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‘I assume he has a partner?’

‘Fiancée.’

‘Oh, f—’ Katie swallowed the expletive. ‘So, does she know about the affair?’

Athene stared at Katie and gasped. ‘Affair? There’s been no affair! I’m not that far gone. Or, actually, that’s a lie. I probably would have done it if I’d had the opportunity.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘No, I haven’t had an affair with Guy. It’s sadder than that. I haven’t so much as kissed him, unless you count the usual publishing cheek peck. In fact, I suspect he doesn’t even know. I’m hopelessly, madly in love with a man who has no idea how I feel. And now he’s getting married and he never will.’

‘And are you sure he hasn’t led you on or made you think there was more between you? He is charming and he does flirt.’

‘Oh, he’s charming and I have asked myself the same question many times. Sometimes, I thought there was a glint in his eye, a look that lingered too long and the odd flirtatious comment, but I put it all down to Guy simply being Guy. I don’t think he has the slightest inkling about my secret feelings, if that doesn’t sound too cheesy?’

‘Unrequited love isn’t cheesy, it’s painful and I do understand about harbouring secret feelings for someone,’ Katie said. ‘More than you think.’

Athene’s eyes widened. ‘You can’t mean you’ve fallen back in love with Ned again? You mentioned you’d been out with him yesterday but we’ve not had a chance to talk about it. I don’t like to poke my nose in anyway, but if you want to talk?’

‘Ned …’ Secret feelings for Ned? ‘To use a cliché, it’s complicated. Bloody complicated and I don’t know what to do or if I should do anything.’

‘Ned has rather put you on the spot simply by turning up,’ Athene said, looking happier now she could focus on Katie’s love life rather than her own. ‘And I don’t want to be unkind, but I wish for your sake that he hadn’t – unless, of course, he’s a welcome presence. Please do tell me to mind my own business if I’m talking out of turn.’

‘You’re not. It’s a relief to have someone – neutral to talk to. Wanda wants us to get back together and Jess – well, she seems to think I’m not being fair to Ned by keeping him dangling. Although he did turn up uninvited, as you said. I do care for him – in a way, I still love him.’ Katie thought back to the moment Ned challenged her to say she didn’t love him. Saying she didn’t would have been brutal and it felt like a cruel and very final ending to a relationship that might not be romantic any more but was still one that she valued.

‘It would be so easy to walk off into the sunset with him,’ she said.

Athene raised her eyebrows. ‘Since when has a Katie Quillam heroine taken the easy path to happiness?’

‘If they did, there’d be no story to tell.’

‘Then you must be brave and take the difficult route – which might not involve Ned.’

Katie glanced at the ceiling. ‘I know. It’s just so hard to tread on someone’s dreams and make a fresh start.’

‘With someone else?’ Athene said. ‘Someone very close to … home?’ She looked around the kitchen.

‘If you mean Arlo, I’ve only known him a few days. How could I possibly think of a fresh start with him?’

‘It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known him if he makes your heart beat faster and you long for him to walk into the room and you lie awake wishing for what could never be. It could never be for me and Guy, but as for Arlo … well, I’ve seen the way he looks at you and there is a spark there. There’s hope, if you want to go forward, that is.’

‘I feel that spark, I can’t deny it, but with Ned here …’

‘All I want for Christ-mas-s is yo-ou!’

Jess’s voice came from upstairs and grew louder, followed by laughter and footsteps rapidly descending the stairs. Athene and Katie exchanged panicked looks.

‘We’ll try to talk later, if we get the chance,’ Athene said.

‘Thanks.’ Katie touched her arm and then they both pasted on smiles as Jess and Wanda bounded into the kitchen.

‘You’ll not guess what – we’re ready!’ Wanda cried.

Katie squeaked in mock horror. ‘Bloody hell. I might swoon with shock.’

Athene chuckled.

‘And we have a surprise for you,’ Jess added.

‘For me?’

‘For all of us.’ Jess lifted her eyebrows. ‘You’ll find out when we reach Firholme.’