Free Scandal in the Village by Rebecca Shaw Page B

table.
    Don raised his glass of orange juice and said, ‘Here’s to you both.’
    ‘And to you,’ Jimmy answered. ‘Nice to have some male company. Don’t expect Willie will be in today he doesn’t on Sundays and not With Dr Harris being taken bad.’
    ‘One time if yer fainted like that it meant one thing.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Yer were in the club.’
    ‘That’s not likely is it. We knows they can’t have children.’
    Vera’s theory having been dismissed she felt quite deflated and sighed. ‘Yep! I expect we do. And we know it’s not him at fault. He’s proved that.’
    ‘Well, then.’ Jimmy glanced about him. ‘Eh! Georgie’s just come in. Got changed out o’ that sparkly suit she wears on her rare excursions into church and she’s smiling like there’s no tomorrow. The cheek of it.’
    ‘Bold as brass that Dicky waving and winkin’ in church. Be different if they were kids and single.’
    ‘Well, yer know when Cupid’s arrow falls …’
    ‘Cupid’s arrow! They should ’ave caught it and sent it flying back. At their age, they ought to have more sense.’
    Jimmy laughed. ‘This wife of yours is very indignant, could she be just a bit jealous, Don? Did you see ’em?’
    ‘No.’
    Bryn was busy serving with a grim smile on his face. Even his Flying Officer Kite moustache appeared to be bristling with annoyance. Georgie was pulling pints too, but well down the other end of the bar.
    Jimmy called out, ‘Feeling better Georgie? It was hot in there wasn’t it?’
    Bryn scowled. Georgie said, ‘It was very hot. I wonder no one else had to leave.’
    Someone said, ‘They did. Rector’s wife left just after you. Went clean out on the floor. Terrible white she was.’
    ‘Oh! So I wasn’t the only one then. There we are, one pound eighty please.’
    As the customer pocketed his change he said, ‘Thought you looked flushed Georgie.’
    ‘I said it was hot.’
    Jimmy slyly remarked, ‘Your Bryn sized up the situation in quick sticks, ’ad you out in a flash.’
    Bryn glared at Jimmy and for a second Jimmy thought he would be coming across and thumping him but the moment passed and Jimmy took a hasty gulp of his ale.
    Vera was scandalised. ‘Honestly Jimmy! You’ll be getting a black eye, you will.’
    ‘Not me, but he might.’ He nodded his head in the direction of the saloon door.
    Vera and Don twisted round to look. Bel and Dicky had just come in. It was so rare for them both to come in together that everyone would have stared in any case but today, this lunchtime, they not only stared they were appalled. Dicky really was sticking his neck out coming in. Bryn could have a very short fuse on occasion, and as he was something like twice as big as Dicky things could get lively. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding could wait, something more appetising was on the menu.
    To everyone’s intense disappointment Bryn’s attention was taken by a problem in the dining-room so he had to leave Georgie and Alan behind the bar.
    Vera shouted across. ‘Good turn-out for the Scouts this morning, Dicky! They’re a credit to yer!’
    Dicky, who’d changed out of his Scout uniform and was looking quite the dandy in a rather startling bright red polo-necked sweater and black and white checked trousers, shouted ‘Thanks Vera! They’re a good set of boys, all of ’em! See you’ve dragged that husband of yours in. What are you getting up to nowadays, Don?’
    Don lifted his glass in acknowledgement. He was known as a man of few words was Don but this time he excelled himself. ‘More to the point, Dicky, everyone’s asking what you’re getting up to nowadays?’
    An audible gasp went round the bar. Vera choked on her drink and had to search for a hanky to dab her chin. As for Jimmy, well there was no other word to use but to say he guffawed. The customers round the table by the fireplace burst into side splitting laughter, but Bel went bright red and looked at the floor and Georgie shook her head in