‘That was the third duke,’ Héloise commented approvingly. ‘Famed for being cruel but fair. Now, I understand you would like a tour of the château?’ She didn’t wait for a reply but swept straight on. ‘Bien, mademoiselle, venez avec moi.’ She exchanged a conspiratorial look with Margot. ‘I will show you round while Madame la duchesse becomes a little better acquainted with your mother.’

Jo followed the duchess, feeling a little like a victim of the Spanish Inquisition, and was led into a surprisingly cosy salon where Margot indicated two chairs.

‘So, Madame, er, Walker, is it?’ the duchess began.

‘Please call me Joanna,’ Jo interrupted as politely as she could.

‘And you must call me Margot. Now, tell me a little about yourself. Why do you wish to come and live here?’

‘My friend Meredith fell in love with the château and wanted someone with experience she could trust to come and help her out. I already organize events professionally, so I seemed the natural choice.’

‘And you? Why do you want to come? Are you in love with France like so many of your compatriots?’ Margot uttered the words with just a hint of patronage. Jo wondered how much to divulge, and decided to jump straight in.

‘I was looking for a new challenge, I suppose. My marriage ended three years ago and my husband is about to marry again.’

‘A younger woman?’ enquired Margot avidly before answering the question herself. ‘Of course, a younger woman! Là là, avec les hommes c’est toujours la même histoire.’ She nodded her startlingly auburn curls. ‘With men it is always the same story. Ma chère Joanna, men are like chimpanzees – and who would expect a chimpanzee to behave with honour or delicacy?’

Jo tried not to smile at the idea of the courtly duke of Savarin as a chimpanzee. With Mark, it was easier to picture.

‘And how about you, ma chère Joanna? As I always say, to get over one man you need to get under another. You are a very attractive woman. I noticed that our vigneron Liam was very eager to bring you the wine, and I am sure it was not for your friend the frightening Meredith!’ Before Jo could respond, the duchess was away again. ‘The way we deal with these questions in France when the husband is unfaithful is for the woman to have a little affair also. Since they have to marry chimpanzees, every Frenchwoman is entitled to her jardin secret, a secret garden where she has an erotic adventure of her own.’

It struck Jo that the only thing she did in her secret garden was to plant bulbs. No wonder Liz thought she needed the Happy Rabbit.