A Christmas Cracker

by Trisha Ashley

  And over dinner, I soon saw why Mercy had felt in need of support, because she announced to Randal and Lacey that she’d now consulted her Quaker Friends about the suitability of basing Lacey’s business at Friendship Mill.

  ‘I know, you emailed me,’ Randal said shortly.

  ‘Well, call me old-fashioned, but I couldn’t be happy with it, especially knowing what my husband’s opinion would have been.’

  Lacey cast her a look of scorn, but Randal said levelly, ‘I’m very sorry you feel that way, Mercy.’

  ‘But all may still be most happily resolved,’ Mercy told him eagerly. ‘For luckily one of the Friends has a small industrial estate on the edge of Great Mumming and is currently constructing two new warehouse units on it. He has no objection to letting one of them to Lacey.’

  She sat back and beamed at them both. ‘There, wouldn’t that be perfect?’

  Lacey looked less than impressed. ‘Big of him,’ she said, ‘but actually, since I’ve got great premises and a good manager and warehouse staff, I’ve decided I’m going to keep Instant Orgy where it is.’

  ‘Lacey will keep her flat as a London base,’ explained Randal rather wearily, so I thought I could guess what they’d been arguing about on the way up. ‘I’ll put mine on the market as soon as I’ve handed in my notice.’

  ‘When we got engaged I thought we’d both sell our flats and buy a house somewhere nice, like Primrose Hill. Most of my friends live in London and I’m too young to be buried alive in the country the whole time,’ Lacey said.

  Mercy gave her a look of astonishment. ‘But when you’re married, you’ll naturally want to be with Randal, won’t you?’

  ‘We’ve been going out together for ages and I’ve barely even seen him for the last few months. And he’ll be off again to Australia at the end of next week!’

  ‘I’m sorry, but that’s the nature of my job – and you were the one who didn’t want me to resign from it, so you can’t have it both ways,’ he told her, his jaw looking like squared-off granite and his lips compressing into a tight, thin line. There was definitely trouble brewing at t’mill!

  ‘I didn’t realise how many weeks you’d be away – or that even when you were home you’d be too tired to go anywhere,’ she snapped back.

  ‘But I don’t think Randal has ever had time to fully recover his health after that illness he caught on a cruise,’ Mercy said. ‘He’s usually full of energy.’

  Silas, who had been a silent but disapproving listener during this conversation, now said pointedly that he would be glad when Randal was living at Mote Farm, but his expression when he glanced at Lacey showed very clearly that he didn’t much care if she were there or not.

  ‘Do tell Randal and Lacey about the advance orders we’ve had for the new crackers, while I clear the table and fetch the dessert,’ I said brightly, springing up and clattering the dishes together.

  ‘Oh, yes – and, Randal, we’re going to pitch to Liberty’s soon and who knows where that might lead?’ Mercy exclaimed excitedly, so that cat was out of the bag.

  Pugsie and Pye were in the kitchen looking hopeful, even though I’d fed them both before dinner and, unable to resist two pairs of beseeching eyes, I tossed them a few scraps.

  Dessert was simple: small chilled ramekins of chocolate custard, which Mercy had showed me how to make earlier. They were really simple and, once the top was sprinkled with a little grated dark chocolate, looked elegant. Lacey refused hers on the grounds that it looked fattening, so Silas ate it.

  I offered to make the coffee before I went out and Mercy explained to the others that I was going up to the Auld Christmas.

  ‘Oh, let’s go too. At least it’s something to do,’ Lacey said, which I thought was rude, especially considering they’d only just got there and were leaving the next day.

  But Mercy was understanding, as always. ‘Yes, of course, do go if you feel like it! You won’t want to sit with us oldies and you could give Tabby a lift.’

  ‘OK,’ agreed Randal, though I think he would have preferred to stay at home.

  And I’d much rather have driven myself. But there was no help for it, so I said, ‘A lift up would be great, but I’m meeting Freda, Job and some of the others, so I can come back with them.’

  After a silently simmering trip up, it was a relief to leave Randal and Lacey at the bar and join the others at their usual table. Strangely, it appeared to be my round of drinks, but Phil volunteered to fetch them.

  There was no sign of Guy, but just as I assumed he wasn’t coming he walked in, looking his usual dark and elegant self, kissed Lacey on both cheeks, which she appeared to suffer rather than welcome, then brought his drink over to our table.

  Being last one in, I was on the end of the bench seat and had to edge up so there was enough room for him to sit, much closer than I would have preferred. I hoped he wasn’t getting the wrong idea again.

  But then, I don’t think he’d ever abandoned the wrong idea, because although I was trying to concentrate on the dominoes, he kept leaning over to whisper stupid things in my ear, like how adorable I looked and daft stuff like that.

  I suppose it must all have looked fairly intimate, because I noticed Randal glancing our way and frowning, though it wouldn’t have been any of his business even if I had succumbed to Guy’s considerable charms.

  But what I found even more disconcerting than Randal’s glowers, was the way Lacey kept shifting round on her bar stool so she could see us, too – and whenever she did this, Guy stepped up the flirting.

  I started to wonder if he was trying to make her jealous. He’d been out with her before, so perhaps now she was engaged to someone else he couldn’t resist the thrill of the chase.

  ‘Holly told me you went to Old Place for lunch when I wasn’t there – so the least you can do is come tomorrow, when I am,’ he said warmly down my ear.

  ‘No, thank you, I’ve got other things to do,’ I said firmly.

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Mind your own business!’ I told him, and he laughed and said I was a hard-hearted woman.

  Then he added that he’d better be off and left, blowing a kiss to Lacey on the way out.

  She looked less than enchanted by the gesture … and so did Randal.

  Holly rang me early next morning and persuaded me to go to Old Place for lunch.

  ‘Not because Guy has pestered me to ask you, though of course he has, but I just thought it would be nice to see you again. Perhaps Randal and his fiancée could give you a lift up?’

  Mercy and Silas weren’t going this time, because they were bringing guests back from the Meeting … and on the whole, I’d much rather have stayed with them and shared the delicious thick chicken and vegetable soup that Mercy had made yesterday.

  But I liked Holly, so in the end I said I’d go.

  Guy insisted on sitting next to me at lunch and was his usual flirtatious self, though he barely glanced at Lacey, so perhaps my suspicions that he’d been trying to make her jealous last night were mistaken.

  Old Nan beckoned me over afterwards and said perhaps she’d been wrong to warn me about Guy, because the love of a good woman could be the making of him.

  ‘I don’t think I’m either that good, or up for the challenge,’ I told her, and Randal, who was standing right behind her, gave me one of his best brooding looks, twitching his fair brows together in a formidable frown.

  ‘Guy’s very well off, you know. He works in a bank in London,’ Old Nan said encouragingly.

  ‘Are you selling my charms, Nan?’ Guy said, handing her a glass of amber-coloured sherry. ‘I’m young, solvent and single: what more could a woman want?’

  ‘I can’t imagine,’ I said, then got up. ‘Well, it’s a lovely day, so I’m going to thank Holly for a wonderful lunch and then walk home.’

  Randal had definitely been ear-wigging, because he said bossily, ‘You’d better wait, Tabby, and go back with us. We can’t stay much longer because we’re leaving for
London this afternoon.’

  ‘Thanks, but actually I’ll enjoy the walk – but if I don’t see you later, have a good trip,’ I said.

  ‘I’ll walk with you, in case of bears, robbers or wolves,’ Guy suggested, and wouldn’t be dissuaded, though I was sure the only wolf in the area was him.

  Randal’s car slid past us as we walked down the drive, with Lacey, looking beautiful but sulky, in the passenger seat.

  Chapter 42: Not Waving

  Q:What’s round and bad-tempered?

  A:A vicious circle!

  ‘Not even a wave from Lacey – I feel quite crushed,’ Guy said as the car disappeared down the road. ‘Especially since I’ve seen quite a bit of her lately on the London party circuit … though just as friends, of course.’

  ‘She didn’t look that friendly to me,’ I said, ‘but that’s probably just as well, seeing as she’s engaged to Randal.’

  Guy laughed, accused me of jealousy and then tried to kiss me, which I’d half-expected, though not out on the open road, and he went all sulky when firmly rebuffed.

  ‘I know you like me.’

  ‘I do like you – I just don’t trust you. So it’s either be friends, or nothing. Take your pick.’

  He grinned, as resilient as a rubber ball. ‘I could just wear you down by sheer persistence.’

  ‘That tactic hasn’t worked so far, has it?’ I said. ‘And here’s the pub, if you want to turn back now. I’m more than happy to walk down the track to Godsend without having to wrestle with you every other step.’

  ‘I’ll behave,’ he promised, falling into step beside me.

  ‘You’d better, or I’ll set my cat on you again,’ I threatened, and he laughed.

  I thought he’d turn back once we got to the mill, but he said if he was going to have to hike all the way up to Little Mumming, then the least I could do was give him a cup of coffee first.

  ‘You were the one who insisted on walking all the way down,’ I pointed out, though I didn’t suppose Mercy would mind my bringing him back.

  As we crossed the bridge over the stream I saw that there was no sign of Randal’s car, so he and Lacey must already have set out for London. But Mercy and Silas were standing near their garage, waving off the elderly couple who’d been there for lunch.

  Their car, a venerable old Morris Traveller, wavered past us and negotiated the bridge cautiously, before vanishing down towards the road. Silas turned and began painfully hobbling back towards the house, though Mercy waited for us.

  ‘Guy decided to walk back with me for some fresh air,’ I explained when we got there, though I didn’t add that things hadn’t been as fresh as he’d hoped. ‘He’s going to have a cup of coffee before he goes back.’

  ‘I think we could find him a little slice of cake, too,’ Mercy said, beaming at him. ‘I packed up a whole fruitcake for Randal to take back with him, but fortunately I made two and there’s over half left of the cut one.’

  ‘Wonderful – lead me to it!’ Guy said.

  ‘I think you have more visitors – here comes another car …’ I said, and then faltered as a familiar Mercedes hatchback turned onto the gravel and crunched to a halt.

  ‘Good heavens, Jeremy, what on earth are you doing here?’ I exclaimed as he got out, followed by the even more unwelcome figure of Kate. ‘In fact, how did you get this address?’

  ‘I’m afraid I gave it to him when I collected your belongings, as your forwarding address,’ said Mercy apologetically.

  ‘I don’t know why you’re so surprised, because I said I’d come and get the ring if you didn’t send it back,’ Jeremy said belligerently.

  Guy, puzzled, looked from one to the other of us.

  I introduced him briefly. ‘Guy, this is my ex-fiancé, Jeremy, and Kate, who is … well, let’s leave it at that,’ I said. ‘I can’t believe you’ve got the gall to turn up here, when I’ve already told you I haven’t got the ring.’

  ‘Which ring?’ asked Guy, interested.

  ‘A valuable old ring that used to belong to Jeremy’s mother. She stole it,’ Kate told him.

  ‘Now, young lady, you’re quite wrong there,’ said Mercy firmly. ‘Guy, the situation is that Jeremy is demanding his engagement ring back, but Tabby no longer has it.’

  ‘She’s stolen it,’ insisted Kate.

  ‘You can’t steal your own engagement ring,’ I pointed out.

  ‘We were never engaged, I told you.’ Jeremy said.

  ‘Oh, don’t be so stupid. We told everyone we were,’ I said scathingly.

  ‘So, where is this fabulous ring now?’ asked Guy.

  ‘I don’t know. I hardly wore it because it was so fragile, so I probably took it off in Jeremy’s house and put it somewhere. I’ve been right through all my belongings twice with no sign of it – and I wouldn’t want to keep it even if I did find it!’

  ‘Sez you!’ Kate sneered.

  Guy looked Jeremy up and down. ‘I can’t believe you’ve got the gall to demand your engagement ring back, but I do believe Tabby when she says she hasn’t got it.’

  ‘And she certainly isn’t a thief, so your words are very ill-considered, and you should apologise,’ Mercy put in severely.

  ‘Let me search her room and then I might believe she hasn’t got it,’ Kate demanded.

  ‘Who did you say this young woman was?’ Mercy asked, fixing Kate with a colder gaze than I knew she was capable of.

  ‘Kate Dee. She’s the one who lied about my being involved in that scam and she’s an old friend of Jeremy’s. In fact, according to her husband, they’re now more than friends, so I expect she wants the ring for herself. Is that right, Kate?’

  ‘Leave Kate out of it,’ Jeremy snapped. ‘Luke’s been totally unreasonable ever since you got at him with your lies, and now he and Kate are getting divorced.’

  ‘That all sounds most unsavoury,’ said Mercy distastefully. ‘I think I’d like you both to go away now and not come back.’

  ‘I’m not leaving without the ring,’ Jeremy insisted stubbornly.

  ‘I think you’d better change your mind, because you’ve definitely outstayed your welcome, and I don’t want to have to change it for you,’ Guy said pugnaciously, stepping forward and squaring up to him.

  ‘I don’t know who the hell you are, but I think you ought to keep your nose out of our business,’ Jeremy told him.

  ‘I’m a friend of Tabby’s.’

  ‘You didn’t waste any time,’ Kate said to me, and I think there was a trace of envy in her voice.

  ‘Are you going, or do you need more persuasion?’ asked Guy, and I thought he’d probably been watching too many action films.

  ‘I’m going, but you haven’t heard the last of this, Tabby!’ Jeremy told me. He got in the car, quickly followed by Kate, and it roared off, scattering gravel.

  ‘My hero!’ I said to Guy and he grinned.

  ‘Yes, indeed. That was such an unpleasant scene that I was grateful you were there,’ agreed Mercy, and then added, as a harsh grating noise echoed up the valley, ‘Oh dear, I believe they’ve taken the bridge too quickly and scraped their paint.’

  By the time Guy finally left, Mercy was calling him her dear boy and she said, as we stacked the crockery from lunch into the dishwasher, that she thought he might be a reformed character.

  ‘I’m sure he’s put all his boyish indiscretions behind him now,’ she added, and I decided not to disillusion her because Peter Pan was not about to grow up any time soon.

  Then a diversion was caused by the rattle of the cat-flap and the belated appearance of Pye and Pugsie.

  Mercy and I looked at each other.

  ‘Oh dear,’ I said. ‘Lacey seems to have entirely forgotten Pugsie!’

  Later, when Mercy rang Randal to tell him, it appeared that not only had Lacey forgotten Pugsie, but she didn’t seem in any hurry to have him back.

  Mercy offered to return him when we travelled down for our Liberty appointment, but apparently that wasn’t
convenient to her, so he had to stay here and literally dog poor Pye’s footsteps for the foreseeable future.

  I was both excited and nervous when we set out for London with our overnight bags and the cracker samples, which looked so wonderful I didn’t know how Liberty would be able to resist them.

  Job drove us to the station and Freda was to keep an eye on Pye and Pugsie till we got back.

  Once we’d dropped our bags off at the club, which was actually not at all grand, but like a little hotel in a Georgian square, Mercy was still brimming with energy, so we walked round to the British Museum.

  It was just as wonderful as I thought it would be and Mercy finally had to tear me away so we could meet Guy for dinner. He’d insisted on taking us out when he’d heard about our plans.

  He’d chosen a small but excellent Italian restaurant and behaved so charmingly to Mercy that I started to think she might be the one in danger of losing her heart to him.

  We breakfasted at the club in a communal sort of way next morning, all seated round a long table, then took ourselves and our precious cracker samples in a taxi to Liberty.

  The black and white store front looked exactly the same as it did on their website – and totally unlike the nearby modern shops. We joined a queue of others on the same mission as ourselves entering a side door … and emerged a couple of hours later with an order!

  They’d like to try the Victoriana crackers, but with a Liberty twist to the display box; the adult tree crackers in black and white foil, and Marwood’s Magical Crackers just as they were.

  When we arrived home that evening, exhausted (or at least, I was, Mercy wasn’t flagging much) and exhilarated, to a welcome party of Silas, Pye and Pugsie, we felt like triumphant heroines returning from battle.

  Arlene soon had samples of the special Liberty display boxes to send down to them for approval and there was quite a buzz of new energy in the workshop.

  Production had by now entirely switched to the new designs anyway, which we were stockpiling as fast as we could make them, before we had to begin on the Liberty special order.

  It was just as well that I’d now mastered cracker making, because the way orders were pouring in, things were only likely to get busier!