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‘Absolutely. Harry’s crazy about you, we can all see that,’ Sally chimed in.

‘Thanks, both of you, I’m probably just being silly,’ Katie said, shaking her head to dismiss the idea. ‘After all, when would he find the time to have an affair?’

Chapter 17

Harry let out a final groan, biting down on Tara’s shoulder to muffle the noise.

‘Oh God, that was incredible, Tara!’

‘You’re the best, Harry,’ Tara said breathlessly, having just put in an Oscar-worthy performance that would have silenced her harshest critics.

Harry threw back his head, breathing heavily. He was still sitting upright on the bumpy chaise longue as Tara rearranged herself to sit beside him, almost demurely.

‘You know, Tara,’ Harry began, running his hand up her back, ‘I’ve been thinking. You’re incredible, and I can’t get enough of you, of course, but maybe we should back off a bit. It’s going to be incredibly awkward, all of us being in the house together over Christmas – Katie and Kit and the children. I feel so guilty every time I look at the girls.’

Tara rose to her feet slowly and deliberately, her face dark with fury. ‘And you didn’t think to mention this before we … ?’

Harry had the good grace to look embarrassed, as he stood up to face her. ‘Tara, honey, be reasonable. Think of the kids, yeah?’

Tara was feeling anything but reasonable, but reminded herself of the larger prize. ‘Fine. If that’s what you want,’ she said, her eyes flashing dangerously. ‘We can keep all of our conversations to talking about your next film. I think I’d be just perfect to play Gladys, don’t you agree?’

Harry hesitated. ‘Look, Tara … I pushed hard for you, I really did, and everyone knows you are amazingly talented. A one-off! But the co-producers are saying they want someone with more … box office appeal, was the phrase they used.’

This time, Tara made no attempt to restrain her fury. She shoved him hard and he toppled back over the chaise. ‘I should have known better after everything that has happened over the years! Screw you, Harry Swan! I wish I never had!’

The dregs of the tea had gone cold, the scones demolished, just crumbs left scattered on the Wedgewood plates. Sally stretched and looked at her watch. ‘Well, duty calls I’m afraid. Wonderful as this is, catching up with you fabulous pair, I have a list as long as my arm of tasks I need to get through.’

Katie nodded in agreement. ‘The juggling never stops, I need to read through a few contracts I promised I’d look at before the Christmas break, and I’ve still got to finish wrapping the last of the presents.’

‘I need to finish buying presents,’ Fliss interjected. ‘I came over here in such a hurry I barely had time to get anything. I didn’t think a bar of Toblerone from duty-free would cut it.’

‘Oh, no one expects you to get them anything,’ Sally assured her.

‘But I’d like to,’ Fliss insisted. ‘Everyone’s been so good to me, and it’s been so lovely catching up with you all.’

‘I’ve missed you so much,’ Sally said, getting up out of her chair to give Fliss a hug. ‘I wish you’d move back to London, then we could see each other all the time. It’s just not the same on Zoom.’

‘What am I missing?’ came a voice, and they all turned to see Tara sashay into the orangery. She looked rather unkempt, her hair messy and her clothes dishevelled, but her eyes were bright and she was grinning. ‘Some kind of girly get-together? You should have said we were having cocktails, I’d have been there like a shot,’ she giggled.

‘Afternoon tea,’ Sally explained. ‘Having a catch-up before all the chaos of Christmas starts again.’

‘Oh, the chaos never stops round here,’ Tara smirked.

‘Well, quite,’ Sally agreed. ‘I was just saying the same.’

‘You haven’t seen Harry anywhere, have you?’ Katie asked. ‘I want to check in with him about the girls’ presents.’

‘He’s probably with Bill,’ Tara said airily. ‘You know what those two are like. Thick as thieves.’

More footsteps could be heard, as Lady Oliver crossed the travertine floor towards them. ‘There you all are! I wondered where you’d got to.’

‘We were hiding in here – away from our responsibilities,’ Sally laughed.

‘I don’t blame you. You’ve got to seize these moments where you can.’

‘But now it’s time to get back to the grind,’ Sally grumbled. ‘I need to make some phone calls to London to check on everything there, not to mention the plans for the ball.’

‘I suppose you’re expecting me to help,’ Tara said resentfully.