She was like a beacon to the others, he thought. It only took a courteous request from her and Kirstin brought out an electrical lead. The teen boys and Neil set up the PA and instruments under a canopy beside the stall, presumably there to prevent anyone getting fried if snow made contact with an electrical instrument. Eddie and Warwick played a few chords then Lily lifted her eyebrows at Carola, who nodded. The group formed up beside Warwick and Eddie.

All eyes were on Carola as she made a ‘Ready?’ face at everyone then counted Warwick and Eddie in. Their heads nodded as they burst into the introduction to ‘I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday’. Around them, people paused, turned, came closer, some buying glühwein or hot chocolate at nearby stalls as they prepared to enjoy the free entertainment.

The song was greeted with applause when they finished and Kirstin stepped forward, speaking in her own language and then switching to English to say, ‘And so our British friends, the Middletones, have driven all the way from England to be the guests of British Country Foods and to sing for us.’

She stepped aside and Carola brought them in for several traditional carols like ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, ending with ‘Silent Night’. A number of people joined in, Isaac noticed, some singing the German words and applauding enthusiastically at the end.

The audience swelled and Isaac saw Tubb, Janice, Garrick and Eleanor join the fringes of the crowd.

Lily’s face shone. She looked so happy at their reception that he knew she must have been hiding a few doubts behind her apparent confidence in the project she’d put together. They began ‘Let it Snow’ and, obligingly, the snow began to fall more heavily, as if it, too, wanted Lily and the Middletones to look good. Melina emerged from the British Country Foods stall to offer bite-sized samples of food, savoury on one platter and sweet on the other. Isaac swiped a piece of tea bread as she passed and popped it in his mouth, savouring the sweet, light bread studded with raisins and sultanas. Kirstin glided around with her iPhone, taking photos and videos for social media.

In another ten minutes the Middletones had completed the set, ending with a rousing rendition of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, greeted with applause and even a whistle or two. Carola beamed, her pale hair escaping from beneath her red hat. ‘Thank you for making us welcome. The Middletones will be singing here again on Saturday afternoon and evening.’

Kirstin moved forward to add, ‘And our stall will be here to bring you delicious British food until the market ends on Sunday.’