‘Here I am.’ Meredith appeared, holding a tray of apéritifs. ‘Hello, Steph!’ she said, making them all suddenly conscious of Steve’s revelation earlier. ‘There’s quite a breeze outside. Let’s go and sit in the orangery. Right, now who’s having what? I can offer a G&T, gin & It, white or rosé – or a glass of our own crémant.’

‘How about a Kir Royale?’ asked Steph.

‘Fine, but I don’t think we have any Royale.’

‘I think there’s a bottle of cassis in the kitchen somewhere,’ offered Sophie. ‘Though I can’t vouch for how old it is.’

‘I’m sure it only gets better,’ Steph replied.

‘Let’s all have one, then,’ suggested Jo. ‘We can die together. Not a bad fate.’

‘Excuse me,’ Sophie protested. ‘That might be OK for you old broads, but I’m only twenty-four!’

‘Just stick to the crémant, then.’ Meredith began to pour as soon as the ancient cassis was produced. ‘Smells OK.’

‘Oh, go on then,’ Sophie said, weakening. ‘After all, we’re in this together!’

‘To weddings! May they be many and plentiful!’ toasted Meredith.

‘Guess what I did this afternoon?’ Steph said.

A silence fell as they all wondered who was going to tell her.

‘What’s the matter with you lot? I tried on my wedding outfit, that’s what!’ she continued.

Meredith, conscious that she usually took the lead, looked meaningfully at Jo.

‘The thing is . . .’ Jo began, then faltered to a stop.

‘The thing is –’ Meredith picked it up – ‘Steve the builder has just told us that David’s left the ghastly Suzi. He’s gone to stay in a hotel.’

To her shame, Steph felt a sudden soaring of hope. Maybe things were going to be all right after all. And yet, why hadn’t David been in touch?

She realized they were all waiting for her reaction. ‘How long ago, do you know? And which hotel?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Jo looked at the others, but they just shrugged. ‘I got the vague idea it must be fairly recent and I don’t think Steve knew which hotel.’

Steph felt some response was called for from her. ‘Stupid shit,’ she commented. None of them were convinced by this, least of all her, but they felt the less said the better. This was something she and David had to work out for themselves.

In the days that followed there was little time to worry about the state of Steph’s marriage, because wedding fever descended on the château.