Everyone titters, because the little movie shoot is costing twenty-five million dollars, give or take, and one by one the folks around the room give Evie a little nod of acknowledgement. She feels compelled to pipe up: ‘Veronique did a great job with the script. It’s all her.’ They applaud Veronique, even though she’s not here. Apparently she had a disagreement with the director and refused to fly in – or so Katerina said. Evie doesn’t know her personally, but they did have a couple of Skype calls as Veronique worked on the adaptation. Evie wasn’t precious about it – she gave her express permission for the practised screenwriter to take whatever creative licence she needed to.

‘We’re already in editing with what we have, since, as you know the promotion of the movie has been moved up to capture the summer preview circuit for a big Thanksgiving release. We’d also like to capitalise on the fact that On the Romantic Road has just entered the New York Times bestseller list at number three, which is, I believe, the highest charting you’ve had yet, Evie, right?’

Evie did not know this. She fights the urge to grab her phone from where it is face-down on the table beside her, to check her emails and see if her agent or editor can verify. Has a five-year-old book really gone into the chart? That feels impossible. Instead, she just offers a brief nod. She doesn’t want to create a scene.

‘You’ve all got what you need in your rooms already in terms of info sheets. We’re booked out here, so it’s just us. Everyone has a per diem spend for food and drinks, and there’s security on the door and on each floor. I’m sure you’re aware, but so we’re all on the same page, the objective for these exterior shots here on location, here on the actual Romantic Road, is to capture the fairy-tale-like enchantment of the place. Duke and Daphne are doing a superb job as George and Hermione, with such chemistry and fondness in the early edits. Everything we need to shoot outside, here, is to really hammer home the feeling of what we’re creating. The weather is cold – I’m told we’re expecting snow – but what we want to make people feel is the warmth of this story. The Christmas markets, the lights, the hot chocolates and carols and these magnificent castles that just seem to be everywhere … folks should watch this movie and, yeah, fall in love with George and Hermione, but we also want them to fall in love with Bavaria. Germany is the third character in this love story.’

‘I’m about halfway in love already,’ Duke leans in to whisper in Evie’s ear. ‘I might even see if I can go out for a walk, later, if you want in.’