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ago, as it happens.’
    ‘Really? Well, that is interesting. Do you have a portfolio or some such thing? I’d love to discuss this further but I’ve interrupted your Sunday lunch for quite long enough already. Perhaps you could come and see me at the house, one day next week – would that be convenient? I’m at Beckleston Hall and I’ve got a few things that I’d like to chat with you about, including a wedding I need to arrange.’
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    ‘So, d’you think Max is getting married again?’ Jess asked, as soon as they left the pub. ‘And why did we have to run off? I thought we were having dessert.’
    ‘We didn’t “run off”; I just didn’t want him buying us drinks and as to whether he’s getting married again, I have no idea and couldn’t care less. Possibly I suppose but the bride’s parents would usually organise things, not the groom’s so it could be for someone else in the family.’
    ‘There is no one else in the family. It’s just Max and his mum,’ Jess said.
    ‘Really? No cousins then or aunts and uncles or –’
    ‘Oh. Well possibly. I must ask Connie Jessop, she’s bound to know.’
    ‘Yes do,’ Susie said, linking arms with Becky in a gesture of support. ‘I’ll be so disappointed if it’s Max. I really thought the two of you would be perfect together. He has so much to offer you.’
    Becky tutted. ‘To be honest, I’m more interested in what his mother may be thinking of offering me. It sounded as if she’s looking for someone to arrange not only a wedding but some other things too. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Assuming she hires me, of course.’
    ‘Of course she’ll hire you!’ Jess said, wrapping her scarf tightly about her neck. ‘Bloody hell it’s freezing. It wasn’t this cold when we went into the pub was it?’
    Susie shivered, visibly. ‘No, it wasn’t. Perhaps we’ll get more snow.’
    ‘Oh I hope not!’ Becky stuffed her hands in her raincoat pockets. She could feel the icy wind biting right through to her skin. Her winter coat was still saturated from the soaking she’d received earlier and she’d had to resort to her summer raincoat, which was totally inadequate in this weather. Her teeth chattered and every bone in her body suddenly ached; she prayed she hadn’t caught a chill.
    They all quickened their pace and arrived at Becky’s moments later.
    ‘Want to come in for a coffee and some cake? The Coopers won’t be here for another couple of hours.’
    ‘Definitely! I can hardly feel my hands,’ Susie squealed.
    Large flakes of snow began falling the moment they stepped inside and Becky poked at the banked-up fire to revive it, while Jess and Susie went to the kitchen and started making coffee.
    The telephone rang as Becky threw some logs on the rekindled flames and seeing from the caller display that it was the Coopers, she grabbed the handset, unable to stop a sudden rush of fear running through her.
    ‘Hello. Is everything okay?’ She tried to control the panic gnawing at the pit of her stomach.
    ‘Hello. Yes, everything’s fine here – except for the snow.’ Sarah Cooper said. ‘It started an hour ago and there’s at least a couple of inches on the roads already. We would have left immediately but we were having lunch and we thought it might just be a quick flurry. We didn’t expect this. Harry’s still happy to bring Lily home but we wondered what it’s like there and we don’t want to get stuck somewhere. What do you think? We’ll do whatever you want us to.’
    Becky could feel tears pricking at her eyes. She had really been looking forward to having Lily home. She missed her so much when she went to stay with Jeremy’s parents. At least she would be safe there though. The thought of her being stuck in a car in a snowdrift or worse – being involved in an accident didn’t bear thinking about. Becky forced painful memories to the back of her mind.
    ‘I think you should stay home. It’s literally