'She looks incredible, doesn't she?' said Anna, without a trace of envy or bitterness, feelings that had somehow seemed irrelevant once she had got to Villa Sole.

'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and from where I'm standing, she comes a poor second.'

'Don't be nice to me just because you feel sorry for me,' she teased.

'You're beautiful and smart,' replied Matt quietly.

'Tell that to Andy,' she said, without any resentment.

Matt hesitated.

'The truth of it is that some men just can't handle women like you, Anna.'

She turned to him with a mock frown.

'Be gentle with me,' she said, her expression softening.

'You know, I spoke to my dad the other night,' Matt continued. 'He told me why he left my mother, a very smart and clever lady if ever there was one. The thing about the other woman, the one he left my mother for, wasn't that he liked her more. He just preferred the way she made him feel.'

'Is that supposed to make me me feel better about being rejected by the groom? Because it's working.' feel better about being rejected by the groom? Because it's working.'

Matt touched her arm.

'What I'm trying to say is if the groom couldn't see that he had the prize in his hands, then he doesn't deserve to win it. Now go on, go and speak to her. Tell her you're happy for her, even if it's not true.'

He gave her hand a rea.s.suring squeeze and gently pushed her forward.

'Big sis!' cried Sophie dramatically, stretching her arms out to Anna.

'It's going to be a beautiful wedding, Soph,' said Anna, kissing her on the cheek.

Sophie glanced across at Andy.

'So you give us your blessing?' she said anxiously.

Anna nodded. Over the past year, she had built her sister up into some sort of wicked fairy-tale queen, but standing here, she just looked like an insecure six-year-old again, desperate for her big sister's approval, all her pretensions stripped away.

'I'm happy for you, Soph,' said Anna. 'I really am.'

She wasn't sure she would ever be entirely comfortable with the way it had happened there had been too many tears, too much history between them but she could see how much it meant to Sophie, so she was determined to rise above it, to let her little sister have her perfect day. Growing up, the two of them had been as thick as thieves; they had shared secrets, almost spoken a secret language. And maybe in time, they would get that back, maybe the wound could heal completely, who knew? But for today, Anna was happy to put a brave face on it for her sister.

'Andy loves you,' she said. 'That's all that matters. And you're a far better match than he and I ever were.'

Sophie nodded, her eyes sparkling.

'Thank you,' she mouthed.

Anna squeezed her arm.

'Be happy, okay?'

Sophie produced a handkerchief from her cleavage and dabbed at her eyes.

'Anyway,' she sniffed, 'is it true you were going to bring Sam Charles to the wedding?'

'How did you know?'

Sophie rolled her eyes.

'Mum told me, of course. So where is he?'

'Oh, he's filming,' said Anna vaguely. 'Anyway, he's just a friend.'

'I a.s.sumed so,' said Sophie with a touch of b.i.t.c.hiness. 'Especially now that he's back with Jessica.'

Anna was surprised that she could already think of Sam and Jessica with detachment; as if they were characters in a glossy soap opera, which she supposed, now that they were out of her life, they actually were.

'Still, you have brought a rather good-looking date with you,' said Sophie. 'Almost Sam Charles handsome, if you like that Mr Darcy broody thing.'

'Matt? He's just a friend too,' Anna said honestly.

'My, you have been busy, haven't you?' said Sophie, slipping her arm through her sister's and taking her to one side. 'I'm so glad we've put all this behind us,' she said, 'because I want you to be the first person to know my news.'

Anna's hand flew to her mouth.

'You're pregnant?' she gasped.

'G.o.d, no,' said Sophie with distaste. 'Much better than that. I spoke to my agent this morning, and Dorset Kitchen Dorset Kitchen has been green-lit for a CBS pilot in the States isn't that brilliant? Obviously they don't want it to be called has been green-lit for a CBS pilot in the States isn't that brilliant? Obviously they don't want it to be called Dorset Kitchen Dorset Kitchen; maybe Sophie's Choice Sophie's Choice or something like that, because I really need to start extending my brand Stateside, don't you think? My agent says I can be the new Martha Stewart.' or something like that, because I really need to start extending my brand Stateside, don't you think? My agent says I can be the new Martha Stewart.'

'So you'll move to the States?'

Sophie nodded, the little-girl excitement back.

'New York. Isn't it fabulous?'

Sophie took a sip of champagne and pointed her finger in the direction of the crowd, where she could just see Matthew talking animatedly to her father.

'I think you should go out with him,' she said, with the slight slur of someone on her fifth c.o.c.ktail.

'Matthew?' Anna smiled.

'He's gorgeous. If I wasn't an about-to-be-married woman, I might be interested in him myself.'

Anna felt her back suddenly stiffen.

'I told you he's just a friend.'

'You like him,' purred Sophie theatrically, as if she was licking b.u.t.terscotch sauce off a spoon.

Matt had moved on from Brian Kennedy and was now sitting on a low stone wall beneath a cypress tree. Anna had to admit her sister was right: he was was pretty handsome. b.l.o.o.d.y handsome, in fact. Perhaps not as beautiful as Sam, of course, more rugged, less perfect. But then maybe that was a good thing; perfection hadn't exactly worked out for her, had it? Somewhere inside her she felt a flutter, which she dismissed as alcohol. Their eyes connected through the crowd, and as he smiled at her, she knew it was too late to turn away. But she didn't want to turn away. pretty handsome. b.l.o.o.d.y handsome, in fact. Perhaps not as beautiful as Sam, of course, more rugged, less perfect. But then maybe that was a good thing; perfection hadn't exactly worked out for her, had it? Somewhere inside her she felt a flutter, which she dismissed as alcohol. Their eyes connected through the crowd, and as he smiled at her, she knew it was too late to turn away. But she didn't want to turn away.

She grabbed a flute of champagne and took a long swig to fortify herself as she weaved through the sea of people towards him.

'And what's so funny?' she asked, perching on the wall next to him.

'Oh, nothing. I was just watching the joyful reconciliation of two sisters. How was it?'

Anna shrugged lightly.

'Sophie is Sophie. She's not going to change.'

They sat silently for a moment, watching the blue-green ripples on the swimming pool opposite them. Anna liked this, just sitting, being together. Some people could make you feel happy and comfortable just being in their company. With Matt, she didn't have to pretend, didn't have to try and impress him. He seemed to like her just as she was.

'So what have you been telling everyone about us?' he asked after a while.

She glanced at him.

'That you're a friend. Why?'

'Because everyone keeps asking when we're going to tie the knot too.'

'Oh, I'm sorry.' She winced. 'I guess it's because it's a wedding; everyone wants to play matchmaker.'

'Don't worry. I've told anyone that asks that we're not dating. It's just s.e.x. It seems to shut them up.'

'You haven't,' she gasped, although the thought secretly thrilled her.

'I told Andrew's mum it's a good job she put us up in the attic, what with all the noise you make when you get excited.'

'Please tell me you're joking ...?'

'Okay, I'm joking.'

They were both laughing when Anna felt a tap on her shoulder.

'Hey, guys, I've been looking for you.'

Anna composed herself.

'Andy, how are you? I thought you might still be stuck in the office.'

He smiled. 'I escaped just in time. Sophie wasn't too happy I didn't arrive in Italy until yesterday, though.'

'When duty calls ...'

'I just wanted to say thank you for the story. I was talking to Charles, my editor, before we came out here, and he thinks his deputy is about to move on to the Sunday paper. He says the job's mine if I want it.'

'That's brilliant news, Andy,' said Anna. 'You deserve it.'

'I know. It's what I've been working my a.r.s.e off for nearly fifteen years for.'

A jazz band struck up and Andy c.o.c.ked his head.

'Sounds like my cue. I'd better get back to my bride.' He looked at Anna as he turned away. 'And thanks again,' he said. 'I mean it.'

Anna sat silently as he crossed the courtyard. Matthew touched her on the shoulder.

'Don't let him get to you,' he said.

'What do you mean?'

'Andy. You're too good for him. You always were.'

'Oh, I know that.' She smiled. 'I wasn't thinking about that anyway. I was thinking about what he said, the job on the paper.'

'What about it?'

'Well Sophie just told me she's been offered a job in New York.'

'Ah,' said Matt. 'So she's not going to take it?'

'Of course she is,' laughed Anna. 'Sophie always does what she wants to; you should have grasped that by now.'

Matt frowned.

'But what about that little speech Andy just gave us?'

Anna shook her head.

'He doesn't know.'

Matt let out a laugh.

'Is she going to tell him before before they get married that she's got his life mapped out on the other side of the Atlantic?' they get married that she's got his life mapped out on the other side of the Atlantic?'

'Probably not.'

They gave each other a conspiratorial little smile. The courtyard was filling with couples dancing now, surrounded by a happy crowd laughing and clinking gla.s.ses in the balmy almond-scented air. Anna could feel Matt's warm leg against hers, her skin tingling at his touch, and suddenly, more than anything, she wanted to kiss him.

'Dance?' he said, seconds before she was about to ask him. He looked at her nervously, as if he thought he'd overstepped the mark, wondering what her reaction would be.

'I thought you'd never ask.'

He pulled her to him, palm against palm, hips moving together, his arm circling her waist. She knew he had come here as a friend, possibly because he felt sorry for her, probably because he had nothing better to do, and yet still, when he pressed his body against her, when his cheek brushed hers, she didn't want to be anywhere else.

'What's your view on professional ethics?' she whispered in his ear.

'Is this about Helen?'