The Village Newcomers by Rebecca Shaw Read Free Book Online Page A

thing. Very depressing, half-full.’ Her shoulders slumped, her face lost its glow, and Jimbo could see she was on the verge of forgetting the whole thing. He couldn’t have that. Very craftily he shaped a remark in his head, tried it out on himself in silence and decided to go for it.
     
    ‘When we cater for big parties up at Turnham House, Craddock Fitch invites all the villagers as well as his own guests, gives them a good night. It pays dividends as far as relations with the village go. Of course, that would mean a very expensive evening all told, so it might be too much for you. These kinds of things don’t come cheap.’ He wandered away as though checking everything was as clean as could be, running a finger along the tables looking for dust, checking the sconces were standing straight and the candles firmly in place, head back to look at the roof windows . . .
     
    ‘Jimbo! A word.’
     
    Jimbo swung round as though he was surprised they were still there. ‘Yes?’
     
    ‘Cost it out. The whole works - one hundred guests. Strolling players. The lot. Appropriate menu, drink, whatever. Let me know a.s.a.p.’
     
    ‘You won’t regret it.’
     
    As Jimbo drove away, uppermost in his mind was where on earth he could get the strolling players from. Really talented ones weren’t round every corner waiting to perform just because he wanted some. He was such an idiot, promising the earth without the first idea of how to make it all happen. But he’d never fallen down on the job before and he didn’t intend to begin now. Because although Mercedes was without doubt common, the way she appreciated the panelling told him volumes about her. Underneath there was something rather beautiful about her inner being. God! He must be going crackers! He’d better not tell Harriet that, or else . . . then he had an idea. Morris dancers! Gilbert Johns. They could dance outside under floodlights as the guests were arriving. Of course! Gilbert might even know some singers, seeing as singing was his hobby - well, rather more than that with him being a highly successful choirmaster at the church.
     
    And if it worked well there was still time for him to organise one for the general public right before Christmas. With everything already set up it would be a doddle to organise. Elizabethan banquets for the general public could become a nice little earner. The whole business of setting up the Old Barn had cost him far more than he had ever anticipated, mainly because he wanted it absolutely right, and it was time he got some of his investment back.
     
     
    Gilbert might be a very busy county archaeologist but he did appear to have flexible working hours, because he arrived very promptly at four o’clock that same afternoon. He’d never been inside the Old Barn and he was enthralled by the beauty of it. ‘My word, Jimbo, you certainly know your stuff. This is spectacular. Doesn’t everybody say that? They must!’
     
    He wandered about, peering up at the beams, admiring the sconces, stroking the panelling, just as Mercedes had done, absorbing the atmosphere, and finally looking up at the minstrels’ gallery.
     
    ‘Musicians up there?’
     
    Jimbo nodded. ‘If you prefer, yes.’
     
    ‘Such an atmosphere. It would be a joy to perform here.’
     
    ‘In the first instance it’s for a wedding anniversary party for Ford and Mercedes Barclay.
     
    ‘And then?’
     
    ‘I have wondered about doing it for the general public to make some money, get my costs back.’
     
    ‘A regular event? Summer and winter?’
     
    Jimbo nodded, but remained silent. He knew, just knew, that he had Gilbert in the palm of his hand.
     
    ‘Thrilling idea.’
     
    ‘Yes.’
     
    ‘But why couldn’t the Morris dancers perform inside? If you limit it to a hundred punters, there’d be enough room.’
     
    ‘I expect they could, at the start, but outside in the summer? ’
     
    Gilbert nodded. ‘Right, you’re on. The singing . . . no good