Hmm, Emma mused, a Pimm’s truffle might work really well – milk choc with a touch of Pimm’s liqueur and tiny freeze-dried strawberry and orange pieces on the top … Emma’s brain was in creative mode.

Just after the school bus drop-off time Holly popped her head around the shop door. ‘Hi, Em.’

‘Hel-lo Holly,’ Emma’s tone couldn’t hide her disappointment: she was still so annoyed at the dreadful news of her precious shop closing spreading like wildfire through the village.

‘Everything okay?’ Holly asked cautiously as she came in. The shop was empty other than the two of them.

‘No, not really.’

Holly’s eyes widened.

‘Word has got out that The Chocolate Shop is about to close. Can’t think where that could have come from, can you?’

‘Oh! But I only told my friend Freya.’

‘And Freya is the daughter of Sheila, who owns the village grocer’s. The best place for gossip in the world.’

‘Oh …’ Holly looked dejected.

‘Rumours have now spread and built, Holly. Mine and the shop’s reputation are in tatters. And the village is expecting me to close at any time. There are suppliers who’ll possibly be hearing about this and I don’t want them to think I’m going under. And my orders … The new business at the hotel, for instance, has probably got wind already and they’ll be expecting me to let them down soon.’

‘Emma, I’m so, so, sorry. I never said you were going to close. I was just telling Freya the funny story about you hiding under the counter and I may just have added about Eel Man chasing the rent.’ Holly would never have realised what was about to happen next. But so much damage could be done by such rumours. ‘How did you find out?’

‘Mrs Clark’s been in, saying how sorry she was we were closing.’

‘Oh, no. Emma, let me put this right. I’ll go right away to Freya and her mum and tell them the truth of it, and the village. I can knock on a few doors and put the record straight. I know who the main gossipmongers are. But don’t worry, Em, I’m sure they’ll all want to support you anyhow. None of them would want to see you or the shop go. You and The Chocolate Shop, you’re a part of Warkton now.’

‘Thank you.’ Emma felt a tear crowd her eye. She blinked it away. She couldn’t stay cross with her assistant for long. Holly was young and naïve and hadn’t been thinking. ‘Just be careful what you speak about in the future, especially when it involves other people’s lives,’ Emma warned.

‘I will. I will. Do-do I have to leave my job?’ Holly sounded choked up. She looked tearful.

‘Oh Holly, of course not,’ Emma replied. ‘Just make sure you think before you start chattering on next time.’