‘But you said I could have a lolly,’ the boy whined.
Clementine couldn’t hear exactly what Mrs Tribble said but she thought it sounded like she was going to give him something else.
‘Why don’t you have a look at some of the lovely new fabrics that came in last week, Clementine?’ Mrs Mogg suggested with a smile.
Clementine nodded. Her tummy still didn’t feel right, but she walked to the far corner of the shop, where Mrs Mogg kept all of the material, buttons and threads.
Everyone in the village knew about Clemmie’s sense of style. Her mother didn’t know where it came from, given that the child had arrived in a basket of dinner rolls and been adopted by Lady Clarissa. Clementine and Mrs Mogg shared a love of pretty things. The elderly woman had made Clementine lots of dresses and other bits and pieces over the years. Mr and Mrs Mogg had never had any children, so Clementine was the closest thing they had to a granddaughter and they adored her.
‘How are you getting on back there, Digby?’ Mrs Mogg called. ‘Is there anything I can help you with?’
Mrs Mogg’s shop was always pleasantly heated but today Digby Pertwhistle felt as if he’d walked into a blast furnace. Tiny beads of perspiration formed on his temples and he hastily wiped them away with the back of his hand.
‘Yes, thank you, Margaret,’ he called back. ‘Would you mind locating me some lemon-coloured soap?’
A few minutes later, with Mrs Mogg’s help, Uncle Digby had managed to find everything on Clarissa’s list and was now standing at the counter packing them into his grocery bag.
‘Are you all right, Digby?’ Mrs Mogg noticed that his face had turned a rather horrible shade of grey and he seemed to be sweating.
‘Yes, it’s just a bit warm in here.’ He removed his scarf and used it to mop his brow.
‘Well, take care of yourself. The last thing Lady Clarissa needs is you getting sick. And tell her I’ll be there first thing in the morning to help. Clyde can look after this place for the day.’ She was referring to her husband, who preferred watching television to serving in the shop.
Clementine heard Uncle Digby and Mrs Mogg talking and hurried back to them.
‘Did you see anything you liked, Clemmie?’ the old woman asked.
Clementine shrugged.
‘Are you sad about that party?’ Mrs Mogg whispered as she leaned forward on the counter.
‘A little bit,’ Clementine replied.
‘Never mind, sweetheart. We can’t all go to everything. And no one else is having a wedding at their home this weekend, are they?’
Clementine smiled. ‘No, that’s true. And I do like the red material with the spots.’
‘Ah, that’s my girl. I thought you might like that one. Goodbye dear.’ Mrs Mogg turned to Uncle Digby. ‘And take care of yourself.’
The old man nodded. ‘See you tomorrow, Margaret.’
Clementine, Lavender and Digby Pertwhistle walked up the front driveway just as a black station wagon reversed into one of the parking spaces.
‘Looks like some of the guests have arrived early,’ Uncle Digby said with a worried look. He had struggled to keep up with Clementine and Lavender on the way home and was feeling far worse than earlier. He was cross with himself for getting sick, and today of all days.
Clementine ran ahead and greeted the dark-haired man who hopped out of the car. ‘Hello. Are you here for the wedding?’
‘Yes. My brother’s the groom. Are you here for the wedding too?’ he asked, wondering if the child was a friend of the bride’s family.
‘No, I live here with Mummy and Uncle Digby and Lavender.’ She motioned towards the pig, which was snuffling about beside her.
‘Oh, you’re a lucky girl then,’ the man replied.
‘Except when it rains,’ Clementine said.
The man looked at her curiously. ‘I don’t quite follow.’
Clementine remembered that her mother had told her to stop telling the guests about the leaking roof so she changed the subject. ‘It doesn’t matter. Are you on your own?’
‘No, my wife and children are upstairs getting settled. They’ll be thrilled to meet you. And you –’ He bent down to give Lavender a scratch. ‘I don’t think the children have ever seen a pet pig before.’
‘She’s a teacup,’ Clementine said. ‘Well, she’s a lot bigger than that now.’
‘Hello there.’ Uncle Digby puffed as he caught up. ‘Welcome to Penberthy House. I’m Digby Pertwhistle.’
Just as Uncle Digby said his name, he let out a gasp of air and collapsed to the ground, scattering the groceries all over the place.
‘Uncle Digby!’ Clementine shouted.
The guest swung into action. ‘Run and tell your mother to phone for an ambulance.’
Clementine’s face crumpled.
‘Don’t worry. I’m a doctor.’ He smiled at her kindly and then turned his attention to Uncle Digby, who looked as if he was asleep.
Clementine raced up the front steps and into the house. ‘Mummy, Mummy,’ she called as she ran into the kitchen. Her mother was stirring something on the stove.
Lady Clarissa turned around. ‘What is it, Clemmie?’
Clementine’s words spilled out in a panicky rush. ‘It’s Uncle Digby. He’s fallen down outside and the man said you need to get an ambulance.’ Her mother raced to the telephone and dialled the emergency number. She gave the house’s name and address and ran to the front door.
Digby Pertwhistle didn’t remember falling over. But now when he tried to lift his head, the whole world seemed to be spinning.
‘Mr Pertwhistle you need to lie still,’ the man beside him instructed.
‘What happened?’ Digby asked, holding his hand to his head.
‘I’m not sure but we must get you to the hospital for a check-up.’
‘No, I can’t possibly leave now. There’s far too much to do.’ Uncle Digby’s chest tightened and the words came out as a wheeze.
‘Oh, thank heavens,’ Lady Clarissa exclaimed as she reached the pair and saw that Uncle Digby was conscious. ‘Is he all right, Dr Gunalingam?’
The man was looking at his watch and taking Uncle Digby’s pulse. ‘Well, he’s awake, but I’m not prepared to take any chances. Is the ambulance on its way?’
‘Yes, it will be here soon.’
‘Is Uncle Digby going to be okay?’ Clementine asked.
‘Yes, darling, I’m sure he’ll be just fine. Can you run upstairs and ask Aunt Violet to come down? Someone needs to go with Uncle Digby to the hospital. And take Lavender inside too,’ Lady Clarissa instructed.
In the distance, a siren began to wail.
Clementine called the little pig, who came racing to the front door with her lead bumping along the ground behind her. Clementine ran up the main stairs to the third floor. She barged straight into the Blue Room.
‘Aunt Violet,’ she said, puffing.
‘Haven’t you heard of knocking? It’s not new, you know.’
Clementine ran back to the door and rapped on it sharply.
‘What now?’ the old woman grumbled. ‘Can’t you see I was reading?’
‘It’s Uncle Digby. He fell down outside and the ambulance is coming,’ Clemmie blurted. ‘Mummy wants you to go to the hospital with him.’
‘Well, why didn’t you say so?’
Clementine was confused. She did say so.
Aunt Violet sprang into action. She stood up, smoothed her trousers and shoved her feet into her leopard-print ballet flats. Clementine had never seen her great-aunt move so quickly.
‘Come on then, what are you waiting for?’ the old woman asked Clementine. ‘An invitation?’
Together they rushed down the stairs and out the door. At the front of the house, they saw Uncle Digby lying on the ground, covered by a throw rug that Clarissa had retrieved from the sitting room.
‘What’s the matter with him?’ Aunt Violet demanded. She stared at Digby, whose eyes were wide open and staring back up at he
r. ‘I thought you were dying.’
‘Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Appleby.’
‘Well, are you sick? Or did you just fall over?’ she asked tightly.
Clarissa took her aunt by the arm and guided her away from Uncle Digby and the doctor.
‘Dr Gunalingam thinks Uncle Digby might have something wrong with his heart,’ Lady Clarissa whispered. ‘I don’t want to frighten Clementine but one of us has to go to the hospital with him.’
Aunt Violet pursed her lips. ‘Don’t look at me. I’m not having Pertwhistle die on my watch.’
‘I don’t think that will happen but if you’re not prepared to go then you’ll have to stay here and greet the guests. There are quite a few groups about to arrive,’ Clarissa explained.
Aunt Violet was about to tell Lady Clarissa that she couldn’t possibly be left in charge when the ambulance roared into the driveway with the lights flashing and siren blaring.
Clementine was sitting beside Uncle Digby holding his hand.
The old man managed a weak smile. ‘Don’t look so worried, Clemmie. I’ll be fine.’
‘But I don’t want you to go, Uncle Digby.’ Tears spilled onto her cheeks.
He squeezed Clemmie’s hand. ‘Darling girl, it’s just a check-up. I’ll be back before you’ve had time to miss me. I can’t leave your mother and Aunt Violet with all of the wedding preparations now, can I?’
Clementine shook her head. ‘No. Aunt Violet makes Mummy too stressed.’
‘Yes, I think you’re right about that,’ the old man agreed.
The paramedics soon had Uncle Digby on a stretcher and ready to go into the back of the ambulance. Lady Clarissa turned to her aunt. ‘Aunt Violet, the bride and her family will be arriving soon. And the groom and his parents too. This lovely man here, who has been so kind and helpful, is Dr Gunalingam, the groom’s brother.’
The doctor looked up from where he was monitoring Uncle Digby and nodded at Aunt Violet.
‘His wife and their three children are upstairs already. You’ll have to arrange some afternoon tea for them, please. Pierre delivered some cakes just a little while ago.’ Lady Clarissa ignored Aunt Violet’s protests and hugged Clementine, then climbed into the back of the ambulance. ‘Oh, and the room allocations are on the kitchen sideboard. Please make sure that everyone gets the room they’re supposed to have.’
The doctor climbed into the back of the ambulance next to Lady Clarissa. ‘Please tell my wife where I am,’ he called out to Clementine and Aunt Violet.
The driver closed the back doors and ran around to the cabin.
‘But, but,’ Aunt Violet was aghast. ‘Clarissa, you can’t leave me in charge. I don’t know anything about being hospitable.’
Clementine gave her great-aunt a puzzled look. ‘You’re not going to the hospital.’
‘I said hospitable, Clementine. It means . . . Never mind. I don’t know the first thing about how to run this place.’
‘Don’t worry, Aunt Violet. Lavender and I will help you.’ Clementine smiled up at her great-aunt, who seemed to have steam coming out of her ears.
After the ambulance left, Clementine and Aunt Violet walked back inside. Her great-aunt began to ascend the stairs.
‘Where are you going?’ Clementine asked.
‘Back to my book,’ Violet replied.
‘But Mummy said that we need to tell the doctor’s wife where her husband is and then make some tea,’ she reminded her.
‘Godfathers,’ Aunt Violet muttered under her breath and thumped back downstairs. She followed Clementine to the kitchen.
‘I can’t put the kettle on, but I can help with the cakes,’ said Clementine. She noticed a large sponge cake sitting on the sideboard and some of Pierre’s chocolate-chip biscuits beside them. She retrieved a little pile of plates from the dresser and put them around the scrubbed pine table.
‘They’re not taking tea out here,’ Aunt Violet protested.
Clementine stopped and thought for a moment. ‘I can take everything to the dining room, if you’d like.’
Aunt Violet considered the effort required to move to the other room. ‘No, I’m sure the woman and her children will understand, given that we’re short-staffed. Set it up out here.’
Clementine carefully placed the cake and the biscuits in the middle of the table.
‘You might as well run upstairs and fetch them,’ Aunt Violet said reluctantly. She took the kettle off the stovetop and poured the water into the large teapot.
Clementine bounded up the back stairs. She wasn’t sure which room the family was in but the Jasmine Suite at the end of the first floor corridor seemed likely. It had two adjoining rooms and Lady Clarissa had recently installed some bunk beds she’d won in a competition. The suite was now perfect for a family staying together.
Clementine knocked on the door. She was greeted by a pretty woman with long dark hair and a very large tummy.
‘Hello. My name is Clementine and I live here. Mummy asked me to tell you that your husband has gone to the hospital with Uncle Digby and Mummy, and Aunt Violet and I have made some tea for you and your children,’ she explained.
‘Oh,’ the lady replied. ‘I wondered where he’d got to. We heard the siren but couldn’t see what was going on. Is everything all right?’
‘Uncle Digby fell down. They’re just going to the hospital to check everything’s okay,’ Clementine explained.
The sound of giggling came from the adjoining room. Clementine craned her neck to see who was making the noise.
‘That’s the children,’ the lady said. ‘They’ve never slept in bunk beds before so they’re a little excited. Arya, Alisha, Aksara, come and meet Clementine,’ she commanded.
Three children with the most beautiful sparkling brown eyes poked their heads around the doorway and waved.
Clementine giggled as they appeared – one, two, three.
The girls made a dash and hid behind their mother’s skirt but the little boy stayed in the doorway.
‘They’re not really shy.’ The woman leaned around and looked at them.
‘Would you like to come downstairs?’ Clementine asked. ‘We have chocolate-chip biscuits and a sponge cake that Uncle Pierre made and he’s the best baker in the world.’
At the mention of food the girls skipped out and said hello. The little boy ran over to join them. Clementine led the group down the back stairs and into the kitchen where Aunt Violet was cutting the cake.
‘Hello there. I’m Karthika,’ the mother introduced herself. ‘And this is Arya, who’s five, and Alisha, who’s three. And Aksara – he’s two. This little one is Asha and she’ll be here soon.’ Karthika patted her belly. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
The old woman looked up and glared at the family. ‘Yes, I suppose it is.’
‘That’s Aunt Violet,’ Clementine chimed in.
Aunt Violet cut a huge slice of sponge and dumped it roughly onto one of the plates. Clementine wondered why Aunt Violet had to be so cranky. Fortunately, the group was distracted by the front doorbell ringing.
‘I’ll get it,’ Clementine volunteered, but she didn’t move.
‘Go on, then. I’ve got my hands full,’ Aunt Violet told Clementine. ‘And there’d better be nothing wrong with that silly old fool Pertwhistle,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘I don’t know how we’d ever manage without him.’
Clementine opened the front door. Three people stood in a huddle on the steps. There was a couple, who looked older than her mother, but younger than Uncle Digby, and a very pretty young woman.
‘Hello,’ said Clementine.
‘We’re here for the wedding,’ said the man with a look of surprise. He wondered why they were being met by a child.
‘My name is Clementine. Please come in,’ said Clemmie. She was trying to remember exactly what her mother usually said when she greeted the guests.
The trio walked into the hallway but the lady turned around just as Clemmie was about to close
the door. ‘Uncle Orville,’ she called in a singsong voice. ‘Uncle Orville? Where are you?’
‘Hector,’ the woman said sharply, as she turned and looked at her husband. ‘Go and find your uncle. Now!’
Clementine jumped. So did the young woman and Hector. He scurried off outside to locate the missing member of their party.
The woman smiled like a shark at Clementine. ‘Where is your mother?’
‘Mummy and Uncle Digby have gone to the hospital with the doctor. He’s the groom’s brother and it was lucky he was here when Uncle Digby fell down. I’m looking after everyone with Aunt Violet,’ Clementine explained.
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,’ said the young woman. ‘My name’s Harriet Fox.’
‘Oh!’ Clementine gasped. ‘You’re the bride. Mummy told me your name.’
The woman beamed. ‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘I can’t wait to see your dress. And the tent is going to be so beautiful –’ Clementine prattled.
The older woman cut them off. ‘Yes, yes, of course she’ll be beautiful, she’s my daughter. And I should hope we have a marquee and not a tent. Now, if you’ll go and fetch your aunt, I’d rather like to get settled in our rooms. We’ve had a long drive.’
The young woman rolled her eyes at her mother and then smiled secretly at Clementine.
‘Okay.’ Clementine marched off towards the kitchen. Uncle Digby had been right about brides being funny about marquees. Well, bride’s mothers.
Meanwhile, Aunt Violet was studying the room allocation list and trying to work out what it all meant. She had a red pen in hand and seemed to be doing some allocating of her own.
‘Aunt Violet,’ Clementine called. ‘The Foxes are here.’ Then she giggled. ‘I hope the chickens are locked away.’
‘What? What chickens? What are you talking about?’ Aunt Violet asked the child disdainfully.
Mrs Gunalingam laughed and so did Arya. The woman winked. ‘We got it.’
Violet Appleby strode out of the kitchen towards the entrance hall.
‘I’d better go too,’ said Clementine reluctantly. ‘Aunt Violet’s not always the most helpful with the guests.’
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