‘Thank you,’ Philippe replied. ‘I am trying to be patient but perhaps I should ignore all this disdain and carry her off to the bedroom! What is your view, Nelly?’ He studied the dog’s mournful expression. ‘You think that attitude does not ring with the times? You are a modern dog. Perhaps you are right. Besides, it’s time I got back to the restaurant and started cooking.’

There are many different ways of dealing with heartache, and Sophie and Jo soon discovered that Meredith’s was working like a demon.

‘So has Jean-Christophe agreed to be our fourth caterer?’ she enquired briskly the next morning.

‘We left it to see how he got on at the food festival,’ Sophie replied, wishing she didn’t have to raise that distressing topic.

‘And how did he get on? For some reason, I didn’t notice.’

Jo could hear the pain behind the self-deprecation and wanted to hug her friend, but Meredith was in the wrong mood.

‘Very well, I think. There was always a long queue, but he seemed to handle it really well.’

‘Let’s go for him, then. He offers a different choice to the others and from what Nicky was saying, it’s what some brides want.’

‘Are you sure?’ Jo asked gently. ‘I mean, Jean-Christophe may be around quite a bit then.’

‘Reminding me of his father? I expect I’ll cope.’ She got out her laptop to consult her notes. ‘Right – Nicky needs to make some final decisions about the wedding, especially the caterer. We’re already incredibly late. Steve is confident the new rooms will be ready soon. Jo, you might check that Ronnie’s still on top of the flowers, find out where she’s ordered them from . . . oh, and ask about the cake too. How is it going to be transported, or is the grandmother making it here? The new guest kitchen will be ready if she wants to use it.’

From then on, they seemed to be busy all the time.

David sat holding a card the postman had just delivered and staring out into the sunny garden. It was from his niece Nicky, and it was an invitation to her wedding at the Château de St Savarin.

Nicky had scrawled a message on the back in her large, schoolgirlish writing.

Please come to my wedding, Uncle David. I know you may not want to, but it won’t be the same without you. And let’s be honest, you’re the best person on the planet at handling Mum’s outrageous behaviour! Besides, I love you, and with our weird family set-up that counts for a lot. It wouldn’t be the same without you. Do come. Nicky.