‘Oh dear, I know how that can get you down,’ Peggy murmured. ‘Daisy’s just as awkward at the moment. It seems to be a phase all children their age have to go through.’ She glanced at Charlotte and Kitty. ‘Just you wait and see what you’ve let yourselves in for, girls. And it gets worse as they get older – you mark my words.’

Charlotte and Kitty blithely shrugged off her warning, and Peggy smiled. They were happy in their innocence but wouldn’t know what hit them once those three babies arrived, all yelling for attention and causing them sleepless nights.

Gracie chuckled. ‘There are some who definitely get worse as they grow older. Your father-in-law is a prime example.’

Peggy checked the long list and reached for a tin of butter. ‘He’s certainly always getting himself into one sort of pickle or another, but as far as I know he’s actually been behaving himself lately.’ She glanced across at Gracie, who’d gone rather red. ‘Why? Have you heard otherwise?’

‘Oh dear,’ groaned Gracie. ‘You obviously haven’t heard.’

‘Heard what?’

‘I’m sorry, Peg, I thought you’d have heard or I wouldn’t have mentioned anything. Ron was thrown out of the Crown this lunchtime. I assumed he’d have come running back to Beach View with his tail between his legs – after all, he couldn’t very well go and take refuge in the Anchor. Rosie will have his guts for garters!’

Peggy stared at her in confusion. ‘Thrown …? The Crown …? What the heck was he doing in there when he knows full well he shouldn’t be?’

‘I don’t know,’ Gracie said awkwardly. ‘I’m sorry, Peg, I shouldn’t have said anything.’

Peggy clucked her tongue. ‘I think you’d better tell me what you do know.’

Gracie’s blush deepened. ‘All I heard was that he’d been drinking in there with Frank and Brendon, and somehow his ferrets got loose and ran into the bar. By all accounts they caused complete chaos and Gloria was so incandescent with rage she threatened to throw Ron out single-handedly.’

Peggy giggled. ‘I’d have liked to see her try,’ she spluttered.

Gracie shot her an uncertain smile. ‘So would I, but she’s a big woman, and when roused is probably capable of anything. I certainly wouldn’t want to tangle with her.’

‘It’s not like you to pick up on gossip, Gracie,’ Peggy murmured, eyeing her thoughtfully. ‘Who told you?’

‘It’s true I don’t take much notice of the latest scandal doing the rounds, but that Olive Grayson who works in the factory loading bay collared me as I was walking up here and filled me in.’

‘I’m glad you told me,’ said Peggy. ‘At least now I know what he’s been up to, and can deal with him when he gets home.’