‘Probably. She was an amazing woman, your gran, just like you are.’
* * *
Lottie nestled against Rory and looked up at the black night sky. The party had been wonderful, but this was better. Being outside with just Rory for company, the warm evening air draped around her shoulders.
‘It’ll be strange without them, won’t it?’
‘The crew?’ Rory laughed. ‘I don’t know about strange, it’ll be bloody wonderful.’
‘They weren’t that bad.’
‘They weren’t that good either.’ They stood side by side and looked over the lake, the sound of the party echoing in the background. The moon casting a ghostly light on the water. ‘But Xander will still be around, and Seb is talking about coming back here when the film comes out. He said he’d send tickets for the premiere.’
‘Do we have to go? We’ll have to dress up and see Pandora again.’ Lottie tried not to pout.
‘Up to you, darling. But it won’t do any harm to get in the papers. We’ll have to take a big banner with us, Tipping House Estate, home to the stars, book your wedding quick.’
‘That’s a lot to fit on a banner.’
‘I was planning on an enormous banner. Me and Xander can fix it the length of the red carpet.’
‘You like him, don’t you?’
‘I do. I have to admit I wasn’t keen at first.’ He wrapped his arms around Lottie’s waist and pulled her closer. ‘When he was after you, but he seems an okay type of bloke, and he’s a good rider. He’s grown on me.’ He paused, studied his wife. ‘I miss Mick too, you know. I think the eejit is slightly fonder of you than me, but we had some good times.’
‘I think they’ll stay in Ireland. He only left because Niamh did.’
‘Who knows, but we’ve got an open invitation to go over. Do you think we should sneak back and get some practise in?’
‘Practise?’
‘Baby-making, you know, just check we know what we’re doing?’
Lottie giggled and kicked off her heels. ‘Race you.’ Then she was running as fast as she could towards Tipping House. Home.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the wonderful HarperImpulse team, without whom there would be no Tippermere. Particular thanks to Kimberley Young, to my long-suffering and hard-working editor Charlotte Ledger, and to Cherie Chapman.
My thanks to Sarah Clegg, an amazing sporting artist and photographer, and good friend, for introducing me to the wonderful game of polo, and thanks to members and players of the Cheshire Polo Club who provided an insight into the game.
To Samantha and Andrew Lane, thank you so much for sharing the incredibly cute Ella with me.
To all the amazing readers who asked me to write this third Tippermere book – you have no idea how much you brighten my days and inspire me.
And last but not least to Paul who keeps me smiling, and to Alex who uncomplainingly suffers my blank looks and lack of dinner making.
Coming Soon from Zara Stoneley
The Holiday Swap
Also by Zara Stoneley
Stable Mates
Country Affairs
A Very Country Christmas (A Free Short Story)
Zara Stoneley
I live in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When I’m not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in sexy high heels or green wellies, I can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas!
I write hot romance and bonkbusters. My most recent releases, ‘Stable Mates’ and ‘Country Affairs’, are fun romps through the Cheshire countryside and combine some of my greatest loves – horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)!
www.ZaraStoneley.com
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