Free Secrets of the Heart by Jenny Lane Page A

certain about — was that it hadn't been Sally.
    Annis was surprised to discover that she felt relieved. Not for one minute had she thought it had been Sally, but now it seemed that it couldn't have been Ross or Tristan, either.
     
    * * *
     
    By the time Sam dropped Annis off in the village, she was feeling a lot happier. Sally's suspicions were confirmed. It wasn't Sally herself who'd been making all the mistakes. Someone was deliberately trying to make trouble — either for Sally herself or for 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue'.
    Annis took her time going back to the Mill, strolling through the village deep in thought, pausing to look into the window of the post office-cum-gift shop. She jumped when she was tapped on the shoulder and found Tristan laughing at her.
    `Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you! Where are you off to?'
    `I'm just making my way back to the Mill after a walk,' she told him, carefully avoiding any mention of her visit to the baker's.
    He fell into step beside her.
    `All set for tomorrow's wedding?'
    `Yes. Everything's on target.'
    `Good. Mr Smythe is an important customer.'
    `So I believe.' She felt inexplicably annoyed. `Although, actually, I think all the customers are equally important.'
    `Too right,' he agreed hastily. `Are you happy about taking over from Sally next week?'
    `Of course. Why wouldn't I be?' she said, a little snappily.
    `No reason, just asking. Remember to shout if you need any help. By the way, Bryn has asked you, me and Ross to join him for dinner this evening, so that we can discuss what's happening during the next couple of weeks — forward planning, you know.’
    ‘Tonight?’ Annis was taken aback. ‘But we’re pretty tied up with tomorrow’s wedding.’
    Tristan tucked his arm into hers as they crossed the road and began to walk along the lane that led towards the Mill.
    ‘Chill out. It’ll only be for an hour or so. Bryn is anxious for you to be there, but Sally’s excused on this occasion.’
    ‘But she’s not going off until Wednesday. Won’t she need to know what’s happening too?’
    ‘Not really. On Monday she’ll just be seeing potential clients as usual, and then she’s got Tuesday afternoon off.’
    ‘Right,’ Annis said. ‘Well, I suppose it would be a good idea for me to have an overview of what’s going on.’
    Annis wasn’t happy about the arrangement but realised she’d have to go along with it.
    ‘Stella seems to be keeping well,’ she said as they approached the Mill.
    `Yes, she is, but it took a long time. Did you two actually meet when you were here before?'
    `Of course. I saw her on several occasions before — before I realised she was involved with Andrew.'
    `And yet I gather you've never met Ross before now?'
    Annis shook her head. 'He went back up north after — after the party.'
    `You must hate him for bringing Stella back here and introducing her to Andrew.'
    `Hate is too strong a word, Tristan. I can hardly hold Ross responsible for what happened, can I?' And as she uttered the words, she was aware that she really meant them. It was hardly Ross's fault that Stella and Andrew had fallen in love.
    `No, I suppose it could be said that Ross had as much reason to feel angry with Andrew as you did. After all, there was a time when he and Stella . . . '
    Annis stared at him. 'You know, I hadn't thought about it quite like that. We're both the victims of circumstance, aren't we?'
    `I suppose if you think about it, so am I.' Tristan grinned. 'Whoever would have thought I'd settle down in a place like this? Oh, well, back to the grind again. I had to do a quick hop to the post office for Vicki on reception. They've run out of stamps.'
    Sally looked up as Annis entered the office.
    `You've been a long time. How did it go?'
    Annis told her about what had happened at the baker's and also mentioned the dinner with Bryn.
    `Oh, good, you've been told about it,' said Sally. 'Uncle Bryn usually has these meetings once a fortnight, but not