‘It was a perfect time.’ Maddy’s voice was fervent as she placed the teapot on the table. ‘Peter came to tell me he was getting married.’ She felt she owed Caroline some explanation for the wanton behaviour. It seemed very civilised, discussing it like this over tea. Caroline would never know that Maddy’s body was still pounding.

‘Oh, and is that the traditional form of congratulations in the village?’

‘You must think I’m depraved.’ Maddy slopped tea into her saucer. ‘I really don’t make a habit of it. We’re old friends …’

‘I’m not owed an explanation. I shouldn’t have been peering in the window.’

‘And I definitely shouldn’t have been kissing Peter Knightley. He’s strictly off limits.’

‘Very attractive, though.’ Caroline’s little finger crooked unselfconsciously as she lifted her green cup. ‘As is all forbidden fruit. Tell me, Maddy, do you see much of my husband?’

‘Practically nothing,’ Maddy answered quickly. ‘We met when he first arrived, but since he’s been having the alterations done and the horses arrived, I’ve only seen him from a distance. Er, did you want to have cleaning done on a regular basis?’

Caroline nodded. ‘I think that would be best. I want to get all these things organised. Drew’s hopeless at domestic arrangements.’

Maddy was going to say he had been red-hot at fixing her boiler and immediately thought better of it. She smiled. ‘I’ll just fetch the diary.’

They settled on an hour each morning, and two on Friday afternoons. Maddy could spread it out between Brenda, Elaine, and Kat, and would be able to do Fridays herself once the books were done as it was just across the road.

Caroline seemed pleased with the arrangements and the cost. ‘I won’t always be here.’ She accepted a refill of the green cup. ‘I don’t know if Drew told you. I shall still be running my own concern in the Channel Islands. I’ll get over to Peapods as often as I can, of course, but it’ll be a relief to know that at least he isn’t living knee deep in dirt while I’m away.’ She cast slanting green eyes round Maddy’s kitchen and smiled again.

‘I’m a bit behind … Peter … caught me on the hop …’

‘Of course.’ Caroline smiled sleepily like a cat. ‘That’s understandable.’

‘So, are you over here for long this time?’

‘As long as possible. I want to help Drew settle in. I’d like to vet his new staff, too. I was never really involved in the stables in Jersey – we preferred to keep our business lives separate. It became obvious that he’d gone as far as he could in the Channel Islands, and he was desperate to expand. This seemed the ideal solution.’

‘And you don’t mind living apart from him?’ Maddy couldn’t imagine anyone not living with Drew if they had the chance.

Caroline laughed. ‘No. You clearly don’t know much about Drew. He’s best at a distance. He lives and breathes, eats, and sleeps horses. Always has.’ She stopped. ‘Anyway, it’s been lovely to meet you. When we’re straight you must come over for drinks.’