‘You’ve slept together?’ Caroline’s eyebrows imitated the Clifton suspension bridge. ‘Well, well. This is quite a development.’

‘We haven’t … slept together,’ Maddy said truthfully. ‘Have we?’

Drew looked at her, than at Caroline. ‘No, we haven’t. But we have made love.’

‘You can’t have.’ Caroline made it sound like he’d just confessed to being Jack the Ripper.

‘I can and I did. And it was wonderful.’

‘Really? How nice for you.’ Caroline’s face was ashen.

Maddy wanted to die. This was horrific. ‘I told you I was untrustworthy.’

‘At least you’ve only stolen my husband,’ Caroline said frostily. ‘It’s not quite the same as being caught with your fingers in the till, is it?’

‘It’s exactly the same.’ Maddy blinked back her tears. ‘I’m really, really sorry, Caroline. I can’t help loving him.’

‘As no doubt he can’t help loving you.’ Caroline’s tone was as cold as her eyes. ‘You’re both warm and loving people, and I’m not. I don’t see that we have to let this blip make any difference.’

‘Of course it’ll make a bloody difference,’ Maddy shouted, feeling sick. ‘And it wasn’t a blip! It was the most wonderful experience of my life.’ She swallowed, remembering. ‘Caroline, I live in a world where fidelity and truth and trust are all part of love. I can’t have anything to do with ménage à trois, or open marriages. I’ve never done anything like it before. I love Drew very, very much. But he’s married – to you. I hope you’ll forgive him, because I won’t see him again.’

‘That’ll be difficult as you live so closely together.’

‘You know what I mean.’ She choked on her grief and looked at Drew. ‘She doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t understand you.’

‘And you do?’ Caroline tossed back her glossy hair. ‘On the strength of your brief acquaintanceship and a sexual encounter? I don’t think you know Drew at all, Maddy.’

‘Oh, but I do. You told me Drew wasn’t interested in sex. You told me he was impotent. He’s nothing of the sort. Why did you tell me lies, Caroline?’

‘Maddy …’ Drew shook his head wearily.

‘You told him he was useless in bed so often that he believed you?’ Maddy stared at Caroline’s calm face. ‘Jesus, you’re cruel.’

‘Maddy.’ Drew stepped between them. ‘Don’t say anything else.’

‘Why not?’ She glared at him, then turned again to Caroline. ‘Drew is amazing in bed. He needs a normal physical relationship – not with a mass of mistresses, Caroline, with you. His wife. You don’t know what you’re missing.’

Gulping in a shuddering breath, Maddy stared at them both. She was practically begging them to stay together.