‘But aren’t you ever afraid that he’ll – well, you know?’

Maddy frowned. ‘Meet somebody else? Somebody who does like kissing and being cuddled? He’s an attractive man and –’

‘Goodness, no!’ Caroline looked shocked. ‘Oh, I accept that he kisses people, and cuddles them and touches people when he talks – that’s the way he is. But I can’t imagine Drew wanting to do … well, that … with anyone else either. It’s so very overrated, don’t you think? Messy and boring and embarrassing. We’ve never bothered much. Neither Drew nor I are particularly interested in that side of things …’ She giggled. ‘Goodness, I must have had too much to drink! I wouldn’t dream of talking like this otherwise.’

‘People always seem to talk like this at my parties.’ Maddy patted Caroline’s hand then remembered that Caroline didn’t like touching and hastily withdrew it. ‘Perhaps it’s better not to say anything else.’

Maddy looked across the room at Drew again. He was talking to Fran now. Either she was even more inexperienced than she’d thought, or Caroline really didn’t know her husband very well. Drew Fitzgerald had practically seduced her in the kitchen. Drew Fitzgerald made love with his kisses.

‘Maddy.’ Bronwyn Pugh edged herself down on the sofa. Suzy had just replaced Harry Connick with Metallica. Bernie Pugh was still waltzing with Maddy’s mum. ‘I’d like to have a little word on the QT.’

‘Do you want me to leave?’ Caroline asked.

‘No, dear. This might concern you, too. Now you’re part of the village, so to speak: I wasn’t going to say anything about it tonight. I was going to put a notice up in the shop and call a meeting, but now I’ve got a captive audience I really think I should put you in the picture. Then we can decide what should be done.’ Maddy’s heart sank, as Bronwyn wriggled comfortably. ‘I’ve heard that they’re going to destroy Goddards Spinney and Maynards Orchard. Bull doze the lot! And for why? A golf course! A damn golf course! Now, what do you say to that?’

‘Are you sure it’s not just another rumour, Bronwyn? Like the ones about the laser thingy and the McDonald’s drive- thru?’

‘Not this time, Maddy. I’ve heard from Councillor Campbell that there’s a planning application in. The offer to Maynards is spectacular and Goddards Spinney is part of Diana and Gareth’s land. They’re all for it, so I’ve been told.’

‘But they can’t bulldoze all that beautiful countryside.’ Maddy was appalled. ‘It’s immoral. The village is so peaceful – what on earth would it be like with a golf course bang in the middle of it? There’d be cars all the time and a club house. All that noise … God knows what it would do to the horses. Surely it won’t get any further?’

‘I’m afraid it might.’ Bronwyn straightened her paisley frock. It still had a slight whiff of Glenfiddich. ‘You see, Peter Knightley is behind it, and we all know how chummy he is with Diana, don’t we?’