“Hey, Luke!” I wave an arm. “Over here! Any news from Mum?”

“Mummy!” yells Minnie, who is dragging on Luke’s arm. “Sheep!”

“No news that I know of,” says Luke over the noise. “How’s it going?” He greets me with a kiss, then his gaze travels from me to Suze and back again. I can see the question in his eyes: Have you two made up?

“All good,” I say emphatically. “I mean, not all good, but…you know.”

Good apart from Suze being blackmailed by her secret lover and possibly facing the end of her marriage, I try to convey with my eyes, but I’m not sure he gets it.

“Luke, have you ever been round the trees at Letherby Hall?” Suze asks, the tense tone suddenly back in her voice. “Or has Tarkie told you about them? Do you remember one called Owl’s Tower?”

“Um, no. Sorry.” Luke seems a bit puzzled at the non sequitur, as well he might be.

“Right.” Suze slumps.

“I’ll explain later,” I say. “Er…Suze, you don’t mind me telling Luke, do you? About…everything?”

A pink flush whips over Suze’s face, and she stares at the ground.

“I suppose not,” she says morosely. “But not in front of me. I’d die.”

What? Luke mouths at me.

Later, I mouth back.

“Sheep!” Minnie is still yelling passionately. “Sheeeeeep!” She’s dragging on Luke’s arm so hard, he winces.

“Wait, Minnie! We need to talk to Mummy first.”

“What does she want? Does she want to buy a sheep?”

“She wants to ride on a sheep,” says Luke with a grin. “That’s what mutton bustin’ is. Small children riding on sheep. It’s in the arena.”

“No way.” I goggle at him. “They ride on sheep? Is that a thing?”

“Well, ‘cling on for dear life’ more than ‘ride.’ ” He laughs. “It’s quite comical.”

“Oh my God.” I stare at him in horror. “Minnie, darling, you’re not doing that. We’ll buy you a lovely toy sheep instead.” I put a hand on Minnie’s arm, but she bats it away.

“Ride sheeeeep!”

“Oh, let her!” says Suze, coming out of her trance. “I used to ride sheep in Scotland.”

Is she serious?

“But it’s dangerous!” I point out.

“No, it’s not!” Suze scoffs. “They wear helmets. I’ve seen them.”

“But she’s too young!”

“Actually, they start at two and a half.” Luke raises his eyebrows. “I was coming along to suggest we let her do it.”

“Let her do it?” I’m almost speechless. “Are you nuts?”

“Where’s your spirit of adventure, Bex? I’m Minnie’s godmother, and I say we let her ride a sheep.” Suddenly Suze’s eyes are shining in the old Suze way. “Come on, Minnie, we’re in the Wild West now. Let’s bust some mutton.”

—

Am I the only responsible adult around here? Am I?

As we arrive at the mutton-bustin’ arena, I’m silent with shock. I don’t even know where to start. These are wild animals. And people are putting their children on them. And cheering. Right now a boy in a bandanna, who looks about five years old, is grasping on to the back of a big white woolly sheep, which is cavorting round the arena. The audience is yelling encouragement and filming on their phones, and the man on the microphone is giving a running commentary.