‘Yeah, a bit of hay fever, that’s all.’ Owen wiped his nose and dropped the tissue into the bin. ‘Mum’s really been looking forward to you coming home.’

Harry pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘Yeah, so I hear. I’m not home though. This isn’t my home any more.’

‘You try telling Mum that.’ Owen moved a riding hat from the desk and picked up the diary. He spun it round so Harry could see. ‘Look, she even made me cross today’s rides out. HARRY COMING HOME. See, capital letters as well.’

‘I’m here for the week, then I need to get back. Things to do.’

‘Yeah, I know. Things to do.’ He didn’t want to alert Owen to the fact he was going to have to change his plan. ‘People to see. Money to make.’ Owen took out a pouch of tobacco from his pocket and began rolling himself a cigarette. ‘Isn’t that what the old man used to say?’

‘Something like that,’ said Harry, not missing his brother hurriedly poking a small plastic bag back into the pouch. ‘Along with, don’t answer me back, didn’t you hear what I said and all the time I’m alive we’ll do it my way.’

Owen gave a small rise of his eyebrows. ‘If you can’t say something nice …’

‘Jesus, you’re full of quotes today.’ Harry blew out a long breath. ‘Sorry, but that’s what being back here does to me. Makes me bloody miserable.’

‘Well, just keep up the pretence for the next seven days and that will keep Mum happy, eh? Then you can wave bon voyage and head off back across the Channel and not have to think about us for another six months. That’s how it works, isn’t it?’

Harry gave a shrug and turned to look out of the window at the stables. ‘How’s it all going with the yard?’

‘Good. Really good.’

‘Billy is still going strong, then.’

‘I think he’s a bloody donkey really. He’ll outlive us all,’ said Owen, standing up. ‘Fancy a stroll? I can smoke this once we’re out of the yard.’

‘Natalie and the kids OK?’ asked Harry as they walked across to the gardens at the back of the house.

‘Yeah, they’re all great. You’ll see them tonight.’

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ said Harry honestly. ‘Everything else OK? How’s things with Dominic?’