‘See. Electric points up here!’ He gestured at waist level. ‘So the old person does not have to reach down. A ramp at the back for the fauteuil roulant – wheelchair, do you say?’ He led her to the bathroom. ‘This is the best of all! A toilette from Japan that needs no paper – is it not a miracle? I am sure you cannot now wait to be old!’

‘And who are the lucky owners?’ Jackie asked with a flirtatious smile.

The man leaned closer and simply gestured towards the château. ‘Madame la duchesse cannot wait to move in. She is hoping another one of your mad compatriots will buy the château and she can relax with la télé.’

Like hell she would. The idea of Margot leaving Meredith to get on with running the château while she watched TV was an absolute joke.

‘But do not tell a soul, madame.’ He looked suddenly anxious, as if he’d said too much. Jackie smiled to herself.

‘Do not worry, monsieur,’ she replied with a saintly smile. ‘I will be discretion itself.’

‘Mum, this place is amazing!’ breathed Sophie when she returned with Héloise. ‘I can just see where the bridal suite would be in that left tower! The bride will feel just like a fairy princess!’

They said goodbye and headed back down through the vineyard, Sophie so bubbling over with enthusiasm that she could hardly get her words out fast enough. ‘It’s amazing! Do you know they don’t let anyone actually stay in the château, even though they have all those bedrooms? It’s such a waste! You’d get far more bookings if you offered a package. Dinner on the Friday, wedding on Saturday and then Sunday brunch for the whole wedding party and guests. That’s what people want now. God, I should know; I get invited to enough of them!’

They turned to take one last look at the château. Sunlight glinted on the russet tiles of its towers, in harmonious contrast with the golden stone walls. Each tower had two weather vanes, starkly silhouetted against the bright blue sky.

From behind a row of vines, Liam suddenly appeared, literally barging into Jo as he looked up at the sky to gauge the next day’s weather.

‘I can hardly say “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania,” since it’s blazing sunshine, can I?’ he asked, with a smile of such unexpected sweetness that Jo’s heart turned over. All at once she felt silly for having worried about the embarrassing incident. He was gorgeous, and she was feeling something again for the first time in years. That had to be good in itself.

‘I’ve just brought my daughter Sophie to look round the château.’

‘And what did she think of it?’ He included Sophie in the smile, which was now one of polite formality. The sweetness had clearly been just for Jo, Sophie noted.