‘It’s going to get even hotter later,’ I said, shielding my eyes and taking in the view from the terrace, to the bushy green vines and to the verdant valley below, ‘but I think the good weather will mean we get more visitors; people like being outdoors in the sunshine.’

‘Ted’s smiling down on us today,’ said Godfrey softly. Pippa patted his shoulder affectionately.

‘I couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited,’ Clare admitted, wafting her face with one of our open day leaflets.

‘Nature sounds,’ Godfrey advised. ‘I fall asleep to the sound of running water. Works a treat.’

‘Wouldn’t work for me with my bladder,’ Clare laughed.

‘Wine is a diuretic, you know,’ Matt teased. ‘That’ll be your problem.’

‘Oi, you. I don’t drink that much!’ Clare jabbed him with her elbow. ‘I have hot milk, honey and a sprinkling of grated nutmeg in bed, I’ll have you know. Ian brings it up with him after the news.’

‘Nutmeg is supposed to be like Viagra for women,’ said Pippa.

Clare smiled serenely. ‘It is.’

There was a beat of silence while we all stared at her in surprise.

‘You go, girl,’ said Matt with a snort.

‘Hello, everyone, sorry to keep you waiting,’ said Betsy, appearing in the doorway on Jensen’s arm.

‘Not at all,’ I said, smiling at them both.

I felt my heart speed up at the sight of Jensen. I’d tried to stay awake so that I could casually bump into him in the courtyard when he arrived last night. But I must have dozed off on the sofa because when I woke up his car was there and there were no lights on in the house. ‘Thanks for joining us today,’ I said, catching his eye.

‘Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ he replied. We grinned at each other. We both knew that wasn’t entirely true but I was too happy to see him to point that out.

He helped his grandmother down the step and out on to the terrace. Even in jeans and a company polo shirt, he was the epitome of sartorial elegance, I thought, doing up the button on my shirt, which kept popping open. Perhaps I should have gone for an even bigger size.

The kitchen door opened and Marjorie appeared with a bottle of sparkling wine wedged between her knees. She pushed herself down the ramp and handed the bottle to Matt. ‘Do the honours, please.’

‘I was late because I was looking for my brooch,’ said Betsy. ‘Ted gave it to me when we opened the vineyard all those years ago.’ She stroked the brooch that was pinned to her dress. It was a cluster of tiny red stones in the shape of a bunch of grapes, the delicate stems and leaves made of gold.

‘It’s beautiful,’ I said, taking her hand and tucking it through my arm.