Sofia pulled Maddie close and lowered her voice.
‘I can see you’ve been shagged senseless, and don’t bother denying it. Good luck to you…’
‘Sof!’
‘Shhh. But there’s something seriously up with her over there. She keeps getting texts and phone calls from someone called DCB. Any ideas?’
‘No. Never heard her mention anyone with those initials. Could be one of her double-barrelled posh Surrey friends I suppose… But not sure what could be so urgent.’
‘OK, let’s tread carefully.’
Back at the table, after a mouthful of their liqueurs each to Charlotte’s three gulps of brandy, the phone vibrated again.
Sofia couldn’t stand it any longer. She put her hand on her friend’s arm.
‘Char, we’re worried about you. Who is this DCB?’
Charlotte picked up the phone and switched it off. She turned to face them both with her head held high.
‘It stands for Doug Cheating Bastard.’
Both Maddie and Sofia just sat and stared at her for a long moment. Sofia had barely ever heard Charlotte swear, let alone speak about her husband like that.
Silent tears ran down Charlotte’s cheeks as she gripped the table with both hands. The ends of her fingers were already turning white.
‘I can’t breathe. I need some air.’
Maddie recognised the onset of one of Charlotte’s panic attacks. It was hardly surprising, given what she’d just revealed, but they needed to get her up out of her seat and calm her down before it turned into a full-blown one. She nodded at Sofia.
‘Let’s take her outside. Some fresh air might help.’
Gently they took an arm each and guided Charlotte out onto the terrace and into a comfy chair. The night was warm, but Thea had thoughtfully left out a big wicker basket with soft blankets for guests to use, and they laid one over Charlotte’s lap.
‘Look at all those stars.’ Maddie pointed upwards in a bid to distract her charge. ‘Without pollution it’s incredible how bright they shine. I’m sure that’s Orion up there, look?’
She had absolutely no idea, but she was hoping it would prompt Charlotte to say something as she hadn’t spoken for several minutes.
‘It’s much more likely to be Cassiopeia.’
Bullseye.
‘I knew you’d know.’
Charlotte’s ragged breathing had calmed to a more normal level.
Maddie turned to Sofia.
‘Can you get her a glass of water, please?’ She lowered her voice to a whisper while Charlotte stared fixedly at the sky. ‘And bring our drinks over, but not hers. I think we’re going to need them.’
Sofia nodded.
Charlotte had managed to drink most of the water, and the colour had come back into her face while they waited, Maddie was pleased to see.
She and Sofia had grabbed a chair and a blanket each too, and the sound of the sea far away below them was magnified in the night air.
They weren’t going to push Charlotte to talk as she so obviously needed to, but they were giving her the space to do so. Maddie moved any plans to tell her friends about her estranged family and the mess she’d made to the back of her mind. It could wait.
Charlotte murmured something, which Maddie strained forward to hear.
