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Lottie proved to be a very good cook, but the pinnacle of the meal was the Yule Log Freya had prepared, complete with flambéed Italian meringue. It was boozy and decadent, and Hannah enjoyed every mouthful.

After lunch, presents were exchanged. Hannah was nervous about the small parcel she handed Lottie. But Lottie’s face lit up when she opened it to find a beautiful leather-bound notebook with tartan trim, complete with a pen. Inside the front page, Hannah had written a note:

Dear Lottie,

This is a book for you to write down your plans for yourself and what you want to do next.

All my love,

Hannah

x

Lottie looked at Hannah, her eyes filling with tears. She wiped them away with a laugh. “This is beautiful. I now feel like I’ve bought you the worst present in history.”

Hannah grinned. “It can’t be that bad?”

“Well, you’ve clearly put a lot of heartfelt thought into this one. Whereas I…” Lottie trailed off, handing Hannah a book-shaped parcel.

Hannah took it in her hands and unwrapped it. She immediately laughed out loud. “A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying Whisky?” She looked inside, and on the opening page Lottie had written her a note.

Dear Hannah,

I will get you to like whisky eventually. And in the meantime, you’ll have to keep coming back to Scotland to practice.”

Love,

Lottie xxx

“Well,” said Hannah. “I can definitely come back here. But I refuse to entertain the prospect of becoming a whisky-lover. Call it a personality quirk.” She winked at Lottie, who gave her a conspiratorial grin.

Chapter Forty-Six

HANNAH

Hannah wasn’t surprised that Lottie couldn’t keep away for the castle for the whole of Christmas Day, and when they walked, arm in arm, into the hall, she could see why.

Sunitra was sitting by the fire sipping a drink, a dog lying peacefully on the floor beside her, in animated conversation with Anne-Marie and a man that Hannah had learned was Alistair, Anne-Marie’s husband.

“Happy Christmas,” said Lottie, kissing each of her friends on the cheek.

“Oh, hen, happy Christmas,” said Anne-Marie, clearly delighted to see Lottie. “And happy Christmas to you, too, Hannah.”

Hannah smiled nervously, but before she could say anything, Anne-Marie had pulled her in for a hug. “Um, thanks,” Hannah mumbled. She wasn’t really a hugger, but Anne-Marie didn’t seem to trouble herself with that detail.

“Come and join us,” said Anne-Marie. “Anya’s coming in a bit with some hot chocolate.”

“Oooh,” said Lottie, “we’re definitely getting in on that.” She took an easy seat next to Sunitra and lazily dropped her hand to lightly stroke the head of the golden labrador who slept on.

“I hear they got your man,” said Sunitra, looking at Hannah.

“Yes, thank goodness,” said Hannah. “Thanks, though, for all your help.”

“Och, I barely did anything,” said Sunitra. “Ah, here we are.”

Anya approached the group with a tray of mugs and a jug of steaming hot chocolate. She pulled up a chair and joined them. “I missed you at lunch,” the chef said to Hannah, one eyebrow raised.

Hannah ducked her head. “Yes, sorry about that. I meant to let the guys know, but events overtook.”