The Shielding of Mrs Forbes

Faber Stories, a landmark series of individual volumes, presents masters of the short story form at work in a range of genres and styles.

Thinking Betty was in the bath Graham was watching a late-night programme on Channel 4 called Footballers with Their Shirts Off

when she unexpectedly came in on the trail of the hairdryer.

'I didn't know you were interested in football,' said Betty.

No one must ever find out that Graham is 'not the marrying sort'. Certainly not his wife, or his mother. As sex, blackmail and fanatical tidiness take over the West Yorkshire parish of Alwoodley, an unlikely caper unfolds.