Nancy Atherton by Aunt Dimity [14] Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon Read Free Book Online Page A

fair, that’s their prerogative. I’m not going to cave in to peer
    pressure at this stage of the game.”
    34 Nancy Atherton
    “Stick-in-the-mud,” I said, scowling. “Fuddy-duddy.”
    “You’ve left out spoilsport and wet blanket,” Bill said helpfully.
    “Shall I fetch a thesaurus?”
    “I don’t need a thesaurus,” I retorted, but before I could demonstrate my full mastery of the English language, the doorbell rang.
    “I’ll go,” Bill said brightly, and went into the cottage to answer
    the front door.
    He returned a moment later, with Horace Malvern padding after
    him. The burly farmer was, for reasons unknown to me, shoeless.
    “Mr. Malvern,” I said, trying not to stare at his red wool socks.
    “How nice to see you.”
    “I left my wellies in the front hall,” he explained. “Didn’t want
    to track muck through the house.”
    “Much obliged,” I said.
    Bill offered him a chair, then resumed his own.
    Mr. Malvern removed his tweed cap and hung it on the back of
    the chair before joining us at the table. His weathered face was nearly
    as red as his socks, as if he’d scrubbed it before stopping by, and he
    accepted a cup of tea gingerly, as if he feared that his powerful hands
    might inadvertently shatter the bone china teacup.
    “You’ll have to forgive me,” he said, after a sip of tea. “I’ve been
    meaning to call round ever since the May meeting, but with the hay
    making and the milking and all, I’ve lost track of the days.”
    “You’re always welcome here, Mr. Malvern,” Bill told him.
    “Am I?” The farmer raised a grizzled eyebrow and placed his
    teacup carefully on its saucer. “I thought I might not be, after Calvin
    made his big announcement. You live closest to the wood, after all.
    I hope the racket hasn’t kept you up at night.”
    “It hasn’t,” I assured him.
    “What racket?” Bill said amiably.
    My husband and I weren’t merely being diplomatic. If it hadn’t
    been for the distant sound of hammering and the occasional whine
    of a table saw, neither Bill nor I would have been aware of the construction work taking place in Bishop’s Wood.
    Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon
    35
    “Well, that’s all right, then.” Mr. Malvern gave a satisfied nod.
    “You won’t have to worry about the performers, either. Their camp
    will be east of the wood, so they shouldn’t give you any trouble at all.
    If they do, let me know and I’ll give ’em a boot up their backsides.”
    “We’ll call you if we have to,” I promised, “but I’m sure it won’t
    be necessary.”
    “What about you?” Bill asked the farmer. “Isn’t the fair going to
    disrupt your operations?”
    “I’ve lots of land,” Mr. Malvern replied complacently. “Calvin’s
    welcome to use a corner of it.”
    “He’s lucky to have such a generous uncle,” I said. “Is Calvin
    your only nephew?”
    Instead of answering directly, Mr. Malvern rested his massive
    forearms on the table and asked, “You don’t know much about Cal,
    do you?”
    “No,” I said. “Bill hasn’t even seen him yet.”
    “I was at home with Will and Rob during the May meeting,”
    Bill explained, “but Lori has described Calvin’s performance to me
    in great detail.”
    “I’ll bet she has. It was quite a performance.” Mr. Malvern pursed
    his lips. “The first thing you ought to know about Cal is: His parents
    were killed in a car wreck when he was but nine years old.”
    “I’m so sorry,” I said, and Bill clucked his tongue sympathetically.
    “It’s the way of the world,” said Mr. Malvern. “Some folk die
    before their time and others live long past it. No point in asking
    why.” Mr. Malvern nodded solemnly, then continued, “Cal came to
    live with me and Mrs. Malvern after he lost his mum and dad, but
    he wasn’t much use on the farm. Always daydreaming. I’d ask him
    to bring the herd in for milking and the next thing I’d know, my
    cows’d be stopping traffic on the Oxford Road. He has a