Can you meet me quickly – usual spot?

Rex’s face chased Ruby’s through my exhausted brain – but right now, his wrath was a risk I was prepared to take, as I scampered, hands shaking, towards the place we always met.

Ruby

God only knew who was in charge now Nella was officially missing in action.

Her lack of reappearance had thrown the stall-holding schedule into complete disarray by mid-afternoon, and, back in the marquee, I found myself doling out orders like a soup-kitchen matron, praying reinforcements arrived soon.

Thank goodness at least Marcus had returned, two smart-looking pensioners in tow – a thin man with faded yellowing hair, a single medal and a regimental tie off-setting his navy blazer; the woman elegant and whippet-faced in turquoise linen.

Nella’s parents, it was obvious, the older man so stiff you could use him to sweep your stairs, I imagined my mother-in-law Gloria cackling.

Oh God, Gloria – I should have asked her to come today! I dug my phone out to text her. Gloria, the woman I occasionally couldn’t bear to see, so like Jonny was she sometimes.

An attractive young couple rocked up next, setting up a small table draped in a Portuguese flag, onto which they unloaded boxes of cakes and breads.

As she bent to unpack a stack, the young woman caught my eye.

The waitress from that kitchen supper, I realised, with a shock.

There was no time to dwell though because Willow was also missing, leaving the face-paint stall with a queue of little jumping-beans already building out the door.

Small mercies: the vicar’s tall son Laz had sloped in just in time to take over the bar. Then Melissa dashed in behind him, far jollier than earlier, wearing wet-look leggings and an off-the-shoulder sweater. She’d lost the shades and was made up beautifully.

‘All hail the mighty downward dog!’ She winked at me, before heading to lead a yoga session in the private gardens.

As I stood, quietly tearing my hair out at the lack of people power, Pat and Paul Vicarage arrived. Pat offered to man the face paints, while beardy Paul found someone to judge the fruit and veg produce: Nella’s dad, delighted to be asked.

Paul was a nice man, I thought, watching him charm the elderly Colonel.

Ten minutes later, an alarmed wail forced me back from my sprint to the overflowing vintage stall, where I’d hoped to grab a few choice items.

‘I’m so sorry, poppet.’ A mortified Pat was bent over her daughter Bathsheba, almost blinded with glitter. ‘I didn’t realise it came out so fast. Ah, the wee lamb!’

‘I want to be Princess Anna from Frozen,’ young Bathsheba sobbed through glittery tears.

‘Och, you’re my little princess.’ Pat was nearly sobbing too as Paul led the girl off to wash her face. ‘Do you think I’d better take her to A & E?’

‘She’ll be fine, Pat, I’m sure.’ I gritted my teeth as a woman picked up the lilac mohair jumper I’d been eyeing since this morning. ‘You go with them. I’ll man the stall till Willow turns up.’