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Chris looks between Freddy and me. ‘Is there something going on between you two?’

‘Freddy just made me a really good offer,’ I say. ‘I’m going to accept. Which means I can’t come to Scotland.’

‘All’s fair in sales,’ says Freddy.

‘Kat.’ Chris looks like he’s about to be sick. ‘You can’t embarrass me like this. What will everyone say? They’re going to think I’m a total loser.’

‘To be fair,’ says Freddy, ‘I reckon a lot of people have already come to that conclusion.’

‘Shut up!’ Chris rages. ‘Just because you caught me off guard at Ascot … you can’tdothis. Kat is my fiancée.’

‘We should get going, darling.’ Freddy puts a hand on my shoulder. ‘We have a wedding to attend.’

‘Excuse me?’ I blink at him. ‘A wedding?’

‘Yes.’ Freddy rocks back and forth on his expensive shoes. ‘You want to get married before you turn 35, don’t you? And since it’s your birthday today, I arranged the wedding ceremony for this afternoon. We need to get you to hair and makeup. Let’s go.’

‘You’re not serious.’ My stomach clenches. ‘You have aweddingplanned for me? Rightnow?’

‘Yes,’ says Freddy. ‘All your family and friends are waiting.’

‘Where?’

‘The British Library.’

‘We can’t get married at the British Library today,’ I say. ‘There’s already a wedding going on there … oh. My. God.’ Realisation clicks. ‘All those people at the British Library, running back and forth with flowers and champagne. Are they something to do withyou?’

‘Yes they are.’ Freddy looks pleased with himself.

‘This is insane.’

‘There’s a fine line between genius and insanity,’ says Freddy. ‘I like to think I straddle that line perfectly.’

‘I am lost for words.’

‘Well, you only need one.’ Freddy gives me his most charming smile. ‘Yes.’

‘Kat.’ Chris takes a hesitant step forward. ‘Think of the Travel Lodge plus hotel room. Free shortbread and aminibar. And I’ve reserved us train seats next to the phone-charging sockets.’

‘Freddy.’ I turn to him. ‘Where do I sign?’

CHAPTER72

I’m not having a relapse. I’m just unsteady on my feet. Anyone would be in my situation.

As Freddy and I head into the marble-floored British Library lobby, which has been closed to the public and filled with flowers, I cling tightly to his sturdy arm.

‘I can’t believe this. You planned a wholewedding? For someone who might have said no?’

‘I’ve always been a risk taker,’ says Freddy. ‘But I am very, very sure about you as an investment.’

‘How long did it take you to arrange a wedding for a bride who might have said no?’

‘Just over 24 hours.’

‘Twenty-four hours! That’s impossible.’

‘Nothing is impossible with good marketing, Kat.’ Freddy gives me a wink. ‘I employed my persuasive talents to good effect. Let’s just say, there are a few Michelin Star restaurants that’ll go without cheese courses today. But I can’t take all the credit. It was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without a heck of a lot of staff and –’