‘Thank you. Thank you, Mr Foley,’ the boy said quickly.

‘No worries, Elias. Stay cool, buddy.’

They all watched as he walked as quickly as he could back to his table, his mother ruffling his hair affectionately as he took his seat and showed them his prizes.

‘I think you just made his week,’ Julian said, looking pleased. ‘What did I say? Once a hero, always a hero! The people love you still, Kit. Just you wait, you’ll see.’

Matty looked across the table at Clover, but Clover couldn’t react. Kit was glowering at her again, as though Julian’s words had just reminded him that it was Clover herself who had taken away his glory and good name.

She looked down with a weary sigh and began to study the menu. Their aperitifs were poured as an awkward silence stretched above their table. Even Matty seemed stilted, losing her usual dry, laconic wit in Kit’s presence. He managed to convey his sullenness through body language alone and Clover could tell he was already regretting forcing this dinner upon them all. He had been too quick to try to score another goal against her, not stopping to think what it would ask of him too.

‘Have you warmed up now, Clo?’ Matty asked, desperate to keep the conversation going.

‘The chalet is not warm?’ Julian asked in surprise.

‘Oh, no, the chalet is perfection,’ Matty clarified. ‘Clover just got a bit chilled today, that was all. She was hallucinating about having a long bath . . . then of course remembered that we don’t have one!’

‘Oh, yes, I am sorry,’ Julian said, looking pained. ‘The only bath in the chalet is in the master suite.’

‘It’s fine, really. A hot shower was just as wonderful.’

But Julian was looking so troubled, Clover wondered whether he was actually deliberating having baths installed to make up for the oversight. ‘I’m afraid baths are a very British thing. In Europe, we prefer showers.’

‘Oh, I know. Honestly, it was no problem. I didn’t care that much.’ Clover shot Matty a look. Why did they have to be discussing this? It simply underlined Kit’s point-scoring against her today.

‘Of course, I’m sure Kit would not object to making the room available for you if you really coveted a bath,’ Julian offered.

The look Kit gave to Julian following this comment almost made Clover laugh out loud. Their mutual disbelief was the first thing they could finally agree upon.

Kit slowly looked back at her. ‘Oh yeah. Any time, day or night. Why not?’ The sarcasm was as thick as Chantilly cream.