‘Oh, my dear girl,’ he said thickening and emphasising his original cut-glass accent until it was almost a pastiche of his own father’s. ‘How little you understand these things. Yes, it’s about doing the right thing. But the right thing for the family, not you personally.’

‘New traditions are born all the time,’ I said, taking a sip of my third glass. I did a double take at the glass. Was it really my third? How did that happen?

‘Not in the Coulsdon-Hart estate, they’re not.’

‘I think it’s a shame. They’ve missed out on you for all these years. People don’t live forever.’

‘No, they don’t. I don’t think they feel they have missed out on me, but I do appreciate you saying it.’

‘Then it really is their loss if they can’t even understand what they’ve missed.’

‘Are you complimenting me?’ One side of his generous mouth raised in a teasing smile.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I know you of old, and I’m well aware that you don’t need any more compliments than you already get.’

‘Who says I get any?’

I almost snorted my champagne. ‘Valiant attempt at modesty, but let’s just take it as written that we both know you were always the village heart-throb, and if the gossip I overheard the other day is anything to go by, nothing’s changed. Obviously none of them know what a pain in the arse you really are.’

He gave me an even look. ‘Is that so?’

‘Yep. As you said, you spent a lot of time around my house growing up, being Felix’s best friend and my parents liked you, although God knows why.’

‘Because I’m delightful, obviously.’

‘Well, you had them fooled. But I didn’t need warning to stay away from you. The trail of broken hearts around the village streets was enough. Plus, you were just so sure of yourself.’

‘Quite the opposite, actually.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t think I was at all sure of myself. I knew who I was supposed to be, and what I was supposed to be, but I don’t think I really began to discover who I was until I moved away to London to pursue the life I wanted, very much without the blessing of my family. It was still a struggle then and things only became clearer when I moved abroad and had the absolute freedom to explore the person I could be, the person I wanted to be. As for the rest, you’re probably right. And I don’t blame you for not being interested in me, apart from that one night at the fete.’ His eyes twinkled mischievously in the low light.

I sipped my drink and disappeared behind the glass momentarily as a means of escape.

A lazy smile appeared on Jack’s face as I did so. ‘But the rest of it? That was all bravado. I’m surprised Felix hasn’t told you. He worked it out years before. I think that’s why we were such good friends and still are now. I never had to pretend with Felix. I could just be myself, and when I acted too much of a dick, he would tell me.’