Village Gossip Read Free Page B

snorted. ‘Sometimes you talk in riddles.’
    ‘Mother-in-law! He almost died he was so ill. He lives alone, he needs a family to care for him. Don’t worry. Before long he’ll get an offer he can’t refuse, he’ll go dashing off and we shan’t see him again for years. He’s a close friend of Jimbo’s, isn’t he, darling?’ Jimbo nodded. ‘And of mine too. It’s the least we can do.’
    ‘Jimbo! Are you head of this house or not?’
    ‘I am.’
    ‘Then take my word for it, he is trouble. If you’ll excuse me I’ll be off now. I have two friends coming for afternoon tea and I need to get organised.’ She collected her handbag and offered her cheek for Jimbo to kiss. ‘Cast this viper out from your bosom, Jimbo. Listen to your mother for once. Bye bye, Harriet. Thank you for yet another delightful lunch, I do look forward to Sunday lunch with you all. Bye bye, boys.’ She opened the dining-room door, went through it and then came back in. ‘And another thing. Caroline Harris had no business to let him kiss her hand. Disgraceful behaviour outside church, with everyone watching. She blushed like a schoolgirl. I expect Peter will have something to say to her about that and no mistake.’
On summer Sunday evenings Peter and Caroline had dinner together after Peter returned from Evensong. With the children tucked up in bed they enjoyed an intimate meal, which Caroline always took a great deal of care over. The wine had been chilled, the steak was almost ready, the sauce bubbled very gently in the pan and the vegetables were already in the tureens in the oven keeping warm, when she heard Peter’s key in the door.
    ‘I’m back and I’m seriously in need of sustenance.’
    ‘So am I! I’ve opened the wine. Won’t be a moment.’
    Peter came into the kitchen. He’d removed his cassock and was wearing his dark trousers and clerical collar with a grey short-sleeved shirt.
    ‘Take your collar off, you look hot.’
    He undid his back stud and peeled off his collar, placing it with the stud on top of the fridge freezer. ‘Quite a lot there tonight.’
    ‘Makes a change.’
    ‘It does indeed. Just as I begin to think I shall suggest finishing with Evensong I get a good congregation and I have a rethink.’
    Caroline gave Peter a cloth. ‘Here, take the vegetables in. I’ve served the meat straight onto the plates.’
    Peter put down the tureens on the dining table and picked up the bottle of wine. ‘Where on earth did this wine come from? Chile! Oh my word.’
    ‘If there’s one person I don’t like it’s a wine snob.’
‘Sorry! You’re quite right. If I like it, what does it matter where it comes from.’
    ‘Maybe you had a big congregation because they all hoped Hugo Maude would appear.’
    ‘Well, he didn’t.’
    ‘I’m in trouble because of him.’
    He looked up, his mouth full of steak, and mumbled, ‘Why?’
    ‘Grandmama Charter-Plackett doesn’t approve of me any longer because of what happened outside church.’
    ‘No wonder.’
    ‘Living in an ancient village like this one, they can get too … what’s the word I’m looking for?’
    ‘Don’t know. Shall I finish the peas?’
    ‘Yes, I don’t want any more. Too narrow minded. In fact, almighty prim. They need their horizons widening. All he is, is a bit of fun. Liven us all up. I hope he stays for a while.’
    ‘So do I. But, darling, please be very circumspect won’t you? Rector’s wife and all that.’
    Caroline put down her knife and fork, drank a little of her wine and muttered, ‘Here we go again.’
    ‘I beg your pardon?’
    ‘I said, “Here we go again.”’
    ‘Sorry, but you know …’
    ‘I know. By the way I’m going back to work as soon as I can get a job. I’ve decided. General practice. I like that best.’
    He restrained himself from being protective, there was nothing more sure to make her go ahead finding a job than him putting the brakes on her. ‘That’s a good idea, darling, you must be