She opened the heavy church door as quietly as she could, so as not to disturb any reading the vicar might be in the middle of, but she was lucky – he was nowhere to be seen as she entered. It was uncharacteristically quiet. Muriel looked around for the other wardens, but they weren’t there. Had Sunday school been cancelled without her knowledge?

‘Hello,’ she called out, tentatively.

Nothing.

Where were the kids?

An outing. Muriel tutted. She’d forgotten all about the walk. Reverend Farnley had said last week they’d be taking the children around Mapledon to talk about its history. Odd that she hadn’t encountered them on her way up through the village though.

A noise from the vestry caught her attention. Muriel strained her ears, moving closer to the room. There were voices coming from inside. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but froze. The deep voice, muffled by the heavy wooden door, seemed urgent. It was Reverend Farnley, Muriel felt sure. Why hadn’t he gone along with the others? Rather than knock, she pressed her ear to the door instead. She didn’t know why she felt compelled to listen, why she hadn’t just let her presence be known – it was a feeling, an inkling something wasn’t right. His voice lowered to the point she couldn’t make out any words. She stepped away from the door, deciding to wait in the main church for the others to return. Maybe he was making an important call. She shouldn’t disturb him.

Muriel busied herself with tidying the kids’ corner, straightening the kneeling pads in the pews and neatening the pile of hymnbooks. After ten minutes or so, she heard the vestry door opening. Finally, Reverend Farnley was coming out. Muriel walked towards him, but the look of dismay on his face made her stop short.

‘Whatever’s the matter, Reverend?’ Muriel shot him a worried look. ‘Are you unwell?’

‘Muriel. I … you …’ he stammered, then took a big breath, composing himself. ‘You weren’t here when the others left. I assumed you weren’t coming today.’ He kept turning his head to look behind him as he spoke.

‘I’m sorry I was running so late; I had some urgent business to attend to.’

Farnley raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. He seemed to be hesitating, undecided whether he was going to walk back into the vestry or come out into the church.

‘Right,’ he said. ‘Yes, I had rather the same predicament.’ He smiled – but it was an awkward one.

‘Oh? Is everything all right?’

He turned his head again, back towards the vestry. ‘It’s Eliza,’ he said quietly. ‘She’s been sick, and I was trying to get hold of Billy to come and get her.’

Muriel craned her neck around the Reverend to see inside the vestry. But the door was pulled to.

‘Well, we shouldn’t leave her in there on her own,’ Muriel said, moving towards the door. Reverend Farnley caught hold of her arm. ‘She’s fine now, Muriel. No need to fuss.’ Something in his voice caused her to pause.