When they both had drinks, William went on a tour of the guests with Gilly at his side. Because they were all friends from a long time ago along with William’s fleet of aunts, no one was surprised to see Gilly. It obviously seemed normal that William should have a woman on his arm. A few enquired about the wedding, asking why they hadn’t been invited, but William explained that he and Gilly hadn’t been together that long. He patted her arm fondly, a bit possessively, and made her feel she was important to him. She realised how much she enjoyed feeling part of a couple after being on her own so long. Yet being with Leo hadn’t given her this warm sense of belonging.

‘Well, I think we’ve talked to everyone,’ said William after a little while. ‘It’s time for cake!’

Alert for this moment, a waiter came up with two plates and they found a sofa to sit on while they ate it.

‘It really is the most marvellous cake ever,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe I actually know someone who is so clever that they could make something so beautiful and so delicious.’

‘Thank you,’ said Gilly, pleased. ‘I’ve always felt it shouldn’t be a compromise between beauty – well, not exactly beauty, just detail really – and taste.’

‘I can’t believe anyone would take so much time and trouble to make one for me,’ William went on. ‘Daphne explained that she’d offered to get it made professionally but that you’d insisted on making it yourself.’

It wasn’t quite how Gilly remembered it. Daphne had definitely asked her to make it, but she realised it was all part of Daphne’s cunning plan to bring them together. ‘I do like making cakes. I haven’t done one like this though since my children grew up. Now I just make cakes to serve to my B & B guests, or fundraising events.’ She paused. ‘Although come to think of it, I do make them for Helena.’

‘Not your son?’

Gilly now felt a bit mean. ‘His wife isn’t a fan of cake.’

‘Oh,’ said William. ‘It must be hard to connect with someone who doesn’t like cake. For you, I mean. A fellow non-cake lover would find it easy, I suppose.’

‘Shall we have another drink before the minibus arrives to take us all home?’ suggested Gilly.

‘Yes to the drink, no to the minibus. We’ll get a taxi.’

Chapter Twenty-four

William tapped his phone a couple of times and then ordered the taxi. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘Brandy while we wait?’

‘Why not?’ said Gilly, thinking briefly about the risk of a hangover, before deciding she was enjoying herself so much any repercussions were worth it.

The taxi came and they both fell into the back. William’s fingers entwined with hers as they sped through the countryside.