They certainly weren’t as far as he was concerned. The man looked like a cross between a mad scientist and a scarecrow.

Oh God, was he supposed to be her present?

Gaily, Estelle said, ‘Right then, why don’t I make us all a nice pot of tea?’

Kate waited until her mother was back inside the house before saying, ‘I still don’t know what you’re doing here.’

‘Relax, you’re looking at me like I’m a dentist.’ Will grinned and flopped down on the grass a few feet away from her.

‘Is it something to do with me?’

‘Nothing at all to do with you, crosspatch. I’m making a documentary about your father and he was kind enough to ask me to stay for a few days. Although since the idea of the programme is to see Oliver Taylor-Trent both at work and away from it, of course I’d like you to feature in the film.’

A documentary. Well, she hadn’t seen that one coming.

‘Can I say no?’

‘Of course you can say no.’

‘Good. In that case, no.’

Mildly, Will Gifford said, ‘That’s a shame. Why not?’

‘Oh please, don’t tell me you hadn’t noticed.’ Kate gazed steadily at him, hoping he’d be embarrassed.

‘Your face, you mean? Oliver told me about your accident. But I’m sorry, I don’t see how it’s relevant.’

‘OK, let me put it this way. Why on earth would I want to appear on TV, so that even more people can see my scars? Don’t you think it’s hard enough for me, just walking down the street?’

It was meant to be the ultimate riposte. Will Gifford spoiled it completely by tilting his head to one side and saying easily, ‘With dress sense like mine, you get used to it.’

If she hadn’t been lying flat on her back, Kate would have stamped her foot.

‘It’s hardly the same thing, is it? Please don’t try and compare your hideous shirts with my face—’

‘ Yoo-hoo, here we are! Dad’s home,’ sang Estelle, heading up the path with a tray of tea in her hands and Oliver Taylor-Trent following in her wake.

Despite everything, Kate felt a lump form in her throat. Being back in Ashcombe was having a weird effect on her hormones; for a split second she’d longed to scramble to her feet and hurl herself into her father’s arms. But since they weren’t a buggy family and Oliver certainly wouldn’t appreciate getting sun cream all over his Hugo Boss suit, she stood up and gave him a decorous kiss on the cheek instead. The next moment he was briskly greeting Will Gifford, while Estelle fussed around with the tea tray and attempted to tear open a packet of shortbread with her teeth.

Will, welcome to Dauncey House. I don’t think we want tea, do we? Got a bottle of something decent in the fridge, darling? We should raise a toast to an interesting and mutually profitable project ...

and Kate, maybe you’d be more comfortable slipping some clothes on?’

As ever, Oliver had taken charge of the situation, reorganising the family to his satisfaction. As Estelle rushed back inside with the no-longer-required tea and biscuits, he put his hand on Will’s frayed shirt cuff and said, ‘While we’re waiting, why don’t I show you the grounds? Afterwards you can see the rest of the house, then later on I’ll take you on a guided tour of our little town.’

Our town, thought Kate. Like he owned it.

‘Fantastic.’ Winking at Kate, Will rubbed his hands together with boyish enthusiasm. ‘Can’t wait.’

Kate pointedly ignored the wink. What an utter prat.

* * *

Deliveries completed, Maddy was back in Ashcombe by one o’clock. Racing over to the Angel, she said, ‘Dexter, I know that deep down, beneath that horrid grumpy exterior, you’re actually a sweet and lovely man.’

‘No I’m not.’ Dexter carried on hanging up beer mugs by their handles.

‘You see? Modest too.’ Plunging on, Maddy said, ‘And now I need a favour. Can I borrow Nuala, just for ten minutes?’ It was Friday lunchtime and the pub was quiet; Dexter could easily handle the few existing customers himself. For good measure she added, ‘Please?’

‘It’ll have to come out of her wages.’

Naturally. Maddy flashed him a brilliant smile. ‘I’ll pay you the thirty pence myself.’

‘Blimey, you must be desperate.’ Aware of Maddy and Nuala’s intensive gossip sessions, Dexter raised an eyebrow. ‘Not pregnant, are you?’

‘I just need to talk to Nuala.’ She heaved an inward sigh. ‘And you’re her boss, which is why I’m being so nice to you.’

‘OK. What d’you want to drink?’

Hooray. ‘Two Cokes please.’

‘Go ahead then, take her outside.’ Dexter waved a dis missive arm in the direction of Nuala, emerging from the storeroom with a box of salt ‘n’ vinegar crisps. ‘Just for ten minutes. And she’ll have Diet Coke,’ he added. ‘There’s hardly room for both of us in one bed as it is.’

‘Back garden,’ Maddy told Nuala when she’d dumped the box of crisps and Dexter had served their drinks. As he dropped the change into Maddy’s hand he said, ‘Time starts ... now.’

‘ Actually,’ Nuala said brightly when they were seated outside, ‘I prefer Diet Coke. Once you get used to the taste, it’s—’

‘No you don’t,’ Maddy interrupted, ‘you’ve just brainwashed yourself into thinking you prefer it because Dexter won’t let you drink the normal kind.’ A lot of their conversations ran along these lines, with Nuala defending Dexter and Maddy vainly attempting to make her see sense.

‘But—’

‘Anyway, enough about you, we’re here to talk about me. If I don’t tell you my stuff, I may have to explode.’

‘And Dexter would make me clear up all the mess.’ Instantly diverted, Nuala leaned her elbows on the table and said eagerly, ‘Go on then, tell me. Is this to do with the bloke you met last week at the party?’

‘Yes.’

‘I knew it! Is he completely gorgeous?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘And you really really fancy him?’

‘ Yes—’

‘ And he really really fancies you? Oh wow, that’s so brilliant, when did all this happen and why didn’t you tell me bef— Ow!’

‘ Sorry,’ sighed Maddy, because the only way to stop Nuala when she got this carried away was to pinch her wrist hard. She hadn’t meant to grind the bones like that, though.

‘That hurt!’

‘I know, sorry sorry, but we don’t have time to play twenty questions, and the thing is, it isn’t brilliant because—’

‘God, he’s married, what a bas— oh no you don’t.’ Nuala snatched her wrist away just in time. ‘OK, sorry, I’ll shut up.’ Pause. ‘But I’m right, aren’t I? He’s married.’

‘ He isn’t.’ Shaking her head, Maddy explained the whole sorry McKinnon saga in four minutes flat.

This time Nuala listened intently and didn’t interrupt once.

‘Shit,’ she said flatly when Maddy had finished. ‘I know.’

‘This isn’t good.’

‘Tell me about it,’ agreed Maddy, draining her Coke and feeling pretty drained herself. At least, her brain felt drained, but underneath the wooden trellis table her hopelessly overexcited knees were jiggling away like mini Michael Flatleys. Taking an envelope from her jeans pocket and placing it in front of Nuala, she added, ‘And now this.’

Nuala whisked the enclosed sheet of paper from the battered envelope and read the brief handwritten note.

‘He wants to meet you tomorrow! God, this is so romantic! I mean, I’ve had phone calls and text messages in my time, but nobody’s ever written me a letter.’

‘It’s not romantic when he’s only doing it because a phone call would be too risky.’ Fraught, Maddy raked her fingers through her already drastically-raked hair. ‘He’s in London today. He left the envelope with his receptionist to hand over to me.’

‘But don’t you see? That’s even more romantic! "I need to see you, properly."‘ Nuala swooned as she read aloud. —Saturday night, seven o’clock, my flat. Let me know if you can’t make it.

Hope you can. Kerr." Ooh, nice flat,’ she added with approval, noting the address. ‘And lovely masterful handwriting. If you aren’t up for it, can I go instead?’

‘I want to go, more than anything.’ Maddy watched a ladybird inch its way along the edge of the table, then spread its wings and take off like a Harrier jump jet. ‘But how can I?’

‘What d’you mean, how can you? Are you mad?’ squeaked Nuala. ‘You have to go!’

‘Marcella would kill me.’

‘What Marcella doesn’t know won’t hurt her,’ Nuala blithely retorted. ‘How’s she ever going to find out? My mum’s next-door neighbours got divorced last summer, it turned out that the husband had been having an affair for the last fifteen years and his wife hadn’t had any idea!’

As if that made it all right, thought Maddy. ‘But—’

‘Anyway, you already know you’ll go.’

‘What?’ Maddy stared at her. ‘How can you say that?’

‘Oh, come on. Why else would you show me the letter? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?’

Looking pleased with herself, Nuala said, ‘Because you knew I’d say you had to meet him. Face it, you know me. I’m hardly likely to tell you never to see him again, am I? You want me to persuade you to go to his flat tomorrow night, so it’s my decision and not yours.’ Squishing an ant with her thumb, she beamed across at Maddy. ‘Plus, of course, it’ll be my fault if anything goes wrong.’

Maddy couldn’t speak.

‘See?’ Nuala said happily. ‘I’m not as daft as I look, am I?’