She also regularly harped on about how broke she was, although Steph knew – partly because Ronnie had asked her own husband David’s advice, on the grounds he understood money and was completely trustworthy – that her sister’s divorce settlement had been a very generous one.

And then, when Jo’s husband Mark had cheated her of money that was rightly hers, Ronnie had announced that it was probably Jo’s own fault for trusting him too much. And Steph had found herself resenting her sister all over again.

Reluctantly, she opened the email.

In typical fashion, instead of contacting Steph with the happy news that her daughter Nicky was getting married – though this was obviously the case – Ronnie banged on at great length about Nicky having the mad idea of holding the wedding at a French château because lots of her friends had done it. Ronnie shuddered at the expense, but Nicola had been quite determined and was spending hours looking at wildly expensive weddings on websites. Seeing as Steph lived in the place, did she know anywhere that might be prepared to do a deal?

Steph sipped her coffee thoughtfully. It was a supreme irony that of course she knew just the place, and also that Meredith and Jo wanted exactly this kind of wedding – one where they could do a kind of trial run to hone all the different skills they’d need, as well as using the photos and testimonials for their website. Nicky was a pretty girl, too. Rather a surprise, Steph thought bitchily, since Ronnie was a big woman and her husband Derek was certainly no oil painting.

There was just one drawback: the state of Steph’s own marriage. Something was wrong between them, and Ronnie would sniff it out like a terrier after a rat.

Steph shut her laptop with a snap. She wouldn’t think about it yet, but would concentrate on trying to do something about the situation with David. As soon as Jean-Christophe seemed OK she would plan a really special night out and make sure they actually made love for once when they got back.

She smiled to herself, imagining some different scenarios.

‘You look happy.’ David’s voice penetrated her fantasy.

‘Do I?’ she turned and smiled at him. ‘Why wouldn’t I, with a lovely husband like you?’

David tried not to look too surprised. ‘Right. Oh. Of course. Perhaps, as your lovely husband, I should share the news that some of the guests are leaving and want to tell you they’ve had a wonderful time.’

‘Tell them to put it on TripAdvisor.’ Steph didn’t feel up to facing guests at the moment. ‘We could do with a bit of good PR.’

David’s smile disintegrated. ‘What’s the problem now?’

‘Bookings looking a bit thin in the summer.’

‘But that’s when we’re always full!’ exploded David, as if it were somehow her fault.