Free Talk of the Village by Rebecca Shaw Page A

put some new drops of essence in the pot pourri on the bar. Should she offer him a drink or would it be better just to offer coffee? Coffee
    63
    would be best. Sheila got her best coffee set out in readiness.
    When it got to one o'clock and he still hadn't come she knew she'd lost. 'Ron, who else could they get to do it? They'll be cancelling the whole thing next, just you wait and see.' But in the church newsletter the following Sunday the date and details of the festival were announced. Sheila seethed with annoyance. 'I shan't be going to church any more. That's the thanks you get for being a stalwart. Christian indeed! Some Christian that Peter Harris is. That's definitely settled it. I'll get my own back and I know how.'
    She didn't tell anyone how she intended doing this, but the very next morning she was in Harriet's tearoom nice and early. She settled herself at the table in the window, waiting for a suitable listener.
    She didn't wait long. Before the morning was out a considerable number of the villagers were convinced that Peter was the father of the twins whom he and Caroline were adopting. Sheila had started it off by questioning the babies' parentage. 'Isn't it odd how much like the rector little Alexander is? It's a funny coincidence isn't it, seeing as how Suzy's husband had dark hair? Before it had been passed on more than a few times it had become a fact.
    Harriet overheard two of her customers talking about it in the Post Office queue.
    'And Lady Bissett says that she knows for a fact that the twins are the rector's own.'
    'No! Well, I don't believe that. Surely to goodness, it can't be true.'
    'Well, she says it is. Says how little Alex is so like the rector they can't deny it. And he is yer know.'
    'Well, he is the same colouring I expect. Well I never, whatever next.'
    'Rector having a bit on the side, takes some swallow—
    64
    ing that does.'
    'It's Dr Harris I feel sorry for. If it's true I think she's been very brave taking them on.'
    'So do I.'
    'Question is, who do we really want, a lovely young rector who's strayed a bit or that Lady Bissett as she likes to be called. I know who I prefer.'
    'Well yer right there, that Lady Bissett isn't half a pain in the arse. He's lovely and he's worked so 'ard since he came, what with the Cubs and the Brownies and the Women's Meeting and the pensioners' Luncheon Club. I don't know how we managed with that old faggot Mr Furbank. It was time the good Lord gathered 'im to His bosom and no mistake. My turn is it Linda? Two second class stamps. Thanks.'
    Harriet at her first opportunity went in search of Jimbo. He was sitting worrying over his accounts.
    'It's no good you know. The restaurant is not pulling its weight. I shall have to think seriously about . . . Why whatever's the matter?'
    'Jimbo I don't know what to do. Two of the customers have been saying that Sheila Bissett has said that Alex and Beth are Peter's.'
    'We know they're Peter's; they're adopting them.'
    'No, they mean actually Peter's. You know, that he's the real father and that's why they've adopted them.'
    'You mean Suzy Meadows and Peter . . . No, no, no. I don't believe it. That can't be right. Peter would never let Caroline down like that. I mean God, he's the rector. No, of course he wouldn't. Absolutely not. I'll have a word with Peter, man to man when we go for our run in the morning. Devil of a job bringing up the subject though. But this gossip will have to be stopped. I can't believe it's true. Spreading lies like that. The woman's malicious.'
    'I know why she's done it, it's because we wouldn't do
    65
    as she said about the Flower Festival. She expected Peter would go running round next morning and apologise and beg her to run it, but he didn't because Sylvia Bennett asked a friend of hers to do it and she's jumped at the chance.'
    'I feel desperately sorry for Caroline. Do you suppose it really is true and she doesn't know it?'
    'I haven't the faintest idea. We are good friends, but she