She picked up a nearby napkin and wiped her fingers. ‘But that was before; when we were together. Now we’re not. I’ve got other far more important things to think about.’

God! Suzy and Fran would be so proud of her.

‘Maddy, I simply don’t believe you. You’re teasing me.’

‘I never did that.’

‘No, you didn’t, did you? You were quite a little demon.’ He stretched out one long slender finger and stroked her cheek. Her skin flamed. Why did one’s body have to behave at direct odds with the instructions from one’s brain? She hadn’t loved him for over a year.

‘We’ve all come in for seconds,’ Kimberley’s voice barked across the alcove. ‘Oh, good heavens. Hello, Peter.’

Maddy gave Kimberley, Barty, and Drew Fitzgerald a smile of relief. Peter was pumping hands. Maybe she could walk away now while they were all reintroducing themselves. She slid her boots to the ground, hardly able to feel her feet after curling in the window seat for so long.

Peter barred her exit. ‘You never told me you had a new neighbour, Maddy. And a famous one at that.’

‘We hadn’t actually got round to village small talk, had we? And I didn’t know he was – famous, that is.’

‘I’m not.’ Drew Fitzgerald didn’t seem to want to look at her. She couldn’t blame him.

‘Oh, but you are.’ Peter was adamant. ‘As soon as I heard your name, I knew who you were. And I’m so glad that you’ll be putting Peapods to good use. I used to own it, you know. I ran the Knightley Health Studio.’

‘I’d heard.’ Drew turned away and accepted a plate of leftovers from Kimberley who appeared to be drooling. ‘I shall probably keep the smaller of the gyms for my own use – and that of my staff, of course.’

‘There!’ Peter beamed at Maddy. ‘You can just pop across the road and use Drew’s gym. Maybe you won’t feel so intimidated by hordes of stable lads. You never came near the place when I was running it.’

‘And I don’t intend to now.’ She shot Drew another look of apology. ‘I shall be far too busy. I do have my own business these days.

Peter’s eyebrows climbed up his golden forehead. Drew, with creditable good manners, managed to look interested.

‘Shadows,’ Maddy said with pride. ‘It’s been running for twelve months and it’s been very successful.’

‘Diana mentioned that you did some kind of work for her.’

Drew deserved a gold star for his attempt to resurrect the social niceties. ‘What does Shadows supply? Secretarial staff to the stables?’

‘Maddy’s a treasure!’ Kimberley giggled like a sixth- former. She was definitely flirting with Drew. ‘So are Elaine, Brenda, and Kat. They work for Maddy. They’re all treasures!’

Drew and Peter gave Kimberley a look of profound doubt.

‘Shadows provides cleaning staff,’ Maddy explained. ‘Most of the houses in Milton St John are huge, and need someone “who does”. Those who don’t have their own housekeepers – and so few can afford live-ins these days – use Shadows. We have regular contracts with some places, and work as-and-when with others.’