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understand why you can’t understand that !’
    ‘Then what am I going to do?’ Saffron’s face crumpled. ‘Oh, I
can’t believe you’d be this mean to me!’
    I rubbed my temples. I loved my sister, but sometimes she could
be exasperating.
    ‘I know the wedding is important to you, Saffron, but the
conference centre is important to Lord Whellerby,’ I said. ‘A lot of money and a
lot of jobs are depending on it, and the project has to come in on time.’
    I threw an appealing look at Roly, who missed his cue
completely. ‘I’m sure a week or two late wouldn’t matter,’ he said, gazing
adoringly at Saffron, who was making a great play of biting her lip while the
tears trembled and sparkled bewitchingly on the ends of her lashes.
    Helplessly, I turned without thinking to George. I don’t know
what my expression was like, but I must have seemed as if I was begging for
help.
    ‘I think it would matter to Hugh Morrison,’ he said. ‘It’s not
that long since his heart attack, and any delays would add a stress that he just
doesn’t need at the moment.’
    ‘Exactly,’ I said, with a grateful look, and Roly looked
chastened.
    Sensing that she was losing her support, Saffron slumped back.
‘You don’t seem to realise that organising a wedding is stressful too,’ she
complained. ‘It’s one of the most stressful times of your life, and that’s why
you need the support of your family. But if this Hugh person is more important
to you than I am, I—’
    George sat forward. ‘Perhaps I could make a suggestion?’
    I immediately looked wary, Saffron hopeful. ‘What?’ she asked
tearfully.
    ‘You want Frith to organise a bridal party for you, but she
can’t spare the time to go to London, right?’ He waited for Saffron to nod,
while my brows drew together suspiciously. ‘So why not have the party here?’ he
said.
    ‘ Here ?’
    ‘Now I know what you’re going to say.’ George held up his hands
to stop Saffron from going any further, focusing on her rather than on me,
although he must have been able to feel me glaring at him from the other end of
the sofa. ‘You can’t go clubbing in Whellerby. This isn’t London, it isn’t
cool...but why not make your party different from all the others? Anyone can go
to a club or a restaurant in London. How many people can take over a stately
home?’
    ‘Probably most of Saffron’s friends,’ I said crisply, my
gratitude forgotten. I had a sinking suspicion where this was going. ‘There’s no
question of—’
    ‘You mean, like, a house party?’ Saffron interrupted me.
    ‘Exactly,’ said George.
    ‘We could wear costumes, like in that TV series...’
    ‘You’ve got it. You could be the beautiful daughter, your
friends can be dashing widows, or young ladies waiting to make their come out,
and Frith could be the repressed housekeeper who’s secretly in love with one of
the footmen.’
    ‘Hey—’ I began, but Saffron was already clapping her hands.
    ‘I love it! Think of the costumes! I’ve always wanted to wear
one of those lovely evening gowns. I could wear long gloves!’
    Buffy’s treachery was forgotten. Saffron was positively
bouncing on the sofa in excitement. ‘Ooh, and we could make it a proper
Edwardian house party...assignations in the conservatory, croquet on the lawn,
dance cards... dancing! ’ Her eyes lit up as the idea
caught hold. ‘We could have a ball !’
    ‘Now see what you’ve done,’ I said to George with a severe
look.
    ‘We’ll have to ask men too,’ Saffron was bubbling on. ‘We can’t
have a ball with just girls. But that’s all right. Jax would look super hot in a
DJ. A house like this must have a ballroom, right?’
    I had heard enough. I held up my hands like a traffic cop.
‘ Stop !’ I said so forcefully that Saffron was
startled into silence. ‘Now just hold on a minute,’ I said more calmly. ‘We are
not having a ball here. Or a dinner. Or anything at all. This is Lord
Whellerby’s home. It’s