‘What?’ Diana frowned. ‘If you know I won’t give up the sale of the spinney, I don’t know what else you think I can do … oh! Yes, of course. That won’t be a problem. Thank you, Maddy – oh, yes, thank you!’ And kissing Maddy’s cheek she almost skipped out of the lilac bushes.

Maddy followed, not understanding. The whole situation was bizarre. She felt that she was in a play and had got the wrong script. Still, Diana seemed more cheerful, and she wasn’t going to sack her, so she must have said the right thing somewhere.

Gareth was ambling away towards the bar, and Diana had linked her arm through Mitchell’s. She smiled brightly, and tapped the side of her nose. ‘Mitchell and I will just go and have a little talk while Gareth’s getting some more drinks.’

‘See you around, Marnie.’ Mitchell glinted, snuggling up to Diana.

Maddy stood forlornly in the middle of the merriment. Kimberley was talking to Barty; Bernie and Bronwyn were deep in discussion by the rose border; Richard and Fran, with Tom and Chloe hanging onto their hands, were laughing with a group of jockeys by the rockery; Suzy was chatting animatedly with John Hastings. Even Stacey and Peter were smiling, although Peter’s smile was wary. Everybody had somebody.

‘Do you want a drink, Maddy?’ Charlie Somerset, jump jockey and ladykiller, was grinning at her. ‘Or are you waiting for someone?’

‘No. I’m just sort of milling.’

Charlie was wearing grubby white jeans and a navy shirt, and his hair was the colour of a fox’s pelt. He and Suzy had fallen on each other when she’d first arrived in Milton St John. Maddy liked him.

‘I’d love a drink, thanks.’ She fell into step beside him. ‘I think Kimberley was aiming to champion your cause tonight.’

‘Yeah, with Drew. Shame he hasn’t turned up. Kimberley said she’d mention that I’d like to ride for him next season.’ He paused. ‘Rumour has it that you and Mr Fitzgerald are doing a number.’

‘Goodness, no!’ Maddy laughed. She was becoming so adept at hiding her true feelings. Except, of course, with Drew – and, unfortunately, Caroline. ‘We’re just friends. He’s married.’

‘So?’ Charlie grinned, showing crooked teeth that had all been chipped by collisions with hurdles across the country. ‘Since when has that been a handicap in this place?’

Maddy grinned back. Charlie had been to bed with nearly every female over sixteen in the village. With the exception of’ her and probably, although it was by no means definite, Bronwyn.

He shouldered his way expertly through to the bar and returned with two brimming Batman beakers. He took a mouthful of punch. ‘Hell’s teeth! This must be a hundred per cent proof. No wonder Kimberley manages to stay so cheerful. She ought to give it to her horses – that would stop them coughing.’