‘I might need to take you up on the offer of moving in with you for a few weeks, so thanks for that,’ Belinda said. ‘But as far as the Vendée is concerned, I’m still not sure about moving there permanently, although I might come for a couple of weeks and help you settle in.’ Belinda paused. ‘Chloe? You are still coming to stay with the twins at the campsite, aren’t you?’

‘Of course. Looking forward to it. Why, is there a problem?’

‘No, not a problem for you as such. It’s just that something important has happened recently here in Brittany.’

‘You’re not ill, are you?’ Chloe said.

‘No, I’m not ill. It’s just something I need to talk to you about when I see you.’

‘Can’t you tell me now?’

Belinda hesitated. ‘I’d rather wait and tell you face to face. Explain things properly.’

‘Okay, if you’re sure,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ll try not to worry about what it is.’

Belinda immediately began feeling guilty for worrying Chloe. ‘It’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about. It’s… it’s just some family history that has surfaced.’

Finishing the call with Chloe, Belinda phoned Jane. As usual, Jane was bright and breezy when she answered the phone.

‘Hi. How you doing over there with the Serge Gainsbourg lookalike? Can’t wait to meet him.’

‘You need to visit fairly soon if that’s going to happen,’ Belinda said flatly, and gave her the news about Nigel selling up and retiring. Jane was suitably horrified for her friend when Belinda gave her the details.

‘What are you going to do?’

‘The answer to that question is floating in the air somewhere and I have yet to catch it,’ Belinda said. ‘I’ve got a few weeks to sort something out. Anyway, right now I’d better go and do some work. Ring me when you’ve worked some dates out.’