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one.’
    A solid reference, she noted, the kind that gave dates of employment and not much else. The kind that spoke volumes by saying nothing at all. Who was she trying to kid? Sam wondered, feeling
sick. She was practically unemployable now. ‘I suppose you’ll keep him as a client?’ she said, unable to prevent bitterness from sharpening her words.
    ‘I have to,’ Myles said, shrugging. ‘He’s powerful, his star is on the rise. And since it seems he can’t keep it in his trousers, I imagine he’s going to need
us for more than just media training eventually.’
    Without another word, she got up to go. She reached the door before Myles spoke again. ‘One last piece of advice, Sam. I know you’re angry and you have a right to be, but don’t
even think about going to the press with this. It won’t end well if you do.’
    She raised her chin. ‘Threats, Myles? You know me better than that.’
    ‘
Advice
, from one PR to another. When you’ve calmed down you’ll know I’m right.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘Look after yourself, okay?’
    And just like that her career was over.
    Listen, Sam, we need to talk.
What could Will Pargeter possibly have to say that she wanted to hear? Her mind skittered back to her last conversation with Myles.
Tongues are
wagging
, he’d said. She’d always known there was a strong possibility that her secret would be found out. Could someone else have put two and two together? Could it be Will’s
wife?
    She picked up the phone and brought up the number again. Maybe she should speak to Will, find out whether her fears were true. If they were, and the shit was about to hit the fan, she needed to
know sooner rather than later.
    The bedroom door bumped open and Joss appeared in the doorway, wearing boxer shorts and carrying a tray bearing tea and toast. He stopped when he saw Sam’s face. ‘What?’
    For a moment, Sam thought about telling him everything. And then the moment passed and she dredged up a smile. ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Work stuff, that’s all.’
    He started forwards again and slid the tray onto the bedside table. ‘Anything I can do to help?’
    ‘Yes,’ she said, pulling him towards her. ‘Distract me.’

Chapter Five
    ‘Got time for a cuppa?’
    Nessie looked up from the delivery paperwork she was checking off. Kathryn was hovering on the other side of the bar, a box from the village bakery in her hands.
    It was one-thirty on Wednesday afternoon and the pub was quiet, or as quiet as it could be with the builders still working on the attic renovations. A few village stalwarts were dotted here and
there but they were reading the papers or chatting amongst themselves. They wouldn’t care if she took a quick break.
    ‘If you’ve got some of Martha’s macarons in that box, then it’s love,’ Nessie said.
    Kathryn grimaced. ‘I went for doughnuts. Sorry.’
    Nessie laughed as she walked to the coffee machine. ‘Don’t be. Macarons taste gorgeous but they’re gone too fast. Give me a doughnut to sink my teeth into any day.’
    She made a pot of tea and joined Kathryn at one of the tables in front of the fireplace. The weather was too warm for a fire now, with forecasters predicting a heatwave that would last until
early June at least. Long enough for the wedding, Nessie thought to herself. After that, she didn’t really mind if it snowed.
    ‘So?’ Kathryn said, peering with unashamed interest over the top of her tea. ‘How were the bluebells?’
    Nessie hesitated. She might have known it would be the first thing Kathryn asked. In fact, she was amazed it had taken so long; Sam had been on her almost as soon as she’d walked through
the door, although she’d been dismayed by what Nessie had told her.
    ‘The bluebells were beautiful,’ she answered carefully. ‘Every bit as gorgeous as you said they’d be.’
    ‘Good,’ Kathryn said, leaning forward. ‘And?’
    ‘And I wish I’d known what day it was before we went,’ Nessie