Jenny Kane writes a short story especially for TripFiction

30th May 2022

Jenny Kane is the bestselling author of many romantic fiction series. These include the Mill Grange series (set in Somerset), Abi’s Cornwall series, and the Another Cup series (set in London). Jenny has written this short story, set in Somerset, especially for TripFiction readers.

The Great Mill Grange Auction

‘It’ll make more work.’ Tina passed Thea their never-ending to-do list. ‘What do you think?’

‘I’ve never been to an auction that offers refreshments.’

‘But this is a Mill Grange auction, Thea!’ Mabel’s determined expression softened. ‘Besides, you can guarantee that half the village will turn up just to be nosy. We can’t have them feeling they weren’t looked after.’

‘You’re right, of course.’ Thea smiled at the old lady who’d made herself so indispensable to Mill Grange.

‘And then there’s Arthur.’ Mabel patted her grey curls self-consciously. ‘He’s always had a thing for me.’

Tina and Thea exchanged a surprised glance. ‘Does Bert know?’

Mabel winked. ‘My husband’s always been ahead of the competition.’

‘Competition you’d still like to impress?’

‘Not at all. I’m just saying you should never underestimate how the comfort of a freshly baked scone can help people spend money!’

Dusting off her hands, Thea surveyed the eclectic jumble of objects rescued from Mill Grange’s attics. ‘Do you really think this lot is going to raise us two thousand pounds?’

Tina shrugged. ‘Hope so. For that, Mabel’s old beau Arthur will draw up some plans to redesign the old mill house as a community space. Anyone else would cost double that.’

Running a finger around a vase’s chipped rim, Thea looked doubtful. ‘Everything here’s on its last legs.’

‘Umm.’ Tina reached for the vase and turned it over. ‘What’s this mark?’

‘Oh.’ Thea’s eyebrows rose. ‘I’ve seen that mark before. Regency – shame it’s damaged.’

‘It’ll probably be the star of the show though.’

Thea’s grin faltered. ‘That doesn’t change the fact it’s chipped, or that we only have two weeks to find the money for Arthur’s services before he takes a long overdue retirement.’

‘I do wish Mabel hadn’t insisted on refreshments,’ Tina whispered. ‘I ought to be greeting guests, not fussing in the kitchen. Who’s going to eat while they’re bidding anyway?’

‘Well, if all else fails, we can console ourselves with calories afterwards.’ Thea inhaled the scent of fresh scones as her friend piled them onto a plate. ‘I should check on Shaun – he’s dead nervous about being the auctioneer.’

‘I know it’s not exactly the same, but he’s a TV presenter. Standing up in front of everyone shouldn’t phase him.’

‘It’s not that – it’s getting the numbers wrong that bothers him.  He’s terrified of going backwards in the heat of the moment.’

Tina gave a heavy sigh. They’d spent a week preparing for the auction; suddenly the chances of making even half the money they needed felt remote. ‘It’s all junk anyway – I doubt he’ll have to count over ten!’

Stood behind the refreshment table, Thea watched Shaun deftly sell a candlestick for twenty pounds.

‘Not bad.’ Mabel passed a buttered scone to her companion. ‘Eat this. You’ll feel better.’

‘Thanks, Mabel.’ Thea took a bite. ‘What’s next?’

‘Victorian flowerpot – cracked.’

‘Ahh, yes.’ Cracked, chipped, warped, dented…

‘Cheer up, lass.’ Mabel gave Thea a bracing pat on the arm. ‘Everyone wants this to work – if that mill reopens, the whole village will benefit.’

Distracted by a hushed request for coffee from a guest obviously terrified that the tiniest gesture might be misinterpreted as a bid, Thea missed the sale of some plates with Sunny Somerset glazed across them.

In what seemed like an unbelievably short time, Shaun was holding up the final lot.

‘That’s the Regency vase – damaged of course.’ Thea mumbled to Mabel as Tina re-joined them, fresh from delivering the latest order for scones.

‘I’ve been adding up as we go. We’re seven hundred pounds shy of the target.’ Defeat echoed in Tina’s voice. ‘I guess it was worth a try.’

Mabel put a finger to her lips, shushing them as three guests bid at once.

‘Who will start me at fifty?… Sixty, seventy…thank you Sir, and… yes, eighty at the back…’ Shaun kept going as the numbers grew higher.

‘I can’t watch!’ Tina closed her eyes as, finally, the gavel came down.

‘Six hundred and sixty!’ Thea gasped as she clutched Tina’s arm. ‘So close – we’re only forty pounds short of our target. Should I dash up to the attic to see if we’ve missed anything else we could sell?’

‘No need for that.’ Tina drew her friend into a hug. ‘Mabel was right.’

Thea stared at the empty plates. ‘Are you saying we made forty pounds in refreshment sales?’

‘And thirty pence.’ Mabel beamed. ‘Never underestimate the power of a Mill Grange scone.’ 

Keep a lookout for Jenny’s upcoming book Frost Falls at the Potting Shed, which will be the first in a new series and is publishing in October 2022.

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