‘I don’t want you to think that this is why I phoned,’ Garrick went on earnestly, ‘but Los wants me to sound you out about taking a full-time job with us.’

It felt as if the room swirled around her. ‘In Switzerland?’

‘That’s right. You’d report to me but work with Kirstin, Felix and Stephen. We haven’t had an in-house designer before but the role would make a valuable addition to our promotions side. It will be more general design than exhibition work but it would be varied and would include a bit of travel.’

‘Seriously?’ Lily was literally stuck for words. She was being headhunted!

‘I know you have your own business,’ Garrick went on quickly, perhaps misreading her reaction. ‘But Los really likes motivated self-starters with a can-do attitude. When you backed that up with designs he liked and being so easy to work with, you caught his attention.’ Lily listened with a sense of being in a dream as on and on he went, talking about a package of salary and benefits with a relocation grant. The wonderful standard of living in Switzerland. ‘Why not come out and meet with Los?’ he ended persuasively.

Lily struggled to put together a reply. ‘You’ve taken me by surprise,’ she admitted. ‘I just … well, I’m interested but …’ She licked her lips. ‘I’ll have to think hard about it in the current circumstances. I’m not going to waste your company’s money by coming out to talk to Los unless I can see a prospect of me being able to seriously consider it.’

Garrick instantly read between her lines. ‘Ah. You mean you’ll be interested if Harry gets over his snit?’ He sounded rueful. ‘He doesn’t get angry easily but when he does it takes a while for him to calm down. He’s only visiting Switzerland, so far as we know,’ Garrick added. ‘You’re more likely to trip over him in Middledip than in Schützenberg but I do think it’s a good idea to take your time thinking about it. Moving to another country and giving up your business are things you shouldn’t undertake lightly. Give me a call after Christmas.’

Garrick rang off, leaving Lily to stare out into the dark winter garden. At least being given a couple of weeks to consider Garrick’s shock, dream-job offer meant she didn’t have to completely call time on her and Isaac. Yet.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Although Isaac continued to serve drinks and food, make orders, check rotas and ensure the pub ran smoothly he felt so tired by the strain of acting as his ex-girlfriend’s carer that exhaustion would be an improvement.