Bron wondered if she should match Vanessa's frankness. Probably Vanessa would only prise it out of her eventually; she was like a terrier with a bone. Vanessa gave her an encouraging smile. Bron looked down at her coffee. Perhaps it would help if she confided in someone like Vanessa, it was sort of like confiding in her mother. 'I don't think he fancies me. I thought I'd given him enough hints. I've invited him to meals, given him cake, got him to come round to Elsa's with these' – she indicated the fake-cakes -'so he could see how nice my friends are, but nothing.' She sighed. 'If he fancied me, he'd have made a move by now, surely. We do get on well, but I think he just sees me as a friend.'

‘Nonsense! Of course he fancies you. Lovely girl like you, right next door. He is a man, after all.'

‘But as you said, if there's no chemistry..

Vanessa sipped her coffee and then shook her head. 'I'm sure it's not that.' She thought for a moment and then patted Bron's hand. 'It's possible he thinks it's too soon for you after…?' She paused.

‘Roger.'

‘Right. Well, no man wants to be a rebound. Too much pride. And although I don't know all the details, I got the impression he'd come out of a relationship that ended badly for him when he first came here, a couple of years ago. He probably didn't want you to rebound on him and break his heart all over again.'

‘Do you really think so?' Bron said quietly, realising there might be some truth in Vanessa's words. It was very soon after Roger and he might well think she was a complete slapper for even thinking about someone else so soon. He was probably trying to let her down gently. How embarrassing.

Vanessa warmed to her theme. 'I do. He's quite sensitive, you know.' She paused. 'So what are we going to do about it?'

‘About what?' Bron was puzzled.

Vanessa made a gesture that indicated Bron had missed something very simple. 'You must be proactive, darling! You must do something to make it happen. Good God! If women waited for men to get things going, the population would have died out millennia ago!'

‘Oh. Do you think so?'

‘It's a fact. Now, what are we going to do about that silly man not taking advantage of what's under his nose?’

Bron shrugged. 'He's being incredibly helpful. He made all the bases for these.' She indicated her tree. 'And he's made the framework for the real cake.'

‘You don't need a helpmate – although a man who's practical is a bonus…' Vanessa said, going off on another tangent. 'Mm, let me see… I know – you need to get him to the wedding. Why don't you ask him to drive you over? After all, you'll need help with those trees. You wouldn't get more than a couple in your little car.'

‘But he'd have to take time off work.' Bron began to feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe Vanessa was right, and he just needed a little more prodding.

‘That's easy. I can help you there. He's got loads of holiday owing him. Tell you what, I'll suggest he takes you. He can say no if he really doesn't want to, but I think he just needs a bit of a push. How long are you staying over at the house where the wedding is?'

‘A couple of days. I don't really think I can transport the cake iced and it's going to take a while to do.' She took another sip of coffee. 'Although I am very good at these flowers now, it will be a bit different on the actual cake. And then when the cake's done, I have to do Carrie's hair and make-up. There are bridesmaids too, although they're little ones, so I won't need to do too much with them.'

‘Two or three days together should do the trick.' Vanessa was in her own little matchmaking world once more. 'He may feel it's not fair to jump on you when you're living next door in case you didn't appreciate it. It would be awkward if you didn't, after all.’

Bron sighed. 'I don't see what else-’

Vanessa patted her hand again in a mothering way. 'You'll think of something when you're thrown together in difficult circumstances, but you've got to remember that men can be very slow.' She stood up and brushed her skirt down. 'Leave it to me, darling. I love matchmaking!’

James did take Bron to Somerby. She didn't know exactly what Vanessa had said to him, but he'd agreed he could take the time off and that helping Bron was a good thing to do. He'd gone to park the car and Rupert was going to tell him where to put the fake-cakes and the pack of dogs had followed them. Sarah was giving Bron a tour.

‘They've done so much to it!' Sarah was saying. 'I keep forgetting you didn't see it before, but it was quite empty and barren-looking, but now, it's amazing!’

As they wandered around, Bron made suitably impressed noises. It was amazing. A real country estate, like in a novel. Imagine anyone actually living here. As Sarah rattled on about this cornice and that, Bron sensed she was quite tense. It was a big job, finally pulling every- thing together, especially when you had your sister's wedding to attend to too.

‘You look tired, Sarah, are you OK?' asked Bron.

‘Oh yes, just pre-wedding nerves.' She laughed, in rather a forced way Bron felt. 'All wedding planners get them, worse than the bride.'

‘Is everyone here? Hugo?' She was dying to ask if anything had happened between Sarah and Hugo the other night.

‘Yes, he's here, already snapping away.'

‘I hope he didn't take advantage of you after Lily's hen night,' Bron teased. 'Elsa and I were a little worried, leaving you alone with him, but he was most insistent.’

Sarah groaned. 'Don't talk to me about that night. The evils of drink.'

‘But he looked after you OK?' Bron persisted.

‘Yes, of course. He put me to bed, left a big glass of water and a bowl and went home.’

Bron detected a note of disappointment in Sarah's voice. 'Is that all?' she asked.

‘Well, it was all rather embarrassing. I told him I liked him.'

‘And?'

‘It's no good, he can't like me..

‘I'm sure he does, Sarah. He was awfully concerned for you. When we rang him, he didn't hesitate, he just got in the car.'

‘He's kind and I think he is fond of me but…' She hesitated. 'He's engaged to a friend of Fen and Rupert.’

‘What?' asked Bron in surprise. 'Are you sure? I thought he was single. He's certainly never mentioned her.’

Sarah nodded. 'I know, but he is, believe me.' She sighed.

‘Don't say anything. I don't want him to know I even care.' Bron frowned, but before she could reply Sarah continued. 'I mean, I don't, not really. Anyway, it's all too complicated and I've got far too much to do to be worrying about such things. Come on, here are your sleeping quarters.’

Sympathy for her friend made Bron drop the subject, but as she followed Sarah to a converted pigsty or whatever it was, she wished there was time to talk about it properly. She sensed Sarah wanted to tell her more. Was Hugo really engaged? If so, would he really have dropped everything like that when he'd heard she needed help? And shown such obvious concern for her? Bron might have been a little drunk herself that night but she could have sworn Hugo looked at Sarah with much more than just fondness.

Perhaps there would be a moment in the next two days when she would tell Bron everything. Bron was a good listener and she'd be there for her friend whenever she needed her.

‘They're going to rent these converted buildings out, but you're the first in here,' Sarah said as she opened the door. 'Gorgeous, isn't it?'

‘It is! I love the whitewashed walls and the rag rug. It's like a little place in Greece or somewhere.'

‘But as it's England, there's a wood-burning stove. Not that you'll need it now. I can't believe this weather! As long as it lasts until Sunday, it can rain all it likes after that.'