eavesdropping. ‘He’s asked Jimbo for a quote for a party for his wedding anniversary, and he wants an Elizabethan banquet at the Old Barn. No expense spared. There’s going to be singers and that, like an entertainment. Mercedes’ idea.’
‘Oh well!’ said Sylvia in a sarcastic tone. ‘If Mercedes thought it up it’ll be OK by you, won’t it, Willie?’
The tone of Sylvia’s voice caught their attention, obviously there was something going on between Mercedes and Willie. But what for heaven’s sake?
Somewhat defiantly, Willie said, ‘Underneath all that make-up and fancy clothes she’s a lovely woman.’
‘Who told yer?’
‘About Mercedes?’ asked Willie, wishing that wouldn’t be what they wanted to know.
‘No! About the banquet?’
‘Oh, that. They were in the Old Barn discussing it with Jimbo while Pat Jones and her lot were getting ready for a lunch. Apparently they want serving wenches with their bosoms showing, just like it used to be.’
Sylvia said, ‘That is disgusting. I knew they were common the minute I clapped eyes on ’em.’
But Jimmy and Don asked, rather too eagerly, ‘Can anyone go?’
There was an outburst of loud protests from the ladies, except for Dottie, who thought it might be good fun.
‘It’s a party , and not for the public. By invitation, I expect.’
Jimmy and Don looked quite disappointed. Jimmy said, ‘I’ve heard of them banquets; they’re really good fun. Free mead and that’s potent, I understand. Three glasses and you’re under the table. Pity. It’ll cost a packet. He must have some money.’
‘Now we’ve got two benefactors in the village. Can’t be bad, can it?’ said Dottie. ‘I shall be helping Pat behind the scenes, but you two could always offer your services in the serving wench department for this ’ere party, Vera, and you, Sylvia, you’re both well . . . endowed.’
Briefly both Vera and Sylvia did wonder about volunteering and then both thought better of it.
Dottie nudged Vera. ‘Think of the money!’
‘Think of the embarrassment. I have heard,’ Vera bent a little closer to Dottie, ‘at those sort of parties the punters push five-pound notes down the front of the wenches’ . . .’ and she indicated her cleavage with a discreet finger.
Sylvia blushed and Dottie roared with laughter. ‘Better not, then. It wouldn’t be decent, would it?’
‘Don’t you volunteer, Sylvia, I won’t have it,’ Willie said.
‘Don’t be daft. It’s not women my age they’ll want, though I’m flattered you think I might qualify.’
Right then, in wafted Ford and Mercedes, and they headed straight for the table where they were being gossiped about. Sylvia shuffled along the settle to make room for them.
‘Good evening, everyone.’ Ford sorted out somewhere for Mercedes to sit and promptly volunteered to buy a round, an offer no one at the table refused.
They couldn’t resist asking Mercedes about the banquet, and Mercedes was thrilled they’d mentioned it. ‘My idea, actually,’ she said eagerly. ‘You’re all invited. Will you come?’
There was a momentary silence round the table, and then they all burst out with their thanks. Mercedes glowed with delight. ‘Oh! That’s wonderful. Nothing’s settled yet. I mean, we’re doing it but the finer details haven’t been organised. Jimbo’s come up with some marvellous ideas. We’re so looking forward to it.’
‘That’s how many years you’ve been married?’
‘Twenty years and it feels like only yesterday.’ She blushed rather naïvely. ‘You see, we’re still in love. My heart dances when I see him.’
Willie patted her hand, thinking there was that vulnerability he sensed about her.
Vera thought about her Don and decided no, her heart definitely didn’t dance when she saw him, and Sylvia decided that perhaps hers did dance a bit when she saw
‘Oh well!’ said Sylvia in a sarcastic tone. ‘If Mercedes thought it up it’ll be OK by you, won’t it, Willie?’
The tone of Sylvia’s voice caught their attention, obviously there was something going on between Mercedes and Willie. But what for heaven’s sake?
Somewhat defiantly, Willie said, ‘Underneath all that make-up and fancy clothes she’s a lovely woman.’
‘Who told yer?’
‘About Mercedes?’ asked Willie, wishing that wouldn’t be what they wanted to know.
‘No! About the banquet?’
‘Oh, that. They were in the Old Barn discussing it with Jimbo while Pat Jones and her lot were getting ready for a lunch. Apparently they want serving wenches with their bosoms showing, just like it used to be.’
Sylvia said, ‘That is disgusting. I knew they were common the minute I clapped eyes on ’em.’
But Jimmy and Don asked, rather too eagerly, ‘Can anyone go?’
There was an outburst of loud protests from the ladies, except for Dottie, who thought it might be good fun.
‘It’s a party , and not for the public. By invitation, I expect.’
Jimmy and Don looked quite disappointed. Jimmy said, ‘I’ve heard of them banquets; they’re really good fun. Free mead and that’s potent, I understand. Three glasses and you’re under the table. Pity. It’ll cost a packet. He must have some money.’
‘Now we’ve got two benefactors in the village. Can’t be bad, can it?’ said Dottie. ‘I shall be helping Pat behind the scenes, but you two could always offer your services in the serving wench department for this ’ere party, Vera, and you, Sylvia, you’re both well . . . endowed.’
Briefly both Vera and Sylvia did wonder about volunteering and then both thought better of it.
Dottie nudged Vera. ‘Think of the money!’
‘Think of the embarrassment. I have heard,’ Vera bent a little closer to Dottie, ‘at those sort of parties the punters push five-pound notes down the front of the wenches’ . . .’ and she indicated her cleavage with a discreet finger.
Sylvia blushed and Dottie roared with laughter. ‘Better not, then. It wouldn’t be decent, would it?’
‘Don’t you volunteer, Sylvia, I won’t have it,’ Willie said.
‘Don’t be daft. It’s not women my age they’ll want, though I’m flattered you think I might qualify.’
Right then, in wafted Ford and Mercedes, and they headed straight for the table where they were being gossiped about. Sylvia shuffled along the settle to make room for them.
‘Good evening, everyone.’ Ford sorted out somewhere for Mercedes to sit and promptly volunteered to buy a round, an offer no one at the table refused.
They couldn’t resist asking Mercedes about the banquet, and Mercedes was thrilled they’d mentioned it. ‘My idea, actually,’ she said eagerly. ‘You’re all invited. Will you come?’
There was a momentary silence round the table, and then they all burst out with their thanks. Mercedes glowed with delight. ‘Oh! That’s wonderful. Nothing’s settled yet. I mean, we’re doing it but the finer details haven’t been organised. Jimbo’s come up with some marvellous ideas. We’re so looking forward to it.’
‘That’s how many years you’ve been married?’
‘Twenty years and it feels like only yesterday.’ She blushed rather naïvely. ‘You see, we’re still in love. My heart dances when I see him.’
Willie patted her hand, thinking there was that vulnerability he sensed about her.
Vera thought about her Don and decided no, her heart definitely didn’t dance when she saw him, and Sylvia decided that perhaps hers did dance a bit when she saw
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