"Hewouldn"thavesentyouwithout.i.t.Howdidyouget.i.t?"
"Drivingmyhunters,"shesaidmatter-of-factly."Alsomyshowhorsesandeventers.Anyquestions?"
Thesortofhorseboxesshewouldhavebeendrivinghadhome-from-homelargelivingquartersinfrontofthestalls,thenomadicluxurymotorsforeventingatBadmintonandBurleigh.Shehadtobeafamiliarfigureinthatworld,widelyrecognisabletotoomanypeopleforthepresentpurpose.
"PerhapsIoughttoknowyou?"Isuggested.
"Ishouldn"tthinkso.Idon"tgoracing."
"Er,"Isaidmildly,"hereyou"dneedtobeabletofindtheracecourses."
"Patricksaidyouwereboundtohaveamap."
Patrick,Ithought,hadtakenleaveofhissenses.
Shewatchedmynodoubtobviousmisgivingswithcoolamus.e.m.e.nt.
"Myhorseboxesarebasictransport,"Isaid."Nofridges,nocookers,n.o.bathrooms."
"They"veMercedesengines,haven"tthey?"
Inodded,surprised.
"I"magooddriver."
Ibelievedher."Allright,then,"Isaid.
Ireflectedthatwhatevershemightlackasaninvestigator,Idefinitelydidneedanextrapairofhandsformywheels.WhatHarveandJoggerwouldmakeofherIdreadedtothink.
"Good,"shesaidprosaicallyandafterabriefsecond"spauseasked,"DoyoutakeHorseandHound?
Ifetchedthatweek"sasyetunreadcopyofthemagazinefromasidetableandhandedittoher,watchinga.s.sheflickedthroughtowardstheend,tothemanypagesofcla.s.sifiedadvertis.e.m.e.nts.Shecametothehorse-transportsectionwhereaboutonceamonthIadvertisedCroftRaceways,andtappedthepagewitharose-pinkfingernail.
"Patrickwantstoknowifyou"veseenthis?"
Itookthemagazinefromherandreadwhereshe"dpointed.Inanoutlined,single-column-widthadvertis.e.m.e.ntwerethesimplewords: TRANSPORTPROBLEMS?Wecanhelp.Anythingconsidered.
Afourthlinegaveatelephonenumber.
Ifrowned."Yes,I"veseenthat.It"sinthetransportadsnowandthen.Ratherpointless,I"vethought."
"Patrickwantsmetocheckitout."
Noone,"Iobjected,"wouldadvertiseasmugglingservice.It"simpossible."
"Whydon"twetry?"
Ipa.s.sedheracordlesstelephone."Goahead."
Shepressedthenumbers,listened,wrinkledhernoseandswitchedthephoneoff.
"Answeringmachine,"shereportedsuccinctly."Leavenameandnumberandthey"llgetback."
"Manorwoman?"
"Man."
Welookedateachother.Ididn"tbelievetherewasanythingsinisterintheadvertis.e.m.e.nt,butIsaid,"PerhapsPatrickVenablescouldusehismuscleonHorseandHoundandfindoutwherethatadcomesfrom."
Shenodded."He"sdoingittomorrow."
ImpresseddespitemydisbeliefIwentovertothedeskandconsultedthechart.
"I"veprobablygottwoboxesgoingtoTauntonracestomorrow,"Itoldher."MywomandriverPat"sgottheflu.Youcantakeherbox.Itcancarryfourhorsesbutyou"reonlylikelytohavethree.YoucanfollowmyotherboxtoTauntonsothatyouarriveattherightplaceattherighttime,andforthepick-upthisendI"llsendamancalledDavewithyou.Heknowsthestablethehorsesaregoingfrom.Afteryou"vecollectedthehorses,drophimbackatourbaseandfollowtheotherboxfromthenon."
"Allright."
"Itwouldbebetterifyoudidn"treportforworkinthatcaroutthere."
Shegavemeaglimmeringsmile."You"llhardlyknowmeinthemorning.AndwhatdoIcallyou?Sir?"
"Freddiewilldo.Andyou?"
"Nina."
Shestoodup,tallandcomposed,everyinchtheoppositeofwhatIneeded.ThetriptoTaunton,Ithought,wouldbeherfirstandlast,especiallywhenitcametocleaningtheboxafterthereturnhome.Sheshookmyhand-herownwasfirmanddry-andwentunhurriedlyouttohercar.Ifollowedhertothedoorandwatchedthescarletexcitementdepartwithits.e.xpensivedistinctiveMercedespurr.
Noone,Ireflected,hadmentionedpay.RosewouldwanttoknowwhatI"dagreed.NotevenundercovermissionsfortheJockeyClubcouldbeconductedwithoutubiquitouspaperwork.
Sundayswerealwayscomparativelyquiet,businesswise,withrarelyasmanyashalfthefleetontheroad.ThatparticularSunday,thedrivershortageposingnoproblem,Harve,JoggerandDavecouldalltaketheiraccustomeddayoff,alongwithabunchofothers.MostofthedriverslikedSat.u.r.dayandSundayworkastheywerepaidmoreforweekends,butIwasluckyingeneralwithallofthemasateam,astheyhatedtoseeworkgotorivalfirmsandwoulddriveontheirallotteddaysofftoprevent.i.t.Accordingtothelaw,theirhoursandcompulsoryrestperiodswerestrictlysetout:IsometimeshaddifficultypersuadingthemthatIcouldbeprosecutediftheybenttherulestoofar.
Likemostjobsinracing,drivinghorseboxeswasmoreawayoflifethansimplyameansofearningalivingand,asaresult,onlypeoplewhoenjoyedit,didit.Staminawasessential,alsogoodhumourandadaptability.Bretthadbeenamistake.
Thenewsofhisleavinghadspreadalreadythroughtheracinggrapevine,andbeforeeleventhatmorningtwoapplicantshadphonedforhisjob.Iturnedthembothdown:onehadworkedfortoomanyotherfirms,theotherwasoversixty,toooldalreadyfortheintensephysicaldemandsandnogoodasalong-termprospect.
IphonedHarveandtoldhimI"dengagedatemporarywomandrivertotakePat"splaceuntilshewaswellagain.ShewouldbedoingtheTauntonrunplannedforPat.
"Good,"Harvesaid,unsuspecting.
Sofar,theweekaheadlookedlessbusythantheonejustcompleted,notabadthinginthecirc.u.mstances.IwouldbeabletogotoCheltenhamracesinspectatorcomfort,towatchotherluckyslobswintheGoldCupandsmashtheircollarbones.
JerichoRichonthetelephonebouncedmeoutofunprofitableregrets.
"YougotmyfilliestoNewmarketokay,then,"heshouted.Yes,Jericho,"Iheldthereceiveraninchfrommyear.
"IexpectyouknowIcheckedeverythinginyouroffice.Agoodjobwelldone,I"llsaythatforyou."
Goodgrief,Ithought.Theheavenswouldfall.
I"vegotadaughter,"hesaidloudly,yes,I"vemetherattheraces."
"She"sboughtashowjumper,somed.a.m.nedfancyname.Can"trememberit.It"sinFrance.Sendaboxforit,w.i.l.l.you?"
"Pleasure,Jericho.Whenandwherefrom?"
"She"lltellyou.Giveherabuzz.IsaidI"dpayforthetransportifitwasyouwhofetchedit,soshe"sdoingyouthehonour."Helaughed,fortissimobutforhimalmostmellow."Don"tsendthatdriver,though.Thatonethatpickedupthehitchhiker."
"He"sleft,"Ia.s.suredhim."Didn"tmygirlstellyou?"
"Well,yestheydid."Hereadouthisdaughter"sphonenumber."Giveherabuzznow.Notimelikethepresent."
"Thanks,Jericho."
Ibuzzedthedaughterasdirectedandbeganonthedetailsoftheshowjumper:age,s.e.x,colour,value,allfortheagentswhowouldarrangethepaperworkforthehorse,andovernightprovisionforthedriver.Shesoundedstraightforwardandlessfussythanherfather,merelyaskingmetocompletethetransfera.s.soonasIcoulda.s.sheneededtopractisebeforetheshow-jumpingseasonstarted.ShegavemeanaddressandphonenumberinFranceandaskedifIcouldarrangeforagroomtotraveloverwiththehorse.
"Icouldprovideagoodmanfromhere,"Isuggested."OneItrust."
"Yes.Great.Sendthebilltomyfather."
IsaidIwouldand,todohimjustice,JerichoRichwasapromptpayer.MostlyIbilledthetrainersforthetransportofalltheirrunners,thetrainersthenbillingtheindividualowners,butJerichoalwayswantedhisbillssentdirecttohimself.Jerichobelievedtrainerswouldchargehimmorethanthey"dpaid,allofapiecewithhisgeneralmistrustofanyoneworkingforhim.
Onthewhole,peopleaccusedothersofdoingwhattheywoulddothemselves.Dishonestybeganathome.
He"daccusedmeinhistimeoftakingbribesfromabookmakertoloseononeofhishurdlers.I"dtoldhimverypolitelythatIwouldn"trideforhimanymore,andaweeklater,asifnothinghadhappened,he"dofferedmeanenormousretainertorideallhisjumpersthenextseason.Ithadturnedoutprofitably:IputupwithhisyellingandhegavemelavishpresentswhenIwon.Apermanentstand-offperhapsdescribedourongoingrelations.
ItookaquicklookatthetimeandswitchedthephonethroughtoIsobel,whotookbookingsonSundayswhenIwasbusy.ThenIgotonwithsuchsmallthingsasdressingandtidyingandgoingoutintothegardentopickflowers.Thispeacefulactivitywastheresultofstrongpromptingsfrommyabsentsisterandbrotherwhoconsideredthatflowersshouldoccasionallybeputonourparents"grave.AsitwasI,theyoungest,whohadinheritedthefamilyhome,andasitwasIwholivednearthecemetery,theyfelt.i.tonlyrightandproperthat.i.twasIwhopickedtheflowersandputtheminplace.Thewholepoint,forthem,wasthattheflowersshouldcomefromtherightgarden.Boughtflowerswouldnotbethesame.
TherewaslittlebutdaffodilsinthefirstweekofMarch,thoughIscavengedalsosomecrocusesandanearlyhyacinthalongwithevergreensprigsofcupressus,anddrovethemtothegatesoftheorderlycemeteryonahillsidewherewe"dburiedtheparentswithintwoyearsofeachothersometimeago.
Actually,Inevermindedtheerrand.Thegravewashighonthehillb.u.t.theviewwasworththewalkupthere,andasIhadnosenseoftheirbeingaroundinanyway,Itendedtoleavetheflowersasthanksformyownsatisfactorychildhood,theirgift.
Theflowerswoulddie,ofcourse.Itwasdeliveringthemthatmattered.
MaudieWatermead"slunchbeganinspringsunshineinthegarden,withheryoungerchildrenandguestsbouncingonatrampolineandtheireldersplayingtennis.Stilltoochillyforstandingaroundin,theMarchairdrovefaint-heartsbackthroughthegardendoortothedrawing-roomtoenjoythebrightlogfireandMaudie"sideaofchampagnec.o.c.ktails,whichbeganwithangosturabittersonsugarlumpsandfizzedtothebrimwithcoldpinkbubbles.
BenjyandDotUsherwereplayinginlongtrousersonthehardcourt,arguingaboutb.a.l.l.sbeinginorout.Weengagedinunathleticmixeddoubles,DotandIbeingout-arguedbyBenjyandtheWatermeads"daughter,Tessa.BenjyandTessawereenjoyingtheirpartnershipinawaythathadDothissing,tomyprivateamus.e.m.e.ntandourpublicdefeat.
BenjyandTessa,asvictors,tookontheWatermeads"son,Ed,andMaudie"ssister,Lorna.DotglowereduntilIpersuadedherintothedrawing-room,wherethenumbershadswelledandthechatter-levelrisentothepointwhereindividualvoiceswerelostinconglomeratenoise.
Maudiehandedmeagla.s.sandgavemeasmilewiththefriendlyblueeyesthatasusualsetmethinkingpowerfullyadulterousthoughts.Thoroughlyawareofmydilemma,shewasforevertryingtotransfermyfeelingstohersisterLornawho,whilealikeinplatinumhair,shapelywaistandendlesslegs,simplylackedformeanythingbutphysicalattraction.Maudiewasfun,Lornawastroubled.Maudielaughed,Lornaearnestlychampionedpraiseworthycauses.Maudiecookedroastpotatoes,Lornaworriedaboutherweight.MaudiethoughtIwouldbegoodforLornabutIhadnointentionofbecominghertherapist:thatwaythreatenedboredomanddisaster.IthoughtLornawouldbeperfectforBruceFarway.
TheworthydoctorhimselfwasatthatmomentstandingnearthefirewithMaudie"shusband.ThebubblesintheFarwaygla.s.swerecolourless.Mineralwater,Isurmised.
Maudiefollowedmygazeandansweredmyunexpressedsurprise.
"MichaelthoughtthatasitlooksasifheintendstostayinPixhill,we"dbetterteachthegooddoctorthatwe"renotallroguesandfools."
Ismiled."He"llhavetroublebeingsuperciliouswithMichael,that"sforsure."
"Don"tyoubelieveit."
MyattentionmovedontowardsthewomannowtalkingtoDot,ayoungerwoman,blondelikeMaudie,blue-eyedlikeMaudie,lighthearted,lefthanded,apianistandthirty-eight.
"Doyouknowher?"Maudieasked,againfollowingmygaze."SusanPalmerstone.Herfamilyareallheresomewhere."
Inodded."Iusedtorideherfather"shorses."
"Didyou?It"seasytoforgetyouwereajockey."
Likemanyflat-racingtrainers"wives,Maudieseldomwenttojumpmeetings.I"dcometoknowheronlythroughthetransport.
Fromacrosstheroom,SusanPalmerstonelookedinmydirectionandfinallywalkedover.
"h.e.l.lo,"shesaid."Hugoandthechildrenarehere."
"Isawthechildrenonthetrampoline."
"Yes."
Maudie,makingnothingmuchoftheexchange,wanderedovertoDot.
Susansaid,"Ididn"trealiseyou"dbehere.Wedon"tknowtheWatermeadsverywell.Iwouldhavesaidwecouldn"tcome."
"Ofcoursenot.Itdoesn"tmatter."
"No,but...someonetoldHugohecouldn"thaveabrown-eyedchildandhe"sbeenfussingabout.i.tforweeks."
"Hugo"sagreen-eyedredhead.Hecanhaveanythingasathrowback."
"IthoughtI"dbetterwarnyou.He"shalfwaytoobsessed."
"OK.".
ThetennisplayerscameinfromthegardenandalsoHugoPalmerstone,who"dbeenwatchingthechildren.ThroughthewindowIcouldseemydaughterstandingonthegra.s.s,armsakimbo,disparaginglycriticalofherstraight-hairedblondbrothers"bouncing.Cinders,mydaughter,hadbrowneyesanddarkcurlyhairlikemineandwasnineyearsold.
IwouldhavemarriedSusan.I"dlovedherandbeendevastatedwhenshechoseHugo,but.i.thadbeenalongtimeago.Nothingremainedoftheemotion.Itwasdifficult,even,torememberhowI"dfelt.Ididn"twantthelong-buriedpastcastingashadowoverthatchild"slife.
SusanmovedfrommysidethemomentHugoenteredtheroom,butnotbeforeherealisedwe"dbeentalkingtogether.His.e.xpressionashemadehiswaydirectlytomewasnotpromising.
"Comeoutside,"hesaidcurtly,stoppingayardaway."Now."
Icouldhaverefusedhimbut.i.thought,perhapswrongly,thatifIdidn"tgivehimtheopportunitytosaywhatheclearlyintendedtosayitcouldfesterinhismindanddoharmtohisfamily.AccordinglyIquietlyparkedmygla.s.sandfollowedhimoutontothelawn.
"Icouldkillyou,"hesaid.
Itwasaremarktowhichthereseemedtobenoanswer.WhenIsaidnothing,headdedbitterly,"Myb.l.o.o.d.yaunttoldmetoopenmyeyes.Myfather-in-law"s.e.x-jockey!Takealookathim,shesaid.Dosomesums.Cinderswasbornsevenmonthsafteryourmarriage.Openyoureyes."
"Youraunthasdoneyounoservice."