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A hush descended and Erin spoke again. ‘Welcome to the fifth annual Borrowdale Twixmas Barn Dance. Yes, I know that’s a mouthful but I think we can all agree that it’s one of the highlights of the festive calendar in the valley. I can see you’ve all found the bar and after our first session of dancing, there will be a light supper served to your table by our catering team.’ Erin paused. ‘However, first I would like Magda to announce a slight change to our usual programme of events.’

Magda took the microphone. ‘Hello, everyone. You all know that we have a raffle to raise funds for the community food bank alongside the generous donations from local farmers and traders. We also have a few other prizes. We have a signed first edition by bestselling author Katie Quillam who is here on holiday.’

There were polite mutterings and a few oohs and ahs and attempts to spot Katie.

‘See, people love your books, even up here in the wilds,’ Athene hissed.

‘And I would also like to announce that we have a special guest drawing the raffle. Someone who many of you will have seen in the hugely popular BBC series The Last Vampire a few years ago.’

Katie’s cider splashed out of the glass.

‘What the—?’ Athene’s exclamation was cut off by Magda in full excited flow.

‘Our star guest has generously agreed to draw the raffle and, if that wasn’t enough, he’s offered the prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to London to see a sold-out West End show. Folks, I give you the BAFTA-nominated actor, Mr Ned Zanetti!’

Katie’s mouth fell open – it was the only part of her body that could move.

At least a third of the room seemed to know who Ned was and there was cheering and applause as he stepped out from the kitchen area on to the stage, smiling as if he’d played the barn a thousand times.

Katie managed to move enough to glance at Arlo. He looked as though the roof had fallen in on him.

Jess mouthed ‘WTF?’ at Katie.

‘Oh dear,’ said Wanda. ‘I never meant for this to happen.’

CHAPTER THIRTY

Ned was speaking but Katie hardly heard the words; she was still in shock. ‘Delighted’, ‘an honour’, and something that made everyone in the room laugh apart from their little pocket of stunned people.

‘I didn’t know about this,’ Katie exclaimed when Ned had exited the stage. She wasn’t sure if he’d spotted them in the audience, but surely he must have known that Katie was there.

Wanda held her hand over her mouth. ‘I didn’t think he’d turn up. I didn’t for one second think Erin and Magda would actually invite him. I had no idea.’

Athene’s eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘What do you mean?’

Poor Wanda. Everyone at the table was staring at her.

‘Is that the bloke you told me about who’s turned up at the Bothy?’ Greg asked Arlo. ‘Though I’ve never heard of him or his films, to be honest.’

‘He’s a friend of Katie’s,’ Athene said.

‘He’s my ex,’ Katie said, knowing Greg probably already knew that from Arlo or Athene or both. ‘And I’d no idea he was coming tonight.’

‘Neither did I,’ Arlo said, his gaze turning to Ned, who was lost amid a small crowd. ‘Erin and Magda kept that quiet.’

‘They kept it quiet from everyone by the looks of it. I – This is my fault. I was boasting about Katie to the group because I’m so proud of her and I also let slip that Ned was staying in the Bothy. I only said he was a friend of ours!’

Jess patted Wanda’s hand. ‘Don’t fret, Wanda.’

‘It’s OK, Auntie. It doesn’t matter,’ Katie said, guessing how events must have unfolded.

‘They must have gone straight round and invited him,’ Wanda said. ‘I suppose it does mean he isn’t on his own. It didn’t feel quite right to exclude him even if he wanted to work and he hadn’t originally been invited.’

Katie could only respond with a pained smile; besides, the ‘caller’ had taken Ned’s place at the front of the stage and started to explain the moves.

‘Howdy, folks, it’s time for the dancing. We’ll start off with some simple moves like the do-si-do and right and left star. We’ll do a walk-through first so you can get the hang of it. I promise you’ll be fine, even if you have two left feet. Nobody minds if you bump into them!’

Those who’d been to the barn dance before swarmed on to the floor, quickly followed by Ned, who was soon whisking around the floor like a pro, ducking under arches of dancers and skipping round the outside.