly.
    ‘And you …’ Roxy’s finger swivelled round to Sue. ‘I didn’t get it at first, but you used to be Sug—’
    ‘Don’t say it!’
Sue’s hands flew up to her face.
    ‘And you’re …’ Roxy lingered over Spinster Aunt, hoping someone would jump in and explain.
    ‘Cressida Cunningham,’ Spinster Aunt told her crisply. ‘Former Member of Parliament for Biddington Borders, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.’
    ‘Bloody hell!’ Roxy exclaimed.
    ‘Of course, you already know Woody,’ Simon cut in. ‘Our very own used-to-be chart-topping heart-throb and formerrunner-up for Rear Of The Year.’
    ‘I still can’t believe I got pipped to the post for that one,’ Woody laughed. ‘I should’ve demanded a recount.’
    ‘And …’ Roxy’s eyes settled on Smug Cousin. She looked like a total civilian. Roxy decided to take a punt. ‘I’m sorry – I don’t do telly choirs.’
    Smug Cousin looked up in surprise. ‘Oh no, I’m not on television; I’m Holly Childs.’ Roxy looked blank. ‘The romantic novelist? I used to be a best-seller, when I was younger. Really young, actually. But my parents always tried to keep me out of the limelight. I didn’t do any publicity. Anyway, I’ve given it all up now. Writing, I mean.’
    ‘Holly was a teenage prodigy,’ said Simon. ‘She wrote three best-sellers before she was sixteen. One was even made into a film –
Puppy Love.’
    ‘What, the Austin Jones movie? The one where he was a vet?’ Roxy blurted.
    Holly nodded with a blush.
    ‘But that movie was massive,’ Roxy marvelled, looking at Holly with new eyes. ‘I didn’t realise it was written by a teenager. Why don’t you write any more?’
    Holly looked awkward.
    ‘It was only ever supposed to be a bit of fun before I went to university. Besides, Mum and Dad …’ She gave a funny little shrug.
    ‘So there you have it,’ grinned Woody. ‘Welcome to our circle of used-to-bes! I thought you might find us of help.’
    But Roxy was still looking at Holly. Maybe she wasn’t sobland, after all. She was young and thin and blonde – and she had a gap between her teeth like Madonna!