‘Talking of gin, did you know we can press the grapes a second time with more pressure after we’ve extracted the juice for our sparkling wine and use it as a base to distil gin?’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’

‘Yes!’ I wrinkled my nose. ‘Don’t ask me how, I haven’t researched it too deeply. But my point is …’

I stood up and Jensen gallantly helped me into my cardigan and picked up the cool bag. Lots of people then congratulated us and asked to see my ring and wished us well and it wasn’t until we were back outside on the pavement and he was flagging down another cab that I had the chance to finish my sentence.

‘My point is that Ted has laid the groundwork for a business that could grow and grow. There’s so much potential. So much we could do. You and me. Together.’

I looked at him earnestly and held my breath as Evie’s advice rang in my ears. Tell him how you feel. Tell him …

Before I could utter another word Jensen sighed and pulled me to him, pressing his cheek against mine and wrapping his arms tightly around me.

‘I love your enthusiasm, Lottie,’ he murmured. ‘And believe me, I have thought along the same lines.’

My spirits sank. ‘But?’

A taxi swung over to our side of the kerb and we got in, me giving the driver the address of the radio station.

‘Today’s the big day for our global water project. My assistant has told me that all the sealed bids have arrived from our chosen contractors and the board directors are opening them as we speak. My company has been selected to conduct a water resilience project in five cities around the world. Each city has been chosen because it has a particular type of water issue: they all suffer from either too much or too little. The Cape Town project I’ve been involved with is about solving problems of severe drought. If the infrastructure we install is successful it will provide a framework to solve water problems for the whole world.’ His eyes glittered with passion. ‘If I get offered the job of managing that I don’t think I could turn it down.’

‘Of course you couldn’t.’ I sighed. ‘It does make my gin idea seem a bit pathetic.’

He took hold of my hand with its new shiny ring and held it to his lips. ‘It’s a great idea. You’re the best thing that could have happened to Butterworth Wines. And I think you’re right: together you and I could be great.’ He stared down at his lap. ‘But next year you’ll need time off work to look after the baby, and I, well, I need to do this.’