He sipped his coffee. ‘I work for a global firm of architectural engineers.’

I looked at him blankly and he smiled.

‘So, for example, we’re working on an infrastructure project in Scotland and a sports stadium in Singapore. And I’m a project manager, tasked with integrating all the different pieces of software into each building so everything talks to each other.’

‘He’s very clever,’ Betsy put in.

‘It’s true,’ Jensen said, deadpan. Then his lips twitched. ‘The world of digital systems would collapse without me.’

‘I’m impressed,’ I said, raising an eyebrow. ‘And talking about being eco-friendly, I was looking in the shed today where the fertilizers and pesticides are kept and I was wondering how you’d feel if I looked into some organic alternatives?’

‘Fine by me,’ said Betsy, with a wave of approval.

Jensen frowned. ‘Gran, we probably should discuss the vineyard’s cash flow before we start spending any money.’

‘Says the boy with the flash new car,’ said Betsy crisply, biting into a shortbread finger. ‘Stop worrying and have a biscuit. That always used to work when you were a little boy. Do you remember coming into my room in the middle of the night, Mr Rabbit tucked under your arm, to tell me you’d had a bad dream or wet—’

‘Gran, please!’ Jensen raked a hand through his hair.

‘Sorry, darling, didn’t mean to embarrass you.’ Betsy didn’t look the least bit apologetic, she was smirking. I was beginning to get the measure of this old lady; she was devious and mischievous and I already loved her to bits.

‘That’s a company car, which cost me nothing,’ her grandson continued. ‘I’ve been promoted.’

‘Well done!’ Betsy said in a wobbly voice. ‘Oh, your granddad would have been so proud. And so am I.’

Jensen sat beside her and held her hand. ‘Thanks, Gran.’

The two of them sat lost in their thoughts for a few moments and it crossed my mind that I was intruding and by rights should disappear back to The Stables, but I’d come over to borrow some books and really wanted to get on with some background reading this evening. I’d just have to wait for a suitable opening in the conversation, fetch the books and leave them to it. In the meantime, I ran some hot water in the sink, added some washing-up liquid and began scrubbing the mugs and teaspoons.

‘And the reason I’ve called in is because I’ve got a meeting in Newcastle tomorrow morning and I thought I’d drive up to surprise you and take you out for dinner. Oh, that reminds me, I’ve left something in the car.’

Her head lifted swiftly. ‘Out?’

‘Just a plate of pasta at the Italian in the village, nothing fancy. I’ll be right back.’ He kissed her hand and excused himself to go back outside.