‘The press,' said Fenella, seeming worried. 'Do I have to feed them or anything?'

‘Absolutely not. We're only feeding the Celeb lot and they've been given strict instructions. I've warned the local pub that they'll be inundated. That'll have to do. Mandy has arranged some extra security. She'll handle all that.' Sarah put her arms round Fenella and hugged her. 'I do wish I could stay with you all. I'll be back as soon as I can.'

‘Enjoy Lily's wedding. And don't worry about a thing. We'll manage,' Fenella said, with a little more conviction than she felt.

And Sarah finally got into her car, waved and drove away.

Sarah was already tired when she arrived at Dirk's parents' house. Although things were going well at Somerby at the moment, she knew from experience that there were many, many slips that could occur between cups and lips where weddings were concerned.

She was let into the house by a stray aunt who smiled at her vaguely and then went back to whatever it was she had been doing.

Sarah found the kitchen and went in. A middle-aged woman with the kind of facial lines that indicated bad temper and discontent was putting cutlet collars on a rack of lamb. 'Who are you?' she demanded, sounding none too friendly.

‘I'm Sarah – Lily's sister.' She smiled bravely. Her role was not so clear-cut here. While Lily expected her to organise everything, she was there as Lily's sister, not as a wedding planner. It meant that she had to do everything she usually did, but very discreetly. It made everything a lot harder work.

‘Oh, hello.' The woman gave her a cursory glance. 'You're nothing like her, I must say.’

Sarah didn't know if this was a good thing or not in this woman's eyes.

‘Is Lily here?' she asked.

The woman shook her head. `No, she's at the flat, claiming she's tired. She'll know what being tired is allabout when she's had the baby! Poor Dirk!'

‘I think Dirk is very lucky,' said Sarah firmly, infuriated by this woman already. 'Lily is a lovely person and she's going to make a brilliant mother. She's also going to make Dirk very happy. He's to be congratulated on his good taste.’

Sensing slightly too late that she'd been rather rude the woman managed a smile. 'Of course.'

‘And I'm a wedding planner, and I'm here to help you all I can, Mrs…' Sarah's professional memory deserted her. If this woman'd been a client Sarah would have had her name on a file. Because she was Lily's future mother-in-law, she hadn't and so couldn't remember it.

‘Boscastle,' said the woman, 'I'm Dirk's mother. Yes, I remember now, you've been organising that film star's wedding. What's her name again?'

‘Carrie Condy.'

‘Oh yes, that's right. And where is she getting married?’

‘At a lovely old house in Herefordshire,' said Sarah. It was unlikely Mrs Boscastle was intending to inform the small number of publications to whom this would be hot news, but she didn't want to be too precise. 'So how is everything going here?’

Mrs Boscastle inclined her head. 'It's a shame it's too late to do anything about the food.'

‘There's a problem with the food?' This was a bit heart-sinking. Those ladies should have been perfect! They were fairly near, they were doing it for cost, and they had the sort of friendly personalities that made them ideal for the job.

Mrs Boscastle nodded. 'It's a buffet – hopeless! It'll be all little nibbly things. No one will get enough to eat, Lily's- Some people will get drunk and the people who should be together won't be. A sit-down meal would have been far better. I could have arranged place settings.'

‘You still could if you wanted to, Mrs Boscastle, if you think you've got time. You could seat people and then we can ask them to come up and get their food table by table.’

Sarah actually assumed something like this had already been done. It wasn't a last-minute job. To do it properly you had to take your time or you had people's exes sitting next to each other and fistfights threatening to break out before the first waltz – or at least before the last one.

‘Well, I thought Lily and Dirk would see to it.' Mrs Boscastle frowned, indicating she knew perfectly well Lily and Dirk couldn't be expected to know the ins and outs of all their relations. 'I'm cooking this for a few chosen friends tonight. There's one thing I can control.’

Sarah became aware that she might be arranging fish and chips for the unchosen many and wondered exactly how many of them there were. 'Would you like me to help you do a table plan?’

Mrs Boscastle regarded her sideways. 'Could you do that?’

Sarah nodded. 'As I said, I'm a wedding planner,' she told her again. 'That sort of thing is part of my job. Although it is usually the family that does it, I do assist.' She remembered Ashlyn's wedding and her anxieties about seating the missing bridesmaid's parents.

‘It's a good offer-’

But just after these words had left her mouth Sarah realised that Lily had first call on her time. 'I could give you an hour or so, but what about your dinner guests?'

‘Oh, we couldn't do it tonight, we'll have to do it in the morning.’

Sarah was very firm. 'I'm going to be very busy with Lily in the morning.' Just how busy, she had yet to find out. Lily had said she'd arranged a hairdresser, the dress was lovely and they were using family cars to transport everyone. In theory, it should all 'be fine. Theoretical weddings always went swimmingly. It was the real kind that were unpredictable.

‘Perhaps you could come when my guests have gone? About ten? Is that too late for you?’

Considering Sarah already felt she could sleep for weeks without even turning over it was definitely too late for her, but she smiled. 'I'll pop back about ten then. If you have a list of all the people who've been invited it won't take us long.' She fervently hoped she'd said this firmly enough to make Mrs Boscastle dig out the list.

Just as escape was in sight, Sarah remembered something else. 'The marquee came all right?'

‘Oh yes. It's taking up the entire garden, but I must confess my herbaceous borders look very much better as part of the floral arrangements. Some friends of mine are coming in to do table displays tomorrow.' She smiled. 'It's very useful having friends with skills.'

‘I couldn't agree with you more, Mrs Boscastle.’

Lily was sitting on her bed with her scrapbook – the one she'd started in childhood – spread out in front of her. Her dress was hanging in a bag on the back of the door. There was an open case sharing the bed with the scrapbook.

Lily got off the bed and came to Sarah, flinging her arms round her neck. 'Sares! It's so lovely to see you. I've felt so lonely without you.'

‘Shouldn't you save all that stuff for Dirk?' Sarah returned the hug with equal affection. 'What have you done with him?'

‘He's staying with Freddie, his best man. He's fine.' Lily sighed. 'I'm not making a horrible mistake, am I, Sares?’

‘Of course you're not!' said Sarah, hiding the panic she felt with another hug. 'You've known Dirk for ages, he's lovely, you've lived together happily. It will all be fine.' She didn't mention the fact that Lily was carrying his child -that would sound like emotional blackmail. 'Scary mother-in-law, though!’

This made Lily giggle a little. 'Isn't she terrifying? She must be to scare you.' She sighed. 'I couldn't have managed without you, you know.'

‘Oh, you could-'

‘I mean, in my life. You've always been there for me; since Mum died, you took over her role. You've been brilliant, Saresy.’

Sarah felt her throat constrict and tears come to her eyes. She held Lily close to her. 'Oh, love! I haven't been brilliant at all, I've been critical and bossy and all those things.’