‘Thanks, Mum.’ She sat down at the new desk. ‘Perfect! Now I can get out my laptop and get on with it.’ The first thing she did was listen to Meredith’s advice and see what their rivals were offering. Sophie, used to the world of events management with plenty of competitors fighting for the big clients and exhibitions, was still taken aback at just how many châteaux were offering weddings. On top of that were the many websites, from Tie the Knot in France to My Romantic Wedding to One Divine Day. They offered the entire package, from wedding planning to supplying the cake. As one of them cooed seductively: All the bride needs to do is choose her dress!

Meredith, meanwhile, was drinking espresso and waiting for the decorators to arrive. Steve the builder seemed to be reckoned by almost everyone as the best on offer: efficient, good-humoured and fair. Her instinct had been to go for someone else, since he was married to the appalling Jackie; but comparing prices, Steve appeared to be the best value, and Meredith was a businesswoman. So she was waiting, coffee in hand, looking out at the view down to the river and humming to herself. She’d been impressed by Sophie’s bedroom and had decided to take the same approach with a number of other rooms, blending antique with modern. Some of the grander ones needed to remain unquestionably in character, but adding some clear, light colours in the darker dining room would bring it back to life and give it at the same time a more contemporary feel. And Steve, it seemed, was the man to do it.

She could see him now arriving at the side of the château, beginning to unload his ladders at 7.55. Impressive. She’d expected him to be a chatterbox like his wife but Steve, who turned out to be a giant of a man, seemed quietly humorous and a man of few words. Jackie would have to work hard at pumping him for the gossip at the end of the day. Meredith suspected Steve would simply say he hadn’t noticed anything, which suited her perfectly.

‘Good morning, Steve!’ she greeted him. ‘Can I make you a coffee?’

Steve smiled. It was a slow, sweet smile. ‘Tea would be nice.’

‘Let me guess,’ Meredith laughed. ‘Earl Grey or builder’s?’

‘I’ll take a drop of Lapsang Souchong, if you have any.’

Meredith smiled appreciatively. ‘And how about the others?’ She gestured to the three young men who seemed to trail Steve everywhere.

‘The lads bring their own. Funny generation, this. Don’t drink tea and they bring their own lunches – strange things made of rice and whatnot, when I prefer a nice ham sandwich from the cafe. Where would you like us to start?’

Meredith led him into the dining room, then went to get his tea. Jo and Sophie didn’t seem to be up yet.