Page 79 of Not So Very Sensible

She mooted the possibility of this with Emma-Jane via text message, which scored an instant yes. That made her feel a little better, as did talking with her sisters on the next sister video call.

“I’m really sorry,” Liv said.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. He obviously was not Mr. Right.”

“Mr. Wrong, instead.” Emma-Jane’s head tilted. “You know, I think I met his brother at some party Eric took me too. He seemed pretty sleazy, so I’m not surprised it runs in the family.”

“I don’t think Ethan is sleazy,” she protested. “Just maybe caught up trying to please his family.” She ghosted a smile. “None of us would know what that feels like, would we?”

Her sisters laughed. But she didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. Only that there had been a degree of maternal pressure to adopt Mum’s passion for all things Jane Austen. And while the other three all had their aspects of Austenites, Ellie had always been the odd one out, with her preference for Japanese culture and manga. Things that Ethan had said he liked too. She pressed her lips together. Lord, I really want to stop thinking about him.

“So, what’s next?” Emma-Jane asked. “Want me to finally get you set up with your dream guy on Dream Match?”

“No, thanks.”

“You sure? I got a message from Annabelle a while ago asking about getting on it.”

“Good for her!” Liv said.

“Huh.” Katie frowned. “I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.”

Yeah, that was because Annabelle didn’t. EJ’s report looked to be old news. Not that she’d share that. That was for Annabelle to say something. “Thanks Emma-Jane, but I’m fine.” Or she would be, anyway. “I think I’ll let you three and Annabelle do the romance thing, and I’ll be the maiden aunt to all your children.”

Emma-Jane scoffed. “I don’t plan on having any children soon.”

“You say that now. A lot can change.”

“Right?” Liv chimed in. “I think I remember hearing you once say that you never could see yourself falling for Jordan, and look where you two are now.”

“Well, okay. Life has a way of surprising us.”

“Which means all is not lost, Ellie,” Liv continued. “Just because Ethan was Mr. Wrong doesn’t mean that Mr. Right isn’t about to walk through the door.”

“I feel like I’m so hopeless at this that even if Mr. Right were to walk through the door, I wouldn’t recognise him anyway.”

“Good thing I’m here to help her out,” Katie chimed in.

“Mm. I really think you’d be better off leaving it to the professional matchmaker.” Emma-Jane winked.

“I really think it’s time to change the subject,” Ellie said firmly. “So, Liv, any more wedding plans? Are we still looking at a Christmas wedding?”

As if her mother had magically attuned ears to the word wedding, she entered the room. “Oh, are you talking about wedding plans?” She sat down, shifting the computer so the screen faced Mum now. Okay.

The light in her eldest sister’s face had faded a little. “Look, we were hoping, but there’s been a change of plans, and we’re gonna have to wait until summer.”

“What?” Mum exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“It’s only just happened. Apparently Georgina has a bunch of really important exams around then, and Liam doesn’t want her distracted. She’ll be finished by May, so after then would be better. And as George is his only surviving relative, he wants to help her feel as included as possible. Which I agree with,” she added.

“But we’d made plans to come over for Christmas,” Mum complained. “I really feel like you should reconsider.”

“No, Mum. This is what we’re doing,” Liv said firmly. “And to be honest, the Hall will look a hundred times better in late spring or summer than it will in the depths of winter.”

Mum sighed. “I suppose that is something, at least.”

“I’d really like it if you could all come on board with this, please,” Liv said. “I don’t want to have to regret this or feel like I’m going to second-guess my decisions. I need your support.”

“You’ve got mine,” Ellie said.