Steph was so startled that she almost dropped her glass of Montbazillac.

Jackie leaned even closer until she was practically in Meredith’s lap. ‘Oh, poor you. Is it terminal?’

Meredith simply looked forlorn. ‘Nothing the doctors can do. That’s why I’m here, as a matter of fact.’

‘You won’t be buying the château, then,’ concluded Jackie unceremoniously. ‘You have my deepest sympathy.’ She moved back, as if Meredith’s affliction might be infectious.

‘Meredith! Behave!’ Steph tried not to completely dissolve in giggles. ‘You really are the end!’

Rather to Meredith’s disappointment, there was no sign of the annoying Philippe for the rest of lunch. Several times, Steph noticed her friend glance towards the kitchen and smiled secretly to herself. But not secretly enough for the all-seeing Meredith.

‘What are you looking like that for? That’s the kind of smile Jane Austen probably smiled as she sentenced Lizzie to fall in love with that moody Darcy bloke. Come on – let’s walk back through the town. I used to like the market here. Will it still be open, though?’

‘It’s all day on Saturdays, though some of the really early stallholders may be closing up shop. Let’s go and see.’

Meredith clicked her fingers and Jean-Christophe did a slight double-take before he came towards them.

‘Meredith,’ whispered Steph. ‘That’s considered rude in France. You call the waiters “monsieur” here. It’s considered an honourable profession.’

Meredith looked impish. ‘You can do what you like when you’re as ill as I am!’

‘I don’t think we should let that silly rumour go any further,’ Steph replied. ‘Besides, it’s really quite offensive. Plenty of people really are seriously ill!’

‘Don’t be so PC,’ countered Meredith. ‘Humour has to be a bit outrageous, or it wouldn’t be funny. You’re probably right, though,’ she admitted. ‘It’s just that I can’t bear the way she claims to know everything.’ She picked up the bill. ‘I’ll get this, by the way.’

‘Thanks,’ Steph smiled. No point arguing with Meredith about money. ‘Then I’m going to put Jackie right about this silly story.’

She headed for Jackie, who was in the middle of revealing some particularly juicy gossip about a Parisian couple who had bought a house in the village. ‘She’s incredibly stylish,’ Jackie was saying confidentially, ‘but wait till you meet the husband. Camp as Christmas!’

‘Jackie.’ Steph leaned in and spoke firmly. ‘That stuff about my friend being ill. I’m afraid it was just a joke. Meredith’s perfectly fine.’

‘Is she indeed?’ replied Jackie stiffly. She didn’t like to be made a fool of. ‘Then rather tasteless of her to say so, if you don’t mind me pointing it out.’

‘I’m sure she’s very sorry.’

Meredith, who was striding towards them, looking expensively elegant, didn’t appear in the slightest bit sorry.