‘White wine OK? Plate of pasta?' said Elsa, laughing. Sarah nodded. 'You'd better get some water as well.’

‘We have already,' said Elsa.

‘Oh God, do I sound like a head girl? I'm sorry!' Sarah took a sip from someone else's glass as a gesture of surrender of her role as boss woman.

A few minutes later, when they'd ordered more wine, water and food, Elsa said, 'So what kept you?’

Sarah sighed. 'My darling sister. I love her, I really do, but she's chosen to get married the exact same day as my major new client – who I'm going to tell you about in just a mo.' She took the glass that Bron handed her. 'Actually, Lily picked the date first, to be fair, but I can hardly ask my client to move her date.'

‘So? Who's the client? You've been so mysterious about it we know it must be someone amazing,' said Elsa.

Sarah looked quickly around, leant in and whispered, 'Carrie Condy.'

‘Oh. My. God!' said Bron slowly. 'That's amazing! I was reading about her being engaged in a magazine only today.'

‘No wonder your boss is on your case if you read magazines all day,' said Elsa.

Bron stuck her tongue out. 'That truly is amazing! Well done, Sarah!'

‘It is amazing, but sadly, she wants it now. And she wants exactly what Ashlyn had: ancient church, summer day, same dressmaker – everything.'

‘What do you mean, now?' said Bron and Elsa together.

‘Virtually now. In two months. Any chance you can make a wedding dress like Ashlyn's in two months, Elsa?’

Elsa gulped. 'Just about, but it'll be tight. Ashlyn's dress took two years to do!’

Sarah flapped her hand dismissively. 'But only because she had two years,' she said. 'How long did it take from when you knew what you were doing?’

Elsa sighed. 'About six weeks, with fittings, and with doing the bridesmaids' dresses as well. Is, um, "Carrie" having bridesmaids?'

‘She hasn't mentioned them, or at least, she hasn't told her PA about them. Carrie's out of the country at the moment and will be a lot. Which'll make fittings difficult.'

‘I made that wretched Fulvia's dress without any fittings at all!'

‘But she was the same size as you,' Bron reminded her. 'It probably made it easier.’

Elsa shook her head. 'Not really. It meant I knew her measurements, but you can't really try on clothes you're making.'

‘Oh, I don't know,' said Sarah. 'I've been known to iron a skirt without taking it oft but maybe I'm an extreme case.’

The other two looked at her.

‘OK! It was ages ago. But going back to this wedding: Elsa, you'll be able to charge top whack for this. I know you gave Mrs Lennox-Featherstone a bit of a discount for quantity, but Carrie can pay the full price.'

‘Fab!' said Elsa.

‘And she's going to want almost the same as Ashlyn's -which I know had lots of hand-beading and stuff, but at least you'll have been there before.’

Elsa nodded. 'I can get someone in if necessary. I know a really nice woman who's happy to help with that sort of thing if I need it.'

‘And, Bron, I'll suggest Carrie uses you but she might want her own hairdresser and stylist.’

Bron nodded understandingly. 'Of course. I wouldn't expect to deal with a celebrity like Carrie. It's lovely just to be part of things now.’

Sarah went on, 'But if she really wants everything just like Ashlyn had, she'll need you. And I definitely want you in on all the planning. After Ashlyn's wedding, which was the biggest thing we ever did together, I think we're a team. We bounce ideas off each other.'

‘Talking of teams,' said Elsa, 'what about Hugo?' Sarah froze for a moment. 'What about Hugo?'

‘Well,' Elsa went on. 'He's part of the team too, isn't he?’

‘Oh well, not really. She's bound to have her favourite photographer. Some really swanky people use fashion photographers to do their wedding shots.’

Bron and Elsa exchanged glances. 'I can't imagine a fashion photographer dealing with all those people,' said Elsa. 'Not to mention the dog. Anyway, Hugo was – is -really swanky. He does very grand events.'

‘How do you know that?' asked Sarah abruptly, causing Elsa and Bron to look at her questioningly.

‘I overheard someone saying so at the wedding,' explained Elsa, 'and while we're on the subject of the wedding – Ashlyn's wedding,' Elsa went on, 'did I see you and Hugo slow dancing as I left?’

Sarah felt herself blush scarlet. She gulped down some water. 'Blimey, it's hot in here!'

‘Well?' demanded Bron, when Sarah had finished fanning herself, pouring more water, and generally trying to cause a diversion.

‘Yes,' Sarah whispered. She sipped again, wine this time. 'But that was all.' This was a lie, but a white and very necessary one, she felt. 'I was very tired and it seemed less effort to hang my arms round his neck than to hold myself up.'

‘Oh,' said Elsa.

There was a small silence. Sarah was forcing memories of their kissing out of her mind so she could concentrate fully. Was she destined to be constantly reminded of that evening?

‘So,' said Bron, sensing Sarah's discomfort and moving swiftly on in a tactful way. 'What was the hotel like? Elsa told me you had a room. I bet it was lovely. I love hotels! All the freebies, the lovely sheets.' She sighed. 'Roger and I had a lovely weekend away when we were first together. Maybe I should suggest another one.'

‘That's sounds like a good idea,' said Sarah. 'But my room was very small, really. Heavenly bathroom though, with all the extras. Loads of towels, a robe, face flannel, sewing kit.' If a couple of kisses can threaten to make me lose focus, what would a full-blown date do? she asked herself. Luckily she'd nipped that one in the bud. She must not have any more contact with Hugo than she absolutely had to. Then she wouldn't get remotely distracted. If she couldn't actually see his dimples she would be able to focus completely on the job at hand. Otherwise it could make her seriously drop the ball and she couldn't afford to do that.

Elsa sighed. 'It sounds heaven. And was the bed comfortable?’

It took Sarah a few seconds to remember Elsa was talking about the hotel room and not anything to do with Hugo. For a moment she wondered if Elsa suspected something and was prodding her for details, but then she dismissed the idea. Elsa was too nice and innocent for that. 'Oh yes. Mind you, the floor would have been comfortable, I was so tired.’

There was a moment's sympathetic silence, then Bron said, 'I still don't see why you won't ask Hugo to do this wedding, if Carrie wants everything to be the same as Ashlyn's.' Bron hoped so much that Carrie's desire for a clone of Ashlyn's wedding would include her. If she could say she'd had a top celebrity as a client it would help her if she ever did manage to go freelance full-time. Even Roger might be impressed.

‘Yes, why not?' agreed Elsa. 'He's so good. He made everyone at their ease – even me.'

‘Any half-decent photographer will do that,' said Sarah. 'It's their stock-in-trade to be charming. Now I must go to the loo. When will our food get here, I wonder? I'm starving.’

While she was out of the way Elsa said, 'Do you think it's funny she's not asking Hugo?'

‘Definitely. And I think there must be some reason. She's usually so ready to recommend him.'

‘Maybe she's embarrassed that she danced with him because she shouldn't have while she was on duty,' Elsa suggested.

‘Oh that's so silly,' said Bron, waving her glass about in a precarious manner. She felt wonderfully relaxed now. 'She's a workaholic. Anyway, I think we should ask Hugo. After all, Carrie's wedding is going to be really important for us all – well, I hope me – it's mad not to have the best photographer for it.'

‘How would we get in touch with him?' asked Elsa. 'There's her phone. He's bound to be in there,' said Bron. 'Do you dare?' Elsa giggled.