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‘And you realise that if he puts so much as a single toe one step wrong, I’ll be in serious danger of breaching my Nightingale pledge and doing him some “harmful or injurious mischief”. And you know I mean it.’

‘I do. And I’m lucky to have a friend like you.’

‘Right back at you, Ange. Even if you do conspire against me with Jake and Summer to increase our menagerie!’

* * *

‘This place is beautiful.’ Angela gasped as she walked over the bridge that spanned the moat — an actual moat! ‘It’s more like a castle than a hotel.’

‘Apparently it was. The original parts of it date back to the fifteenth century.’ He’d made a point of memorising some facts he hoped she’d find interesting. He felt more nervous about this date with Angela — and more worried about impressing her — than he had done in years. With Yvette, it hadn’t really been proper dates, and most of them — certainly the first ones, at least — were organised by agents and managing companies. All he’d had to do was turn up, smile for the cameras and turn on that “Maverick” charm. Which might well be why he felt so edgy; for the first time in a long time, that charm and persona wasn’t going to impress at all, and he was dating as Ryan.

‘Wow, that’s really cool. I wonder if it’s haunted.’

He gave himself a mental pat on the back. ‘Apparently it is. People have reported hearing footsteps, seeing strange lights, and there’s one corridor where a maid sometimes appears and disappears.’

‘Did you look that up for today?’

‘Umm, maybe?’ he admitted reluctantly, not wanting to seem geeky, or overly eager.

‘That’s really sweet of you.’ Angela tucked her hand through his arm and smiled at him, making him feel ten feet tall. The way she looked at him made him rethink all his worries — she wasn’t judging him, or measuring him up against expectations based on his videos, because she already knew him as Ryan. Which was equal parts strange, and somewhat scary — he didn’t have his big, showy persona to hide behind.

‘Oh wow,’ Angela breathed the exclamation as they followed the discreet and elegant signs to the dining room, where they were met by a hostess who could have easily doubled as a model on her days off. He automatically scanned the room as they were led to their table, checking for anyone he should probably say hello to, then froze when his eyes landed back on Angela. She’d slipped off her coat — which he belatedly realised he should have offered to help with — and handed it to the hostess.

His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sky-blue dress that wrapped around her, crossing over her chest and tying tightly at her waist, before flaring out to float down to below her knees. His eyes caught on the bow at her hip, and for a moment he had to really focus on not thinking about wrapping his fingers around the silky-looking fabric and tugging it undone. Despite being starving when they’d entered the place, he suddenly found he couldn’t care less about food.

He held his arm out to her, steadying her as she sat — still feeling that flush of guilt for the brace she had to wear. Within moments they’d ordered drinks, and he could turn his attention back to her.

‘This place is so beautiful,’ she whispered to him as she glanced around. Was she nervous? He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Angela lacking confidence in anything. ‘I have to admit, I feel a bit under-dressed.’

‘You look perfect,’ he told her, honestly. ‘How can you think anything else?’

She beckoned to him, leaning across the table conspiratorially. ‘You know this dress came from a charity shop?’

‘You’re kidding.’

‘Nope, and not just a charity shop, but the bargain bin too. It was ankle length, but it had a big hole — probably where the former owner had caught their heel or something — and had these huge, flared seventies-style sleeves. But I loved the colour, and Mum taught me to sew years ago, so I bought it, reshaped the sleeves, and shortened it.’

‘Then you are as talented as you are fair and beautiful, and I wish I had a drink to toast you.’

She watched him, her lips twitching for a few moments before she snorted and burst out into giggles, which she hastily muffled with her napkin. ‘Sorry, sorry.’

‘Are you OK?’

‘Yeah.’ She nodded and took a deep breath. ‘Can I be honest with you?’

‘Of course.’

‘I know you’re probably just trying to be charming, and I appreciate it — I really do — but you don’t need to try so hard to impress me. I’d much rather we just relax and be our normal selves, rather than talking like we’ve stepped out of the pages of a Jane Austen novel.’

‘I’m being a bit over the top, aren’t I?’

‘You brought me flowers to my front door, refused to let me drive here, and have brought me to one of the most stunning places I’ve ever eaten. I’m already impressed, Ryan.’

‘Sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve actually done this — and even longer as . . . well, as myself. But since we’re being honest . . . ?’

‘Yeah?’

‘I’m really starting to like the sound of my name on your lips. Or is that cheesy too?’