‘Safely in the Cat and Fiddle with Barty and Kimberley and John Hastings.’ Drew also stood up. ‘I told him we’d drop you off. Are you sure you’re feeling OK?’

‘Never better.’ Bronwyn’s eyes were bright, and two spots of colour glowed on her sallow cheeks. ‘And it hasn’t made me change my mind. Quite the opposite, in fact. I still don’t see why Peter Knightley and his cronies should steamroller over the rest of the village.’

‘I think you’ll have to tread carefully,’ Drew said as they walked outside. ‘After all, the golf course isn’t going to be a threat to the tranquillity of the village, is it?’

‘Maybe not.’ Bronwyn jerked her chin in defiance. ‘I won’t run the risk of repeating tonight’s fiasco, but I still want to see Peter Knightley get his comeuppance. No one,’ she said darkly, scrambling into the back of the Mercedes, ‘makes a fool of Bronwyn Pugh and gets away with it.’

Maddy and Suzy exchanged amused grins as they joined Bronwyn in the car.

‘All on again, is it?’ Suzy hissed as the car purred away from the police station. ‘The little rift healed?’

‘He bought me fish and chips.’ Maddy smiled across at Drew in the darkness.

‘Oh, Jesus.’ Suzy shook her head. ‘That’s like putting an announcement in The Times.’

The Cat and Fiddle roared with the aftermath. Everyone had a story to tell, and every story grew taller with the telling. Bronwyn was feted as something of a heroine for having provided so much impromptu entertainment.

Suzy and Maddy squeezed into seats around the table with John Hastings, Kimberley, and Barty. There were a few notable absentees, but no doubt all the revellers would be returned to the village by morning. The advisory committee from Twyford Down, Batheaston, and Newbury had surged around Bronwyn and Bernie and Maddy hoped they wouldn’t be needed for any of Bronwyn’s future plans. She, too, would still be delighted to see Peter stymied, but felt that after this evening anything else would be something of a damp squib.

Drew placed glasses in front of them and eased himself between Maddy and Suzy. He looked at the three trainers. ‘I needed to talk to you. I have a proposition to put to Suzy, but I’ll need you to OK it first.’

The raised glasses were held suspended in three hands. Suzy looked at Maddy who shrugged. Drew drank half a pint in one go, obviously needing to wash down the fish and chips, and then spread his hands on the table.

‘In ten days’ time it’ll be The Derby.’

‘Gold star. Go to the top of the class,’ Suzy intoned quietly. Maddy kicked her under the table.

‘Sorry, that was stating the obvious. What I really want to know is if any of you intend putting Suzy up in the Woodcote Stakes?’