Page 77 of Deep Blue Sea

That world, those people seemed a lifetime ago. The charity events at various smart watering holes, the blow-dry appointments and Cowshed Spa afternoons. A conveyor belt of wives and girlfriends who would love-bomb you the minute they thought you were useful and then

drop you the second you weren’t. Then again, Patty’s visit had only emphasised how isolated she was in Boughton. And after her showdown with Rachel, that was another female companion struck off the list.

‘She could do a lot with that café, you know. It’s a tatty old time warp at the moment, but she wants to sell up and I just don’t think she’ll get a decent price for it, the pittance she must be turning over selling a few teas and biscuits a day.’

‘Sounds like a project,’ he said, winking.

‘Me? Become a café owner?’

‘Why not?’

‘Have you ever tried my cooking?’

‘No. Not when the fabulous Mrs Bills is around. Does she still do that amazing beef bourguignon?’

They came to a stream. It was a lovely shady spot with a willow tree dipping into the water. Dismounting, they tied the horses’ reins around a tree stump and sat on the grass.

‘Tell me you’ll think about the café.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ she said, feeling secretly quite excited by the idea.

‘How’s Rachel?’

She knew what he was really asking. What has she found out?

‘I don’t want to talk about her.’

‘Di, I thought you had got past that.’

She felt prickles of tears behind her eyeballs. Her mood swings were wild. One minute she could be astride a horse feeling that life might one day be liveable again. The next it was as if she had been pulverised by a concrete boulder.

She took a deep breath, knowing that she had to tell someone. How was she supposed to get better, move on, when the one thing she wanted to talk about was the one thing she daren’t voice?

‘Julian was having an affair.’

‘What?’ said Adam, wide-eyed. ‘Recently?’

‘You want to know what Rachel’s been up to. Well that’s what she’s found out.’

‘Do you believe her?’

He had chosen his words carefully. Clearly he thought it was possible.

‘I called her a liar. Screamed at her,’ she said, tears leaking out of her eyes. ‘Truth is, yes, I can believe it.’

‘I can’t believe she did that,’ muttered Adam, his face clouded with anger. Diana felt a little stir of emotion. He looked like he wanted to protect her, care for her. It was a good feeling right now.

‘She had her reasons,’ she said quietly.

‘What?’

‘You know Julian tried it on with Rachel too.’

‘Tried it on?’

‘Wanted sex with her. My sister. That’s why she hated him.’ Diana ran her tongue over her lips. ‘I’ve been so angry the last few days. Blaming Rachel, blaming Julian’s mistress. I should be blaming Julian, but I can’t do that now, can I? Not now he’s dead.’

She looked away from Adam. The truth was she had been blaming Julian and all that sorrow she had been feeling since his death had been funnelled into bitterness and a deep sense of betrayal.