‘No, she won’t, Dad,’ Ned firmly said. ‘She’s got her heart set on this big holiday and mystery business and if I can’t get the funds fast enough, we could end up with a total stranger in charge. They’ll have the bigger share, remember, and therefore the final say.’

‘Liza might not be as attached to this place as you are, Ned,’ David was quick to say, ‘but I know her well enough to know she won’t sell to just anyone.’

‘I really hope you’re right about that, Dad.’

‘I know I am, and at the end of the day, if you have to buy her shares instead of mine…’

‘No way,’ Ned cut in. ‘You deserve your retirement, Dad. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise that.’

I knew I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but I couldn’t tear myself away. Sue had been right about Ned’s sense of family loyalty.

‘And I’m worried about flying solo,’ he then huskily said. ‘What if I take on this massive financial risk and then can’t run this place on my own? Wynter’s Trees would be ruined and I’d never forgive myself.’

He was clearly as concerned about doing right by my dad’s legacy as he was about protecting his dad’s retirement.

‘That won’t be an issue.’ David insisted. ‘You’re more than capable Ned, but if you want me to, when I’ve finished trotting around the globe, I can still help out a bit. And you never know, you might decide to look for a partner yourself in the future.’

For some inexplicable reason, I felt myself bristle at the thought of someone else coming in.

‘That’s true,’ said Ned, sounding a little less anxious.

‘But rest assured,’ David firmly added, ‘you won’t have any problem managing this place. And I just know there’s still a chance that Liza might change her mind.’

Ned didn’t say anything further and I slipped away. I now had more of an understanding about how he was really feeling about it all and knew that David was still hoping I’d change my mind. The best thing I could do now was find a way to boost Ned’s confidence in himself so he wouldn’t put so much faith in his dad’s words. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Ned was the right man to take over Wynter’s Trees, I just needed to make him believe it.

‘You should come,’ said Theo, who had arrived at the plantation late in the day grubby, but also happy about how well the previous evening had gone. ‘It’s going to be a good night.’

‘I’m sure you could do with a break,’ added Wren, giving me a nudge. ‘And I know Ned could, because he never stops working.’