‘Ouch!’ Drew grinned at her. ‘You do have claws in there, then. Anyway, I mustn’t keep you. You’re obviously busy.’

Suddenly Maddy didn’t want him to leave. ‘Have you got time for a coffee? It’s the least I can do if you won’t take any money – to say thanks for fixing the boiler, and for being so pleasant about last night’s goof. I was feeling rather on edge …’

‘About the reappearance of the divine Mr Knightley?’ Drew’s eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘Perfectly understand able. I’d have felt the same in your position. Not a pleasant prospect.’

Maddy giggled. ‘I’m sorry I can’t offer you any lunch. I’ve only got bits and pieces. Suzy might have left another Mars bar somewhere …’

Drew considered the invitation, then smiled. ‘A Mars bar would be great.’

Maddy was mowing her patch of grass with an ancient sit-up-and-beg machine, enjoying the weak evening sun that filtered through the tangle of jasmine and honeysuckle, when Suzy arrived home.

‘Did Drew fix the boiler, Mad?’ She leaned out of the kitchen’s skewwhiff window. ‘Can I have a bath?’

‘Yes and yes.’ Maddy puffed to a halt. ‘You shouldn’t have pestered him though, Suzy. I nearly died when I came in at lunchtime and found him sprawled on the kitchen floor.’

‘Thought it was your birthday and Christmas rolled into one, huh? I mean, he’s as old as the hills, of course, but he’s still pretty damn sexy.’

‘I honestly can’t say I’d noticed,’ Maddy lied.

‘Nah – well, you wouldn’t. Not if you’ve still got the hots for Pete the Perv. And why haven’t we got any food? I’m starving.’

‘Oh, er, I haven’t managed to go shopping today.’ Maddy said quickly. Bugger. She’d completely forgotten her intention of apologising to Bronwyn Pugh at the earliest opportunity. ‘I wondered if you’d drive into Newbury and get some stuff at Sainsbury’s for me. We could stock up then, and not keep spending a fortune at the village shop.’

‘If you like,’ Suzy said good naturedly. ‘But I’m going to have a bath first. Won’t it be lovely, Mad? Water up to your neck. Bloody hot water at that. And at normal times, instead of getting up in the middle of the night. Oh, and John Hastings sends his regards.’

Suzy’s head disappeared from the window, and almost immediately the peace was broken by an ear-splitting blast of AC/DC. Maddy continued to shove at the mower. She loved Suzy dearly, enjoyed her company – and her clothes that fitted – and wouldn’t dream of asking her to move out, but sometimes she wished she was a little quieter.

‘That was orgasmic.’ Suzy wandered out into the garden half an hour later swathed in two bath towels and Maddy’s quilted dressing gown. ‘Totally bloody orgasmic.’

‘I’m so glad you enjoyed your bath.’

‘Don’t be prim, Mad. It doesn’t suit you.’ Suzy sank down on to the fallen tree trunk that served as a garden seat. ‘So how was Mr Twice-Knightley?’