Page 17 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘It would be wonderful to have both,’ Fiona said, though her brows were lowered, as if she wasn’t sure.

‘What do you think?’ Jazz said. ‘Daisy and Avery, they’re your babies. You happy with that plan?’

‘Absolutely.’ Avery’s low voice was a rumble against Daisy’s nerve endings. ‘Happy to go up against someone like Daisy.’

‘What do you mean go up against?’ She rested her arm on the back of her chair. ‘It’s not a competition. We’re doing both.’

‘We are,’ he said, ‘but you know what Mistingham’s like. Everyone’s going to compare the two.’

‘They’re going to enjoy them, not compare them.’

‘We’ll see.’

‘Why are you so …?’ She trailed off, because the hall had fallen silent, everyone listening to them argue, and Daisy hadn’t even wanted to come tonight, let alone speak, let alone end up in charge of some harebrained idea to host a ball for the entire village at the manor, without asking Harry and Sophie first. She turned her back on Avery. ‘I’m very happy with that plan, thank you Jazz. We’d love to put on a ball, wouldn’t we?’

‘Definitely,’ Sophie said.

‘Couldn’t be happier,’ Harry added.

‘We can sort out all the details later,’ Daisy rushed out, thinking of what she was committing them to. ‘Help with the decorating, how we source the food and drink – a bring-your-own thing, maybe?’

‘That’s worked well in the past,’ Fiona said with an approving nod.

‘Well. This is truly excellent.’ Ermin was beaming. ‘Honestly. What creative, imaginative people you are. I’m thrilled. Daisy and Avery, if you let us have requests for specific sorts of helpers, we can circulate them via the village Facebook group and get you the assistance you need.’

‘Thank you for coming, everyone,’ Fiona said. ‘Dexter has made cheese and tomato whirls, over on the table there, and do help yourself to teas and coffees before you leave.’ She gestured to the side of the hall, and people started getting up, shrugging on coats, making a beeline for the door or the refreshment table.

Daisy wouldn’t mind a savoury pastry, but she owed her brother an apology first.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, watching his face closely.

Harry let out a huge, weary sigh, his head dropping.

‘I didn’t mean to say anything,’ she went on, ‘but it just … it came out! You know how Mum and Dad used to host Christmas soirées when we were little? They would have their friends round and we’d get to say hello to them all, then we’d be packed off upstairs and we’d sit on my bed—’

‘Your room was tidier,’ Harry pointed out.

‘Exactly. And we’d make up an excuse to go down. There was a strange noise coming from outside or a huge spider had crept into my room, and Mum and Dad knew exactly what we were doing, and they would let us stay for a bit, eat a mince pie.’

‘I remember.’ His stern expression had lifted. ‘A ball is a great idea, and I’d completely forgotten how competitive you are.’

Daisy folded her arms. ‘I am not competitive.’

‘No?’ Harry raised an eyebrow. ‘Seems to me like you didn’t want Avery and his treasure hunt to win all the praise.’

‘That is not—’

‘And Sophie meant it when she said she loved the idea of a ball, didn’t you?’

‘I genuinely did. I’m fully ahead of the game with my notebooks for this year, and as hectic as it was, it was so much fun planning our wedding. This will feel similar.’

‘Do you know the best thing about it, though?’ Harry was giving her a sly look, one she recognized well, and it filled her with dread.

‘What’s that?’ Daisy asked.

‘It means we’ve got you until Christmas at least.’

‘What?’ Panic thudded through her. ‘No, I …’ She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. ‘I didn’t plan on staying.’