Page 75 of Deep Blue Sea

‘You’re good at this,’ smiled Patty wryly.

‘Breaking horses in? Not really. I think it’s just the mother in me. Besides, Nero’s three now, he’s ready, aren’t you, boy?’

Patty linked her arm through her friend’s.

‘Thanks for coming. It’s good to see you,’ Diana said honestly.

Patty had arrived at ten o’clock that morning. They’d had brunch, then a stroll out to the paddock.

‘Now are you quite sure you don’t want to come and stay with us?’

‘I’m fine here, honestly. But I wouldn’t mind more gossipy breakfasts with one of my best friends.’ Diana smiled, thinking how much she had enjoyed coffee and croissants with Patty that morning.

‘So have you heard from the Denvers about the will?’ asked Patty, looking serious.

Diana had confessed everything to her friend over coffee. Even though she had been Julian’s wife, the amount of money she had been gifted in his will had shocked her, and more than anything she just wanted some practical advice about what to do with an inheritance that was as big as a small country’s GNP.

‘Not yet,’ she said nervously. ‘I’m sure I’m not their favourite person right now.’

‘You and me both,’ smiled Patty.

‘What have you done?’ asked Diana with surprise.

‘I’m wresting control of Jules’s memorial from bloody Elizabeth Denver.’

‘You are?’

‘I don’t want it to be a repeat of the funeral. It should be a celebration of Julian, and I think if it’s left in Liz’s hands, it’s just going to be another big showing-off occasion. This is about Jules, not how popular the Denvers are.’

‘Thank you,’ said Diana quietly. Patty had just articulated everything she had felt about the way the funeral had been handled.

‘Speaking of which, you have a visitor,’ said Patty under her breath.

Diana followed her line of sight and saw Adam leaning across the fence.

‘Come and join us,’ shouted Patty, her voice carrying on the breeze. ‘Or are your City-boy shoes not up to it?’

‘I think my boots are up to country life,’ he smiled, swinging one leg over the fence and hopping into the field.

Immediately, Diana felt self-conscious. She had been riding for half an hour and she knew she must look terrible: sweaty, red-cheeked, her clothes speckled with mud. She quickly pushed her hair out of her face and straightened her clothes.

‘I should go,’ whispered Patty.

Diana felt even more embarrassed. ‘It’s fine. Stay.’

‘I have a tennis match at two, unless you think it’s going to get a bit hairy.’

‘Adam? He’s okay. If it was Liz marching this way, I’d be restraining you with Nero’s reins.’

‘Hello, Patty. Di,’ said Adam, kissing both of them on the cheek.

Patty said her goodbyes and walked towards the main house.

‘What are you doing here?’ asked Diana, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.

Adam squinted at her in the sunlight. ‘Checking up on you, of course.’

‘I don’t need a babysitter.’ She smiled softly.