When Megan rushed to kiss them, her uncle enfolded her in his arms, then held her at arm’s length and scrutinised her face very carefully. ‘You’re going to make a beautiful bride, Meggie-girl. I wish my brother could be here to see you.’

‘I do, too.’ She had been thinking of her parents as she finished packing her things, studying a photograph of them and wondering if they’d have approved of Ben.

Her aunt’s scrutiny was no less thorough. ‘You look tired.’

‘I didn’t sleep well, worrying about not inviting you.’

She led them into the sitting room and introduced them to Ben, who had returned a few minutes previously. He was already dressed for the wedding in a light grey suit, with a white silk shirt and a tie in subtle shades of grey and pink that was a work of art in its own right.

Auntie Eileen’s and Uncle John’s expressions were still suspicious, but Ben was at his most charming as he introduced them to his aunt and urged them to sit down. In fact, Megan thought in annoyance, he was positively oozing charm. Could he turn it on so easily, then? Had he been merely pretending with her? Surely not?

After a cup of tea and some stilted small talk, Auntie Eileen said abruptly, ‘I don’t want to upset anyone, but we’d like to speak to our niece in private.’

Megan threw an apologetic glance at Ben and led the way into the dining room, where a light buffet lunch was set out. To her surprise, it was Uncle John who spoke first.

‘What’s all this about, Meggie-girl? How come you’re marrying this stranger?’

‘Don’t you like him?’ she parried, uncertain whether she could lie to her uncle.

‘I don’t know him. I’d never even heard of him before this morning, had I?’

She blushed and shame filled her. ‘That was my fault. He wanted to come and meet you a couple of weeks ago.’

‘Why didn’t you bring him to see us, then?’ Her aunt didn’t look best pleased. ‘Were you ashamed of us?’

‘No, of course not!’ She rushed across and hugged them both again to prove it. ‘I don’t know why, really. I just felt that you might try to stop me marrying him, and I didn’t want to be stopped.’

Her Uncle John put his arm round her. ‘So what changed your mind today, love?’

‘I suddenly realised I couldn’t get married without you two there – and Ben was so understanding, we rang you straight away.’

Aunt Eileen sniffed disapprovingly. ‘Our Sarah’s going to be furious she’s missed it and I still don’t see why there’s all this rush.’

‘Because he’s got to go back to Australia tomorrow.’