Nancy Atherton Read Online Free Page B

indignantly.
    “Listen up,” said Mr. Malvern, ignoring her. “Calvin has the planning board’s approval as well as the requisite licenses and permits.
    The performers will live in caravans while they’re working the fair.
    The caravans will be parked on my property, and yes, we have the
    county’s permission for that, too. The main access road to the fair
    will run straight from the Oxford Road to Bishop’s Wood, so the
    bulk of the extra traffic will be south of town. Finch’ll see more cars
    than it’s used to on weekends, but no more than it can handle.”
    “Horace Malvern,” Peggy blustered, “you have no right to foist
    this travesty—”
    “I have every right,” Mr. Malvern broke in. “You may be the
    queen bee in Finch, Peggy, but my nephew doesn’t need your permission to use my land. Bishop’s Wood is on my property and I’ll
    do with it as I see fit, so you may as well stop your whingeing because it won’t do you one bit of good. And if you can’t see how the
    fair will benefi t Finch, you’re blind as well as bossy.”
    Peggy’s nostrils flared alarmingly. “How dare you—”
    18 Nancy Atherton
    “We will, of course, donate a portion of the proceeds to the
    church roof fund,” Calvin interjected quickly.
    “Seems very generous to me,” said Christine Peacock.
    “Extremely generous,” chorused the women sitting near her.
    “No, my ladies,” said Calvin, kissing his fingertips to them. “It is
    the village of Finch that is generous. I thank you for welcoming me
    with such warmth and aff ection, and I look forward to seeing all of
    you on opening day—and on many merrymaking weekends thereafter.” He snapped his fingers and the jester presented the crown to
    him. Calvin lowered the crown onto his own head, then raised a
    hand in farewell. “Adieu, good people of Finch. Until we meet
    again—at King Wilfred’s Faire!”
    “All hail good King Wilfred!” bellowed the heralds.
    The pair raised their trumpets and played another fanfare as Calvin strode up the aisle, then followed him out of the schoolroom,
    with the jester tumbling in their wake. Mr. Malvern left his seat to
    join them, but paused in the doorway to share a parting word.
    “It’s a done deal,” he said gruffly. “Just thought you ought to
    know.” He slapped his tweed cap on his head, spun on his heel, and
    was gone.
    A momentary silence ensued. Some people rubbed their chins,
    while others peered at the ceiling. A few women fingered their
    polyester blouses, frowning pensively.
    “It sounds good to me,” Miranda Morrow said at last. “And it will
    bring more people to the village on weekends.”
    “We could do with some new customers at the pub,” said Dick
    Peacock.
    “I wouldn’t mind filling the chairs in my tearoom,” said Sally
    Pyne.
    “They might need fresh meat and produce for their food stalls,”
    said Burt Hodge, a local farmer.
    “Fresh eggs never go amiss,” said Annelise’s mother. Mrs. Sciaparelli’s chickens were famously productive.
    “Tourists get flat tires, too,” Mr. Barlow observed. “And over-Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon
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    heated radiators. A mechanic can always find work, but he’d be a
    fool to complain if the work comes to him.”
    “It goes without saying that the vicar and I will make good use
    of the fair’s donation to the church roof fund,” said Lilian Bunting.
    “King Wilfred’s Fair could put Finch on the map,” Charles Bellingham ventured timidly.
    “We’re already on the map,” Peggy protested. “The fair will
    compete with our summer events, block our roads, and bring undesirables into our community. Nothing good will come of it.”
    Jasper Taxman took his courage in his hands and turned to his
    wife. “The fair might increase the Emporium’s cash flow, Peggy.
    Tourists always need supplies, and you carry a bit of everything in
    your shop.”
    Peggy’s objections ceased abruptly.
    “Do you really think so, Jasper?” she asked. “Do you