What a strange evening it had been? Juliet had hardly slept a wink thinking about it. She'd thought about it in the shower too, and during breakfast when they'd all discussed the events of the night – but not about what passed between her and Harrison. Only she seemed aware of that. Was it possible she had imagined it?

Perhaps it had just been wishful thinking, brought on by Luke proposing to Zoe. Maybe it was because she had longed for Harrison to look at her in the way Luke was looking at her sister, so in her confused brain, he had. After all, it had only been for those few seconds. During dinner, he had hardly glanced in her direction. Even when he talked to her, from way down the table, his eyes seemed to look at everyone and everything but her. And when she and her family had left, several hours later, it had been Daphne who had handed them their coats, and Luke who had driven them home. Harrison had merely said a brief good night and had disappeared into his study.

Perhaps she had annoyed him by reminiscing; by telling Luke what Christmas had been like when her family lived at The Grange. But Luke had asked, and so had Harrison, now she came to think about it. And all she'd really said was that all their guests could've seen the house from miles away because there had been so many trees and lights and decorations. And she'd only mentioned the drinks party on Christmas Eve for everyone who lived on Mistletoe Row, in passing. It wasn't her fault Luke had said how depressingly miserable the house must seem to her and her family now. Okay, maybe she shouldn't have said it did. But at least she was being honest. Surely that was a good thing?

She was still thinking about how strange it had been as she and her family walked along Mistletoe Row, ankle deep in snow, to go to church. In fact, everything had been strange since she'd come home. It was even odd that they were all going to church. They never went to church. But Zoe had insisted.

'You know what the Reverend's like,' Zoe had said over breakfast. 'He may be trendy in the way he acts and dresses, but as far as the church goes, he's living back in the fourteenth century, when the church still reigned over 'peasants' like us. If we don't show our faces for the next few weeks, there's no way he'll agree to marry me and Luke. And all my life I've dreamt of getting married in St Clement's, so we're going and that means all of us.'

'You've got mighty bossy since last night,' Juliet joked. 'Just because you're marrying someone from the Big House, it doesn't mean you can expect us to bow and curtsy to you.'

Zoe laughed. 'I can't imagine you bowing and curtsying to anyone and I don't recall anyone doing that to us when we lived there. It is a bit weird though, isn't it? I mean, actually being invited to go up there whenever I feel like it, instead of merely staring at it from our door.'

Rosa and Bernard had said that it was definitely a little strange to be told that they should consider the place a second home, bearing in mind it had actually been their first home and that of the Bell family, for hundreds of years before.

As they had left their cottage, they had all glanced up at The Grange, still looking rather forlorn, and possibly more so on such a cloudy morning, when the sky seemed about to burst from the weight of snow waiting to fall.

'Yep. It's definitely weird knowing I can go there without being turned away at the door,' Zoe said.

'And not just you, sweetheart.' Rosa stepped over a large mound of snow that must've fallen from their roof. 'Harrison said we can all go up as often as we like.'

Bernard took Rosa's hand and slipped her arm through his. 'Harrison meant well. But I don't think I'll be popping in and out. Although it was civil of Rufus not to retract the invitation. It's almost as if he's letting Harrison get a feel for what it'll be like once he eventually inherits the place.'

'Will he inherit it?' Juliet asked.

'It's almost certain he will. Rufus only had one son and he died years ago, so Harrison is the next in line. Whether he'll want to live there or not is a different matter entirely.'

'I thought I heard Rufus say that Harrison was considering it,' Rosa said. 'At least that was the impression I got. That Harrison may be returning to The Grange.'

'He is,' Zoe said. 'Luke told me last night. Harrison had a long talk with him on Saturday morning and one of the things he said was that he was contemplating moving back. He also told Luke that he and I can live there if we like. He said the house is big enough for us all not to bump into one another every second of the day. Which I can confirm. He also said, if we preferred, there may be some way of converting it into separate accommodations for him and for us, without altering the interior too much. Don't look so panicked, the three of you. You know it's listed, so I doubt he'd get permission. And I wouldn't want him to. Like you, I think the house should remain as it is. No reason why we shouldn't live there as a family though. At least until the business is bringing in enough for us to get a place of our own.'

Juliet couldn't help but feel a little envious. 'Just as well it's so big. I wouldn't fancy bumping into Kiki every five minutes if I were in your shoes.'

Zoe laughed. 'Firstly, you shouldn't be wearing my shoes. Your feet are a size bigger than mine. And secondly, Kiki won't be there, so that wouldn't be a problem. Look, there's Dan.'

Dan rushed through the snow towards them before Juliet could ask why Zoe was so sure Kiki wouldn't be living there.

'Hello all. I hear congratulations are in order. Let me see the ring.' He grabbed Zoe's hand, yanked off her glove and winked at Juliet. 'Hello darling. I've got lots to tell you. Grab me after church and I'll buy you a drink or two. Oh Zoe.' He shielded his eyes with one hand. 'It's so bright I'm blinded. How did he propose?'

Dan beamed at Rosa and Bernard before linking his arms through Zoe's and Juliet's and marching them towards the church, while Zoe told him all about the proposal and Juliet wondered if Harrison really would come back to live at The Grange. And if he did, why he wouldn't be bringing Kiki with him.

Perhaps he and Kiki had fallen out, after all. And even though Juliet knew it was a bit bitchy of her, she couldn't help but smile at that thought.