“Dear Ms Henshaw,

I am grateful for the opportunity you gave us to consider your new product line for inclusion in our Autumn/Winter Collection. Our buyer loved the hand-knitted sample sweater you provided and even more so the story behind its production. We pride ourselves on having a discerning clientele whom we believe would appreciate not only the beauty of the design, but the local origins of the natural fibres and dyes used in the final product and the fact that each item is hand-crafted and therefore unique.

I wonder if initially we could discuss the supply of the Fair Isle sweater in a palette of colours to be agreed upon in consultation with yourselves and our designers. If our collaboration is successful, we would be looking to move on toworking with you on the design of other hand-crafted items, such as Aran sweaters, matching hats and scarves, and even Christmas-themed jumpers as you suggested.

Congratulations, Ms Henshaw. Perhaps you could contact our Mr Gallagher to arrange for him to visit one your Cupcakes & Couture classes and maybe even take part.

With Warmest Wishes,

George Gallagher

Head of Collaborations”

Sophie raised her eyes from the precious piece of parchment in her hands that secured the future of Gingerberry, maybe even of Sophie-Louise, for years to come. But the reaction from her audience was muted, with none of the celebratory whoops she had expected. The sea of faces in front of her wore a blank, confused expression and her elation at making the announcement seeped from her veins.

‘What?’

‘Well, that’s lovely, dear,’ offered Iris, scooting her wheelchair forward to give Sophie a hug.

‘But…’

Marc swung his head from left to right, squeezed Joseph’s hand and then stood up from the sofa. He drew Sophie into his cologne-infused embrace before twisting the letter from her fingers and quickly scanning its contents.

‘Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! What Sophie has neglected to tell you, peeps, is that this letter is from Liberty’s – onlythemost wonderful department store in the whole of the UK! Wow! Congratulations, everyone! Joseph – get those knitting needles clicking. We are about to become internationally renowned crafters for Liberty’s!’

And finally the room erupted into cries of delight, interspersed with a few tears of joy. After hugging everyone, twice, Sophie managed to slip out of the shop and call Scarlet, the instigator of the whole project.

‘Wow, Sophie, that’s fabulous news! I’m thrilled for Gingerberry. Maybe I should put my order in now for my emerald and cream one before your prices skyrocket!’

‘It’ll be my treat, Scarlet. If it hadn’t been for you and your jumper…’

‘This is your project, Soph. Yours and the Cupcakes & Couture gang’s! Enjoy it! And I thought my news would be what got the champagne corks popping today!’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Just had a call, not five minutes ago, from Bianca Fratelli. She loved the hand-sewn silk lingerie you sent over last month. Wants to talk to you about supplying our Sophie-Louise Bridal lingerie via her luxury boutique in Knightsbridge.’

‘Oh, my God, I don’t think my heart can take any more!’ Sophie’s throat tightened around a lump the size of a golf ball.

‘When are you coming back to Wimbledon? It’s just that… well, Marco has tickets forMamma Mia!and he’s asked if I’d like to go with him and I thought…’

Sophie laughed. She knew something was developing between the two of them. She was relieved as it made her next few words much easier.

‘Scarlet, how would you feel about becoming my partner? I’ve decided to keep Gingerberry which means I’ll be shuttling between London and the Cotswolds for the foreseeable future. I need someone I can trust implicitly in the driving seat at Sophie-Louise. What do you say?’

‘What do I say? I… Oh, Sophie, yes, yes, yes!’

‘Before you make any commitment, I want you to know that I’m thinking of asking Flora to help me out with Gingerberry, so she’ll be away from Sophie-Louise a fair bit.’

Scarlet laughed. ‘You know she’ll jump at the chance to spend more time in Somersby with a certain handsome former war photographer! You are the most thoughtful, considerate friend I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, Sophie. Thank you.’

‘See you tomorrow. Let’s get this dress of the decade finished!’

Chapter Thirty

The excitement at Sophie-Louise Bridal had reached fever pitch. Even Marco had joined in with the gossip, speculating on what type of headpiecehewould have designed for Lilac if he’d been commissioned, adamant that he wasn’t in the slightest bit jealous of Sophie, Scarlet and Flora, not one smidgeon.

The constant frenzy of finalising Lilac’s wedding gown, as well as her honeymoon lingerie, kept Sophie’s inner turmoil at bay. The gown was being collected that afternoon to be transported to the hotel in Gloucester and she was hanging on to lucidity by her fingertips. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally. As usual, she was constantly stalked by the spectre of insomnia and only able to drift off to sleep when slumped on the sofa in her apartment above Sophie-Louise in the welcoming arms of her old friends Jack and Daniel, and even then, she was never granted oblivion for more than five hours each night.