A lump lodged itself in her throat and she blinked back tears. Stupid really. Why hadn’t she ever realised that falling in love with someone was the biggest risk of all? Moving to Ireland, getting a new job – there was no risk at all. It was a change but it could all be managed. She could afford a house here, there was a job for her, and if it didn’t work out she had the experience to get another.

When you fell in love, you had no control over the other person’s feelings. It was a huge risk. You opened up your heart and left it unprotected, and who knew that it could be so fragile? Or so easily hurt? Or that there would be a physical ache in her chest? Or that her spirits would drag like chains pulling on her ankles. Bugger. Love hurt. It really bloody did.

An hour later, with her head held high, she slipped on the black court shoes with a touch of defiance and left the house hunched under a large umbrella. Unfortunately, the rain had begun not long after she’d dressed, with no indication of let-up. There’d been no sign of Conor either. Walking up the track in heels through small rivulets of water probably wasn’t her best move but everyone was dressing up tonight and she needed armour.

In the early evening light, the greenhouse shone through the drizzle, its windows giving off a soft, almost magical glow. The sounder of chatter drifted out through the doors and windows as she neared the entrance where the others had congregated, each of them holding a flute of pale sparkling wine next to a pile of abandoned umbrellas.

‘Hannah,’ called Izzy, immediately snagging a glass from one of the waiters nearby and pressing it into her hand. ‘You look gorgeous. Haven’t we all brushed up well?’

Hannah pushed her slightly damp curls over her shoulder, grateful that she’d not attempted some stylish up-do. It would have collapsed in the wet weather.

Meredith was in a lovely patterned maxi dress that flowed over her soft curves while Izzy wore white palazzo pants and a silk vest in bright green with a big white pashmina slung around her shoulders giving an uncharacteristically glamorous stamp to her tall frame. Even Jason had abandoned his habitual jeans and she wasn’t about to tell him that he looked like one of the waiters in his smart white shirt and black trousers. Alan was the surprise of the night in a very smart grey suit that had a whiff of custom tailoring to it. He looked almost unrecognisable and Hannah wondered what he had done before he retired. Even his posture was different, with a definite touch of corporate heavyweight about him.