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‘Okay, go on…’ she said.

‘You know the house we saw in Slaughter?’ He looked at her expectantly, though Holly wasn’t sure what he was talking about. After all, there were plenty of houses in Slaughter.

‘Which house?’

‘The one that was for sale?’

Holly’s insides twisted. She was certain she knew where the conversation was going and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to react. Her jaw clenched involuntarily as Evan carried on talking. ‘Well, it turns out it does have a bath. Two, actually. It’s also got a big, walled garden, and the perfect view. Not to mention enough cupboards that we’d have room for my enormous shoes, and enormous suitcases, and everything else that I possess.’

‘Evan, what did you do?’ Holly said, nervousness filtering into her voice.

‘I put an offer in on it.’ His lips were twitching, as if he didn’t know whether he should smile or grimace. ‘I put an offer in and it was accepted. I wasn’t sure it would be, but it was.’

Holly opened her mouth, though she didn’t know what she intended to say. It didn’t matter though; Evan hadn’t stopped talking.

‘I thought it was perfect for us. I still think it might be, but then I realised I was doing the same thing again. The same thing I always do when I get over-excited. I was making big gestures and not consulting you. I mean, it was a stupidly big gesture, right? Thinking I’d be able to choose a place where you’d want to live. And you’d hated Giles for doing almost exactly the same thing, so I realised what an idiot I’d been. So I pulled the offer.’

‘You put an offer in on a house because you wanted us to live together and then withdrew it?’ Holly said, trying to follow hisbabbling. ‘Because you changed your mind? And that’s what you wanted to tell me?’

‘Yes. No! Sort of. I didn’t know if I should tell you about the house, but I wanted to be honest with you. And I haven’t changed my mind. Not about us living together. I still want that. If you do. But I went about it the wrong way and now I want to do it the right way. I want to get us a home. Somewhere here, in the Cotswolds or wherever you choose. I don’t care, it’s up to you. Whatever you want, you understand? So, what do you think to getting our forever home?’

His eyes were wide and unblinking, and only then did Holly realise how terrified he was. Terrified that this would be a step too far, that it would be the thing to send her running. She could see all that, and now it was her turn to take a deep breath in.

She wrapped her hand around his neck and looked into his eyes.

‘I definitely do not want you to buy a house for us to live in, Evan,’ she said.

72

Inside the manor, the music had kicked up a notch. The slow dances had obviously ended, and in its place, eighties rock music was filling the air.

But outside, Holly and Evan were surrounded by a deathly silence.

‘No? No, no, of course not,’ Evan said, pulling himself back into the moment. ‘That makes sense. Of course, you wouldn’t want to move in with me yet. I mean, that would be silly. It’s just been temporary these last couple of weeks. And Hope needs more time to get used to me. It’ll be fine. And I’m fine with you staying at Giles’s place, really. It’ll be fine.’

Holly pressed her lips tightly together, an internal chuckle escaping at the knowledge of how very sweet he was when he babbled. So sweet, her heart ached.

‘Would you hold on a minute?’ she said. ‘It’s my turn. I had something I wanted to talk to you about, remember?’

Swallowing visibly, Evan nodded.

‘And what I want is for you to read something.’

From out of her bag, Holly pulled the letter and handed it to Evan. He looked at her as she nodded encouragingly.

‘Open it up, read what’s inside.’

Slowly, as if it still might be some kind of trick, Evan pulled out the letter and unfolded it the same way Holly had, and read down the page. Just as Holly’s had, his jaw fell open little by little.

Each passing moment made her heart beat faster and faster.

‘Holly, this is…’

‘Life changing?’

He nodded. ‘I knew you two were close, but I didn’t realise you werethisclose.’

The words were enough to churn up a knot of guilt within her.