Three Little Maids(73)

Viviane took the Toby Jug over to the large front bay window and studied it carefully. It looked genuine. She hadn’t got a clue about Toby Jugs. He could possibly have a similar one. But it might please him. She swallowed hard at the price. But going by what he had paid for the other one at the Antique fair, it was reasonable enough. He’d soon put her straight about whether it was a bargain or not.

It looked good. The colour glaze was fine and there were no perceptible cracks that she could see. There was a roguish look in the Pirate’s right eye. The other had a black patch on it. She liked it she hoped Jon would too.

‘I’ll take it, Mr. Willowby. Thank you.’ She noticed that Aiden Ludlam had stopped outside the shop. He was making a suggestion to Michael that she guessed had something to do with her. And she was soon proved right.

‘I gather that you are working here on the mobile van, Mrs Sherlborne?’

‘Yes, but I’ve knocked off for lunch now.’

‘Well, I wonder if you will give us the pleasure of inviting you to lunch with us. The Blue Parrot Pub restaurant has a really good cuisine. It’s a gourmet’s delight.’

‘Thank you, Mr. Ludlam. That will be- very nice.’

She wasn’t sure whether she was doing the right thing. But she was interested enough to discover the reason for their visit to Pealinghurst. Unless it was to see the Vicar about the wedding. That could be it of course.

She settled for an omelette and green side salad.

‘You are easy to please. I daresay you were surprised to find us over here, Mrs Sherlborne. But I’d arranged to see the Vicar today. And Michael wanted some ideas for a wedding present for the happy couple. So we managed to combine the two things most admirably, didn’t we Michael? Show Mrs Sherlborne what you’ve purchased.’

‘You’ve bought something, Michael? I couldn’t help noticing the package you brought from the shop.’

‘Yes. I bought an antique picture frame.’ He smiled. ‘It cost me more than the actual present.’

‘Well it isn’t a secret, Michael. You can show Mrs Sherlborne what you’ve been doing this morning while I’ve been talking to the Vicar.’

Michael smiled shyly. ‘You see I wanted to give my sister and Hugh something special. A kind of unusual wedding present. So as I like doing brass rubbings, Mr. Ludlam suggested that I did a brass rubbing of Hugh’s ancestors in the church. And frame it.’

‘How original. So what did you actually do?’

‘Well- I’ve got one each of their Norman ancestor Hugh de Manderville and his wife Lady Elaine to put in this gilded frame. I shall put it behind glass. It took me ages to do the rubbing.’ He glanced at Aiden Ludlam. ‘And I had to ask permission from the Vicar before I started. But I am very pleased with it. So I hope they will be too.’

‘What a lovely idea. It’s unusual and special, Michael. I’m sure they’re like it. I know I would.’

‘There you see, Michael. Your doubts should have all vanished by now. It will be a great success.’

‘So you brought Michael with you to do this, Mr. Ludlam. That was good of you.’

‘He can’t drive yet. His father wouldn’t have time to bring him. And he wanted to keep it a secret from the family.’

‘So it was a good solution for you to bring him over. Mr. Berkley will thank you for it when he sees what Michael has done.’

She spotted the look of pain that was reflected instantly in the boy’s eyes. He seemed troubled by the mention of his father’s name. Had he heard about his father’s skirmish with Cliff Jones?

She glanced at her watch. ‘Thank you both for my lunch. It was delicious. I hope you will let me treat you another time.’

‘It was our pleasure, Mrs Sherlborne. Would I be right thinking that the Toby Jug you bought today is intended for Inspector Kent? A birthday present perhaps.’ Ludlam smiled charmingly.

‘You’re perceptive. Did you know that he collected Toby Jugs?’

‘Yes. I did. I noticed at the Antique fair last month that he was interested in those on sale there.’

‘Yes he is. And I hope that he likes this one. He can do with cheering up right now.’

Oh dear. Should she have said that? Probably not. It wasn’t like she was talking to the enemy. But perhaps it didn’t reflect much confidence in what Kent was doing to catch the murderer.

Ludlam smiled. ‘I’m sure that you can do much to brighten up his life, Mrs Sherlborne. It’s extremely fortunate that he has such an attractive landlady to come home too. A policeman’s life is not always a happy one- as the song goes.’