‘It would be foolish of you to think that Drew will become your lover,’ Caroline spoke the words as calmly as she’d ordered lunch, ‘because, among other reasons, Drew is hopeless in bed. That’s why our marriage and our friendship works, Maddy. Because I have absolutely no reason to think that he’ll stray. I don’t like sex and Drew can’t do it. We suit each other admirably. Now,’ she smiled happily, ‘show me those earrings again. You honestly can’t tell that they’re costume, can you?’

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Bronwyn had been busy. The entire window of the Village Stores was taken up by a fluorescent orange poster exhorting everyone opposed to the golf course to meet at the site at seven on Friday evening. Maddy surveyed it worriedly on Friday morning. It all seemed to be getting out of hand. She rested her bicycle against the window and pinged open the door.

‘Everyone’s mentioned it,’ Bronwyn said happily, smoothing down her floral crossover pinafore, and raising her voice against the hubbub of the stable lads who were clustered round the sweet counter. ‘I reckon when Diana and Gareth and Bert Maynard see the opposition they’ve got, they’ll change their minds.’

‘I’m not sure.’ Maddy picked up the cheapest packet of washing powder she could find. ‘Shouldn’t we just have stuck to our original plan, and had the meeting next week? I don’t think Milton St John is ready for the militia.’

‘Nonsense.’ Bronwyn popped the washing powder into a bag. ‘If we’re not getting anywhere with collective bargaining, then we’ve got to fight. No one wants to see the village desecrated.’

‘But who are we fighting, exactly?’ Maddy was alarmed to hear such aggression from Bronwyn. ‘Only the people who own the land and have an absolute right to sell it, surely?’

Bronwyn took Maddy’s money. ‘A legal right, maybe. But certainly not a moral one. A strong show of people power is what we need.’

Maddy winced. The Twyford Down and Batheaston people had fought their fight on a massive scale. The bloody battles over the Newbury bypass had attracted nationwide coverage. Milton St John golf course was very small beer by comparison. She only hoped that Bronwyn wasn’t getting too carried away.

Bronwyn paused before ringing up the washing powder. ‘Is this all? No Hobnobs? No chocolate?’

Maddy shook her head. The previous day’s extravagances had put paid to luxuries. The green dress and shoes would take care of sugary treats for many weeks to come.

Bronwyn peered across the counter. ‘You’re not changing your mind? About the golf course?’