Maddy, having lost over a stone in weight, put on the Knightsbridge dress, the shoes, and the earrings, and surveyed herself in the mirror. She looked terrible. Her skin was lifeless, her eyes lacklustre, and her hair refused to do anything except hang. The dress, so voluptuous when she’d worn it to The Derby, now simply skimmed past what was left of her curves, and draped shapelessly against her legs. The dull green matched her complexion.

She shuddered and walked to the window, lifting the merest edge of the curtain. Peapods was deserted. Charlie would be getting dressed in his party finery. The stable lads, encouraged by an entire day’s free food and drink, already had.

Drew still hadn’t returned. She knew from Charlie that he’d telephoned regularly, but whether from Jersey or America, she hadn’t enquired. Living without him had not become any easier. It was more than six weeks since she’d seen him. It seemed like sixty years.

Fran’s car pulled up outside in a cloud of dust. The weather had been scorchingly barren for weeks, too. Closing the front door behind her, Maddy scurried down the path, feeling as though she were going to a funeral.

‘Lovely day for it,’ Richard said conversationally as they drove along the main road. He looked, as did all flat jockeys, like a child dressing up when he wore a suit. ‘You look nice, Mad.’

‘No she doesn’t,’ Fran snapped. ‘She looks just as she deserves to.’

‘Let me out of the car!’ Maddy hissed scrabbling at the side of her. ‘Stop the car and I’ll walk. I won’t stay in here if you’re going to be bitchy. I just don’t need it. Oh, where’s the bloody door handle?’

‘It’s a two-door,’ Fran said smugly. ‘So sit there, shut up, and listen.’

Glowering, Maddy sat. Fran looked stunning in burnt- orange chiffon. She stared at Maddy over her shoulder.

‘You do look awful. If you smiled it would be a hundred per cent improvement. Don’t you dare sulk today, Maddy. It’s the biggest day of Kimberley’s life and you’re going to enjoy it. The whole village is going to enjoy it. You will not be a death’s-head. Understand?’

‘Yes, Mum.’

Fran and Richard both stiffened. Maddy frowned. ‘What now? I was trying to be funny – as ordered.’

Fran giggled.

Maddy frowned. ‘Trying to be funny, I said. There’s no need to over-play it.”

Fran giggled some more and Richard laughed out loud.

‘Now you’re scaring me,’ Maddy peered at them. ‘What have I said?’

‘You called me Mum …’ Fran chuckled.

‘Yes, and…?’

‘I’m pregnant.’ Fran’s smile was wall-to-wall.

‘Oh wow!’ Maddy hugged what she could reach of her, her misery momentarily forgotten. She tried to hug Richard too. ‘Oh, that’s just brilliant! Oh, I’m so pleased! When’s it due?’