‘Pretty run-down and basic, but we’re slowly getting to grips with it. It’s going to be a rather special place, I think.’

‘We?’ Jane looked at her, eyebrows raised.

‘Alain who will be in charge when I return here permanently.’

‘What’s he like? Married?’

Belinda, knowing what her friend really wanted to ask was ‘is he hot?’, which would be followed by ‘do you fancy him?’, deliberately kept her answer work-related. ‘Divorced. He’s a hard worker and has decided views on things. Got that typical male French attitude, you know the type.’

‘Are you telling me he’s all moody Serge Gainsbourg and Gauloises cigarettes?’

‘I’ve never seen him smoke, but yes,’ Belinda nodded thoughtfully. ‘Now you mention it, that sums him up perfectly.’ Seeing the speculative glint in her friend’s eyes and not wanting to discuss Alain any more, she changed the subject back to Jane. ‘So how was the weekend really?’

‘It was mainly good. The grandkids were full on as usual and you know how my beloved mother-in-law tuts when she thinks the kids are out of control. Well, let’s just say she did a lot of tutting this weekend and I ended up as peacekeeper. My daughter owes me big time.’ Jane took a sip of her drink. ‘And don’t think I didn’t notice what you did then. We haven’t finished talking about Alain or the campsite. I need to know more, especially as Brett and I are still planning on being one of your first visitors. I loved the camping holidays my parents organised when I was a child.’

‘I need to talk to you about that,’ Belinda said. ‘I’m not sure if Nigel is sending me back, so if you do go over, I might not be there. And, to be honest, I’m not sure it’s Brett’s scene, or yours come to that, these days,’ Belinda said. ‘It’s being dragged into the twenty-first century, but in May it will still be pretty basic. The cabins do have their own bathrooms, so you’ll at least be spared the shower block. Maybe wait until one of the new glamping pods is installed? Although, as they’re not even on order yet, that could be late summer.’

Jane shook her head. ‘No, I want a nostalgic, old-fashioned camping experience. I want to see it before the place is totally transformed so that when I go back for a posh glamping holiday next time, I can make comparisons. Have to admit though, it won’t be the same if you’re not there.’