Milton St John was quick to catch on and echoed the battle cry. Fran blew her nose loudly. The Pughs and their ragtag army left the stage, and chairs were scraped back as the village filed out of the hall into the damp night.

The atmosphere in the dusky street was euphoric. Knots of people stood around, laughing and talking, all inspired by Bronwyn’s diatribe.

‘Would you like to come to the Cat and Fiddle?’ Drew asked Fran. ‘It seems too early to go home, and I could do with a drink – especially after all that emotion.’

‘No thanks. It’s a great idea, but I’d better get home. Richard tends to become another kid when he’s left alone with them. The house will be awash with Scalextric and Sindy’s Magic Castle, and Tom and Chloe will be glued to the adult channel.’

‘Is there still no news about the Derby ride?’ Maddy squeezed Fran’s arm. ‘Is he still down in the dumps about it?’

‘Down and staying down. Not even the fact that he did so well at the Guineas meeting can lift him, mainly because Luke won the blue riband on Saratoga – the bastard.’ She sighed. ‘I don’t really mean that. I know it isn’t Luke’s fault, but there’s really no time at all before The Derby, and the papers are already full of Saratoga being the hottest favourite for years – with the hottest jockey.’

‘That’s Suzy’s opinion of him, definitely.’ Maddy grinned. ‘I haven’t spoken to Diana yet – she’s not been at home when I’ve been cleaning – but now Bronwyn has volunteered me to plead the cause for the spinney I might as well mention the Derby ride.’

‘Don’t bother.’ Fran unlocked her car. ‘It’s sweet of you to offer, Mad, but there really isn’t any point. Richard is just going to have to face it. Anyway, if Diana is having an affair with Mitchell D’Arcy, I can’t see anything changing her mind. ’ She slid into the driving seat. ‘You go and have a drink for me, and enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about The Derby or the bloody golf course tonight. Just enjoy yourselves.’ Fran started the car and leaned from the window. ‘I still think you’re playing with fire, Mad. You know that. But I’m your friend – I’m pretty good at bandaging burnt fingers.’

She drove away with a wave, and Drew unlocked the Mercedes. ‘Will you risk a drink at the Cat and Fiddle, or is that stretching the friendship too far?’

‘To breaking point, but what the heck.’ Maddy climbed into the passenger seat. ‘We’ve been seen together all evening, I don’t see what harm it’ll do.’

They drove along the wet road in convoy, everyone else having the same idea. Maddy was pleased that Fran and Richard’s marriage seemed to be back on an even keel. They had always been her rock, her little bit of stability, in their togetherness. It had upset her dreadfully to witness the anger and bitterness at her party.