Maddy’s eyes filled with tears. She reached out a cold, wet hand and touched Drew’s arm. ‘I’m so sorry. I do know about MND … though I can’t even begin to imagine how awful it must have been for you. You must have felt so helpless.’

‘Dad and I did everything we could, but I got so angry. It shouldn’t happen to anyone, and certainly not to Mum. She loved living. Dad never came to terms with it … He couldn’t live without her. He drank himself to death eighteen months after she died.’

There was nothing but the blustering rain and the howl of the wind sweeping from the downs; the mournful sounds mingling obtusely with the cheerful shouts of the stable lads and the rustling of the horses in their boxes.

‘Oh, Drew ... I wish I’d been there.’

‘So do I, Maddy.’ He looked down at her, the tears of reawakened grief glistening in his eyes. Swallowing, he turned his head away. ‘I really needed a friend.’

‘But surely, Caroline –?’

‘Caroline couldn’t cope with emotion. Not any sort of emotion.’

‘But they were your parents! Surely, she could understand?’

‘Not everyone is like you, Maddy. People gravitate to your warmth. Caroline freezes people off.’

‘Even you?’

‘Even me.’ He looked down at her again. ‘It’s the way she is.’

Then you should have left her years ago, Maddy thought hotly. She shook her head. ‘I really don’t understand why you’re still married. Oh, I know it isn’t my business but …’

‘No, it isn’t.’ But the words were spoken gently. ‘Maddy, there are a million things about my marriage that you don’t know.’

‘No. Sorry.’

He stared at her hand on his arm for a second, then covered it with his own. The gentleness of the contact made her shiver.

‘One day I’ll tell you.’ He tightened his grip on her fingers. ‘Maybe when we’re out riding I’ll pour out my heart – will that suit your romantic soul?’ His eyes were teasing again, and the sadness was fading.

‘That’d be ideal.’ She kept in step with the mood. ‘Every time I fall off you can tell me another sordid snippet.’

She’d made him laugh again. It was probably all she could do.

‘Did you close everything down when you moved here?’

‘I’ve kept the house in Bonne Nuit because it was all I had left of my parents. But I rent out the land and the farm buildings.’

‘And is that where Caroline is now? Running her business from, er, Bonne Nuit?’

‘No. Caroline had her own place even when we were in Jersey. She works with her parents in St Lawrence, and lived there most of the time. It was more convenient. Bonne Nuit is pretty remote. Do you know Jersey?’

‘No. Mum and Dad had holidays there, but I was at university. I never went. I know it’s beautiful.’

‘It’s heaven.’ The warmth had returned to Drew’s voice. ‘You should see it. I’d love to show you.’