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us?”
    Bingo.
    “Really,” said Julian. “I don’t want to disturb you.”
    “Oh, no,” said Serena. “Please do. I haven’t had an adult conversation since your mother died.”
    Serena Macdonald was not quite who Julian had expected her to be. He had thought she would be like all the other women in the village, dull and slightly desperate. But she was much more interesting than that.
    Julian guessed that the shabby clothes concealed a not-too-shabby figure. Her hair was untidy, but it was a nice color and she had a pretty face. Even prettier when she smiled, which was often.
    The supper she’d prepared was delicious. Possibly all the more so because Julian had fully expected to spend the next twenty-four hours subsisting on toast and Marmite. Serena had cooked lamb with rosemary. Her roast potatoes rivaled those Julian’s nanny used to make.
    “This is really wonderful,” he said, meaning every word.
    “I prefer chicken,” said Katie.
    “Then, I’ll have yours,” said Julian, spearing some of Katie’s lamb, to her delighted surprise.
    Over supper, Julian did a bit of digging about Serena’s marital status.
    “A husband!” She laughed. “Barely. He’s on his way out. What about you?”
    “Confirmed bachelor,” he said, puffing out his chest in comedic pride. “Much to my mother’s annoyance.”
    “I know.” Serena smiled.
    “Ah, well,” said Julian. “Just haven’t found the right girl.”
    Serena nodded. “Your mother said that too.”
    •          •          •
    It was one of those lovely Sunday suppers that just don’t seem to want to end. Katie, of course, got down from the table as soon as Serena said she could and went to play with the Trebarwen dollhouse that Louisa had given her for her sixth birthday. Serena and Julian remained at the table—Serena only getting up to put a tired Katie to bed—until they’d finished almost two bottles of red wine between them. They were starting to feel as though they had known each other for years.
    Still, Serena was a little surprised when Julian made his move, slipping his arm around her waist while she was running water over the roasting tin in the kitchen sink. He lifted her ponytail out of the way, and she knew at once he was about to kiss the back of her neck.
    “I can’t,” said Serena, gently pushing him off. “It’s been … you know. It’s been a long time.”
    Julian dutifully stepped back.
    “I understand,” he said.
    “But thank you. I suppose …”
    “I’d better go?”
    “It is almost one in the morning.”
    “And I only dropped by to cadge a few slices of toast. Thank you. You’ve looked after me very well.”
    “It’s what your mum would have wanted, I’m sure.”
    “Well, I’ll be able to return the favor,” said Julian. “I’m going to be around for a bit longer. Getting the estate sorted out. It would be nice to see you again.”
    Serena nodded. “I’d like that too.”
    After Serena closed the door behind him, she leaned heavily against it, her heart beating fast. A silly grin spread across her face. Julian Trebarwen had made a pass at her. It was the first time anyone had made a pass at her since the day she’d gotten pregnant with Katie (and that includedher own husband). The knowledge that someone had found her worthy of a quick feel, even if it was largely driven by alcohol, had a better effect on Serena’s face than a shot of BOTOX. She sneaked a look at herself as she passed the mirror in the hallway and, for once, was quite pleased with what she saw.
    “You’ve still got it, Serena Macdonald,” she said, and winked at her reflection.

CHAPTER 6

    C arrie Klein was fighting hard to hang on to her assets. She was just thirty-nine years old. There was no danger that her chin was going to slide into her neck like melting ice cream the moment she hit forty, but Carrie was still putting in the work. Prevention being better than any cure and all that. She had been