Page 47 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘You went to see it?’ May looked up.

‘I told Winnie that to give her my best ideas I would need to get a proper feel for it, and Avery gave me a tour. I’m glad he did, because my plans changed completely after I saw inside – those amazing views from the back of the house.’

‘Avery’s got the smarts when he applies himself,’ May said. ‘That was the line he got in every school report. But he didn’t like applying himself on the whole, and definitely not when other people told him what to do. But he’s his own boss now, he’s taken on this big project, and he’s in his element. He just needs to take that attitude into … other aspects of his life.’ She laid out several different colours of ribbon, placing them next to the blush pink card Sophie had bought. ‘Though far be it from me to nosy my way into his personal life. It’s not like I’m coupled up myself.’

‘You will be when you want to be,’ Sophie said. ‘If you want to be. What about the dark burgundy?’ She put the shimmering ribbon alongside their card. ‘You want Avery to settle down?’

Daisy was the picture of nonchalance. She made approving noises about the ribbon, looked over to check that Jazz and Lucy were doing all right with the paper chains. Dexter was helping, was in fact being their clotheshorse, glittering decorations draped over his outstretched arms and around his neck. Harry and Imogen were examining the windows that looked out over the trees at the back of the manor. Daisy wanted to cover them with light catchers, then angle lamps up from the floor so they created a kaleidoscope of colour. She glanced down at the rugs that covered the floorboards, adding extra cosiness to the enormous room. That was another job to add to her list – they would all have to be moved for the ball.

‘I can’t remember Avery having a partner for more than six months,’ May said with a sigh, ‘and I don’t think he’s ever been besotted with anyone. And that’s fine, if he’s only up for flings. It’s absolutely his business. But I think that what happened when he was little, the fights and my parents’ horror, sending him off to boarding school like that, knocked his confidence. The violence was really out of character for him, though he won’t say what set him off – if he even remembers that far back – but I think that’s why he keeps everything easy and short term, doesn’t like to put his trust in people. I’m sure it’s to protect himself from getting hurt.’

‘But now he’s seen what he can do with this house build,’ Sophie said, ‘you think he should test the water with other things too?’

‘Exactly. Mary and Winnie’s project was so far out of his comfort zone, and I expected him to say no, but he took it on and he’s surprised himself.’

‘From the little I saw, he’s a great boss,’ Daisy said. ‘Fair but firm. His team seem happy.’ She didn’t know how she felt about this revelation. She was his secret holiday kiss, and it seemed as if she was one in a line of many, that this was what Avery did. Was she OK with that?

‘I’m glad,’ May said. ‘He’s been less upbeat than usual, but if this job goes well maybe he’ll get his mojo back?’

‘I’m sure he will.’ Sophie rubbed May’s arm. ‘And he’s got the treasure hunt too.’

‘He’s showing me how to use the jigsaw so I can help,’ Jazz called over, then spent the next ten minutes explaining to Lucy that it was different to the puzzles you did around the fire on Boxing Day, and not something she should go near, even if someone at the building site offered to show her how it worked.

‘Why would any of the workmen show the jigsaw to my daughter?’ Dexter asked, an uncustomary edge to his voice.

Jazz was unperturbed. ‘Just covering all eventualities. That isn’t a very likely one because all the guys are really responsible. Sweet, even.’

Sophie and May’s heads snapped around as if they were on strings. ‘Did you just say the workmen were sweet?’ Sophie asked.

‘When did that word enter your vocabulary?’ May added.

Daisy grinned knowingly. ‘Maybe it’s one workman in particular who you think is sweet? Wide smile and impressive shoulders? Goes by the name of Omari?’

Jazz readjusted Dexter’s paper-chain sleeves. ‘I can neither confirm nor deny any of these accusations.’

‘Omari,’ May said thoughtfully. ‘Hmmm. I hope he’s coming to the ball.’

‘I’ll make sure Avery asks his entire team,’ Daisy said. ‘See if Winnie and Mary can put them up at the hotel for the night, if they’re not staying in Mistingham already.’

‘That’s very organized of you,’ Imogen said, as she and Harry came to join in with the crafting.

‘Organized is Daisy’s middle name,’ Harry confirmed. ‘Daisy Organized Anderly.’

‘That’s much more poetic than Emma,’ Daisy said with a laugh. ‘Just give me things to sort out, and I’m happier than a pig in clover.’

‘Or a goat in the kitchen,’ Jazz said, and Harry froze.

‘He isn’t, is he?’

‘Not that I’ve seen. It was just another example.’

Harry ran a hand through his hair and went to check anyway.

Later, when the teas had been swapped for wine, and Dexter had produced three boxes of savoury mincemeat plaits, the lattice pastry glazed, the beef mince insides topped with red onion relish, Daisy sat next to Jazz, who had a glass of red wine and was scrolling on her phone, slightly apart from the rest of the group.

‘Sorry if you thought we were prying earlier,’ she said, holding her plate up to her chin as she bit into a plait.

Jazz looked up. ‘I don’t mind at all. Mistingham doesn’t allow much room for secrecy, and I’m used to it now. I wouldn’t trade this place for all the privacy in the world.’