It was the first time they’d met, although through their phone conversations Abi felt a bond had already formed between them, Valentina exacting a promise from Abi that she and all their family would come and spend a week at their house in the Vienne. There was a separate apartment – an annex, Valentina had said – where they would be comfortable, with their own space and privacy. She had been insistent, and Abi – charmed by Valentina’s warmth, the easy eccentricity of her expressions – was persuaded.

And so now they were here, and Abi watched as the small woman approached Mark and then Eva, both of them laughing and blushing as they were embraced in turn.

‘Where’s Beth?’ Mark asked, and Val clucked, her expression mischievous and twinkly in a way that reminded Abi of Corinne.

‘They will be back soon. They have a surprise for you,’ she said, wagging her finger at each of them. ‘Those girls. Wait. You will see.’

Something about Val’s private amusement, the way she turned away from them at that moment, brought on a small internal lurch in Abi. But when Mark caught her eye and she saw the question in it, she smiled to deflect any note of worry, then followed Valentina into the house.