You gesture toward the bay, your cigarette a tiny dot of light against the dark. I gaze at the view. The hillside is cloaked in blackness, the sky studded with stars. In the distance, discernible only by its sound, is the brooding presence of the sea. The air is warm for the time of year and full of the scent of wild thyme. I look round at the assembled company. We have eaten and laughed and told wild stories. Tomorrow I will paint while Angelica has her French lesson, then Duncan will drive us to the beach. I feel content and surrounded by the good things in life. You catch my mood.

“It’s perfect, isn’t it! If we were in England now we’d still be huddled up in our separate houses, crouching over lonely fires. None of this sitting out in company under the dreaming expanse of the night sky.” You look at Leonard. “Shall we confess our sin?”

You glance round the table to make sure all eyes are on you. “Today,” you begin with great importance, “Leonard and I went to look at the villa.”

I start. This is not what I had expected you to say.

“But I thought it was too expensive.”

You raise your eyebrows.

“Ah, but not if you are a consummate negotiator.”

I am staring at you now, wondering what you mean.

“I simply told the man, did I not Leonard, that the villa was too expensive, but that we would consider renting it from him.”

“And did he agree?” I ask quickly.

“Of course. We are to put in new windows and bring our own furniture—and the villa is ours whenever we want it for 300 francs a month.”

“But that’s nothing!”

You beam at me.

“You see! I wasn’t exaggerating.”

“Does this mean the villa will no longer be up for sale?” I lean forward to hear your answer to Duncan’s question. You take another draft of your cigarette.

“We didn’t get a final agreement on that,” you concede.

“Well, then.” I can feel the relief flooding back. “It’s hardly a bargain if you pay for new windows and the villa is immediately sold to someone else!”

You refuse to be swerved and raise your glass.

“But it won’t be sold! So here’s a toast to our new life in Cassis.”

You flash me one of your most beguiling smiles.

Later, as I am on my way to my room, you stop me. You lead me into the sitting room and settle down on the sofa.

“I need to talk to you. I don’t understand your reaction to the villa. After all, you spent most of last summer trying to persuade us to move here!”