‘We have to start with the château, though,’ Sophie insisted. ‘I’m dying to see all round it. I already have a scheme for the bridal suite. This château is going to be every bride’s dream. It’ll be booked up solid when I’ve finished with it!’

‘Hang on,’ Jo laughed, ‘the negotiations are all still going on. Let’s go drop off your bag and see what Meredith has to say. She’s the businesswoman.’

Back at Fleur-de-Lis, Marcelline was busy clearing up from breakfast while Steph and David had gone into town to buy supplies. Meredith was in the library with her phones.

‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t look round,’ she agreed when Sophie suggested it. ‘I’ve always thought how ridiculous it is that most of us spend longer choosing a pair of shoes than buying a house – and you can take shoes back! I think we’re entitled to as many viewings of the château as we want. I’ll call Héloise now.’

She had a brief chat, impressing them both with the fluency of her French, then put the phone down with a smile. ‘Fine. Just call her and arrange a time that suits.’

‘Now?’ asked Sophie enthusiastically.

‘I think that might look a bit too keen,’ Meredith counselled. ‘You have to keep the other side on the hop in business negotiations.’

‘Come on,’ Jo intervened, seeing her daughter’s disappointment, ‘we’ll walk along the river and you can see it from the outside, and then into town for a stroll and some lunch. You can sample the delights of the region the locals like to call the gastronomic capital of France.’

‘I don’t suppose it’ll go down too well that I’ve become a vegetarian, then,’ Sophie grinned.

‘Since when?’ Jo asked, stunned. Sophie had always liked her steaks.

‘Since I saw a TV programme about animal cruelty,’ Sophie replied, slightly apologetically.

‘I have no idea how vegetarians are catered for in France,’ Jo commented. ‘I was once told a vegetarian here is someone who doesn’t eat horse.’

‘Nothing wrong with horse,’ Meredith chipped in. ‘The Chinese eat everything – even chicken feet and fish lips.’

Jo glanced nervously at her daughter. Some of Meredith’s comments could be red rags to politically correct bulls and she’d been so hoping for a lovely, peaceful time with her daughter.

But Sophie just laughed. ‘Don’t worry, Mum. I can see Meredith and I both like a good spat and I’m sure we’ll have one soon!’

Meredith considered coming up with one of her famous put-downs, which had terrified fund managers from Beijing to Barcelona, but instead decided she liked Sophie. The girl had spirit and clearly wasn’t cowed by Meredith, like so many of the people who worked for her. She might well be an asset to them.