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out with have been good-looking or intelligent then?’
    I frown. She knows she’s got a point.
    ‘Look,’ she says. ‘Maybe you just need to alter your expectations a bit. The initial romance wears off in any relationship.’
    ‘Faster in mine than most though,’ I say, feeling thoroughly depressed now.
    She smiles and raises her eyebrows. ‘Anyway, if you did fancy Jack…’ she says.
    ‘I don’t!’ I interrupt.
    ‘Well, I’m just saying if you did…I wouldn’t worry about Valentina too much. You know how many men she gets through, and he’s apparently just split up with his long-term girlfriend–which I’m guessing means the Valentina thing is his way of getting over it. She’s a consolation shag, I bet you.’
    I pause for a second, determined not to give too much away. Grace’s words get me wondering though.
    ‘So,’ I say idly as we head back, ‘you do think they’re shagging then?’

Chapter 15
    Nice Cousin Jim is taking a break from filming guests and is standing at the bar alone. Which is very frustrating as I’d rather hoped by now that he’d be huddled in a corner whispering some of Byron’s juicier poetry into Charlotte’s ear.
    ‘Hi, Jim. Er, where’s Charlotte?’ I ask. I’m being as subtle as I can be, given my aim is for him to have proposed by next week.
    ‘I’m not sure,’ he says. ‘I haven’t seen her since dinner. Can I get you a drink?’
    ‘I’m fine. She’s lovely, Charlotte, isn’t she?’ I muse, sipping my wine casually.
    ‘Yes,’ he says. ‘Yes, she is lovely.’
    ‘I honestly don’t think I’ve ever known anyone so kind, or generous, or intelligent, or just generally all-round fantastic,’ I add, hoping I’m not laying it on a bit thick.
    ‘She’s a really nice girl, no doubt about that,’ he says.
    ‘ Isn’t she?’ I agree. This is showing tremendous potential.
    ‘Oh, there she is now,’ he says, pointing to the other side of the marquee, where Charlotte is deep in conversation with Grace’s mother.
    I don’t believe this. By some miracle the table plannersput her next to a man she fancies–a man who describes her as ‘lovely’–and at the first opportunity, she goes off to talk to Grace’s mother. Oh Charlotte, what am I going to do with you?
    ‘Is everything all right?’ asks Jim.
    ‘Er, yes–why?’
    ‘You were shaking your head, that’s all.’
    ‘Oh, was I?’ I say. ‘Sorry. Er, I was just thinking about the latest council tax rises. Tsk, terrible, aren’t they? Anyway, would you excuse me?’
    I am crossing the marquee with Charlotte firmly in my sights, when I spot Jack on the other side of the room. He is chatting with Georgia’s fiancé Pete and, just as I am wondering what they might be talking about, he looks up and catches my eye. Then he raises his hand and… waves .
    As I contemplate how to react, I realise that I’ve stopped walking and am rooted to the spot. I am genuinely torn about what to do here. To wave back would be a clear declaration of interest, and that’s the last thing I want. But not to do so looks just plain rude.
    ‘Evie, there you are,’ says a familiar voice from behind me.
    I freeze. And as I turn around slowly I realise that the decision has been made for me. It’s Gareth. And it’s the first time we’ve spoken since our break-up.
    ‘Listen,’ he says. ‘We must talk.’
    Oh, God. Must we?
    ‘Don’t look so worried,’ he says.
    ‘I’m not,’ I tell him. Actually, I very much am. I’ve been avoiding Gareth all day now, because I instinctively know he’ll want to have a discussion about ‘our relationship’, a prospect I find about as appealing as a medieval torture session.
    ‘I really think we need to have a discussion about our relationship,’ he says.
    ‘Do you?’ I ask, with a sinking feeling in my gut. ‘I’m not sure now’s a good time, Gareth.’
    ‘It’s as good a time as any,’ he says firmly. ‘And I really do think it’s important. The thing is,