Ronnie, who considered this an indecently early hour, wrestled with her conscience. She had promised David she would be discreet, but she couldn’t help recalling how tough Steph could be with her husband. She had occasionally winced at some of her sister’s comments. She was conscious of a guilty pleasure that their marriage wasn’t as perfect as Steph liked to portray it, but she still wanted them to stay together in case at some point she needed them.

‘Stephie . . .’ she began.

‘Yes?’ replied Steph suspiciously. This humble and tentative tone was not one she recognized from Ronnie.

‘It’s about David. I think there’s something difficult he wants to talk to you about. Don’t be too hard on him, Stephie. In my experience, husbands don’t come much better than David.’

What the hell was Ronnie going on about? Had David been having an affair after all, and confided in her sister? A wave of humiliation washed over Steph. Was that pity she’d picked up in Ronnie’s voice? She was the strong one, the one with the successful marriage. Ronnie was the one who had messed up her life. Steph realized with a shock that while still loving her sister, she’d enjoyed her superior status – and now Ronnie sounded as if she were sorry for her!

‘They’re calling our flight, Mum.’ Nicky was standing next to them.

‘Right.’ Ronnie stood up and picked up her carry-on bag. ‘Thanks for everything, Steph.’ Again, in an uncharacteristic gesture, she enveloped Steph in a hug. ‘See you soon and thanks for setting it all up.’

One more wave, and they were gone.

By the time Steph got back to Fleur-de-Lis she was boiling over with resentment and didn’t notice that David had been to extra trouble to leave the kitchen and breakfast room immaculate.

‘Everything clean when I get here,’ commented Marcelline admiringly. ‘Monsieur David, he work hard.’

‘Where is Monsieur David, Marcelline?’

‘I think out on the terrace maybe.’

Steph stepped out into the bright sunshine. The terrace was mercifully empty of guests. David was sitting at the far end in the shade, laptop open in front of him. He looked up anxiously. ‘All go well with the send-off?’

‘Fine. Except that Ronnie told me you had something difficult to discuss with me and that I should be kind to you, which obviously she thinks I’m not normally.’ Anger battled with fear of losing him, and anger won. How bloody dare he do this to her? ‘I assume you’ve been having an affair? OK, spit it out. What’s been going on?’

Her whole body stiffened as if expecting a blow while she waited for his answer.

‘Actually, nothing like that. Well, not quite nothing, that’s dishonest – but no, I’m not having an affair. An involvement, perhaps, which I regret; but I felt like you just didn’t value me.’