‘Anyway, come on, join us girls again from tomorrow.’

‘If you say so, Jackie.’

‘I do.’ Whatever happened, she’d better be around to clear up the fall-out.

‘Come on, everyone,’ Ronnie wheedled, the orange lipstick that had at the outset of the evening perfectly matched her vintage orange kaftan now smeared around her mouth like something from a horror movie. ‘Just one more little drinkie!’

Steph cast a half-angry, half-despairing glance at David.

‘Well, I’m going to bed,’ announced Nicky firmly. ‘Our flight’s at eleven tomorrow and I’ve got to pack. What time do we need to leave?’ she asked Steph. ‘And can I print up the boarding passes on your printer? I usually use my phone, but I doubt that airport could deal with anything beyond the nineteenth century.’

‘Very wise. Breakfast at eight thirty, leave about nine fifteen? It’s only ten minutes to the airport. We’ll print up the passes in the morning. I have to get up at seven anyway for the guests.’

‘Thanks for everything, Auntie Steph,’ Nicky said. ‘It’s been really amazing. I’m dying to tell Martin all about it!’

Steph smiled, touched at Nicky’s obvious delight, even though she still couldn’t help wishing the whole thing would go away.

‘OK, Ronnie, I’ll join you,’ David weakened, even though he looked tired too. ‘But just one, mind. I’m not up for a session, and you have to get up for your flight, remember.’

Steph threw him a grateful glance. He was a kind man and she knew she could sometimes be a bit shrewish to him. ‘See you soon. I’ll do breakfast.’

David led Ronnie into the guests’ sitting room, where there was a table at one end with drinks and an honesty box. It was untidy, with empty glasses strewn around and a whiff of stale cigar smoke, jarring Ronnie into a sudden sense of what hard work it must be to run a place like this with almost no backup.

David poured them both a cognac.

Although he could see exactly why Ronnie drove her sister mad, there was something about her he admired. Maybe it was her energy, a kind of life force that exhibited itself in her over-the-top clothes and exuberant personality. On the downside, she could certainly be a world-class moaner.

Ronnie suddenly pierced him with her heavily mascaraed gaze. ‘David, I’m worried about you two,’ she announced bluntly. ‘There’s something going on neither of you are facing up to. And the thing is, you’re not allowed to split up. I rely on you both too much.’ She smiled at the outrageousness of her own remark. ‘So spit it out. For once, I promise to be discreet.’

David felt his own defences begin to collapse. He’d tried so hard to battle this thing out on his own. Maybe it had been a mistake.