JANUARY 1. Hazel sat in the quiet cottage. It was one of two, semidetached, on the outskirts of the village, completely surrounded by fields. When she looked out of the window, all she saw was unrelen

THE Janus Inn’s sign swung ominously in the gathering wind as Mairi and her bundle stood outside. Waiting for the coachman to appear, she looked towards the stout, ancient building, glad of the carous

RIGHT. I have come to a decision,” Mel said one weekend, as she cleared away the breakfast things. “In that case, I’m off. Bye, Mum, see you later!” “Wait, Seth. Stay exactly where you are! You have n

SOPHIE leaned close to examine the tree, her breath swirling in the freezing air like steam from a kettle. It was difficult to identify what tree it was at this time of year, when the branches were ba

NEW YEAR’S EVE ”Have you made any resolutions?” Sophie asked. Emma put her phone on speaker as she poured a cup of tea. No Champagne for her tonight. “No. Every year I resolve to exercise more and tak

IT was Christmas Eve and Alice’s taxi would be arriving any minute now. Five couples are paying to spend the festive season at Rooke Hall, Moira, commissioning editor of “Country Mansions”, had explai