Steph couldn’t help grinning as she settled herself in the conservatory. With the sun shining through the glass, if she closed her eyes and concentrated she could imagine herself on a beach soaking up the heat somewhere on the Adriatic coast. The glass of wine at lunchtime was making her feel quite heavy-eyed. She had anticipated leaving after lunch, but she was enjoying being in her mother’s company right now. It was a rarity for them to share a joke and relax with each other.

‘I heard Sonia Lomas turned up at the reception party at Conmere,’ said Wendy as she took her seat opposite.

‘How did you know that?’ asked Steph, surprised her mother should know already.

‘Bad news travels fast.’ Wendy looked at Steph. ‘You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?’

‘Of course not! I don’t know why everyone is so hostile towards the woman. Even Harry didn’t seem very pleased to see his mother-in-law.’

‘He has good reason. You’re not to get involved with any of that, do you hear me?’

Steph felt herself prickle at her mother’s tone. ‘I’m not a child any more. I can make my own decisions.’ So much for the relaxed atmosphere with her mother lasting.

‘For once, if you never do anything else for me in your life, just promise to not get involved.’

Steph would have laughed if Wendy hadn’t looked so serious. She put down her cup. ‘Mum, what are you so worried about?’

‘When are you going home?’ Wendy asked instead.

Steph felt her whole being deflate. She hated feeling like this. She hated the fact that all she wanted was her mother to show some sort of concern or consideration for her, but she never did. Why Steph put herself through this she didn’t know. Wendy had never been a hands-on, cuddly mum. It seemed that not even retirement had thawed the original ice-queen. She met her mother’s gaze. Well, what Steph was about to tell her should make up for the disappointment Steph felt. Wendy was going to love this. She smiled at her mother. ‘I’m not going home just yet,’ she said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve got myself a job at Conmere.’ Steph sat back, taking comfort from the look of horror on Wendy’s face.

‘Are you serious?’

‘Absolutely. They were shortstaffed for the week and I was offered a job, plus Harry Sinclair had asked me to do some promo photos for the interior of the house and said he could put some in the shop to sell. I get paid for both, so it’s a win-win for me. I didn’t have any work this week and I need the money, so it would have been stupid to turn it down.’