“He gave me a talking to, as it happens,” says Tarquin. “Quite a stiff one.”

“Oh,” I say in surprise. “Yikes. Sorry.”

“No, I needed it.” Tarkie frowns. “He said we all have roles in life and that I was running away from mine. It’s true. Being who I am—well, it’s a big job. I didn’t choose it…but I can’t dodge it. I have to take it on.” He pauses. “And I will. I’m going to carry on with my plans for Letherby Hall, no matter what my parents think.”

“They’re brilliant plans,” says Suze loyally. “It’s going to be another Chatsworth.”

“Well, not quite,” says Tarkie. “But the plans do make sense. They will work.” He sounds like he’s fighting with someone in his head. “They will.”

I shoot him a sidelong glance. I don’t know what Dad’s done to him, but he’s grown. He sounds older. More assured. Like a guy who could take charge of a great big empire and not let it weigh him down.

When we’ve crossed the road, Suze walks alongside me, and we splinter off into a little twosome, just for a bit. (Two and a half–some, actually. I’m holding Minnie’s hand.)

“So, Bex…” she says softly. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“I’m…” She waves her hands in a vague, Suze-ish way.

“What?” I gawp at her. “Not…”

“Yes.” Her cheeks pinken.

“Not…You’re not…”

“Yes!”

OK, I have to make sure we’re on the same page here. Because I might mean one thing and she might mean, intending to start a Cordon Bleu course when I get back to England.

“Pregnant?” I whisper, and she nods frantically. “How long have you known?”

“Since the day after Tarkie left. I did the test that day. I totally freaked out.” Her face tightens with remembered stress. “Oh God, it’s been awful, Bex. So awful. I thought…I didn’t know what to do…I was so afraid that…” She trails off. “It’s been a nightmare,” she whispers.

OK, this explains a lot. A lot. For a start, is this why she’s been so irritable? She always gets irritable in early pregnancy. And no wonder she was so freaked out about Bryce. She thought her marriage was going to fall apart, and Tarkie didn’t even know he was going to be a father again….I wince at the thought. And she’s been dealing with it all on her own, saying nothing to anybody.

Or…has she?

“Does Alicia know?” I ask, more abruptly than I mean to.

“No!” Suze sounds shocked. “Of course not. I would never have told her before you.” She puts an arm around me and squeezes. “I wouldn’t, Bex.”

I turn to face her and, of course, now I see all the telltale signs that only a best friend can pick up. Her skin is flaring up around her nose. That always happens when she’s pregnant. And…

Well, actually, that’s the only telltale sign. That, and—

“Hey!” I take a step back. “You’ve been drinking! All that tequila, the bourbon iced tea…”