‘Oh, you’ve changed.’ Caroline pulled open the door. ‘Aren’t you good. I simply didn’t have time.’

Maddy was wearing the dark green velvet dress she’d worn for her own dinner party. Now that she could pay her credit card off from her winnings she didn’t feel it was necessary to wear the Knightsbridge outfit to every function.

Caroline ushered them into the dining room. Mr and Mrs Beckett enthused wildly over the furniture and the drapes and the paintings. The French doors were opened on to the lawn, and a drinks table had been set up on the terrace. It was all very tasteful.

Bronwyn and Bernie were standing, drinks in hand, by one of the old-fashioned flower borders, nodding over lupins and foxgloves and honesty.

‘Why don’t you go and join them?’ Maddy suggested to her parents. ‘I’ll see if Caroline needs a hand.’

Caroline didn’t. The caterers had delivered everything, and it only needed popping in the microwave just before serving.

‘I’ve gone for a very basic menu.’ Caroline stroked a stray lock of hair away from her unlined cheek. ‘I thought everyone would have had enough of the high life for one day. Let me refill your glass. I can’t think where Drew’s got to …’

Without realising, Maddy had already gulped back one glass of wine. She’d have to be more careful.

‘Oh, look, here’s Kit and Rosa.’ Caroline made brief introductions. Maddy smiled at the tall, fair-haired man and his delicately pretty wife and congratulated them on their win. They held hands all the time, Maddy noticed, just as they had all day. It was sickening to see such devotion. Caroline beamed. ‘Maddy is Suzy’s sister – not that you’d think so, would you? She cleans Peapods.’ Kit Pedersen frowned slightly and Rosa shot Maddy a look of sympathy. Maddy was too dispirited to explain about Shadows, and was about to make a fatuous remark about Dock of the Bay when the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll go.’ Caroline swept off in a swirl of black and red.

‘Drew’s in the stables,’ Kit Pedersen said quietly. ‘He said to tell you.’

‘If Caroline asks,’ Rosa grinned, ‘you’ve gone to the loo.’

Maddy stared at them both. Their eyes sparkled. ‘You’ll have to be quick.’ Rosa leaned forward and took Maddy’s glass. ‘She’ll want to have us sitting down with paper hats and crackers in a minute.’

With a look of absolute gratitude, Maddy sidled out of the French doors and flew across the lawns to the stable block.

Drew, still dressed in his morning-suit trousers and silk shirt, was in Solomon’s box. ‘What kept you?’ He pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. ‘God, I’ve missed you.’

‘Kit and Rosa …?’

‘Are my friends.’ Drew was stroking her neck.

‘They know?’