‘The end of March.’ Fran’s eyes sparkled. ‘Dr Hodgson confirmed it this morning. We’d been hoping and praying it wasn’t a false alarm.’

‘And it’s all down to you.’ Richard steered the car into ranks of other cars all jamming Barty’s drive.

‘Why me?’ Maddy tried not to look for Drew’s dark blue Mercedes. It was a habit she couldn’t break. ‘I wasn’t even there, was I?’

‘You might have been. It depends which party we were at. No, idiot – because of The Derby.’ Richard laughed as they all scrambled from the car. ‘You did that for me, Maddy. God knows how you managed to persuade Diana, but you did. It gave us the financial stability we needed.’ He slid his arm round her waist. ‘You persevered for me even when I’d behaved like a complete prat over Luke. You’re the best friend anyone could wish for, and this,’ he kissed Fran’s cheek, ‘is better than winning a million Derbys.’

‘Oh, Christ!’ Fran scrabbled in her handbag. ‘Now you’ve made her cry again. She’ll look worse than ever.’

Maddy blew her nose and giggled and walked straight into Drew.

‘Oh, yes. We meant to tell you he might be here. It must have completely slipped our minds, what with the news about the baby and everything. So sorry we can’t stop. We’ll see you in the marquee.’ Laughing, Fran grabbed Richard’s arm. ‘Good afternoon, Drew.’

He smiled fleetingly as Fran and Richard hurried away to join the rest of the villagers. Maddy thought he looked awful.

‘Oh, er, hello.’ She attempted to walk past him, her whole body having turned to jelly. ‘I can’t stop. I’m with Fran and –’

‘Who said she’d see you in the marquee.’ His voice was dead. ‘So you can spare me a minute, can’t you?’

Oh, God. Maddy looked at his bleak, grey face. That was what she’d done to him. ‘Have you had a nice time wherever you’ve been?’

‘That’s a fucking stupid question.’

She winced. He didn’t swear except when he was really angry. It sounded coarse and harsh.

‘We haven’t spoken civilly for three months,’ Drew spat at her. ‘Unless you count that charade outside the pub as a reasonable conversation. I arrived in England yesterday morning, and at Peapods in the middle of the night. I thought there might be some message from you.’

‘I told you it was over.’

‘Oh, yes. So you did.’ Drew’s pallor made his eyes paler, his hair darker. He’d lost weight too. ‘I just expected more from you.’

‘You had everything from me.’ She looked across the neat gravel and the clipped lawns towards the billowing pink and white marquee, her heart breaking. ‘There isn’t any more. Is Caroline here?’

‘No.’