Read The Village Newcomers for Free Online Page B

Do you love school?’
     
    ‘Yes, I do.’
     
    ‘What’s your favourite subject?’
     
    ‘Well, I’m best at French.’
     
    ‘Oh! Hear that, Ford? Fran is best at French. She could come in useful when we go to our gite in the summer. Have you been to France?’
     
    ‘Yes, several—’ But she got no further because Ford interrupted her, so anxious was he to get on with the business he had in mind.
     
    ‘Now see here, Jimbo. I’ve heard on the village grapevine that you do catering.’
     
    Jimbo almost choked at being reduced to ‘catering’. It seemed rather to lower his treasured gourmet standards. He nodded.
     
    ‘I understand you own the Old Barn on the estate belonging to that old man . . .’ he snapped his fingers while he tried to remember the name, ‘Craddock Fitch, and you have parties there - balls, smart lunches, weddings. That right?’
     
    ‘It most certainly is, yes. You name it, we organise it. I have the highest standards . . .’ Jimbo intended expanding on the idea but was stopped by Ford.
     
    ‘Well, I have this idea, you see. Now I’m not working I’ve got time to spare thinking up original ideas and I’ve come up with one.’
     
    ‘Right!’
     
    ‘It’s soon to be our twentieth wedding anniversary and Mercedes wants us to have an Elizabethan banquet. Different, you see, from the usual wedding anniversary party. How do you feel about it? Of course, we’d have to see the Old Barn, decide if it’s suitable for what we have in mind.’
     
    Jimbo, ready for anything, cut in. ‘It was a Tudor barn originally; we’ve kept all mod cons as discreet as possible. Last year we had a whole cow roasting on a spit. It gave the guests a real thrill. They had roast beef for the meal but not all of it from the cow roasting outside, obviously. Logistically that wouldn’t have been possible. We served—’
     
    Mercedes burst in. ‘Could we have serving wenches with all their bosoms showing? I’m very keen on that - makes it realistic, you see.’
     
    By this time Harriet was almost in hysterics. Jimbo’s mind was too busy encompassing the whole idea to take in what Mercedes had said, but Fran had to leave the room before she made an exhibition of herself.
     
    The plans were discussed for a whole hour and a half with Jimbo busy making notes, and Mercedes coming up with even more surprising ideas. Eventually Jimbo grew too tired to care. There was so much to take in. ‘Look, before we go any further, come tomorrow at 9 a.m. to see the barn and judge for yourself if it’s OK. We have a business lunch on so we must be there on time. The staff need to lay tables etcetera, because my clients have drinks at eleven-thirty and lunch at twelve. So, 9 a.m. sharp, right? In the meantime I’ll have a think. We’re well booked up, so any decisions have to be made pronto. Lovely to meet you.’ He stood up to shake hands, and finally the pair of them made their way to the door. Mercedes was still coming up with ideas as they were leaving.
     
    Afterwards Harriet fell back in her chair exhausted. ‘God! What a pair! I need a drink after all that. Are you willing to fall in with their plans?’
     
    ‘Oh, yes! It’s the ideal venue. We’ll have Ford as the Earl of Leicester and Mercedes as Queen Elizabeth. They’ll love it. Could have some “strolling players” coming in to entertain them, couldn’t we? Mead by the gallon, though it’s very potent. We’d have to ration it as she suggests serving wenches. The whole idea is brilliant. Afterwards we could do them for the general public. Eh, what?’
     
    ‘You’re over-reaching yourself. Let’s do this first and see if it’s successful.’
     
    ‘ See if it’s successful? What does that mean? Of course it will be successful. How can it be anything else?’
     
    Harriet leant across and kissed him. ‘You’re right. I’m going to bed with my gin. Goodnight, darling.’
     
    ‘You’ll never sleep.’
     
    ‘Try me. And don’t