Me: You look amazing, Nell.
Nell: What? This old thing?
Me: You’re Mrs Hudson, Sherlock’s housekeeper, aren’t you?
Nell: At your service.
Me: Why didn’t you tell me before?
Nell: I wanted the two boys to enjoy the limelight first.
Me: Well, I’m delighted for you. You’re going to be wonderful.
Nell: I’m not sure how I’m going to find working with that Beefy but needs must I’m afraid for the sake of my art.
Me: Maybe Stephen Seagull will surprise you?
Nell: He seemed to enjoy my audition.
Me: He must have done.
Nell: I thought I heard him call me ‘an old battle-axe’ but Harriet says I’m surely mistaken.
Me: I agree.
Nell: I’m not a battle-axe.
Me: With Harriet. And if he did say that, it will have only been in jest.
Nell: He had better mind his manners.
Me: Has Harriet heard anything yet about the Mysterious Mademoiselle?
Nell: Goodness me. Is that the time?
Me: It’s still early, Nell.
Nell: I need to talk to Herr Hoffmann about the menus.
Me: He’s busy baking bread.
Nell: He can talk and knead at the same time.
Me: I know you know something.
Nell: Charlotte and Nigel are coming to stay for the weekend so I want to make sure there’s plenty of cake.
Me: Why?
Nell: You can’t have visitors without cake.
Me: True.
Nell: Talking of cake, it’s Kev’s birthday next Saturday.
Me: I know. He’ll be 66 and a pensioner.
Nell: Don’t tell everyone.
Me: He doesn’t mind.
Nell: Are you sure about that?
Me: Of course.
Nell: Well, I’m thinking lunch at the Cottage Hotel and dinner at the local pub on the Saturday and a celebratory roast on the Sunday.
Me: Will that be too much?
Nell: It’s Kev.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
