They turned to one another and embraced, smiling and laughing.

William twisted to face Zoe who seemed not to be as delighted as the others. ‘Smile, won’t you?’

‘What do you mean?’ Her face did not move. ‘I am smiling.’

‘Oh darling,’ said Theresa, flopping back in her chair with relief. ‘If that’s a genuine offer, it’s saved our old bacon. What would we say here in France? Saved our lardon. No, that sounds too like—’

‘What’s that?’ William shut her up. ‘Someone’s knocking at the back door?’

Carol jumped to her feet and ran through the kitchen to open it.

Simultaneously there was a demanding rap on the front door.

‘The warring parties, the pink and the blue, make their entrances from different sides of the stage,’ whispered Sally. ‘How fitting.’

‘It’s open,’ called Benjamin.

The tinkling sound heralded the arrival of Odile de la Warr who stepped forward and stood proudly on the threshold. ‘So . . . when do I get the keys?’ She jangled her bracelets, and swayed, hands on hips.

Carol came back from the kitchen, leading Roger and Cynthia Muffett.

William stood up and brusquely handed the blue note back to Madame de la Warr.

‘No deal, Odile.’

‘You mean we got it?’ Cynthia swirled around and kissed her husband on the cheek.

‘That’s fine with me,’ said Odile, already on her way out. ‘Yesterday afternoon I bought next door from that pervert who’s now up at the police station. It’s going to be the biggest Italian trattoria this side of Genoa.’

And she was gone.

Cynthia stepped forward.

‘Not only that, but you should be the first to know: we’ve decided to remarry. We’re getting married tomorrow at the Salle des Mariages in Menton and you’re all invited.’

‘Will there be a reception?’ asked Zoe.

‘We didn’t know where?’

‘Why not in here?’

The restaurant front door swung open again.

‘Oh God, I hope it’s not Cruella de Vil, back to put a spell on us all,’ whispered William.

‘That would be Maleficent, actually,’ corrected Benjamin. ‘Cruella would want us to serve dog stew.’

But it was Imogen, with her three children and Neil Muffett, who ran across the room to join his parents.

‘I gather, from the departing party, that you got your price,’ said Imogen. ‘Congratulations!’

‘I think we all need to get up to a notary and sign some papers,’ said William, rising. ‘I think we can put the Closed sign up today.’

‘We’re going to be bridesmaids,’ said Lola. ‘In the room with fantastic walls.’

‘There’s a flying horse, and angels juggling.’ Cressida was very excited. ‘A man whose eye is a fish because he’s a fisherman.’

Zoe leaned in and added, ‘And some man on that same wall is going to hit the husband over the head with a club because he didn’t marry his ugly sister.’