Sadie looks around before discreetly inclining her head towards a table at the front of the room, next to a small stage. ‘Over there. But honestly, darling, don’t worry. They understand. They know Rupert needed to move on, no one expected him to be a lonely widower forever.’ There is something in her voice, sadness maybe, before she pins on a bright smile.

‘Thank you,’ I say, reaching out and squeezing her hand in a warm burst of appreciation. ‘I’ve never… no one I’ve ever been out with before has had a wife who passed on, so I just don’t know what to expect or how to react sometimes. I’m constantly worried that I’ll put my foot in it.’

‘Oh, no need,’ Sadie says, ‘everyone understands people have to move on. I was the one who told Rupert it was about time he sorted himself out, after all. You’re one of us now. Anyway,’ she smiles brightly and changes the subject, ‘what did Rupert think about your plans for the garden?’

‘He wasn’t as pleased as I hoped,’ I say, glancing along the table to make sure he is still occupied with Miles. ‘He shouted at me a bit about the pool, saying he doesn’t need one.’

The memory of his harsh words makes the back of my throat feel thick and I blink rapidly.

‘Oh God, really?’ Sadie rolls her eyes and reaches for my hand. ‘I suppose he came out with some old crap about not spending the money? That’s what Rupe does, I’m afraid.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, he’s got such a chip on his shoulder about Caro’s family being so much more well off than his. He won’t want to pay for the pool because he’ll feel guilty that it’s Caro’s money, which is just plain ridiculous, if you ask me. If I were you, I’d just get the plans drawn up anyway. Once he sees it, he’ll come around. In fact, I’d go so far as to say he’d be thrilled.’ Sadie shrugs, and takes a huge sip from her glass. ‘You didn’t let him upset you, did you? The rotter. Honestly, darling, I’ll defend you to the ends of the Earth if he shouts at you again. I told you, you’re one of us now.’

I want to cry; I feel so pathetically grateful. Sadie is an important person in Rupert’s life and to have her approval means so much. I raise my glass to her, and we drink, and finally I begin to relax.