She stared out over the beautiful landscape stretching out in front of them. Lush pasture with cattle grazing peacefully, the neat lines of the vineyards, grapes ripening in the sun, and beyond that the silver snake of the Savarin River. The landscape that had brought them here all those years ago. But today it brought her no peace of mind.

She had to talk to someone, to share with someone this burden of pain and grief. Of course, she could ring one of her friends at the château, but it all felt too devastating and personal to begin explaining. For a moment, she imagined ringing her sister Ronnie and for once being listened to and helped. She smiled bitterly. The chances of that were zero. Ronnie would simply talk about herself.

Even so, she got out her phone from her bag and stared at it for a moment. Could you be a real sister, Ronnie, and help me with this? She dialled the number, but after five rings it went to voicemail.

She didn’t leave a message.

It would have been hard to miss Ronnie even if she’d been arriving at an enormous airport like Heathrow, let alone the tiny barn that served as Bratenac’s terminal.

She was last off, marginally before the passengers who’d asked for special assistance, apparently in no hurry to disembark, and her outfit could only be described as eye-catching. Red and orange psychedelic-patterned wide-leg trousers paired with a contrasting lime-green top and lime-green stripy socks with high-heeled sandals. To finish the ensemble, her hair was tucked into an orange and green turban.

‘Hello, Jo. It’s kind of you to come and meet me.’ She noted Jo’s slightly stunned expression. ‘I decided to brighten up my outfits, since the world around us seems so depressing.’

‘Well, you certainly succeeded,’ conceded Jo, her eyes fixed on the sole suitcase left in the Arrivals hall. It was huge. How long was Ronnie planning on staying?

‘I never was any good at travelling light,’ Ronnie remarked casually. ‘So how’s it all going here?’

‘Great.’ Jo had to resist adding, ‘Just the same as when you were here about five minutes ago!’ as she grabbed the suitcase and put it on the trolley. ‘The refurbishment’s going really well and Sophie has drawn up terrific charts of what we all have to do between now and the wedding. How about your end?’

‘Bill, my ex, is going to come up with the money, so that’s a relief. To you lot especially, I imagine. Though it means he and his tedious wife, Maureen, will have to be invited, I suppose.’

Jo looked at her in amazement. Had she seriously been thinking of not inviting the bride’s father? You never knew with Ronnie.