That’s the last thing I needed! Now I’ll have to go through the whole blooming thing again next week. There’s four heats and then a grand final, with Mary Berry herself coming to judge. Still, it’ll be a lovely feeling if we beat Audrey Tipton. That woman is the bane of my life.’
‘Oh yes, very satisfying.’
‘All I want to do is to crawl into bed and shut the world away. The post-production of Mr Tibbs will be a walk in the park compared to this lot. Living in Pendruggan can sometimes feel like being beaten to death with a tea cosy!’
The two friends nibbled on their HobNobs glumly.
‘Wait a minute! I’ve had an idea.’ There was an excited gleam in Penny’s eye. ‘I got a call from the director of Mr Tibbs today. We’re all supposed to be having a break before post-production starts, but he told me there are a few problems with the sound quality and he’s getting David Cunningham to come to the dubbing studios to re-do a couple of things.’
Helen nodded, wondering where this was leading.
‘David’s only free for a few days before he moves on to a new project, so they’re recording this weekend,’ Penny continued, her voice bubbling with excitement. ‘While they don’t need me, strictly speaking I should be on hand to make sure all goes well. Which gives me the perfect excuse to nip up to London for the weekend. All I’d have to do is literally pop my head in to make sure that everything’s tickety-boo – once I’ve done that, we can have the whole weekend to ourselves. What do you think?’
Helen sat up and clapped her hands together.
‘London! Oh, Pen, that would be just the tonic we both need. Cornwall’s lovely, but right now, I could just do with a bit of an urban fix. Pizza Express!’
‘Yes!’ said Penny. ‘Twenty-four-hour corner shops that sell everything from corn plasters to condoms!’
‘Harvey Nicks, Selfridges, M&S!’ Helen said gleefully. ‘And I’m sure we could squeeze in dinner at Chez Walter. I’ve such a craving for their slow-roasted pork belly!’
‘I’m a sucker for their venison cottage pie, myself.’ Penny grabbed her friend’s hand conspiratorially. ‘We could even have a night at Mortimer’s.’
‘Oh, God! Champagne cocktails to die for, in the heart of Mayfair! Let’s go now, now, now!’
Suddenly the excitement evaporated from Penny’s face and she slumped back in her seat. ‘Hang on, what about Simon? He’s really under the cosh at the moment. It would be too awful if I left him to it.’
‘Oh, come off it, Simon’s got loads of help. What about the blue-rinse brigade? They always muck in, don’t they? And it’s only for a couple of nights. Piran will be glad to get rid of me and my constant nagging.’
‘I’m not so sure about Simon. We all agree that I’m not the greatest vicar’s wife, but he does rely on me. The trouble is, I’ve had it up to here with it all.’ She waved a hand above her head. ‘If I don’t get away, I’m afraid our marriage will suffer. Is that terribly selfish of me?’
‘Of course it isn’t.’ Helen gave her friend an encouraging smile. ‘You do more for Simon than you realise: you keep him on the straight and narrow; you’re his gatekeeper, holding all the busybodies at bay. You’ve just worked twelve weeks solid, around the clock – you deserve a break.’
‘I know,’ said Penny, miserably. ‘But I’m not sure Simon will agree.’
‘But the timing is terrible.’ Simon’s face was full of consternation. He had been in the study, working on his sermons for the coming weekend’s services, when Penny had come in to broach the subject of going away. His reaction had been much as she’d expected.
‘I know. But they really can’t manage without me,’ she said guiltily, knowing it was a fib. ‘It’s my job to be there,’ she added, which at least was technically true.
‘Well, I’ll just have to manage without you then. I’m sure that some of the other villagers will help out here in Pendruggan.’
‘Of course they will, darling. They’ve never let you down.’ Unlike me, she thought.
‘But you will be back here on Tuesday, in time for the blessing of the bell tower?’
‘Yes, Simon, I’ll make sure we’re home by then.’
‘We?’ Simon raised his eyebrows questioningly.
‘Oh, Helen and I are travelling together – didn’t I mention it?’
‘No, you didn’t.’ Simon’s face was suddenly serious. ‘I realise that you have your own life, Penny, but being a vicar’s wife is important too.’
Penny felt a hot flush of shame creep up her neck, but she needed a break, dammit. Couldn’t he see that? It wasn’t as if she was running off to join the bloody circus!
‘Simon, I promise, I’ll be home on Sunday. It’s just a quick hop. You’ll hardly even notice I’ve gone.’
She gave him a hug that was returned only reluctantly.
Leaving Simon to his sermons, she closed the study door, tiptoed down the hall and then did a little dance for joy. Despite the pangs of guilt, the prospect of her forthcoming great escape filled her with euphoria.
She sent a text to Helen:
Pack that Mulberry weekend bag. I’m booking us on tonight’s sleeper. Bring wine! Px
Penny and Helen arrived at Truro station in good time to rendezvous with their overnight-sleeper train to London Paddington.
‘What a complete stroke of genius this is!’ remarked Helen. ‘I’ve never been on a sleeper before.’
‘The last time I went on one was over twenty years ago,’ replied Penny as they climbed aboard the waiting train. ‘Went to Cornwall for the summer while I was at uni. Got myself a job in a pub in Newquay. Beach all day, worked like a Trojan until the pub shut, then went clubbing every night. Had a ball.’
‘Holiday romance?’ Helen’s eyes twinkled.
‘A few.’ Penny winked. ‘One really hot lifeguard called Merlin. He had loads of other girls on the go too, of course, but I didn’t care. I just wanted some fun.’
‘Fun – that’s all we girls want, right?’
‘Right!’ Penny agreed. ‘Especially this weekend. But first we need to find our compartment.’
They wandered up the corridor. ‘Ah, here we are!’ Penny stopped outside their berth and opened the door. Inside it was narrow, but there were two decent-sized bunks, one upper and one lower.’
‘Bagsy I’m having the top one!’ said Helen.
‘Hey,
