Helen's voice and manner was crisp and decisive

-- If we're going to get seeds anyway, we might as well go together to the florist's and meet this whole thing head on.

-- That's all right by me , said Peter , and added:

-- It's really more your problem than mine , but I'll back you up. But ...

He paused for a moment and then indicated his work clothes.

-- Perhaps I should dash ahead of you and get cleaned up first . I think if I went dressed like this the lady in the shop might think that we were there to turn on a blue , a bit of a stoush .

-- Good thinking , said Helen.

-- I'll need to get changed myself. Can't do the Lady of the Manor act in this outfit . Tell you what , take your time and I'll meet you at that cafe , The Jumping Bean , and we'll have a light lunch before bearding the dragon in her den .

-- I've been doing all my eating at The Wishing Well . Make a nice change to try the menu at the other place. I think they cater for the lighter type of meal .

-- Right then , said Helen , looking up at the big old kitchen clock. It was showing eleven thirty.

-- I'll see you on the bench near the drinking fountain at one o'clock .

-- I'll be there , said Peter .

-- Will we need any reinforcements ? I'm on side with the constable !

-- Oh , I think we can handle it between us , answered Helen with a laugh .

-- I'll bet you could handle it on your own , thought Peter to himself . He recognised the lady's tactics in taking him along with her , but all the same he was confident of Helen's ability to assert herself authoritatively in any or every situation . He was becoming a great admirer of her forthrightness.

So off he went to clean up and change .

On the way past the bank , it occurred to him that he might need some cash for the lunch . He didn't expect that Helen would want him to pay for hers , but he was also independent enough not to want her to pay for his .

This time he decided to use his credit card for an advance , but as there did not seem to be an automatic teller machine in evidence , he walked in and stood waiting behind the two people who were also waiting to be served . They glanced at him with curious looks , so he smiled back in a friendly way . One of them mumbled something that sounded like a greeting , but the other , a young white haired girl , flushed a little then ignored him .

The first customer was quickly dealt with , but the white haired girl seemed to be having some difficulty in explaining what she wanted , so the young teller serving her called out for Jasmine to come to the other window.

-- Hello , she smiled at Peter as he handed over his card and requested the amount of cash he needed .

-- And how are you today , Jasmine ?

-- Very well , thank you , she responded and they exchanged a few pleasantries as she counted out his cash .

Leaving the bank , Peter quickly made his way to the George's house , cleaned up and put on the tee shirt that Jane had repaired for him . He had plenty of time in hand , but he avoided Ernie , lest he be asked his opinion on another Ode , and made his way to the bench near the drinking fountain .There he sat and relaxed in the sun to wait for Helen.

As he would have expected of her , she came swinging briskly down the lane and across to him, right on time .

-- Hmm , thought Peter , she scrubs up very well . Good legs , too, as he noticed them properly for the first time.

It was the first time he had seen her dressed in other than the bib and brace overalls or the practical clothes she wore round the Manor .

It was a more feminine outfit than before , and with a few touches of make up and with her mid-length hair controlled more than it usually was at the manor, she looked quite attractive . The belted floral skirt emphasised her trim waist , and she wore a fresh white blouse . All in all she looked years younger than her appearance at the manor house.

-- Ready for lunch ? she asked , and when Peter nodded she led the way across to The Jumping Bean.

Peter smiled to himself as he saw the exactly same reaction that he had received when first entering The Wishing Well , and the pub. Helen however simply ignored the customers' stares as they sat at a small table . When the waitress arrived with the menu , informing them that she was Natasha , and asking what they would like , Helen glanced briefly down it and then across to Peter.

-- Toasted sandwiches will be all right for me , with a cappucino , but what about you ? she asked Peter.

-- Fine , he answered , but I'll have a long white coffee made on milk.

-- Mixed fillings ? asked Natasha , and they both nodded.

While they were waiting they discussed the seeds they would get for the kitchen garden and the flower beds. Helen seemed to have a good practical knowledge of what would grow when and where , so it was easily planned by the time the toasted sandwiches arrived .

They did not have much to say while eating , and when they were finished and the bill arrived , Helen reached out to take it and pay, saying :

-- My treat .

-- Nope , said Peter firmly .

-- Either I pay or we go dutch .

-- Ha , the independent Aussie , said Helen , but she deferred to him .

-- All right , dutch it is . And they paid and left.

At the door of the florist's , Helen turned to Peter and said , smiling:

-- Now then , my independent young man , leave this mostly to me . I'm sure you'll have the chance to join in , but for starters , just follow my lead.

Peter made as if he was going to tug his forelock , but her half stern look stopped him halfway through the gesture , so he quietly followed her brisk entrance.

After a quick look around, Helen strode straight to the stand that held seed packets. It stood on a central spindle , and with swift efficiency , she spun past the various holders , selecting packets , glancing at the type of seed and the due date for each , and handing them on to Peter.

-- See what you think about these , she said to him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Peter could see that the owner , who was obviously somewhat perplexed by the turn of events , was not sure whether to come to them to offer help or to wait. Helen's ploy had disconcerted the woman , and immediately put her on the defensive , so that when Helen strode to the counter and dropped the large number of packets on it , the woman almost seemed about to retreat .

-- Add up the cost of those , ordered Helen , and the woman hastened to ring up the prices on an ancient cash register . When she had finished , Helen handed over a large note , and was given her change .

Finally the woman spoke.

-- Thank you ,Lady Helen.

Helen stared at her levelly and said in a cold and precise manner:

-- You are in error . I am not Lady Helen . I am merely Helen Nascent , who now owns the Manor House . I am unmarried . I inherited the Manor through a very distant cousin of the previous Lady Helen , who had her title because of her marriage to Lord Nascent . Are we clear on that?

-- Yes , stammered the owner , totally taken aback by the verbal assault .

Without looking into into the bag she was carrying Helen removed from it a folded paper.

-- And you are the Mrs Day who sent me this ?

Mrs Day paled.

-- Yes I am . I'm terribly sorry if I offended you but....

-- You did not offend me , interrupted Helen firmly.

-- I am perfectly confident of my legal position. I suggest that the person you have most offended is this young man . This is Mr Peter Jack.

-- I know , and I thought he....

At this point Peter thought it was his turn to interrupt.

-- Look Mrs Day . I'm pretty sure that you meant well , and I think Helen thinks the same really.

He cocked an eyebrow at Helen , who , laughing inside at the embarrassed expression on Mrs Day's face , reiterated that it was Peter to whom Mrs Day should make amends .

-- My coming to this place was pure accident , said Peter , then modified it with:

-- Well , not entirely , because my Canadian mate planned the trip and when he couldn't come , I got here on my own . I've never had any other intention than to live here for a while and enjoy the countryside.

As Mrs Day was about to speak again , he held up a hand to stop her.

-- I've been called a bastard many a time, Mrs Day , both as a joke and in earnest , and probably deserved it every time -- but let me tell you this now , so you'll know it once and for all . I am in no way -- no way at all -- related to Helen , on either side of the blanket . I've seen the photographs she has of the old family , and of the last Lord , and I can see where you made the mistake.

Mischievously , he added:

-- He did take a big interest in photography , didn't he !

Mrs Day looked flabbergasted , understanding what Peter meant .

-- You mean that all those photos he took of us girls are still in existence ?

-- Indeed they are , said Helen ,

-- Some of them are very interesting . Particularly ...

She stopped there , leaving the implication hanging .

-- Oh my god , you mean Doris ......

Peter interrupted again. -- No names , no pack drill . I'm sure Helen has the good reputations of people here well in mind. Now can I rely on you to stop spreading this around ? I mean the references to me , of course , but.......

-- Oh yes , yes indeed , exclaimed Mrs Day.

-- I'm sorry , but my intentions were good .

-- Then let's leave it at that . No harm done , don't you think so , Helen ?

With a feigned show of reluctance Helen agreed , but returned to the purpose of the visit by adding the point :

-- I think you may rest assured that none of the photographs are going to be made public . The previous lady has kept them unseen all these years , probably to protect her son's name, and I see no point in putting them about . They are quite safe with me . As I told Peter , they reflect on my family as well . I would like that to be clear . But I would also like it to be clear that I don't care for any rumours to be spread about my family either .

-- I understand . Can I offer you some tea ? Mrs Day asked eagerly , perhaps thinking that she could both make amends for her gaffe and at the same time ingratiate herself with the new owner of the Manor and learn more about her and which of the photographs were still in existence .

-- Thank you , but no , we have just come from the cafe , said Helen , and then , catching a look from Peter , she added placatingly:

-- No doubt though we'll be back for more seeds and we may well take up your kind invitation then . Meanwhile , good afternoon to you .

She swept out , and Peter and she had great difficulty in keeping straight faces as the Closed sign was turned round on the door as soon as they left.

-- I think we have provided her with a lot to think about , oh and probably talk about , about for quite a while , said Helen , and they took their leisurely way back to the Manor .

As they passed the Craft Shop , Peter waved to Jane who was for once in the front part of the shop and with a finger pointed to the fact that he was wearing the mended tee shirt .

-- I think I'll get you to meet Jane , he said to Helen :

-- She's nice , and I think you'll like her .

-- Not today though , said Helen ,

-- I think we've done enough to impress the inhabitants for one day