‘Gladly,’ replied Owen. ‘I don’t know about you two, but I’m going back in. Mum will have a fit if she realises we’re all out here.’

Harry stood by Dominic’s side as they watched Owen go back towards the reception room. ‘He has a point,’ Harry said.

‘Yeah, but he’s a little prick at times.’

‘Go easy on him, Dom. You don’t give him enough credit at times.’

‘Well, he is a little prick. It’s all right for you, you don’t have to see him practically every day of your life. You don’t always have to be looking out for him, making sure he’s not fucking things up.’

‘Is that why you won’t give him any more responsibility?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Like let him go ahead with the outdoor-adventure thing he wants to do.’

‘Jesus! You’ve only been back a couple of days and he’s already been getting at you about that.’

‘We were just talking, that’s all. I asked him what he was up to and he told me about his idea. I personally think it sounds a great idea and will definitely draw a different demographic of guests in. One we’ve possibly not explored before. People want adventure but they want it in a safe environment. It would be good for Owen too – you know, give him something else to keep him busy.’

Dominic pursed his lips before speaking. ‘Look, it’s a great idea and I think it would work, but Owen isn’t up to it.’

Harry winced. He had a feeling he knew what was coming next but he obliged with the question, ‘Why’s that?’

‘He’s not clean. He may have given up the booze, the gambling, the fags, but you know Owen, always got to have some vice. I wasn’t going to say anything, what with you being in France, and I haven’t, of course, said anything to Mum, but he’s been doing drugs. Coke, to be exact.’

Harry blew out a long breath, resting his hands on his hips. ‘You sure about that?’ He had wanted to believe Owen when he said the drugs in his baccy pouch weren’t his, but it wouldn’t be the first time his younger brother had lied about his addictions.

‘I caught him doing it. In the stables.’

‘What an idiot. Kind of makes the gambling seem small-fry now.’

‘Doesn’t it just? That’s the reason I won’t agree to the outward-bound thing. He’s got to get his head together, and fast. I can’t keep it from Mum forever but, with the way things are for her health-wise, I don’t want that little shit upsetting her.’

‘You need to tell him about Mum.’

‘No. I don’t. I can’t trust him. He won’t be able to cope and he’ll be no good to Mum.’