for the walls, with a large pencil drawing of Bran as the only artwork. The furniture was modern and very plain, the table set with white porcelain and gleaming crystal, which reflected flames from thick white candles in heavy glass holders. Once everyone was seated, Hazel came into offer a choice of lobster ravioli or pears with Stilton for the first course.
‘Molly thought the lobster might not suit everyone,’ said Jack, smiling. ‘Being a mere male such things never occurred to me.’
‘You need a woman in your life, Jack,’ said Lucy, and gazed at her husband in wide-eyed innocence when he frowned at her.
‘Anna says you’ve finished your decorating, Kate,’ said Ben swiftly.
‘I certainly have.’ She smiled at him. ‘My garden’s the next thing on the agenda.’
‘You’re so self-sufficient!’ exclaimed Lucy. ‘Anna tells me you’ve painted your entire house yourself. Amazing. I wouldn’t know where to start. Did you go on a course?’
‘No, I just cheated a bit. I had the ceilings, cornices and gloss paint done by a professional before I moved from London. He relined the walls too, ready for me to start painting. I finished the last room this very afternoon,’ said Kate.
Anna smiled at her affectionately. ‘Thank goodness for that. I hate the smell of paint.’
‘No wonder, in your condition—’ Lucy bit her lip, eyeing Ben in contrition. ‘Sorry. My big mouth.’
‘Not to worry,’ said Ben easily, and smiled across the table at his wife. ‘This is as good a time as any to make the announcement. We’re expecting our first child in the autumn.’
Jack sprang up to shake Ben by the hand, careful to avoid Kate’s eyes as he asked permission to kiss the mother-to-be. ‘Congratulations. Let me give you some more champagne.’
Anna shook her head regretfully. ‘I’ve had my quota for tonight. Mineral water from now on, please.’
It was a very animated gathering who went on to eat hot glazed ham with spinach soufflé, followed by simple, perfect apple pie and local cheese served with Molly’ssavoury biscuits. When they went back to the main room the fire had been replenished and a dish of petitfours placed beside a coffee tray.
‘Marvellous meal,’ said Anna, sitting by Kate with a sigh. ‘My compliments to the chef, Jack.’
‘I’ll pass them on to her.’ He smiled at Kate. ‘If you’ll pour the coffee, I’ll pass the cups round. Hazel’s helping Molly clear up.’
Having diligently avoided the slightest suggestion of acting as hostess up to that point, Kate had to give in about the coffee, conscious of Lucy Beresford’s eyes boring into her as she filled the cups. Jack could do what he liked with the cakes, she decided, and leaned against a suede cushion beside Anna, out of range of Lucy’s eagle eye. But Lucy wasn’t done with her.
‘I hear you have the most extraordinary job, Kate,’ she said, leaning forward in her chair. ‘Anna says you work from home as a virtual assistant. What on earth does that mean?’
Kate gave a brief, succinct explanation.
‘She works with five clients, and doesn’t make coffee for any of them,’ put in Jack, picking up the plate of cakes. ‘Can I tempt you, Anna?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ She sighed and chose a morsel smothered in chocolate.
Lucy did the same, but Kate shook her head, also refusing the brandy the men accepted.
‘I’m driving, Jack.’
‘So are you, dear,’ George told his wife, who pouted girlishly, but made no protest.
‘I wouldn’t mind a nice little job like Kate’s,’ she declared, ‘but George won’t let me work.’
From the look on his face, Kate took it this was news to him.
‘I never minded making coffee for my boss. In my opinion you just can’t beat the personal touch,’ Lucy went on relentlessly. ‘The man I worked for was utterly devastated when I left to get married.’
‘How about you, Kate?’ said Ben, taking the chair nearest to her. ‘Did your boss tear his hair when you resigned?’
She grinned at him. ‘She paid far too much to her hairdresser to do that.’
‘I’d hate to work for a woman,’ said Lucy promptly.
‘Kate worked with one, not for one,’ said Anna, licking her fingers. ‘She was Deputy Director of Human Resources by the time she resigned her London job.’
Lucy was silenced for a split second. ‘Goodness, life must be very different for you in a quiet town like this,’ she said, regrouping.
Anna got up. ‘If Kate will direct me, I need to find the ladies’,’ she announced.
‘You’ll have to ask Jack,’ said Kate, smiling at her. ‘I don’t know where it is.’