“What are you drinking, young Keely?” Connor’s cheerful voice spoke close to her ear above the sound of the music and voices.

Before she could answer Euan appeared on her other side.

“I’ve poured you a glass of wine.”

“Thanks.” Keely took the glass he offered and sipped from it. She smiled. “Your chardonnay?”

The creases of his smile spread across his face and he nodded. “This young lady is a fast learner, Connor. And she has good taste. She likes the fine wines from the exclusive Levallier Dell cellars.”

“You’re full of the blarney as usual, I see,” Connor said. “Speaking of chardonnay, I hear a few vineyards suffered a bit of damage with that storm we had. How did you get on here?”

“Only minimal shoot loss. The hail didn’t last long here. We must have been on the edge of it. I don’t think it will have too much impact.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it? Evidently your neighbours didn’t fare so well.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Euan stiffened.

“The word is – a lot of damage. Theo will be under pressure with a loss like that. He’s outlaid a lot of money for the cellar-door extensions and he still owes big on our old patch of land.”

Keely could see the twitch in Euan’s cheek.

“You know I don’t listen to gossip, Connor,” he said.

“This is not gossip, mate. I’ve heard it straight from Tony. Theo has his back to the wall at the moment.”

Keely took a sip from her glass, frantically trying to think of something she could say to change the subject.

“I am not interested in anything to do with Theo or any of his family,” Euan said.

Over his shoulder, Keely could see the door and at that moment Kat appeared through it. Keely saw her glance around, probably looking for Flynn, who was nowhere to be seen.

“Come on, Euan. This is me you’re talking to,” Connor said. “A breakdown of communication meant you missed out on that land of ours once before. There might be a chance to get it back.”

Kat saw Keely, gave her a little wave and walked towards her. Keely glanced from Euan’s serious face to Kat’s smiling approach. “Excuse me, I’ll leave you two to the business talk,” she said and stepped around him.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

She heard the start of Connor’s apology as she greeted Kat. “Hello. Are you looking for Flynn? I think he must be inside.” She decided to steer the new arrival away from Euan. Kat was a good person but Euan didn’t appear to be in the mood to recognise that. All he would see was Theo’s granddaughter.

The party was in full swing by the time Keely spied Mary and David.

“Hello, Keely.”