‘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.

‘Yes. No. Of course not! But I do have a duty as her grandson to make sure that she is living her best possible life and any idiot can see that living here, being responsible for a business, which by the way has cash flow problems to rival a small African country, is impossible.’

He finished his little tirade and appeared to run out of steam, dropping down on to the sofa with a thump and clasping his head between his hands. ‘Hell fire, what a bloody mess.’

My legs were shaking from a combination of tension and tiredness and I was about to sit on the opposite end of the sofa when a voice from the door made us both jump.

‘Jensen, my dear boy, I think we need to get a few things straight.’ Betsy stood framed in the open part of the stable door. She looked like a wise old angel in her white blouse with the pink of the setting sun forming a halo around her white hair.

‘Gran!’ Jensen looked across to the door and groaned.

‘Apologize to Lottie this minute.’ Betsy reached inside, fumbled with the door catch and let herself in. ‘The poor girl has been through enough and she does not deserve getting short shrift from you.’

I shot her a smile of thanks, even though I wasn’t sure she could see my features clearly. She steadied herself by holding the back of the nearest dining chair.

‘I’m waiting,’ she said imperiously.

Jensen gave me a sulky look. ‘I apologize.’

‘Well, that was full of sincerity,’ said Betsy sternly. ‘I thought you had to leave for Newcastle, shouldn’t you be on your way?’

He stood up and stifled a yawn. ‘I can’t go now, not until I get some answers to my questions.’

Betsy stiffened her spine and drew herself up to her full height. I glanced at Jensen to see if he realized there was a torrent of ire heading his way. He did.