The weekend officially kicks off with a lavish lunch on the huge terrace. The spread is an epic ploughman’s—indecently good pork pies, brightly coloured salads, a wooden cheeseboard groaning under the weight of all that lovely, runny cheese, and scotch eggs so well-crafted that I declare them a delicacy.

I’m more interested in the people-watching, though. The dynamics. Athena’s not one to struggle in any social situation or let insecurities get to her, but she doesn’t seem entirely comfortable with Maeve yet. I know Brendan’s parents took it hard when they discovered the true nature of Athena’s relationship with Gabe. Athena and Maeve are very polite—almost too polite—and it feels forced.

It’s only when the conversation moves onto the Audacity Foundation, the family’s foundation which Athena now runs, that Maeve warms up a little. It’s a relief. Athena’s amazing, and Gabe couldn’t have found a more wonderful partner, but I know mothers can struggle to see their sons move on with another woman.

Brendan and his parents have a different dynamic, I notice. They seem to defer to Gabe a lot. He used to be a priest, so I suspect they still view him as a font of wisdom (even if his mother will never quite forgive him for leaving the priesthood). But they don’t seem to view Brendan with quite the same respect, which frankly dumbfounds me.

Gabe may look after the family’s wealth, but Brendan runs their core business. Sullivan Construction is a behemoth in UK industry, and he’s a highly respected CEO. There was absolute devastation when he dropped out of the summit to go be by my side. And still, they seem to treat him as a hapless, bumbling kid. When he put something in the wrong place on the lunch table his mum called him a big eejit. I think she meant it teasingly, but his reaction hit me hard: he instantly mumbled an apology, his huge shoulders slumping.

Jesus. Is this why he’s obsessed with image and trophies and playthings—because his parents still don’t take his success seriously? Because he doesn’t allow himself to take it seriously? Maybe it’s easier, safer, if it all feels like a game.