One year later

“What’s this?”

I wasn’t expecting him to hand me anything. Where had he even hidden it? We’d walked all the way up Mount Cragger to sit at the very peak. The sun had just set and the full moon was already playing on the water of the lake far below. “Just like Flambert would have seen it,” Nick said. “Kind of pretty, isn’t it?”

“Breathtaking,” I replied.

“I’ve got something for you.”

He handed over a folded piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“A copy of your original contract with a couple of the terms changed.”

“Okay, explain.”

He looked at me, his face somehow even more handsome in the moonlight. The hint of gray at his temples was still visible and it made him look distinguished. “When Senior went to jail, his practice was put into liquidation. I helped clear out his office, gave me a chance to find this.”

“So he’s in jail then?”

“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it.”

“I do now.”

“Okay, well he didn’t just con me or you. He had all sorts of schemes on the go and they all caught up with him when he screwed over Gwyneth and she let the cat out of the bag.”

“I see.”

“Gwyneth came good in the end though. She even spotted the dodgy share deal Vanessa had on the go. Remember her?”

“The woman at the auction? The toothpaste heiress.”

“She lost a fortune when it came out. Had to marry another toothpaste guy but rumour has it his tube is empty if you see what I mean?”

“What about Gwyneth? Is she not in prison?”

“Nope, she cut a deal. Testified against Senior and in return got to go free.”

“So free to dupe someone else out of a million or two?”

“Not quite. She’s gone to work for Tomlinson’s foundation in Ghana. Wanted to make amends.”

I looked out at the lake again. None of that seemed to matter anymore. All that mattered was I was sitting next to my husband. I went to hold his hand and realised I was still holding the contract. “Why are you giving me this?”

“Because I want one week with you where you have to remain silent about what happens and do everything I say.”

“Any particular reason?”

“One, I thought it would be fun. Two, I know everything about you and I know you’re ovulating and I want to give Dora a sibling. Three, you’re so busy with your tour company I know this is the only way to get a whole week with you all to myself.”

“When you put it like that,” I said with a smile. “How can I refuse?”

I dropped Dora off with Annie the next morning.

Annie had her own place at last. Since the Flambert and the Dickens manuscript went on display visitor numbers had gone up so much she’d been promoted to head of outreach, earning enough extra to buy her own place.

“So how was Mount Cragger?” she asked.

“Wonderful as ever,” I replied, lifting Dora out of the car and watching her toddle over to the house.

“She’s growing up fast,” Annie said, looking down at her. “How’s my favourite little girl?”

“Frozen?” Dora replied.

“All right. We’ll put it on in a minute. Say bye to Mummy first.”

“Frozen,” Dora said with a wave, taking herself off inside.

“Definitely going to miss me,” I said with a smile.

“A whole week with your husband. What are you going to do?”

“I can’t say,” I said. “Terms of the contract.”

“Then you better get going. Isn’t that his car?”

I turned around to find Michael pulling up in the Bentley. “Why am I not surprised?” I said. “See you in a week.”

I headed for the car. “Good morning, Michael. Should I ask how you knew I was here?”

“Mr Stempel,” we said in unison as I climbed into the back.

He drove me to the house while I thought about how I’d felt the last time I did this. Seven days silent. Not sharing with anyone what happens. I felt nervous like last time. The nerves were tempered with the joy of knowing we were married with a daughter who loved us both.

Last time I had no idea what was going to happen and I would never have guessed that I would end up madly in love. Then those wasted months apart because we were both too stubborn and too stupid to pick up the phone.

The car pulled up at the house and I climbed out, walking up to the door, half expecting the staff to come and greet me again.

Michael drove away as the door swung open. Nick was waiting for me, beckoning me in.

“One week,” he said, taking my hand. “I suppose I should start by undressing you.”

Behind me, the door slowly closed.

What happened after that? Sorry, the contract still stands. I’m not allowed to tell anyone. I will say a couple of things though. The first day ended in the cinema watching It’s a Wonderful Life together. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Dora got the brother she wanted and I got the happy family I wanted. Nick, after everything, finally got the wonderful life he wanted.