‘She can see; her vision is simply impaired,’ I corrected.

‘If you can call it vision,’ he muttered. ‘Once I’d tackled her on it, she admitted that she’s had macular degeneration for a couple of years, but her optician confirmed that it’s deteriorated a lot recently. The doctor recommended some vitamin supplements the other day, but the loss of sight is irreversible.’

So that was why she’d been at the surgery when I bumped into her and Marjorie.

‘Poor Betsy,’ I said. I picked up the book that had fallen and stacked it with the others. ‘Do sit down.’

He raked a hand through his thick hair. ‘I can’t, I’m too wound up. I don’t understand why you weren’t honest with me. I don’t understand why Gran has employed you and I am not at all sure about your motives.’

His long legs started to pace the length of the tiny space and something inside me snapped; this was like watching Harvey build up to one of his rages all over again. I was not going to stand for it.

I got to my feet and stood in his path, forcing him to stop pacing.

‘I have to tell you,’ I said, chin tilted, ‘that I don’t respond well to bullying. I’ve recently ended an’ – I stopped short of admitting that it had been abusive – ‘an unhappy relationship and will never again tolerate that sort of behaviour.’

Jensen’s jaw dropped. ‘This isn’t about a relationship; this is about you taking advantage of an old lady who’s recently been widowed.’

‘I resent that remark,’ I said, folding my arms. But a small voice in my head was already beginning to worry. Had I taken advantage of her? She hadn’t even advertised for staff, that had been Godfrey and Roger. And if I hadn’t burst into tears, she probably wouldn’t have changed her mind and I wouldn’t be here now. Had I taken advantage of her kindness? I swallowed nervously, doubting my own intentions.

‘Lottie,’ Jensen said, exhaling deeply as if trying to control his temper, ‘my grandmother can’t see properly! How can she possibly remain in this big house alone, not to mention in charge of ten acres of vines and a winery?’

He cared about her, I reminded myself; he was angry because he was worried, that was all. I touched his arm tentatively.

‘Jensen, I completely understand how you feel—’

‘Do you?’ he snapped, shrugging me off. ‘I doubt that very much. My job is really high pressured. I work in London at the moment and if things progress how I think they might over the next few months, I’ll be even further away. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing that at any moment, Gran could have an accident.’

‘And is that what is the most important thing here: you being able to relax?’ I stared at him, challenging him with my eyes.

He looked away and massaged his forehead.