Scandal at Six(38)

Justin sighed. He supposed he must be satisfied that for the moment there was still money to be made from associating with his uncle, and he got to his feet. “Can I sell you a ticket to the play, Uncle?” he said. “Excellent performance from yours truly as a butler. I have one line—‘Anyone for tennis?’—but it always raises a laugh.”

Pettison waved a dismissive hand. “Away, Justin! I have to make an important call to Africa.”



*



At Meade House, Lois, Derek and Josie were having a conference over a late supper. Lois had been with Josie to the Women’s Institute meeting, and Derek had prepared a risotto with prawns, a dish he was particularly proud of.

“Yum, this is good,” Josie said. “Are you planning to put Gran on a pension, and take over the housekeeping? Where is she, by the way?”

“She went off with her friend Joan. Something to do with photographs of Joan’s new grandchild. She’ll be back soon.”

“I don’t like her being out late on her own,” Lois said. “She’s not all that steady on her pins, and you know how dark it is in the village. More streetlights might be a good thing, if the council could afford it, which is unlikely. Anyway, are we going to talk about the flat?”

“I think I’ve decided,” Josie said, “but you and Dad must make the decision. The property is yours.”

“So what’s your suggestion?” said Lois, thinking that she knew Josie’s preference already.

There had in fact been only one other applicant, and that was a single mother with two small children. Lois was all for settling for her, but Derek was not keen. He had worried about the rent being paid regularly, and whether having children up there would be storing up trouble.

“My suggestion,” said Josie, “is the young executive in the smart suit. Mr Justin Brookes. He seemed ideal to me. I’m not keen on the single mother and two children. The kids are small at the moment, but they were very noisy, and I’m afraid they’d be all over the place. I’m sorry for the mother, but I have to think about security for the shop. How about you, Dad?”

“Much the same as you. The smooth businessman was not altogether to my liking, but we’ve had no more enquiries. No, I tell a lie, there was one, but she rang back to say she’d heard about the snake, and she couldn’t possibly come anywhere near us. I tried to explain it was all safe and tickety-boo, but she put the phone down on me. So I say we should go for Mr Brookes.”

“Then it’s settled,” said Lois. “On balance, I agree with you two, though I did like that young woman. She was very nice and neatly turned out, and the kids were spotless.”

“Right, then. I’ll ring Brookes, and tell him he can have it, okay?”



*



“Hello? Oh, it’s you, Mr Meade. Nice to hear from you. How are the ladies?”

“What ladies?” said Derek, immediately wondering if they had made the right decision.

“Mrs Meade and Josie, of course. I’m afraid I didn’t catch your daughter’s surname. Vickers? Must have been difficult for her husband when he was at school!”

“Very likely,” said Derek. “Now, about the flat. We have talked it over, and decided that you can have it on a six-months lease, to be renewed if all is satisfactory. Does that suit?” He sounded reluctant, and Justin hoped there would be no snags.

“Excellent!” he said, grinning broadly. “May I plan on moving in more or less straightaway? And could I just confirm that I shall find the shed very useful, if that is included in the lease?”

“Yes, that’s okay. We’ll clean it out a bit for you. It’s all rubbish in there, anyway.”

“I’ll be in tomorrow morning, then, to have a good look at things. Have you a solicitor handling the lease?”

“Yes, that’s all in order. You’ll be hearing from him.”

“Goodbye, then, Mr Meade. I’ll look forward to meeting you again. Goodbye.”

“Yippee!” he said aloud, and smiled as he thought about the reptiles. He knew Pettison had disapproved, saying it sounded like a boarding-school jape. “Like putting a dead mouse in the head prefect’s bed,” he had said.

Now Justin reckoned he could tell from Meade’s voice that they had had no other applicants. The thought of reptiles reappearing must have done the trick.





Twenty-three





On Monday morning, at the same time as Justin Brookes was driving over to Long Farnden with the final installment of his belongings, Dot Nimmo made her way cheerfully up the drive to Cameroon Hall. She had had a quick chat with Margie Turner on the gate, and said she would see her again on her way out.