The door opened and a beaming Richard Capel welcomed them inside.

*

“I’ve got a crush,” said Chloe. They were back inside the Browning’s entry, just her and Archer, Susan having excused herself to get Christmas lunch on the table. Susan had invited Archer to stay, but he would be sitting down to lunch with his parents soon. Chloe thought again how odd it was to call it Christmas lunch when it was practically dinner time. It was almost dark outside.

“So, your crush? Is it on me?” Archer was playing; it was in the tug of a smile at the corners of his mouth. Perhaps he felt emboldened by their visit to the Capels, which had gone unbelievably well. Mrs Capel had been cognisant of their arrival and had clasped her hands together in almost childlike glee as they helped unpack the Christmas dinner.

“You? No, definitely not.” Chloe could play too. “On the Capels. Like, a serious crush. As in, I want to have a love like—” She stopped herself; she’d given away too much.

“I know just what you mean.” They shared a smile and there was a moment when Chloe wondered if he was going to kiss her. What was the protocol with the Brownings in the next room? And even more pressing, would a kiss resolve the multitude of questions that still hung between them? Chloe doubted that very much.

He didn’t kiss her—Chloe was both relieved and disappointed—but instead, took her hands in his. “So, that thing I wanted to ask you about. I’ve just found out that I’m expected in London the day after tomorrow, for an interview with Vanity Fair. And I know I dropped a bombshell on you this morning, and I can’t say I would blame you if you said no, but I thought that maybe you would like to come with me to London—tonight, actually. I’ll be driving back after Christmas lunch. It would just be three nights. We’d be staying at the Four Seasons. And, of course, I’d be more than happy to get you your own suite. I don’t mean to presume anything. So …”

Chloe was torn. She’d been loving the Christmassy bubble of Penham, but the mess with the paparazzi aside, she suspected it would now feel empty without Archer. Then again, how would Lucy’s parents feel about her disappearing off to London—and on Christmas?

“Um …”

“Of course. This is probably all a bit much. It’s just … I’m mindful that you’re not here for very long and I want to spend as much time with you as possible. But, with everything that’s happened, I shouldn’t have presu—”

“No, it’s not that,” she interrupted. “I mean, yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the paparazzi thing, but …” She looked over her shoulder towards the kitchen.

“Oh, right,” he said, lowering the volume of his voice further. “You’re worried that it might seem rude.”

“Yes, exactly. The Brownings have been so lovely, and they’ve really gone out of their way for me.”