‘Well,’ Tamsyn said. ‘I’d better go. Jed and I have a hot date, him, me, a bottle of fizz and a WI meeting on crochet and its cultural significance in Cornwall, which I am actually looking forward to. I hear Cordelia is performing her usual Valentine’s ritual of dressing for a funeral and reciting depressing poetry.’

‘So, just another day, then.’ Sue smiled. ‘The children are with Rory tonight, helping him paint his new place, so I am planning to go to bed at eight, read a book and eat chocolate. It will be bliss!’

Just as Sue was about to go, there was a knock at the door.

‘Builders most likely.’ Sue rolled her eyes, noticing that for some reason Tamsyn was following her to answer the door, and did she imagine it, but did Tamsyn just skip?’

Sue opened the door and then closed it again, very quickly.

‘Was that …?’ She turned around to look at Tamsyn, who was now hopping.

‘Open the bloody door!’ Tamsyn ordered Sue.

‘But what is he doing here?’ Sue hissed, smoothing her hair down and pinching her cheeks the way her grandmother had always used to do to get a bit of colour in them.

‘Open the door, and you might find out!’

Taking a deep breath, Sue opened the door again. ‘Hello, Blake,’ she said, going for regal indifference.

‘Sue,’ he said. ‘I wondered if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight. I’ve booked a table.’

‘That is awfully presumptuous of you,’ Sue said, trying really hard not to smile. ‘I might be busy.’

‘Well, it would be if I hadn’t already contacted all of your friends and made absolutely sure that you don’t have any plans between now and tomorrow afternoon.’

Sue gasped, turning round to look at Tamsyn, who was grinning like a child.

‘I can’t just go out. For starters I’ve got nothing to wear.’

‘Ah, well you have,’ Tamsyn said. ‘I’ve packed you a capsule wardrobe, it’s in that overnight bag.’

‘Overnight bag?’ Sue looked appalled. ‘Where are we going? Monaco?’

‘Venice, actually, dinner for two at the Cipriani, separate rooms of course. My helicopter is waiting for us in the field up by the hotel.’

‘But, Blake,’ Sue said. ‘What is this about? Why are you doing this?’

‘Well,’ Blake said, taking Sue’s hand in his, ‘because once a very wise man told me that if you want your wishes to come true, you have to let them. And now I am going to kiss you.’

‘Wait a moment.’ Sue stopped him, and she turned back to her friend who was still hopping and applauding.

‘Tamsyn, haven’t you got a WI meeting to go to?’

‘Oh yes, bye then,’ Tamsyn said, as Sue stepped outside with Blake and closed the door on her friend.

‘Now.’ She smiled into Blake’s eyes. ‘Where were we?’

Enjoyed Secret Santa?