Gina slid into the seat feeling that she’d earned a treat and a little attention. Diana had treated her rather too much like a servant, she thought, but perhaps James understood what an important role she had in his mother’s life at the Hall these days.

He had the top up on the car this evening, and it felt very small inside, with not much room for Gina to stretch out her legs.

‘Good thing you’re slim,’ James said, getting in beside her and seeing her trying to make herself comfortable. ‘Imagine old Ma Bassett sitting there.’

Gina laughed. ‘I don’t think you’d have got the door closed,’ she said.

‘Cruel, but true.’

He started the engine and sped off down the drive. The gates were open to allow the fête committee access, so James drove straight through, past Tom’s house and out onto the road into the village.

‘Oh,’ said Gina as they passed the Lamb and Flag, ‘I thought you said we were going to the pub.’

‘We are, just not that one.’

‘Where then?’

‘You won’t know it,’ said James, and put his foot down as they headed off south and west, a watery sunset forming on the horizon ahead of them.

Ellen and Dora stayed to help pack up the leftover cakes, of which there were very few, take down the bunting and fold the tablecloths.

‘We spend all that time preparing for the fête and it’s all over in a single afternoon,’ said Dora.

‘A bit like Christmas,’ Ellen smiled. ‘Mum … I hope Dad’s not still in a mood when we get home. Ed was working hard at trying to bring him round, but I don’t think he really managed it and we all know Dad’s quite capable of keeping up a bad temper for ages.’

‘Aye, I haven’t seen him for the last hour or so, and he certainly hasn’t stayed to help pack up. Not that that means owt. Still, as you say, there’s no knowing what we’ll find.’ She sounded anxious.

‘Shall I ask Uncle Tom to come home with us, just to make sure we’re all right, like? It was horrible about the stew that time,’ she lowered her voice still further, ‘and hitting us.’

‘It might be worse if Tom’s there, love. I think we’ll have to brave it ourselves.’

‘Mum, we shouldn’t have to “brave” going home to our own house. It’s not right.’

‘No, Nell, it isn’t,’ said Dora thoughtfully. ‘Well, let’s see what happens. Mebbe it’ll be all right.’ She gathered herself, put on a courageous face, and Ellen tried to suppress her worries.

They finished helping to pack up, said goodbye to their friends and then set off down the drive.