‘No,’ I said. ‘Of course not. I promised I wouldn’t and I haven’t told anyone.’

Ned ran his hands through his hair and I noticed how tired he looked. Even though he had broached the subject, I knew it wasn’t the moment to tell him how difficult I was finding it to not say anything and how guilty I was feeling about misleading everyone.

‘I’ll explain to Maya,’ I said. ‘I should have gone after her when she left the pub.’

‘It would be good to clear the air.’ Ned sighed. ‘I want to make your last few weeks connected to Wynter’s Trees good ones, so the last thing we need are misunderstandings among the team.’

I appreciated that he could acknowledge that this Christmas was to be my last, but his insistence that we keep my plans quiet was going to be the cause of the biggest misunderstanding of all.

‘I know it must be hard for you,’ he then kindly said, ‘being back here properly for the first time since you lost your dad, but I want to give you a Christmas he would be proud of, Liza.’

‘That means a lot,’ I whispered, emotion suddenly outweighing annoyance, as I turned towards the stairs and away from that look in his eye. ‘Dad would appreciate that,’ I swallowed, ‘and so do I.’

Chapter 10

As I went through my cleanse, tone and moisturise routine that night, I played over the conversation I’d just had with Ned. I was deeply touched that he wanted to make my final December connected to Wynter’s Trees so special, but my appreciation was marked by an unexpected hint of sadness.

I hardly dared to entertain the idea, but was I feeling upset because he wasn’t fighting for me? I should have been delighted that he wasn’t thinking I’d be seduced by the sight of the place bedecked in its seasonal finery, like I guessed David still was, but I felt as far from thrilled as it was possible to get. It was irrational and infuriating. Aside from not letting me tell everyone my plans, Ned was behaving exactly how I had initially wanted him to, but for some reason his kind and considerate conduct didn’t satisfy me.

Perhaps I should have another chat with him and David and see if I could persuade him to let me talk about my intentions to Sue at least? The future I was attempting to create didn’t feel real all the while I was cocooned inside the lodge and spinning out these surreal few weeks helping in the huts. Maybe putting the cat among the pigeons would be the wake-up call I needed to bring my emotions to heel, and launching my ‘get Ned and Maya together’ plan of action might help too.