Nory’s stomach squeezed as she wondered which of her beloved vintage Christmas titles had left home. She hoped they’d be loved.

Excellent! Nory messaged back, trying to be brave. And how are things at home? How’s Mugwort?

Mugwort is the least high-maintenance of my guests But Matilda is loving the attention from American Grandma. Tomorrow my parents are coming for dinner, so I am expecting granny one-upmanship in the extreme!

Cripes! Will your dad intervene?

Absolutely not. He will watch it all with glee over the rim of his brandy glass.

Nory liked Andrew’s dad. He was a quiet man, who came into the shop often to make use of the comfortable chairs and read while his granddaughter napped peacefully on his chest. Andrew’s mum was not unlike her own, always busy and fiercely loving of her children. She most certainly wasn’t going to like having competition from Seb’s mum.

I’ll expect updates, Nory messaged.

If it all kicks off, I’ll be driving to the castle to tell you about it in person!

Ha ha. So, I may have met someone and tonight might be kind of a date, but Thom’s forbidden him to get involved with me.

Her phone rang instantly.

“What?” Andrew’s voice trilled out of the phone. “You didn’t think to tell me this part first?”

“I’m telling you now. Anyway, it might be nothing. I don’t know.”

“I must say, I’m impressed, this is quick work even for you!”

“Rude!”

“Tell me all about him.”

“He’s the gardener . . .”

“Oh, Lady Chatterley! I do say!”

“I knew you’d say that.”

“And?”

“Weirdly I remember him from when I was at school. He was my brother’s mate. And we used to have this kind of feud thing going on. Anyway, he moved away and then he came back, and now I’m back and he’s coming to dinner tonight at the castle.”

“And why exactly has Thomas forbidden him to date you?”

“I really don’t know. I’ve been too angry to call him. Maybe he thinks I’m not good enough for his friend, or he just wants to be an arsehole. This is his way of asserting his big-brother dominance.”

“Perhaps it’s you he’s looking out for?”

“Doubtful.”

“Well, apart from the overbearing brother, it all sounds fabulous. I’m hearing the distant clanging of wedding bells already.”

“Let’s not jump the gun. That clanging could be a death knell.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. Tell me about your encounters thus far.”

“So far all we’ve done is stargazing and vegetable shooting.”

“That’s not bad going, I never used to shoot vegetables until at least the sixth date.”

“These weren’t dates.”

“But they were something!” Andrew said in a singsong voice. “Is he tall, dark, and handsome?”

“As a matter of fact, he is.”

“I can practically hear you swooning.”