Mistress by Mistake. KIM LAWRENCE

like. Don’t you fret. Eve here is very sturdy, but actually she’s been doing some work in the greenhouses for us today.’

      Eve tried and failed to look on ‘sturdy’ as a compliment. Compared with the diminutive creature dressed entirely in black, which did marvellous things for her translucent complexion, she felt like an ungainly giant.

      ‘California. That sounds exciting. Will you be visiting for long?’ Eve asked, receiving her steaming mug with a smile of thanks.

      Charlotte glanced at her mother quickly and lowered her eyes, a mysterious smile playing about her lovely lips. ‘Possibly,’ she said enigmatically. ‘Will you excuse…?’ She drifted ethereally from the room.

      ‘She’s a bit on edge,’ Mrs Atkinson confided. ‘I’ve arranged a little luncheon party.’

      ‘I was just going,’ Eve said, taking the hint.

      ‘No, there’s no need for you to hurry.’

      Eve settled back down, even though her schedule was tight. Mrs Atkinson was a woman with a lot of time on her hands, who liked to chat, and Eve, a good listener, usually obliged.

      ‘Actually, it’s rather awkward. Charlotte used to be engaged to the young man we’re expecting. It was a couple of years ago now, but she’s not actually seen him since…well, actually…she walked out at the last minute, just before the wedding.’

      ‘You mean she jilted him?’ Eve gasped, goggle-eyed. ‘I mean, I’m sure she had her reasons,’ she added hastily as she saw the maternal hackles visibly rise.

      Mrs Atkinson looked mollified. ‘Actually…’ She gave a rueful sigh. ‘She didn’t actually tell us why, but everyone knew it must have been something very bad to make her act so out of character. They’d been a couple on and off since schooldays, you see—inseparable. She ran off to America and married Rufus Hall eventually; he’s very rich, of course,’ she added.