Celeste had been like an over-excited child at the thought of a party. He supposed it was boring for her, being stuck with Rob all the time, when he wasn’t exactly stimulating company. Well, hopefully she wouldn’t be here too much longer. As soon as she got her life back on track, she could go back to Dublin. He could see her now, talking to English Colin. She had told him that there seemed to be something going on between him and Penny, an attraction that both of them were too shy to admit to. Rob had barely been able to process that. He didn’t want to hear about love, think about love. He couldn’t even listen to Celeste talk about her own relationship woes. She was the girlfriend of his oldest friend, and they were having problems. Rob didn’t mind her hiding out here until it was worked out. He couldn’t handle the analysis of every last moment too. He had done enough of that for himself.

He felt a pinch on his arm. It was Penny.

‘You look beautiful,’ he said, smiling at her.

‘You and I know that beautiful is never a word that could describe me,’ she said with a pleased laugh. ‘Elle chose it for me. I think it suits me very well.’

‘It does,’ he agreed. ‘And you do look beautiful, radiant actually.’

‘I’m happy for you too . . . about Celeste,’ said Penny. ‘Of course I’d always hoped that you and Elle . . .’ she broke off at the sight of his face. ‘But I want you to be happy regardless. Celeste is lovely.’

‘Penny,’ he said. ‘You’ve got it completely wrong. Celeste is a good friend, nothing more. She’s having a few troubles right now, things I can’t go into. But that’s all.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she said looking confused. ‘I haven’t been around much lately . . . I just assumed. But in that case, couldn’t you just give it one more try with Elle? I think this time, since she’s come back, she’s really starting to open up more, to soften a little.’

He looked at her sadly. Typical, ever optimistic Penny. ‘It wouldn’t matter if I gave it a million chances, your sister just doesn’t want me, Penny. She never will. It’s as simple as that.’

She watched him walk away and stand by the window, watching the last of the sunset.

‘It’s all going amazingly!’ Hazel enthused to Elle, just before dinner. ‘Everyone is having a ball. I haven’t seen so many beautiful evening dresses collected in one place in a long time.’

‘Yes, I think it’s going well,’ admitted Elle biting her lip. ‘But the hardest bit is still to come.’

‘You’ll be fine,’ her friend soothed.