‘Dancing Feet has now!’ Suzy’s grin spread from ear to ear. ‘Me! John’s putting me up. He’s just told me. It’s my first ever real ride on a racecourse, Maddy! My first ever!’ And she promptly burst into tears.

Maddy gathered her laughing, crying sister into her arms and banished all thoughts of flat batteries as she hugged her.

‘I’m so proud of you, Suzy. God, it’ll be wonderful. I’ll scream myself hoarse! Well done, darling.’

Suzy wiped her eyes on the cuff of her denim jacket, leaving smears of kohl across her cheeks, and clung to Maddy. ‘Should I ring Mum and Dad? Or should I leave it ’til tomorrow night just in case I cock it up completely?’

‘Oh, no. Tell them now.’ Maddy could imagine her parents’ excitement. ‘They’ll be able to watch you on telly then, and Dad’s bound to have a huge gamble on you winning. They’ll be so thrilled. Ring them now. I’ll put the kettle on.’

Ten minutes later, Suzy, still beaming, sauntered into the kitchen.

‘Well? Are they going to have every television tuned into you tomorrow? Are they going to hock the family silver for a massive bet? Come on, Suzy, what did they say?’

‘They’re coming to watch me!’ Suzy grabbed Maddy’s hands. ‘They’re so proud of me, Mad! They’re going to drive straight down to Newbury in the morning. I said it was too far for them to do both journeys in one day, so they’re going to stay here tomorrow night! Won’t that be brilliant?’

Chapter Five

‘It’s not as bad as all that, surely?’ Fran looked up from her race card. ‘They’re only your parents, after all.’

They were leaning over the parade-ring railings at Newbury, prior to The Arlington Stakes. The horses, coats glossy in hazy afternoon sun, stalked round in front of them.

‘Are they here, then?’

‘Over there.’ Maddy nodded in the direction of the news stand. ‘Talking to John Hastings and Kimberley Weston. Suddenly, Suzy being a jockey isn’t a subject to be discussed in hushed whispers. They think they’ve spawned the next Lester Piggot.’

Fran laughed and looked across the heads of the crowds. ‘Your mum’s got a mighty posh hat. And your dad looks really nervy. I’ve always liked them.’

‘I know. They’re both lovely. I just don’t want to have to entertain them tonight. However Suzy does this afternoon, I’m going to be held up as an example of how not to achieve anything worthwhile in life.’

‘Maddy? You’re not jealous of Suzy, for God’s sake?’

‘No – well, yes. A little bit. I always have been. I love her to bits, of course, now. But I was a spoiled brat of a child when she arrived. I’d been an only child for ten years. She got all Mum’s attention when she was a baby, and then she turned into this determined scary kid who had no fear of anything. She always knew exactly what she wanted to do – and did it. I weighed things up, dithered, and then missed out. Mum and Dad are bound to draw very loud comparisons, especially tonight.’