Gina couldn’t imagine eating that much food. Even on Christmas Day the chicken was eked out to last through Boxing Day and beyond. And the idea of eating so much you couldn’t move was rather horrible. Mrs Bassett, being a cook, however, must take it as a sign that she was appreciated.

‘I can see it’s more fun for you than preparing the invalid menu that Mrs Stellion used to eat,’ Gina suggested.

‘Aye, but it’s not about me, love, it’s about Mr and Mrs Stellion, and I can see it’s more fun for them now Missus is feeling better and has plenty to think about.’

And more fun for me, too.

Gina could hardly wait to meet Diana and her friend, and James.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DIANA AND HER friend arrived at Grindle Hall on a Friday evening in early August. The fête was to take place on the following Monday, a bank holiday, and they intended to stay for that.

George Stellion went in his big shiny car to fetch his daughter and her friend from Clitheroe station. Gina was just as excited as Edith about their visit, though of course for different reasons. They talked about Edith’s plans for the weekend while they waited, though they kept getting up to peer out of the window to see if the car was returning. To Gina, Mrs Stellion looked younger, livelier, and her eyes were shining at the prospect of seeing her daughter for the first time in months.

Gina looked forward to having new people in the house, people who knew life beyond Little Grindle, even beyond Lancashire.

At last they heard the car crunching along the gravel drive. It drew up in front of the house.

Diana leaped from the front passenger seat and George was out and opening one of the rear doors for her friend in a moment, as if he were a chauffeur.

‘Come on, Piggy. Come and meet Mum,’ said Diana, all slender legs and high-heeled shoes below her generously pleated skirt.

Piggy?

The figure that had emerged from the car couldn’t possibly be anyone’s idea of a pig. What a ridiculous name, thought Gina, seeing a slim young woman of about twenty-two or -three, wearing a neat little hat perched on pretty dark hair and a very smart costume – a matching jacket and dress. They weren’t the kind of clothes people round here wore. Even Edith’s fine jumper and well-cut skirt lacked the flair of Diana and Piggy’s outfits.

Coco rushed out to be introduced, wagging his tail and exercising his winning ways, and Diana and Piggy bent to fuss and admire him.

Edith was laughing and embracing Diana, and then was introduced to Piggy, who turned out to be called Penelope Turner.