A Village Deception (Turnham Malpas 15) Read Online Free

formidable woman give her old man a kiss before she goes?’ He pursed his lips, ready.
    ‘Me? Formidable? Was that Venetia saying that?’ Jimbo nodded, lips still pursed.
    So she kissed him. ‘Less of the old man! If you’re old, then so am I, and I’m not. Bye bye!’
    ‘Bye!’ Jimbo thought he was right about Harry. He probably wasn’t hiding
unpleasant
thoughts, it was more likely that he was simply a very private person. That could very well be it. A very private person.
    All morning, business had been slow and then suddenly, the doorbell, the love of his heart, didn’t stop ringing and he was too busy on the till to be thinking about Harry and about him going to be ensnared by Venetia, if he let her.
    At Laburnum Cottage, Harry was carefully explaining toMarie that he was cooking supper that night. ‘I don’t wish to cause offence, but I thought I should like to do it. So, please, do you mind?’ He smiled the gentle smile of a very genuine man, and Marie was won over.
    ‘Of course I don’t expect it of my guests but, yes, that’s fine. Zack and I will be delighted to have supper with you. The kitchen is yours.’
    Harry hoisted the carrier bag onto the hall table. ‘To be frank, Jimbo has recommended some very simple things for me to prepare. A couple of things will need to go in the fridge until tonight. Is there room?’ ‘Of course there is.’
    ‘It’s just occurred to me, I’ve completely forgotten about a dessert! I’ll go back and …’
    ‘You’ll do no such thing. I’ve a box of Cadbury’s roulade in the freezer, that can be our contribution.’
    Harry thanked her profusely. ‘I didn’t intend …’ ‘Think no more about it. Give me what needs to go in the fridge and I’ll put it away. Right?’ Marie’s lovely country face was lit with a beaming smile and Harry couldn’t stop himself from responding to it. He quickly kissed each of her rosy cheeks saying, ‘You’re too kind.’ Marie blushed bright red.
    ‘Sorry, shouldn’t have done that, but you are so very kind to me.’
    He handed her the carrier bag and when she noticed there was a bottle of wine in there she said, ‘You naughty boy, wine too! Zack will be set up.’
    ‘Jimbo advised me which one to buy. I’m not very well informed about wine, you see.’
    ‘I’m certain it will be lovely then, he’s very knowledgeable.’ Harry stood watching her as she disappeared into the kitchen, thinking how lucky he was to have found such a nice place to stay. He almost wished he could stay for ever, but staying in oneplace for a long time wasn’t his scene. He preferred to move on, it was much easier that way. He wandered into the sitting room and sat down to read Zack’s morning paper.
    He heard Zack shouting to Marie that he was going to do the mowing at the church and that he’d be a couple of hours. Harry, already bored with the day, jumped to his feet. ‘Zack! Zack! I’m at a loose end this morning, the friend I was going to meet can’t make it. Could I come and give you a hand?’
    Glad of the company, to say nothing of the help, Zack welcomed his offer. ‘You can use the small cutter and do the awkward bits, if you like. But those shoes of yours will get spoiled.’
    ‘I’ve got some old trainers.’
    Zack nodded his approval and within minutes they were striding up Shepherd’s Hill together like old friends.
    It took a while for Zack to get the big mower out of the shed and set it up, then he got the small, old-fashioned mower out for Harry to use. ‘You don’t need me to tell you which bits this little one is for. At one time old Willie Biggs used this for everywhere, but a kind benefactor bought me this big one and it’s made all the difference.’
    ‘Not much technical expertise needed with this little one then, just elbow grease!’
    ‘Exactly. When you’re fed up, just stop and I’ll finish it off.’
    ‘Absolutely not, it will do me good to get my teeth into something and see it through to the