The vineyard was just as sumptuous as the hotel. I understood, now, why people raved about their honeymoon for years after it happened. Everything was premium, an upgraded version of what you might normally allow yourself. Whatever packages my non-in-laws had signed us up for, the clear truth was that it was the best, or the top, the most superlative version of any one thing. We sat outside on a private terrace, several wooden boards of charcuterie and cheese in front of us, and a row of glasses and bottles as we continued to sample more of what the winery had to offer. Back in the cave they’d taught us how to swirl our glasses, take a sniff, swish and then spit. The trick was, apparently, to use quite a bit of force when spitting so that it didn’t dribble down your chin – but now we were alone we didn’t bother with that part, and instead tucked in, swallowing in big, unabashed gulps.

‘I could ogle this view all day,’ I said, as Patrick topped up my glass with an SSB – a sauvignon and semillon blend.

‘I have been told I’m quite handsome.’ He smirked.

‘Ha-ha.’

The chairs had been arranged side by side so that we could both look out at the vista: rows of grapes pleasingly uniform as far as the eye could see, set against a backdrop of undulating hills. Taking it all in, I could feel my breathing getting deeper. London continued to fade away in my mind – in less than another twenty-four hours it wouldn’t even exist. Alexander wouldn’t exist, my aching heart wouldn’t exist, my mother’s constant criticisms wouldn’t exist. There was only the view and the wine, and it was everything I needed.

‘My shoulders have dropped about six inches overnight,’ I said, taking another mouthful of the wine. I was holding the glass by the stem, like they’d taught us, and had spun the liquid around the glass to help increase the oxygen in it to release the flavours. I hadn’t even realized I’d been doing it until Patrick pointed it out – I was practically a sommelier myself after four hours in the caves. ‘They were all bunched up around my ears from the stress, but now …’

‘But now you’ve had a bottle of wine?’

‘I’m not drunk!’

‘Liar.’

‘I’m not!’ I insisted. ‘I’m trying to be deep and meaningful here if you don’t mind. I know you’re Mr “In The Moment” but for some of us this is quite the novelty, thankyouverymuch.’

‘It is a skill I’ve worked hard on. I appreciate you noticing.’

I stuck my nose into the rim of my glass and inhaled deeply. ‘Do you think I’d get yelled at if I put a cube of ice in this?’

‘Ice? You savage.’

We stared at the view some more.