‘He used all the company’s cash reserves to do it rather than take out a loan,’ said Jensen softly. ‘And according to the last quarter’s accounts, there wasn’t enough to cover the outgoings. The cost of the pruning team alone in January took up all of the bank account’s overdraft facility. I would have advised him differently and I feel very guilty that I didn’t give him help when he first asked for it.’

I wondered if this was the reason for the dark smudges under his eyes: not from working too hard, but from guilt that he hadn’t intervened while his granddad had been alive.

‘So we’re badly overdrawn.’ Betsy pursed her lips. ‘So what? We’ll survive.’

‘Why didn’t you say? You must have received letters from the bank?’ Even Marjorie looked shocked.

Betsy withdrew her hand from her grandson’s and folded her arms. ‘Have you seen how minute the print is on those things?’ she huffed. ‘You need a microscope to make any of the letters out, let alone a pair of reading glasses.’

Jensen groaned. ‘I’d have helped.’

‘You’ve got enough to do.’ She waved a hand. ‘I didn’t need to read them anyway, I’m not colour blind, everyone knows a red letter means trouble.’

‘No, a red letter means it needs urgent attention,’ Jensen replied firmly.

‘Top-up?’ said Betsy, ignoring him. She picked up the bottle and waved it at Marjorie who directed it into her glass.

‘I’m not quite sure what we should toast this time,’ said Marjorie, ‘the patron saint of overdrafts, maybe?’

Betsy gathered herself up as if she’d had a brilliant idea. ‘Let’s toast Lottie,’ she declared. ‘Ted would be thrilled that you’ve joined our merry crew.’

‘Motley crew, more like,’ said Marjorie.

Betsy ignored her. ‘When Ted became very ill, I was too preoccupied to think about Butterworth Wines and then after he died I was so overwhelmed with everything that needed doing and didn’t know where to start.’

‘You hid it very well.’ Marjorie blinked at her sister-in-law. ‘I’ve been in awe of your composure.’

‘I know I was foolish not to confide in anyone,’ Betsy admitted, ‘but I was scared I was losing my grip. Now with Lottie here I’m already feeling more confident about staying put and seeing the next harvest through without Ted.’

Jensen rubbed his forehead. ‘But Gran, you were always trying to get Granddad to leave this place, now when you have the choice, you won’t. I don’t understand?’