This was definitely not the moment to broach the topic of Steph’s own contribution to the situation, Jo decided. ‘Have you got time for a coffee? We’ve just made some.’

They took their coffee out onto the balcony of the main salon. Although it was only nine o’clock, it was already hot. ‘You wait,’ Steph warned. ‘This area’s deceptive. In spring you think it’s like England, all green and pleasant land, and then round about now it heats up almost overnight and it’s forty degrees!’

‘I wonder how hot it’ll be for Nicky’s wedding in August,’ mused Sophie.

‘Very hot, I imagine,’ said Steph. ‘Now, I need to get back to my guests. Marcelline’s English isn’t quite up to the requests we get about where people can go swimming, find a burger, buy laxatives . . .’

She embraced them all merrily.

‘Nice to see her in such a good mood,’ Sophie commented once she had gone. ‘Funny life she leads, dealing with all those guests all the time.’

‘Takes her mind off missing David, I imagine,’ suggested Meredith. ‘Talking of which, I’d better have a go at our side of the bargain and get hold of Suzi.’

She went across to her desk and dialled David’s number. ‘Hello, David,’ she greeted him cheerily. ‘Meredith here.’

‘Meredith, hi.’ David sounded both defensive and deeply nervous. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘Can I have a word with Suzi, please?’

‘Why on earth?’

‘I’ll explain it to her.’

‘I’m not sure . . .’

‘Come on, David. I haven’t had a contract taken out on her, I promise.’

David forced a laugh as he reluctantly handed over the phone.

‘Suzi, hi. Meredith here.’

‘And what do you want?’ Suzi screeched. ‘I’m not giving him up, no matter what the old bags of Bratenac think.’

‘Of course you’re not. Ignore the old bags. They’ve got nothing better to do than gossip. As a matter of fact, I’m calling to offer you a job – well, actually, more of a consultancy.’

Suzi couldn’t have been more astonished if Meredith had been offering her the Miss World title.

‘What kind of job? I’m not prepared to be a cleaner!’

‘Certainly not,’ soothed Meredith in her best client-smarming tone. ‘Both Jackie and Guillaume have commented to me on your exceptional eye for décor, and that’s just what we need to give our weddings the style of the moment. Take a look at some weddings on Instagram and you’ll see what I mean. Do you think you might be interested?’

Suzi, who had been primed to refuse any offer from Meredith in the deadliest put-down tone she could muster, found some quite different words coming out of her mouth. ‘I must admit, that sounds right up my street. How much money are you offering?’