Me: There’s a rather beautiful red setter sitting in the kitchen with Dave and Harriet holding a scone.
Nell: Yes, it’s Dorothy from my reading group.
Me: Dave seems absolutely transfixed.
Nell: Well, he would be.
Me: I suppose he hasn’t seen a scone in a few days.
Nell: Have you seen today’s Daily Growl?
Me: Yes. Good photos of Poppy and Malcolm but why is Babycakes Gillespie in there?
Nell: It was his car. Anyway, back to the scone.
Me: I couldn’t help noticing someone had bitten into it but I didn’t like to say in case Dave had done it by mistake.
Nell: It wasn’t David, it was me.
Me: Gosh.
Nell: It was the only way to be certain.
Me: Of what?
Nell: That Poppy and Malcolm are in Torquay.
Me: Torquay?
Nell: Yesterday afternoon Dorothy and Pamela went to tea at the Imperial Hotel.
Me: Pamela the Pyrenean Mountain Dog? I thought she was on a diet.
Nell: Yes. But that’s not the point. Anyway, the scones were so delicious they hid some in their handbags.
Me: Naughty.
Nell: In fact Pamela told Dorothy that the last time she’d eaten a scone like that was at Poppy Martin’s.
Me: Poppy makes the best scones.
Nell: So when Dorothy saw the newspaper this morning she came straight here with the scone.
Me: Kind of her to share, but a day old scone? Not the best gift.
Nell: It’s not any old scone. It’s one of Poppy’s. I knew it when I tasted it.
Me: Poppy’s?
Nell: Yes. She and Malcolm must be at the Imperial Hotel.
Me: They could have told us they were going on holiday.
Nell: It’s not a holiday. Poppy is baking under duress. Babycakes Gillespie is after her recipe.
Me: Of course. Sorry.
