Pansy brightened. “Which one?”

“Charlie, the dark-haired one with a mustache.”

“Oh, the nice-looking one. How do you know?”

“I saw them kissing under the kissing bough.”

Pansy squealed. “Ooh, go on! I love that kissing bough. Mrs. Prestwick is so clever. She always has something different every Christmas, and this is the best one yet. I’m hoping to get Samuel under there to kiss me.”

Gertie snorted. “I can think of better places to kiss someone.”

“Who cares where it is as long as it happens.”

“Well, obviously Ellie didn’t seem to mind when she kissed Charlie.” Gertie studied a salt shaker for a moment, then polished it with the corner of her apron. “Mrs. Chubb may think Ellie’s all pure and innocent, but I could tell her a thing or two.”

Obviously enthralled, Pansy’s eyes widened. “Like what? Do tell me!”

Gertie shrugged. “I heard her this morning shouting at Stan Whittle.”

“The coal man? I heard her, too, but I couldn’t tell what she was saying. What was she shouting at him for?”

“I dunno, but she sounded really, really angry. I tell you, she was using words I never heard of, and I thought I knew ’em all.”

“Go on! What did she say then?”

“I wouldn’t repeat what she said to no one. Chubby thinks she’s such a goody-goody, but she don’t know her. Chubby told me Ellie used to work in London, but she didn’t like living in the city, so she came home to Badgers End. I reckon she learned a lot about men while she was up there. Them city girls are too bloody bold for their own good.”

“She certainly likes to lead Samuel on.” Pansy poked a serviette through a ring with a little more force than needed. “She was laughing and giggling and carrying on something awful.”

“Ah, but was Samuel laughing with her?”

Pansy shrugged. “I didn’t stay around long enough to find out.”