She was awaiting him there by the time he’d retraced his footsteps up to the front of the house. Her leggings and oversized purple hoodie went quite well with the navy blue of her sling and her cheeks were less wan than when he’d left her last night. ‘I was about to ring you,’ she said by way of greeting as she ushered him into the house. ‘The minibus insurance might delay us tomorrow because I can’t phone up with your details until eight a.m. but we can change the tunnel crossing by an hour and still easily make the hotel at Chalons en Champagne for the night.’

She paused to glance back and as if he hadn’t been letting his gaze stray to the movement of her behind he blinked his eyes to hers as she went on, ‘I’ve been in touch with Don at Acting Instrumental. He says we’ll have to retain one of the seats that were going to come out but we should still be all right for luggage space. He’s okayed the change of driver with the head guy. The beauty of the college being a small independent is that they can cut red tape and the head guy would never stop a band hitting the road if it could be avoided.’

They entered a huge dining room with a stack of stuff at one end and a load more on the table. Carola sat amongst it all, blonde hair tucked behind her ears and her gaze on her laptop. ‘Glad you’re here,’ she said briskly. ‘I need to book your rooms for the overnight stops in France.’

In between providing the details she needed he broke the news about having to take Doggo. ‘I can’t get hold of Hayley and Flora can’t have him because of her daughter’s fur allergies.’

Lily groaned. ‘Just when you think you’ve thought of everything.’

‘Luckily, the hotel has pet-friendly rooms,’ Carola interrupted, focused on her own task and tapping furiously.

‘Doggo’s crate takes up room in the luggage compartment,’ he warned Lily. ‘An alternative is to put him in a doggy seatbelt but that means you’d have to have another seat in and he’s more comfortable in the crate. You can stack luggage on top of it,’ he added helpfully.

Lily rolled her eyes. ‘Then backpacks will have to be stowed under seats. Ten people, ten backpacks, instruments, the PA and now a Dalmatian in a box.’ Lily turned to Carola. ‘Let’s add Isaac and Doggo to the Eurotunnel booking.’ Lily turned back to Isaac. ‘I’ve phoned Max about your accommodation in Switzerland and he said leave it with him. He was so mega relieved that you’re saving the whole venture – and his face – that he said he’d put you up in a hotel at his own expense if necessary.’