Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

an Adonis and couldn’t help blushing. ‘Yes,’ she said, shaking his hand.
    Warwick smiled. Even Lily wasn’t immune to the charms of Dan Harcourt.
    ‘Pammy’s upstairs with Cassandra,’ Dan said. ‘We’re to have a spot of lunch in the kitchen. Higgins has it all prepared and then the afternoon is yours to settle in and relax.’
    Lily made a funny guttural noise and Dan turned, blinking in surprise.
    ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
    ‘Relax!’ Lily scoffed. ‘How can I possibly relax when my brother’s about to-’
    ‘Become happily married,’ Warwick interrupted, taking her hand and patting it gently but firmly.
    Dan looked at the pair quizzically but was too polite to ask what was going on. ‘So,’ he said at last, ‘let’s eat, shall we?’
     

Chapter 10
    After a delicious ham salad with fresh baguette and a generous slice of Victoria Sandwich washed down with several cups of tea, Warwick drove Lily into the village so she could book into her room at the pub.
    ‘That Dan’s rather attractive,’ she said as Warwick helped her with her bags into her room.
    ‘And very married,’ Warwick said.
    ‘I didn’t say I was interested,’ Lily said, flicking her short dark hair in annoyance. ‘I was merely making an observation.’
    Warwick smiled. ‘My dear sister, you will never be immune to the charms of the opposite sex no matter how much you protest to hate men.’
    ‘I never said I’ve sworn right off men,’ Lily said, ‘merely marrying the brutes!’ She flopped down on the bed and kicked off her heels.
    ‘Will you be okay here?’ Warwick asked. ‘You’re sure you don’t want to join us at the hall for dinner later?’
    Lily shook her head. ‘You go back and enjoy your last night of freedom as a bachelor,’ she said, ‘unless you finally see sense and do a runner, that is.’
    ‘I’m not going to do a runner,’ he said.
    ‘Yes, well, there’s plenty of time to make your mind up yet.’
    Warwick shook his head in despair at Lily and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he told her. ‘I’ll be the one standing at the top of the aisle, waiting for my bride and not doing a runner.’
    ‘We’ll see,’ Lily said.
     
    It was seven thirty that evening when Katherine and Robyn walked up the driveway to join everyone at Purley Hall. The afternoon had passed by in a blur of reading, chatting, drinking tea and walking through the village and Katherine now felt a little more relaxed than when she’d first arrived thanks to Robyn’s hospitality and sweetness.
    Higgins answered the door, looking resplendent in a shiny green waistcoat covered in gold fleur de lys.
    ‘Dr Roberts, welcome,’ he said, taking her jacket.
    ‘Good evening, Higgins,’ Katherine said, happy to see her favourite butler again.
    ‘Hello, Higgins,’ Robyn said. ‘How’s Cassie?’
    But Higgins didn’t get a chance to reply because it was then that Dan walked into the hallway from the drawing room with a sleeping Cassandra in his arms.
    ‘She’s getting heavy,’ Dan said, bending to kiss Robyn.
    Robyn stroked her daughter’s golden curls. ‘I hope she’s been a good girl for her Aunt Pammy?’
    ‘Certainly has,’ Dan said, just as his phone vibrated in his pocket. ‘Here,’ he said, passing Cassandra to Robyn.
    ‘My, she’s grown,’ Katherine said, stepping forward to admire the sleeping girl as she settled into Robyn’s arms.
    ‘Oh, yes!’ Robyn said, pride dancing in her eyes. ‘She’ll be dressing up and taking part in our Austen weekends before you know it.’ She looked up as Dan popped his phone in his pocket again. ‘Who was that?’
    ‘Oh, nothing important,’ he said but there was a look of anxiety in his eyes. ‘Hello, Katherine.’ He leant forward to kiss her. ‘How are you?’
    ‘Very well,’ she said.
    ‘All ready for the big day?’
    ‘Well, I-’
    Just then, Warwick emerged from the drawing room and, striding across the hallway, took Katherine in