‘Got it,’ he said, holding it up in his other hand. ‘God forbid we should go anywhere without it.’

12

‘Where are we going?’ I asked as we strode down the small pavement of what seemed to be the central street of the village.

‘You’ll see.’

‘Where’s Bod?’

‘Staying with Brighid for a bit to be thoroughly spoiled.’

‘I don’t think you need to hold my hand.’

‘Got to keep up, Maddie.’ Lorcan stopped without warning and I came to a sudden halt. ‘After all, we have a lot of work to do.’ He gave a quick wink as he tossed my words back at me before starting off again.

I swore under my breath.

‘Any more of that and we’ll have to make an extra stop at the church for someone to take confession.’

‘You know, you’re not as funny as you think you are,’ I said, taking two to three steps to his one, determined not to fall behind.

‘That’s what I like about you, Maddie. You keep a man grounded.’

I opened my mouth with a riposte when Lorcan halted, rapping on a glass door with the back of his knuckles. Swallowing my retort, I looked properly at the place we had stopped at. It was a double-fronted premises set in what appeared to have once been a large house. The roof and paintwork were both new but the door gave nothing away. To the side of it, however, was a small sign.

Ur

‘It means “Fresh” in Gaelic,’ Lorcan explained, following my eyeline just as the door opened and a tall, rangy man with striking green eyes and a shock of red hair tied back in a short ponytail appeared.

‘I was just wondering where you’d all got to.’ The man smiled, shaking Lorcan’s hand enthusiastically, before switching to me.

‘Sorry. We would have been earlier. Someone overslept. Not used to all this fresh country air,’ Lorcan explained with a grin. My mouth fell open and I felt the blush from forehead to toes.

‘No problem at all. Pleased to meet you. You must be Madeleine.’

‘I… yes, I am,’ I replied, feeling at a loss as I willed the blush to subside.

‘I’m Eoghan. And I hear you have a wedding to plan for our Patrick.’

‘Yes. Yes, that’s right. At the castle.’

‘And you’re in need of a caterer?’

My eyes widened as I looked round at Lorcan. He gave the merest hint of a shrug. ‘Yes! Yes, we are.’

‘Eoghan here’s your man.’

‘Hold it there, now, Lorcan. I’m sure Madeleine, if she’s as good a planner as I’ve heard her talked about, will be wanting to try some samples before she books anyone.’

I’d been talked about?

‘That would be wonderful, if you’re able to? Are you aware of the size of the wedding and the short time scale?’

‘I am.’