There was one more surprise after dinner. Maxie and Hazel had decided to leave for their honeymoon that night. It wasn’t a long drive. Hazel had barely touched her champagne. They wanted to wake up in the cottage, they said. Start their married life in the wild beauty of the Highlands.

*

Downstairs, Olivia hugged them. ‘If it wasn’t nearly midnight, I’d tie cans to the back of your car.’

‘See you in New York soon, I hope,’ Hazel said as she hugged Eliza.

‘See you in Edinburgh next week,’ Eliza said, hugging Maxie.

‘I can’t wait,’ Maxie said.

She did her best to avoid Olivia’s gaze as she said it.

Olivia and Eliza had just driven out of Gretna Green on their way back to Edinburgh the next morning when Olivia’s phone rang. She pulled over to answer.

Maxie, Eliza guessed. She’d already sent two messages that morning, both with photos. The view from their cottage, heather-covered hills, spectacular mountains in the distance, a weak sun breaking through clouds. The second showed two slices of wedding cake beside a morning pot of coffee. It was the most perfect wedding, she’d written. It felt like a magical dream. We never want to wake up. Thank you both so so much. M & H xxx.

It wasn’t Maxie calling. It was Lawrence.

A woman had arrived at the front desk of the Montgomery saying she was there to provide secretarial services to a guest. She was from a prestigious executive assistant agency in London. She’d been offered a month’s employment, with accommodation and all expenses paid by the Montgomery hotel. Celine had placed the ad. Rory had driven the woman back to the train station. Lawrence had covered her travel costs.

Olivia was furious. She told Lawrence they’d meet to discuss it as soon as she and Eliza returned.

Eliza and Olivia began arguing about it even before they got back on the road.

Eliza pleaded her case. ‘Please, Olivia. Ask me. I need something to do.’

‘You’re supposed to be here on holiday, Eliza. Not to tidy up my family messes.’

‘Then pretend I’m a temp. Let me step in until you do find someone else.’

Olivia turned in the driver’s seat. ‘Eliza, Celine’s not an eccentric old lady. She’s vicious. I’ve tried to be sympathetic to her over the years – she lost her only daughter to cancer, after all – but it’s impossible. All she does is insult people. She told Susan she was fat, had chin hairs, that it’s no wonder she’s single. She told me that Edgar only married me to get a free nanny. She blames everyone for the fact she’s behind with her deadline.’

‘Deadline?’ Eliza asked. ‘So she actually has a contract for her biography?’