‘Polite cough,’ said Isaac mildly, slowing the minibus as traffic backed up in front of them.

‘Present company excepted,’ Carola answered, but absently, as if unconvinced.

‘You can’t judge all men by Duncan and Owen.’ Lily patted Carola’s hand. ‘You don’t deserve the problems you’ve had. Maybe Mr Perfect is in your near future—’

Carola snorted. ‘He needn’t bother. I was perfectly fine on my own after Duncan left and I’ll be perfectly fine again. I don’t need a man.’

‘Of course you don’t,’ Lily agreed, but last night Isaac had definitely made her need him, kissing in the frigid air beside the lake, pressing his body to hers as if trying to force himself through their thick clothing. In bed she’d fantasised about what might have happened if their trip had taken place in a Swiss summer rather than icy winter. A quiet place in a wildflower meadow perhaps … In her fantasy, Doggo had obligingly closed his eyes and slept through the whole heated encounter.

Beside her, as if picking up her thoughts of his canine companion Isaac clicked his fingers. ‘I have to find a vet to get Doggo wormed on Friday or he won’t be allowed back into the UK.’

It was a rude hijacking of her fantasy but Lily took out her phone and researched vets in Schützenberg. Isaac had dropped everything to drive the Middletones halfway across Europe so she was happy to help. ‘There are two possibilities here. I’ll text you the links.’

‘Great, thanks.’ He shot her a smile as he indicated to take the motorway exit. Soon the great exhibition halls loomed before them and they joined a long snake of traffic waiting to be marshalled into the massive car parks. Once inside the building they had the tedious business of passing security, the instruments being taken to a special table to be scanned and then inspected by a sniffer dog. Next they pinned on their passes and queued to check in their coats. Finally they were free to get into the cavernous hall with its crowded aisles and bright lights, orientate themselves with a bit of help from a young lady handing out floor plans then head for stand E11-07.

The phrase ‘as difficult as herding cats’ should be replaced by ‘as difficult as herding teenagers’ Lily thought, bringing up the rear in an attempt to dissuade Warwick from stopping to inspect a stand of travel cups, Eddie and Alfie asking for sample cereal bars and Charlotte from veering off towards a display of cake decorations. Carola was navigating at the head of the group, Neil and Franciszka chatting as they followed her.