‘Oh, no. I’ve talked to the landlord. We wouldn’t be doing the same thing at all.’ She snapped off a piece of the clematis. ‘I shall be spending less and less time with Drew, Maddy.’ She cast slanting eyes along the tree-trunk. Drew was staring at the ground. ‘Our lives aren’t even parallel any longer. I won’t want to be having to check up on my establishments every five minutes. With you in charge here, I wouldn’t need to. I trust you.’

Maddy closed her eyes, counted to ten, then opened them again. ‘Well, don’t. I’m the most untrustworthy person in the whole world!’

Caroline dropped the clematis on the grass. Maddy knew Drew was humming with anger. The glasses were empty. Maddy sighed.

‘Let me get you a refill. Look, Caroline, I’m not being rude. It was very kind of you, but for any number of reasons, I must say no.’

‘And is Drew one of those reasons?’

‘What?’ Maddy almost stopped breathing.

‘I know how you feel about Drew, Maddy. I’ve always known. We’ve talked about it often enough. But I’ve explained the situation to you.’

‘Can I have a say in this now?’ Drew was almost incandescent with anger. ‘I don’t know why you’ve asked Maddy to work for you – Christ knows, I’m the last person you consult these days – but, she has a company of her own to run. How Maddy and I feel about each other simply doesn’t come into it.’

‘I disagree.’ Caroline was still completely composed. Maddy looked at her in admiration. Was there nothing that would ruffle that ice-cold exterior? Caroline smiled. ‘But before we say anything else, shall we have that drink?’

They were all on their feet now. Maddy filled the three glasses, her hands shaking.

‘That’s better.’ Again, Caroline was cool. ‘Now, your relationship …’

‘We don’t have a fucking relationship!’ Drew yelled. ‘We like each other. We’ve become good friends. Jesus, Caroline, it was you who didn’t want to move to England with me.’

‘And with good reason. Drew, darling. We’ve lived together and apart and always managed to be friends. I merely thought that if Maddy was in love with you, she may feel awkward working for me. I just wanted to reassure her that I wouldn’t mind at all.’

‘I don’t understand you.’ Maddy shook her head. ‘Look at him, Caroline. He’s wonderful. How can you say that you don’t care if other people love him?’

‘Because he has to stay with me.’ Caroline stirred a rather grubby piece of lemon round with an elegant finger. ‘He needs me. Not sexually, of course. We both find that distasteful –’

‘No, he doesn’t!’ Maddy clapped her fingers over her mouth in horror. ‘Oh, God, I mean …’

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-six