I suppose the reason for the grey area is this: houses like the gatehouse, which have remained in the same hands for generations, unaltered and unimproved, are as rare as hen’s teeth in Dorset, and landowners hate to part with anything before they die unless they really have to, as the most important thing to them is handing down the estate intact to their male heirs, but the snag here is… Sir Michael doesn’t have one. A male heir, that is. So everyone’s been tiptoeing around him. Sir Michael Hutton (address, Hutton Manor, Hutton, nr Godminster, Dorset – isn’t that perfect?) is only dealing with his solicitor very intermittently and nothing seems to be happening. No one, not even the land agent now, dares approach Sir Michael directly, in case he shouts and flings them into outer darkness, in perpetuity. Sir Michael is famously difficult, to the extent that no one would dream of asking him a direct question about his intentions regarding a house that has been in the family for centuries, plus a parcel of five hundred acres of prime farmland-it would be insolent even to suggest he might be selling. I do happen to know though…

Clare Sturgis has rented a weekend cottage on the Bryanston estate (Ned and Lulu are asking her for £700 a month, I know because I asked) to see whether she likes the area. I found this out the same time Clare told me she had put in an offer for the gatehouse, via the agent. ‘For how much?’ I asked. I thought I could. ‘Several million,’ is all Clare would answer.

My mobile beeps.

Even in the Bernese Oberland, I can receive a signal. Bound to be another text from Ceci, who’s staying with the Flemings, saying, ‘I don’t want you to be away! Come back. It’s freezing and it’s not fair!’ and asking about her biology revision.

I dig my mobile out of my anorak pocket, which involves removing gloves, stuffing gloves between my legs and asking Granville if he would mind holding my poles. ‘I’ll hold your pole any time,’ I say, making a poor joke at my own expense.

‘I know you will, Rose,’ he answers. ‘Why else did I invite you?’

It is from Mimi, saying Ceci is fine, but there is text missing. Something about Ralph’s party, I expect. Mimi has been very down, of course, recently. It’s taken her a while to regain her bounce. But she’s a cork. She doesn’t sink, she bobs, and after all she went through in January, only a few weeks ago really, I really think this party plan is a positive sign. She and Ralph are getting back on track. It shows she’s getting herself together, and moving on, but also that she’s making an effort, after the recent trauma, to be a couple, which is what entertaining is mostly about.