‘I wonder who gave him that idea?’ teased Sophie.

‘I can’t begin to imagine,’ seconded Jo.

‘Shut up, the pair of you.’

‘We’ll both have to come along and watch you cut the ribbon,’ Jo smiled.

‘And you know who’ll be absolutely furious?’ Sophie giggled. ‘Our next door neighbour Margot. She’s used to being the grande dame round here.’

Meredith dropped her head into her hands. ‘And to think when I bought the château I was expecting the deep rural peace of France!’

‘I don’t think peace is something the French go in for; and certainly not if you’re running a wedding château!’

‘And certainly not today,’ Meredith added. ‘I’ve just remembered that I asked Suzi to come in this afternoon.’

‘What exactly is she supposed to be doing?’ Jo enquired frostily.

‘Interior design advice. Don’t worry – just as a consultant.’

‘But that’s my role!’ objected Sophie. ‘And I’ve been really enjoying it.’

‘It’s only a sham, Sophie. Just have a go at pretending to listen. For Steph’s sake.’

They were interrupted by tapping on the French window and Liam came into the room. As usual, despite his workman’s clothes he still managed to look like a rugged model from a country clothing catalogue.

Sophie watched her mother trying not to look at him, and had to hide her smile.

‘Hope I’m not disturbing you, but I wondered if you all had a moment?’

‘Hang on,’ said Sophie, whose experience of these words usually meant impending disaster of one kind or another. ‘Don’t say you’re going to leave!’

‘It’s about this food festival,’ he reassured. ‘What about taking a stall to show the château’s wines? I’ve always thought we should get into wine tourism in the off-season, when the wedding business dies down. As I mentioned before it’s getting really popular and most of the châteaux round here are climbing on the bandwagon.’

‘Have you got time?’ Meredith enquired, ever the businesswoman. ‘You always seem very busy in the vineyard.’

Sophie tried not to grin. Her mother could vouch for that. She spent long enough looking out at him.

‘I can always get help from the village. Wine’s in the blood round here.’

‘OK, why not?’ Meredith agreed, then realized she ought to consult the others and looked at them enquiringly. ‘That is, if it’s not too expensive to take a stall.’

‘They end up paying you,’ Liam reassured. ‘But I would get through plenty of wine in the tastings – though if you’re not planning to market it, that makes quite a lot of sense.’

‘Go ahead, then.’

‘Thanks.’ He smiled round at all of them, his expression friendly but not intimate, and then went back out through the French windows.