Of course, it had taken a further blow after Dad’s crash and since arriving back I’d had no choice but to acknowledge the reaction it had whenever Ned was in the vicinity, but thanks to my head coming up with the plan to get him and Maya together which would enable me to soon be on my way, it was back under control again.

‘I mean,’ Noah carried on, ‘the heart wants what the heart wants, and following your head is all well and good but it can be a bit soulless, don’t you think?’ He didn’t wait for me to answer. ‘When it comes to matters of love, it’s the heart that counts. Now,’ he said, with a nod to the sleighs, ‘do you want me to give you a hand to bolt these on?’

Everyone had left by the time Noah and I had finished and with Ned away on business elsewhere again, I decided to line the carts up outside so they looked poised for action. There would be no way he could miss them when he came over to the office the following morning and I hoped he’d like them as much as I did. Using ply had ensured the additional weight was minimal and I had attached them high enough to ensure there was decent ground clearance.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ I frowned at Bandit who growled when I let him out of the office.

I hadn’t had him sit with me while I had been painting because the fumes had been a bit on the strong side and then I’d ended up leaving him a little longer so he didn’t get under mine and Noah’s feet while we finished up. I hadn’t realised he was going be so put out.

‘It’s been for your own good,’ I told him, but he shot round the side of me and straight out into the yard.

Perhaps he’d read my mind about being the Wynter’s Trees poster pooch and was making himself scarce before I had a chance to hook him up to a sleigh.

‘Bandit!’ I shouted after him as he bypassed the lodge and headed straight for the plantation. ‘It’ll be great publicity!’ But he didn’t stop. ‘Oh, for pity’s sake.’

I was in no mood to go chasing after him in the dark. Not when a hot bath and lazy supper beckoned. I was looking forward to an evening alone where I wouldn’t have to spend all of my time trying not to look at Ned.

‘Come back you crazy dog!’ I bellowed, but to no avail.