‘What, a wedding?’ he said, nearly choking on the coffee. ‘Nothing, ever, would induce me to do that. Ever.’ Something passed across her eyes that prompted him to ask, ‘What about you?’

She ducked her head, hiding once again behind her auburn hair. ‘I’d … thought about it once. Was engaged.’

‘Really?’

‘Don’t sound so bloody shocked, Hawkesbury.’

‘What happened?’ he asked, aware that there was no ring on her finger, though when he’d noticed that precisely he couldn’t say.

‘He ran off with £15,000 of my money.’

‘What?’ he’d almost yelled it and straight away wished he could have taken it back when she’d flinched. For a moment she looked as if she might try to explain, but the sounds of the doorbell cut through the awkward silence and in an instant she rallied, a broad fake smile painted on her lips as she said, ‘Showtime!’ and she escaped to answer the door, while Henry was left reeling.

Nothing about Lily’s behaviour towards the prospective buyer, Mr Jameson, his wife Natalie, or his assistant Ian, showed any sign of the hurt that he’d seen in her eyes just moments before they arrived. She was all smiles, welcoming greetings and full of explanations about how the day would be run and there he was, left to follow in her wake, warring with his conscience. He really should have told her about the purpose of the tour. He should have told her already about his plans to sell the estate because he could see the moment that Jameson would say or do something that would reveal the sale but could do absolutely nothing to prevent it. It was torture.

‘So I thought we’d start with the vineyards, especially before it gets a little too hot out there, and then move on to the distilleries in the barns, a tasting and then a quick tour of the cellars, if that suits?’ Lily asked.

‘Absolutely,’ Mr Jameson replied, and although his wife seemed a little more interested in the tasting portion, she put a brave face on the walking part, despite the way her five-inch heels plunged into the soft earth and occasionally got stuck.

Lily led the small group out into the sun and the grounds at the back of the estate towards the vineyards.