‘With the mixed bunch you’ve invited I shouldn’t worry. They’ll be lucky if they’re heard over Richard slagging off Luke Delaney and the Pughs spilling the village gossip. It should entertain Caroline Fitzgerald no end. Is she here?’

‘I haven’t seen them.’ Maddy flicked through her race card. She didn’t want to see Caroline and Drew together. She’d got used to Drew being alone. The gorgeous Caroline would only remind her that he was not up for grabs. She concentrated on the horses. ‘Dancing Feet looks as if he’s got anything but. What’s Richard riding?’

‘According to him every horse he rides today should be called “Luke’s Leftovers”,’ Fran sighed. ‘It’s hell at home. I’m simply not used to him haying the grumps. And the kids are worried sick about him.’

‘Can’t you seduce him out of it? I thought that was your cure-all.’

‘It isn’t working this time. He just hunches over and stares at the floor. He’s really depressed. This Derby ride was probably his last chance to haul himself out of the also-rans and make it big-time. He wanted to win so that I could finish work and try for a baby.’ She sighed. ‘Not much chance of that at the moment.’

Maddy squeezed Fran’s hand. There had to be something she could do. She hated people to be unhappy. It was typical of Diana to cause this sort of problem.

‘Think of the devil,’ she muttered as Diana, magnificent in yellow and black, swanned from the member’s bar. ‘And who’s she with?’

‘The tall one is Saratoga Sun’s owner, Mitchell D’Arcy,’ Fran squinted. ‘And the dwarf is the bane of my life – Luke bloody Delaney.’

‘You can’t call him a dwarf!’ Maddy grinned. ‘He’s fairly tall for a flat jockey – taller than Richard.’

‘I know. That’s something else he’s pissed off about. Luke Delaney is drop-dead gorgeous. My Richard, much as I adore him, could hardly be described as that.’

‘They’re both very attractive.’ Maddy nodded grudgingly, watching the two dark and handsome Saratoga connections fawning around Diana James-Jordan. ‘They look like Hollywood’s idea of Mafioso hoods. No wonder Diana is squirming over Saratoga’s owner. And of course, if she gets Luke as well, it’s like double top.’

‘Don’t be disgusting.’ Fran laughed. ‘I’m sure Darling Diana’s motives are as pure as the driven snow.’

A whisper rustled through the crowd. The jockeys, like a fallen rainbow in their iridescent silks, spilled into the parade ring. Maddy’s heart nearly stopped beating. Tears sprang to her eyes as she watched Suzy walking proudly towards John Hastings and Dancing Feet’s owner in the middle of the grass. She looked so frail, so very tiny, in the white breeches and the red colours. This was the moment Suzy had dreamed of for ten years. Maddy felt a pang of envy. She would never realise a dream like this.

‘She doesn’t look like a girl.’ Fran gulped, overcome by emotion. ‘She looks just like Richard and all the others.’