‘Definitely. I did think about the green but once we get the village Christmas tree on there and the church’s enormous nativity scene there isn’t room. The kids still need to use it for running about on, and the tree next to the grotto is perfect. We can keep any donations nice and secure here in the locked huts. Plus, we can have this as the main donation point. Nina heard about this at school but what do you all think? Hazel? Matilda? Mr Whittaker?’

Hazel bashed her hand down on her leg. ‘I love the idea. Much better than doing just a toy drive or raffle. This will really help our friends in ways that they actually need. Brilliant, Bella. Just brilliant.’

Bella glowed. ‘Mr Whittaker?’

‘I like it too. I think it’s the spirit of the season speaking. No need for a stiff upper lip and all that sort of thing, we’re your friends and we’re going to help you. Good. Very good.’

‘Exactly,’ Bella replied, smiling widely for what felt the first time in ages. ‘I kind of knew you’d all be in favour because you have such lovely, generous hearts, so I already printed out the forms. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Not at all,’ Matilda replied. Though Bella could see she did mind a little bit.

Bella outlined how she wanted the whole thing to work. ‘The biggest thing for you guys is of course accepting the donations and making sure they have the tag on them so I know who it’s for, and encouraging people to take a tag from the tree in the first place. I thought we could announce it at next week’s Christmas launch.’

‘I still think November is too early for Christmas,’ Mr Whittaker grumbled. ‘We’ve only just had Halloween and Bonfire Night. Did you see that display Mr Cole paid for? Too many fireworks if you ask me. My poor Mitzie can’t cope with all the banging and blasting. She hid under the duvet.’

Mitzie was Mr Whittaker’s toy poodle and a thoroughly spoiled dog she was too.

‘My Petal did the same,’ Matilda said, referring to her fluffy fat cat.

Hazel nodded furiously. ‘Ostentatious I’d call it. But we all know that Mr Cole likes to show everyone how clever he is and how much money he’s got. He likes to come across as generous but he’s only out for what he can get. The sign he insisted on putting up showing who’d paid for the fireworks was as big as my front window.’

Though Bella always tried to ignore village gossip, she was interested in what they had to say in case it explained some of Amias’s recent behaviour. The Coles were rather snooty and not generally well liked in the village, but it seemed the subject was done.