Belinda laughed. ‘It is a bit full on, I admit. But it saved me from going loopy after my divorce. I’m just hoping Nigel and Molly manage to keep on top of everything while I’m over here to sort out their latest acquisition.’

Fern looked at her, puzzled. ‘And where is that? The nearest hotel is at least fifteen kilometres away.’

‘They’ve branched out,’ Belinda said. ‘Not sure now I’ve seen the place, which is just the other side of the village, whether they are completely in their right minds, but,’ she shrugged, ‘they’re very determined.’

‘They’ve bought the campsite, haven’t they?’ Fern said as the truth dawned on her. ‘I knew it was up for sale. You’ll have your work cut out with that place.’

‘I know.’ Belinda nodded ruefully. ‘And I’ve got approximately two, possibly three, months to get it up and running.’ She swirled the wine round in her glass. ‘A task I wasn’t sure I wanted or was even up to before I arrived. Now, having seen the site and met the resident attitude-riddled Frenchman currently employed as an on-site manager, I know for sure. I wish I was still in Devon.’ She fell silent for several seconds. ‘But, hey, I’m a troubleshooter. Alain Salvin is trouble, so I could always shoot him, couldn’t I? End of problem.’ She drained her glass and replaced it on the table and saw the look on Fern’s face. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t really shoot him, as much as I’d like to,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘Haven’t got a gun handy.’

‘But Alain is a lovely man,’ Fern said. ‘I’ve met him once or twice since he returned. Lady adores him. I didn’t realise he was still involved with the site.’

Belinda stared at her. She was the second person this evening to defend Alain. As if a dog liking him was proof of a good human being!

‘Hmm. The jury is out on that, I’m afraid.’ She looked at Fern expectantly. ‘What do you mean, though, still involved with the site?’

‘Your Nigel would have bought the place from Alain’s parents.’

‘He did say something about old friends being involved.’ Belinda nodded thoughtfully. No wonder Nigel was reluctant to sack him. ‘Right, enough about me. How did you end up here in deepest Brittany?’

‘Long story short: I got married, had two children, got divorced and became a single mum for about ten years. Once the girls were independent, I knew I needed to do something for me, so I enrolled on a Prue Leith catering course, thinking I’d open a seaside B&B or a café somewhere in the West Country when I qualified.’ Fern smiled. ‘Fate decreed otherwise. I met a sexy Frenchman on the course and plans changed. I got married again instead.’

‘Gosh, that sounds romantic,’ Belinda said.