It must have started snowing in the middle of the night because when Juliet pulled back her curtains at seven-thirty on Saturday morning, there was at least six inches of pristine snow, for as far as the eye could see.

She threw on her dressing gown over her favourite pyjamas – Christmas Unicorns in Santa Hats – and went downstairs to the kitchen, where a choir from one or other cathedral boomed out Christmas carols via the radio.

'Morning.' Only her mum was in the kitchen, leaning over the stove stirring a saucepan of porridge. Rosa still made it the old-fashioned way.

'Morning, sweetheart. Did you have a good time last night? Your father and I were tucked up in bed when you and Zoe came home, so I assume it was fun.'

'Yeah. It was great. Dan was on top form and he'd organised a sort of BBQ. We all sat outside under the stars, kept warm by a massive fire pit. I wouldn't be surprised if it's still burning this morning.'

She poured herself coffee from the pot, and popped several slices of bread in the toaster, trying not to trip over Cinnamon who, as usual, was sprawled between the Aga and the kitchen table.

'It'll be buried under all this snow,' Rosa said. 'Shopping's going to be a bit of an expedition in this weather. Still, there's nothing quite as Christmassy as shopping for presents, trudging through snow. We'll need to make a day of it. Perhaps we'll go somewhere nice for lunch. We'll see what your father and Zoe have to say.'

'That would be nice.' Juliet threw her a sideways glance as she pulled out a chair and sat at the table. 'Mum? May I ask for some advice?'

'Of course, sweetheart. What is it?' Rosa took the saucepan off the stove and put it to one side, before pouring herself a coffee and sitting next to Juliet.

'Do you think I should buy Harrison a present? Not a Christmas present, exactly, but something to say thanks for saving me and for letting me spend the night at The Grange.'

'I think that's a lovely idea. What are you thinking of getting him? Men are always difficult to buy for, especially men like Harrison who has everything he could possibly need or want.'

'That's the problem. I don't know what to get him, but I want to get him something. I asked Luke if he had any ideas, but he said he can't think of a thing Harrison doesn't already have. At least, nothing that money can buy.'

'That was an odd thing to say.'

Juliet had said that about Kiki, but she nodded. 'Yeah. Not much help, either. I'll have to have a look around in town and see if anything jumps out at me.'

The ping of the toaster announced the toast was ready just as Zoe and Bernard ambled into the kitchen.

'I suggested we spend the day in town, darling,' Rosa said, as Bernard gave her a kiss. 'Not just the morning. We'll have lunch and then come back and have a light supper this evening. How does that sound?'

'Perfect,' Bernard said, kissing Juliet on the top of her head and taking his seat at the table.

Zoe squealed and jumped up and down, waving her phone in her hand.

'Zoe thinks it's a good plan,' said Juliet, pulling a face at her sister.

'What? Oh I wasn't getting excited about shopping and lunch. I was getting excited about this. Look!'

Zoe passed her phone in front of them but it was so fast Juliet didn't see a thing.

'I didn't see it. What was it?'

'It's an invitation to dinner tonight.'

'Lovely. Oh! From Luke? Does this mean he's going to propose tonight?'

Zoe frowned. 'What? No. I mean yes, it's from Luke, but it's not for me. Well not just for me. It's for us. For all of us. We've been invited to dinner at The Grange tonight. Luke says he knows it's short notice but it would mean a lot if we could come.' She looked at each of them in turn, her smile fading slightly. 'We will go, won't we? All of us.' She stared at Juliet.

'Hey. Don't look at me like that. It is short notice. Very short notice and I think it's a bit of a cheek, but of course I'll go if it'll make you happy. Even though I'd rather throw myself back in the lake and drown than have dinner at The Grange.'

Even Bernard stiffened. 'I agree with Juliet. It's very short notice, especially in this weather, and so close to Christmas Day.' He glanced at Rosa before smiling at Zoe. 'But if you and Luke are going to be spending your future together, I suppose we'll all have to get used to passing an evening or two at the house.'

Rosa smiled wanly. 'Does he say if it's a formal affair, sweetheart? Or casual?'

'Oh. He doesn't say. I'll send him a text and ask.'

Juliet tutted. 'Why don't you call him? That way we can ask what time it is. Who'll be there? How long it's likely to last. Can I bring a plus one? Because I'm not looking forward to Harrison and Kiki pawing one another in front of me while I sit there twiddling my thumbs.'

Zoe smirked. 'Forgetting for one moment that you don't have a plus one you can take, why would Harrison and Kiki be pawing one another?'

'They might not be I suppose, if they're still having their little misunderstanding.'

'What misunderstanding?'

'I don't know. I didn't ask the details. But they must've had a row because she wasn't there last night and Harrison was biting everyone's heads off. He was in such a bad mood. I suppose they could've made up last night though because he left ten minutes after he arrived. Well maybe not ten minutes, but he certainly didn't hang around.'

Zoe chuckled and shook her head. 'I don't know what you're talking about. But I'll ask.' She went into the hall and closed the kitchen door behind her.

'I'm not looking forward to this, darling,' Bernard said, casting a melancholy look at Rosa.

'Nor am I,' she replied. 'I'm not sure why we need to go to dinner. He hasn't proposed yet.'

'Perhaps Rufus wants to make it clear the past is in the past.'

'Oh God,' Juliet said. 'Will he be there?'

Rosa raised her brows. 'I should think so sweetheart. It is his house, after all.'

'Oh joy. I'm not sure I've got anything to wear. Especially not if it's a formal affair.'

'Then it's probably a good thing we're going shopping. You can pick up something in town.'

'Great. I've got to buy a dress to go to a dinner I don't want to go to with people I don't like. Present company excepted.' She shook her head and reached out her hand to her dad. 'Will it be awful for you, Dad? I know you got through having to come and see me the other day, but this is different. We've got to go to the house that was our home and sit and watch as that old man lords it over us.'

'He might not do that,' Rosa said, as Juliet got up to grab some toast. 'Harrison was nothing but kind when we were there, and he made sure I had everything I needed to make me feel comfortable. I don't see why Rufus would go out of his way to make us feel uneasy or unwelcome. Not after so many years. At least I hope he won't.'

Zoe shoved open the door, all smiles. 'Okay. Dinner's at eight. Luke will come and get us. Casual not formal. No need for you to dress up. What else? Um. He'll bring us home whenever we want. It'll just be them and us. No one else is invited. Um. And no, you can't take anyone with you, Juliet. Right. I think that covers it. God, I'm starving. What time are we going shopping? I need to buy a new dress.'

Juliet's jaw dropped as she returned to the table with a plate of toast. 'I thought you said it was casual and we didn't need to dress up.'

Zoe grabbed a slice from Juliet's plate and grinned. 'I said you didn't need to dress up. I intend to knock both Luke and the old man, dead. Figuratively speaking, of course. I don't want old Rufus to die the first time I go to dinner with him. And I definitely don't want Luke to kick the bucket. At least not before he's proposed. Sorry! I shouldn't joke about that, should I? Not after what happened to you, sis.'

But Juliet wasn't thinking about that. If Zoe was going to buy a new dress in the hope of knocking her boyfriend's socks off, so to speak, then perhaps Juliet should do the same. Buy a new dress and see if she could knock a certain person's socks off.

Although with Kiki as her competition, it would have to be one hell of a dress.