Page 89 of The Only Way Is Up

‘Well, yes.’ Miriam’s cheeks flushed as she remembered the reason for Daisy coming here. ‘I have to say your stay in Shipton Combe has been such a blessing, though.’

‘Well, off back to London on Monday. Lots of exciting new projects in the works.’ Daisy crossed her fingers behind her back and prayed she wouldn’t mess this up. She tried to convince herself that this was acting rather than lying, but it still didn’t feel right to fib to a vicar.

‘Oh yes?’ Miriam leaned forwards slightly. ‘What kind of thing?’

‘I’ve just been booked for Celebrity Mastermind,’ Daisy whispered. ‘You’ll laugh at my specialist subject: it’s not commonly known how much I know about vampire fiction.’

‘Goodness.’ Miriam’s eyes were wide with surprise. ‘I wouldn’t have guessed anyone knew very much about that. And you’re going on Mastermind? How fascinating.’

‘I’m very excited about it,’ Daisy lied shamelessly, ‘but it’s not public knowledge yet.’

‘Of course,’ said Miriam. ‘Oh look, it’s almost time to judge the cakes. Do you know where Justin is?’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll find him for you.’ Daisy gave Miriam a friendly pat on the shoulder. As she left the gloom of the classroom and headed out into the school quad, she glanced up at the dazzling blue sky and politely requested forgiveness for her lies.

Daisy hovered with Justin at the edge of the cake display, waiting for the judging to begin. ‘Couldn’t they have picked something a bit more interesting than a Victoria sponge?’ Daisy lamented. ‘How do you choose?’

‘Half of those will be the same Mary Berry recipe,’ laughed Justin. ‘If I were you, I’d just pick one at random and then head for a hot cider down by the lake.’

‘Only a few days left before you can eat cake,’ observed Daisy.

‘Can’t wait,’ replied Justin. ‘I don’t want anything fancy, just a tray of supermarket jam doughnuts. I’m going to push them into my face one by one until I puke.’

Daisy giggled, then spotted her window of opportunity. ‘I’ll have to stock up on cake too. I’m going to be eating grubs and roots soon.’

Justin turned to look at her, his brow furrowed with interest. ‘How come?’

‘I’ve signed up for a new celebrity survival show,’ whispered Daisy. ‘One with Bear Grylls where you live on an island and kill your own food.’

‘Fucking hell!’ Justin took in Daisy’s flowery dress and the bouncy curls escaping from the pins in her hair. ‘No offence, but you don’t seem like the survival type.’

‘I think you inspired me,’ Daisy smiled. ‘I’m not sure I was supposed to say anything, though, so don’t tell anyone.’

‘No problem,’ said Justin, looking pleased. ‘It’s been a while since anyone gave two fucks about anything I know.’

By 2.30, Daisy had eaten her bodyweight in cake and was reasonably confident she’d never touch another Victoria sponge for as long as she lived. She’d eaten dry ones, moist ones, ones with homemade jam, ones that were four layers deep, ones bigger than her mother’s handbag. In the end she’d stuck the rosette on one that was particularly light and buttery, which turned out to be the creation of Lesley the landlady from the Shipton Arms.

Once her fete duties were done, and the crowds of visitors had stopped asking her for selfies and started to drift off towards the car park, Daisy spotted Simon, Archie, Stella, Will and Ruby admiring the snowmen by the lake and wandered down to join them.

‘Here she is,’ announced Archie, letting go of Hank so he could bound over to Daisy. ‘The guest of honour.’

‘Hardly.’ She pointed at her mother. ‘Justella were the big draw today. I’m just making up the numbers.’

Stella smiled indulgently and shuffled over so there was a space on the bench for her to perch.

‘Do you want a hot cider?’ asked Simon. Daisy briefly considered it, then thought of her mother and asked for a tea instead.

Daisy sipped her tea and watched Hank shuttle up and down the edge of the lake, clearly excited by the novelty of mallards and swans swimming in circles in the steaming water, but frustrated at being unable to reach them. She turned to look back towards the school and spotted Marcus walking along the footpath with his mother, heading in the direction of the gate leading to the village. Daisy had been keeping an eye out for him all day.

‘Give me a minute.’ Daisy scrambled to her feet and jogged after Marcus, calling his name when she was twenty metres away. He turned, then said something to his mother, who glanced at Daisy, then carried on without him.

Daisy was a little out of breath when she reached him. ‘Sorry to hold you up.’

‘It’s fine.’ Marcus fiddled with the cords on the neck of his hoodie, unable to meet Daisy’s eye. They hadn’t seen or spoken to each other since the ill-fated birthday party.

‘I wanted to say sorry,’ Daisy told him, ‘about all the press stuff after the party. It wasn’t fair that you got caught up in all that.’

Marcus shrugged. ‘It was my own fault. I shouldn’t have punched him. It was out of order and he probably didn’t deserve it.’