‘Oh, thanks.’ I took them from him and set them on the kitchen table. The cottage was so small I could do this without taking more than a couple of steps.

A normal person would have opened the door and let him in. Not me. I just let him stand there on the other side of the stable door, like we were two horses sharing a nosebag or something.

He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Look, this is a bit awkward.’

I nodded, smiling; he was here to apologize and beg me to come out with them, I could tell. I bet Betsy had told him off for his bad manners.

‘It’s fine, don’t worry. And I really am tired; I’ve had a lot to learn today and there’s still loads more to go at.’ I gestured to the books. ‘So if your grandmother really wants a third person I suggest you try Marjorie.’

Jensen frowned. ‘That wasn’t what I was going to say.’

‘Oh.’ My face was so hot even my eyes were burning.

He took a deep breath. ‘Lottie, you seem like a lovely girl.’

I widened my eyes.

He flushed. ‘Sorry, person. And I’m sure under different circumstances you’d make a great vineyard manager – I presume you’ve had a lot of experience with vines—’

‘Well, I …’

‘Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is—’

‘Jensen?’ Betsy called from across the yard. ‘I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go here, come along.’

He exhaled with frustration. ‘I’ll have to catch up with you at another time. This weekend hopefully.’

‘Hopefully,’ I found myself echoing.

He looked confused and turned to go and then hesitated. ‘Hold on a sec.’

He zapped his key fob at the car and it lit up. ‘Get in, Gran,’ he shouted.

‘How do you think she’s doing?’ he said, his blue eyes boring into me as if they were trying to read my soul not just my face.

‘Well, I’ve only just met her, so …’ I said, flustered and absolutely determined not to drop her in it and mention her sight.

‘But do you think she’s coping okay without my grandfather?’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘I want an honest answer. I can’t ask any of the others, including Marjorie, because they’re all so protective of her. As if at the slightest sign of trouble, I’d whip her off into a home or something.’

‘And you wouldn’t?’ I said, watching his features carefully.

He took a deep breath. ‘I love my grandmother more than anyone else in the world. I want her to be safe. But most of all I want her to be happy. That’s my priority.’

I felt my throat tighten. That had to be the most adorable thing I’d ever heard.