Brenda and Elaine in bright, shiny dresses, and complete with husbands and children, were leaning against the shop window and laughing loudly. Jackie and Kat, both married to jockeys who weren’t racing at Epsom, were sitting sedately on the wall. Maddy stared hard at Kat’s bump beneath her gathered summer dress, and let her hands stray to her own stomach. It was slightly curved now; what would it be like if she was …? She pushed the idea quickly out of her mind.

‘It’s like Shadows’ works outing, innit, Maddy?’ Elaine called cheerfully. ‘All of us going off on the same bus? Scrubbers on tour!’

Jackie and Kat, who always considered themselves above such ribaldry – especially in public – shuddered. Maddy laughed. She was very fond of them all. They were her friends and they worked with her and for her. If someone could just unmarry Drew and Caroline she’d be the happiest person alive.

‘Bloody hell!’ Fran appeared round the corner, looking stunning in cream silk trousers and tunic with a floor-length black chiffon waistcoat, and carrying a black and cream cartwheel hat. ‘I thought I’d missed it! I’d got the shoes sorted out then I couldn’t decide on the right handbag and – bugger me!’ She surveyed Maddy from top to toe. ‘That didn’t leave you much change out of five hundred pounds, I’ll bet. Maddy Beckett, you look sensational.’

‘Thanks.’ Maddy waved a Tesco carrier bag under Fran’s nose. ‘And you wait ’til you see the hat.’

‘Isn’t the dress an Ally Capellino?’ Fran’s mouth was still sagging as Maddy nodded. ‘And is this all for Mr Fitzgerald’s benefit?’

‘No. Actually, it’s not.’

‘Liar.’ Fran squeezed her amiably. ‘Still, he loved you in Oxfam – God knows what he’ll do for you in that lot.’

Nothing more than he’d already done for her in the supermarket undies, Maddy thought smugly. Because, as she’d told him, you couldn’t improve on perfection.

‘’Ere comes the bus!’ The ritual cheer went up from the thirty or so villagers who were sitting on the kerb peering along the road. ‘Get the beers in the boot, Bernie!’

They hired the bus annually from Newbury, and as usual, there was a tumble of sharply jabbing elbows to secure the best places on the open top deck. Fran was brilliant at this, using her feet, shoulders, and even fingernails if she had to. Maddy followed more sedately with her parents, making sure that they were seated before joining Fran up front.

The bus was decorated in ribbons and balloons, with banners proclaiming the virtues of Saratoga Sun and Jefferson Jet, and the destination board read – as it always did – Milton St John to The Derby. It was all very noisy and friendly and the excited tension was mounting as it did every year; but for Maddy this year was even more special.