Jules ended the call.

If not – then what? he contemplated quietly, bursting a grape against the roof of his mouth. What will it all mean? Who would Ducasse be? What would be the point?

‘He needs me,’ Jules said, leaving his room at 7 a.m. to check on the soigneurs, the mechanics and the weather.

Cat McCabe saw Fabian and Jules on her way to the village. Full of the bounce and confidence that the headiness of new passion can instil, she approached the two men.

‘Bonjour,’ she said, turning back on herself so she could walk their way a while. ‘How are you feeling? What is your optimum time? If you don’t take yellow today, can the Tour still be yours?’

Fleetingly, Fabian looked at her darkly, frowning, turning to his directeur for support, to make her go away. Intrusion. Distraction. Pointless. Jules Le Grand glanced at Cat. He’d seen her around. English journaliste. Any other day, he would have granted her a suave smile, an audience with himself, with his riders. Today, though, at this time, he regarded her with undisguised contempt.

‘Leave Fabian,’ he commanded, his hissed order rooting her to the spot while the men walked away from her and ever onwards towards their fate.

Josh looked up from his laptop.

‘Hullo, Rachel,’ he said in amazement, ‘what brings you here? Fugallo had a great ride. Are you here to watch Vasily?’

‘Actually,’ Rachel said, ‘I was looking for Cat.’

‘She’s interviewing Luca,’ Josh informed her. He glanced at his watch. So did Alex.

‘She’s been bloody hours,’ Alex remarked, ‘little minx.’

‘Is she coming back here?’ Rachel asked, eyeing the unmanned laptop next to Josh.

‘She has her report to file,’ Josh said, glancing at his watch and shaking his head. ‘You bet she’ll be back.’

‘We’re all going out tonight,’ Alex said thoughtfully, distracted from his work by the sight of Rachel’s bottom which he thought very nice indeed, ‘why don’t you come too?’

Rachel swiftly assessed all she had to do, then she nodded. ‘Cool,’ she said, ‘that would be great. Will Cat be there?’

‘Of course,’ Josh said, ‘she’s one of us.’

‘Vasily’s about to start,’ Alex said, twisting his chair to focus on the screens. ‘Watch it here.’

‘Oh God no, I can’t,’ Rachel smiled, shaking her head, ‘I’m far too nervous for him. I’d better go, I’ll see you all later. Tell Cat I stopped by – that I’ll see her later too.’

No one responded and Rachel left a hushed salle de pressé, suddenly loving all the journalists for being so focused on Vasily’s ride.

Why did the sod kiss me? Why am I giving it so much thought? Do I want more? But where the fuck did it come from?

When Luca told Cat that Ben had offered his own hotel room for the interview, Cat had to stop herself from leaping into the air, hugging the rider and saying come on, let’s get it done quickly then.