‘Well, having given it some more thought,’ she said carefully, wrapping up the beautiful clock again in crepe paper, ‘I’ve decided it’s a yes.’
He stared. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘But I ain’t giving up the village shop, not for love nor money, and that’s my final word on the matter.’
Bernie took a deep breath, then threw back his head and laughed. ‘Sheila Newton, you are the most amazing woman … Are you serious?’
‘I can say no again if you prefer.’
‘No,’ he said quickly, and seized the clock from her, handing it to Maggie, who’d come up to congratulate her. ‘Would you hold this for a moment, Margaret? I rather urgently need to kiss your sister. I hope you don’t mind.’
Maggie, who had been a fervent admirer of Bernie’s ever since he and Ernest had evicted her ex-husband from the Harvest Supper, took the clock, wide-eyed and smiling. ‘Be my guest.’
‘Maggie, no! Bernard … We can’t do that in front of allthese people,’ Sheila hissed, but Bernie can’t have heard her, as he took her in his arms and delivered a firm kiss straight to her lips.
Much to her embarrassment, the villagers started cheering and applauding again, witnessing this very improper behaviour by the esteemed Chair of their Parish Council, and she even heard a deep, familiar rumble of laughter from Joe, somewhere in the crowd below. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she was quite breathless by the time Bernie released her. She only hoped Mrs Newbury-Holmes had been too busy adding a handsome dollop of cream first to her scone to have noticed all the palaver.
‘I’m afraid I’llhaveto marry you now, Sheila,’ Bernie pointed out, grinning down at her. ‘Or folk will talk.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
‘Oh, I say,’ Caroline gasped, nudging Grace in the ribs. ‘Will you look at that?’
Grace, who along with everyone else had been fascinated by the spectacle of Mrs Newton and Mr Bailey embracing passionately in full view of the whole village, chuckled behind her hand. ‘I know … Hilarious, isn’t it? You don’t expect people that age to go around kissing in public, do you?’
Perplexed, Caroline wrinkled her nose. ‘Sorry? Oh, not those two … I meant Tilly and her boyfriend, Benny.’ She pointed across the green to where Tilly was once again holding hands with a sturdy-looking, dark-haired boy about her own age. ‘They’ve been going steady a while now. She’s awfully young to be getting serious over a boy.’
‘What are you, her mum?’ Smiling, Grace turned her face to the sun. ‘Anyway, they’re only holding hands.’
‘I suppose you’re right.’ But Caroline wished secretly thatshewas allowed to hold Grace’s hand in public, just as Tilly was allowed to hold Benny’s.
It was a beautiful June day and there was barely a breathof wind stirring the trees about the green. The distant church bell rang the half-hour as a gang of small children dashed past, giggling madly, no doubt for the same reason that had left Grace grinning.
Caroline admired Grace’s profile. ‘I wish I was good at drawing like Joan.’
‘Joan?’ Grace’s brows tugged together.
‘One of our former Land Girls. You’ve met her, remember? She left to marry Arthur Green and they’ve just had a baby. Look, they’re over there.’ Caroline nodded to the young couple, chatting animatedly to the Reverend Clewson and his wife. Joan had a summer glow, cradling her baby in her arms, while Arthur looked happier than she’d ever seen him. Married life clearly suited them, though the two rarely left their cosy cottage these days to venture into the village, and hadn’t called at the farm in ages. ‘Joan loves drawing, and Arthur’s an artist. They used to go out sketching together on the cliffs. I’ve never been terribly good at drawing, but looking at you …’
‘Hush, will you?’ Grace was frowning. ‘Here comes Joe.’
Caroline felt a stab of frustration, but didn’t have time to say anything as Joe ambled towards them, his daughter riding on his shoulders.
‘I’m taking Sarah Jane back home,’ the farmer told them cheerfully. ‘There are still a few jobs to do before supper time, only I’ve given the other farmhands the afternoon off. If you don’t mind, could you round up Tilly and get yourselves back up the hill? I’d like you two girls to check on the new sheep up in the top pasture, to see how they’re settling in. And Tilly can feed the pigs and chickens, as usual.’
‘Yes, Mr Postbridge,’ Grace said without expression, andwaited until he’d set off across the green again before turning to Caroline with a worried expression. ‘I hope he didn’t overhear us. I wish you’d be more discreet, and pay attention. Folk don’t like it when girls get too close to each other. Not like we are.’
Caroline felt a flicker of rebellion but decided not to get into a row over it. Grace was right to be cautious when they were out in public, after all.
She beckoned Tilly, who abandoned Benny with a quick smile and came hurrying across to them instead. ‘Are we heading back now?’ the younger girl asked.
‘What do you think? Can’t have us Land Girls enjoying ourselves for long, can we?’ Grace pulled a face. ‘Mr P says you’re to feed the pigs and chickens, and we have to check on the ewes.’
‘Looks like you were having a good time over there,’ Caroline said with a wink. ‘When’s the engagement?’
Tilly flushed almost as red as her hair. ‘Don’t be silly,’ she chuckled. ‘It’s only Benny. We’re just messing about, that’s all.’
‘Don’t mess about too much with boys,’ Grace reminded her. ‘You know what they say … If you can’t be good, be careful.’
