Maddy closed her eyes. This was going to be the dinner party from hell. She’d have to catch something like bubonic plague on the bus going home.

‘So,’ Caroline beamed, ‘I’ll see you at about nine, then?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Maddy’s face ached from the forced smile. ‘I’m really looking forward to it.’

The bus journey back to Milton St John was riotous. Everyone had backed Richard and Suzy, and most of them had had something on Luke since he’d become so much part of the village, and he had conveniently won the last race. Brenda and Elaine were leading community singing on the lower deck, while the Cat and Fiddle passed joints round upstairs.

Maddy, sitting with her parents because Fran had opted to stay overnight with Richard, felt cold and deflated. She hadn’t seen Drew again, and dreaded having to ward off Charlie Somerset at the dinner party. And how could she spend an entire evening with Peter and Stacey?

‘What’s up, love?’ Mr Beckett patted his daughter’s hand. ‘You look sad, and no one should be sad today. Our Suzy did us proud.’

‘She did, Dad.’ Maddy flickered a smile. ‘I think I’m just tired.’

‘You’ll liven up tonight.’ Mr Beckett grinned knowingly. ‘Mrs Fitzgerald is putting on a real spread. It should be one heck of a celebration. She’s such a nice lady. Me and your mother were trying to persuade her to move over to Milton St John permanently.’

‘Oh,’ Maddy went even colder. ‘I don’t think she’ll do that. She’s got her business to run in Jersey and –’

‘That’s what she said.’ Maddy’s mum leaned across. Her pupils were slightly dilated. Maddy hoped it was just excitement and not passive dope smoking. ‘But I told her, it’s no way to run a marriage, being apart like that. You and she seem to get on well, Maddy, love. Maybe you could persuade her. Why don’t you suggest it to her tonight?’

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-three

They had all managed to bathe and change and even snatch a few minutes’ sleep before they trailed across the road to Peapods at just after nine o’clock. Maddy still felt suicidal. She would have cried off, but her parents were so excited about the whole day, and especially Drew’s part in Suzy’s triumph, that it would have been unthinkably cruel.

It was a glorious evening, still and warm, scented by old roses and freshly cut grass. St Saviours’ bells were rolling melodiously around the downs in a celebration peal, almost drowning out the party raging at the Cat and Fiddle which could be heard on the far side of the village. Maddy wished fervently that she was there. She wished she was anywhere other than walking up Peapods’ cobbled drive to spend an evening with the Fitzgeralds.