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followed by a
    deeper, more persistent barking.
    She'd forgotten about the all-hearing ears of Thistle the Cairn terrier, and Algernon the
    basset-hound. So much for secrecy, she thought bitterly. She'd better make a dash for it,
    back to her car before the dogs alerted someone in the house.
    'Why are you hiding in the hedge, Aunty Kate?'
    With a stifled groan, Kate glanced towards the side gate, almost scalping herself as she
    turned her head, to see Holly standing on the bottom bar peering over at her.
    'I'm not hiding,' she returned mendaciously, painfully disentangling herself. 'I—I thought
    I heard a cat crying, and went to look.'
    'Algy doesn't 'low cats,' Holly informed her austerely.
    'Then I must have been mistaken.' Kate forced a smile, rubbing her head. 'It doesn't
    matter.'
    'Are you coming to lunch?' Holly asked.
    'I—think so.' Offhand, Kate could see no way of getting out of it, as Holly was sure to
    report her presence as soon as she got back to the house. But, in Ryan's absence, what
    possible excuse could she give for being there?'
    'Does Grandma know?'
    'Not yet.' Kate unlatched the gate, steadying Holly as she let it swing open. 'Let's go and
    tell her.'
    With Holly scampering beside her, and the dogs at their heels, she wept across the lawn
    and round to the back of the house.
    As she'd expected, she found Mary Lassiter occupied in the kitchen, surrounded by a
    plethora of delicious smells, and enjoying the company of her younger grandchild, who
    was totally absorbed in a greyish piece of pastry that he was modelling into various
    shapes.
    'Kate?' Mrs Lassiter's indulgent smile faded slightly as her daughter-in-law entered, to be
    replaced, fleetingly, by a look of apprehension. 'What—what a nice surprise,' she added
    weakly. 'I gathered from Ryan that work was keeping you in London.'
    'I managed to get through it quite quickly.' Kate was conscious that this was the most
    muted welcome she'd ever received at Whitmead. 'So here I am,' she went on with
    spurious brightness. 'I—I hope it's not inconvenient.'
    'No, oh, no,' Mrs Lassiter assured her without any particular conviction. She cast a
    harassed glance at the kitchen clock. 'Ryan's driven the others into the village to collect
    the papers, and buy some more wine.'
    'Oh.' Kate felt almost weak-kneed with relief. 'I was wondering what had happened to
    him.'
    'I expect they'll call in at the Crown, if you want to go after them.' Mary Lassiter frowned.
    'I didn't hear your car.'
    'I parked down the road,' Kate admitted, hoping she wouldn't be called on for an
    explanation, and feeling more awkward with every moment that passed.
    'I see,' Mrs Lassiter said vaguely. 'Well, would you keep an eye on Tom for me, dear,
    while I go and set another place? And make sure Algy doesn't steal any of the sausage
    rolls I've made for tea,' she added, giving a warning look at the basset, who stared
    mournfully back.
    Kate sat down at the table, and looked at Tom's lump of pastry.
    That looks nice,' she said. 'Is it a cake?'
    'No, silly, it's a monster,' Holly said scornfully. 'Tom likes monsters.'
    'Like monsters,' agreed Tom, with his blinding smile, splattering the pastry on to the
    board.
    Kate grinned back at him, wishing at the same time that she felt more at ease with the
    pair of them. But perhaps she didn't see enough of them, she thought. And, an only child
    herself, she had very little experience of young children, and their total unexpectedness.
    She took a small piece of dough, and began to shape it into a rose, remembering how her
    mother used to do the same thing to decorate her pies.
    'I need to go,' Holly announced suddenly, standing on one leg. ‘And Grandma's shut the
    door, so I can't get out.'
    Oh.' Kate was taken aback. 'Well, I'll open it for you.' She paused. 'What about the
    cloakroom door?'
    Holly wriggled. 'I don't know.'
    'I'll come with you and make sure,' Kate told her reassuringly.
    She wasn't allowed to accompany Holly into the