Scandal in the Village Read Free Page A

of all the times to choose. One of my most crucial times of the year.’
    ‘Say no more. I shall rally everyone and we’ll all manage perfectly. You’ve got the file haven’t you?’
    ‘Oh yes, but I don’t …’
    ‘I know, you don’t like other people to have it, that’s quite understandable. On the Saturday you shall sit with it in your lap and give us our instructions and we’ll do all the work. They’ll all rally round, you’ll see. I haven’t got a surgery today so I shall get Willie to go into the church hall loft and get me the boxes of things out and tomorrow night at the committee meeting we’ll have a good dust of everything and get fully sorted, repair anything that needs it …’
    ‘I doubt I shall get there, Ron’s speaking at a training session of trades union representatives in Birmingham tomorrow afternoon so …’
    ‘You can’t possibly manage on your own shall I …?’
    ‘No, please, you have enough on your plate and you’ve been too kind already, no, the children … well, I mean Louise and dear Gilbert, are coming and making my meal and settling me down for the evening. Ron will be back before bedtime, it’s an early-evening meeting.’
    ‘Are you sure? Because I can …’
    ‘Absolutely. There were two corn dollies which needed refurbishing and I never got them done and you remember we used …’
    They heard the doorbell and listened to Ron answering it. Through the open lounge door the commanding tones of Grandmama Charter-Plackett could be heard enquiring if she could help.
    Sheila visibly shrank into the chair. Caroline raised her eyebrows in despair.
    Ron tried to put her off from coming into the house but she wouldn’t hear of it. ‘I must come in, I know how conscientious Sheila is, and I’ve come to relieve her of her worries. Is she in bed?’ Without waiting for an answer she swept towards the staircase.
    In a shaky voice Sheila cried, ‘I’m in here, first on the right.’
    Grandmama stood in the doorway, and surveyed the scene in the lounge. A proud autocratic woman in her seventies, dressed with her usual pin neat smartness and attention to detail, her hair rigidly set in waves and curls she nodded her head at each of them in greeting. ‘Good morning, Caroline. Sheila. Now, how are things? I was so sorry to hear about your fall. I heard it was both legs and an arm. Obviously it’s not.’
    Sheila answered in a trembling voice. ‘Oh no. Just this leg.’
    ‘Is it agony, my dear? Of course it must be. Never had a broken limb myself, but I’m sure it must be excruciatingly painful. I’ve come to offer my services. She’s not to worry about a thing, is she Caroline?’ Before Caroline could answer Grandmama pushed on with her offer of help. ‘Coffee! Yes, coffee. The kitchen, I’ll do it.’ She flapped her hands at Ronald. ‘No, no, you’ve quite enough on with the dog and the house and the shopping. I’ll do this for us all. You won’t be staying, Caroline, will you? I expect you’ve a lot to do. Has the dog been out yet, Sir Ronald?’
    He had only time to shake his head before Grandmama said, ‘Well, in that case you take the dog while I’m here and then Sheila won’t be left on her own. Sugar, Sheila?’
    ‘Yes, please.’
    Ronald scuttled out with Pompom thankful to have a reason to get out of her way. Caroline pulled a face at Sheila and then said loudly, ‘I’ll be off then.’ Bending over Sheila’s chair she whispered, ‘Don’t worry about tomorrow night, we’ll attend to everything. You stay here and rest, OK?’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘I am.’ As she reached the door Caroline called out ‘Bye-bye then. I’ll call in tomorrow. I’m going, Mrs Charter-Plackett.’
    ‘Very well, leave everything to me, my regards to the Rector!’

Chapter 2
    Sheila’s accident had been the main topic of conversation in the Store and Grandmama Charter-Plackett had determined as soon as she heard about it to step into the breach. If that common