But I didn’t hit her. Instead I clasped my hands together in my lap, fingers laced tight. I know what’s coming, I know what she’s going to tell me. Does that make it any easier? Is it a consolation? It doesn’t feel like it. It feels as if my life has been in freefall for the past week and I’m finally about to hit the ground. Terrified of the impact, but at the same time ready for it to be over.

‘Kate, I don’t know how to say this. I’ve agonised over whether to tell you about—’

I cut her off. She doesn’t deserve this moment, doesn’t deserve the satisfaction of being the one to break it to me.

‘I know what you’re going to say, Izzy.’

A ripple of surprise crosses her face.

‘Really?’

‘Took me a while to work it out, but I got there eventually.’

‘Oh. I see.’ There is confusion in her tone. ‘I was under the impression you didn’t know.’

‘Did Sean tell you that?’

She nodded, slowly.

‘Yes.’

‘He wanted to keep it a secret, did he? I saw you arguing before dinner.’

‘He, erm . . . no. He thought it was better to keep it under wraps.’

‘Of course he did.’

She hesitates, as if choosing her words carefully. ‘How long have you known?’

‘I’ve known the basics since last week. And the rest for a couple of days. Do you remember when Sean sent you a message on Tuesday, asking to meet? It wasn’t him that sent that, it was me.’

‘Tuesday?’

‘I unlocked his phone and found your conversation on Messenger. Your secret little trail of messages about what’s been going on.’ I thought about our conversation at the Gorges d’Héric on Monday morning, feeling the anger at her betrayal surge again. ‘In fact, why didn’t you just tell me on Monday? Didn’t I at least deserve a bit of honesty? Why wait until today?’

She frowned. ‘Well, for one thing, because I didn’t realise on Tuesday that—’

The door flew open and Rowan burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm.

‘You two! Oh my God, you have to come! Now!’

Then she was gone, clattering away on her heels towards the back of the villa.

Izzy and I jumped up and followed her out onto the balcony. For the first time since we arrived, the afternoon sun had disappeared behind huge dark clouds that were blanketing the sky. The wind had picked up and it whipped the hair around our faces, the air almost fizzing with the pressure of an impending thunderstorm.

‘Guys!’ Rowan said breathlessly. ‘Do you see that?’

We turned to look where she was pointing. Down into the vineyard, where the rows of vines met the treeline on the edge of the woods.

Smoke.

Chapter 66

66

Odette