For a second Marius was tempted to kiss her back. Since Michelle had gone, his bed was very empty. Tommy’s body would make a comforting replacement.
‘He’ll win it all back for you,’ she mumbled.
Furious looked up and whickered as Rafiq’s head appeared over the half-door.
‘Didn’t Rafiq ride well?’ said Tommy.
‘He did,’ said Marius. ‘Well done.’
‘He stuck his head out and galloped all the way for me, he is holy terrier.’ Rafiq pulled Furious’s ears. Then, after a long pause: ‘Thanks for buying him back.’
Thus Marius won the undying loyalty and gratitude of Rafiq.
80
Charlie Radcliffe gave Mrs Wilkinson the all-clear at the beginning of September. Let out of Valent’s stable where she had been imprisoned for months, she went berserk, tugging the lead rope out of Tommy’s hand, charging round the orchard bucking and squealing. Etta, Tommy, Marius and Chisolm held their breaths but she walked back absolutely sound.
‘With luck she’ll be up and running soon after Christmas,’ said Charlie.
‘Well done, Etta and Tommy,’ added Marius with rare warmth.
Tommy needed every encouragement. With the departure of Michelle, Marius had made Josh rather than her head lad because he felt Josh would be better at keeping order than the gentle Tommy, though he was desperate to hold on to her because she was so good with the horses. Josh had consequently moved into the head lad’s cottage that Collie and his family had left. This had been redecorated, recarpeted and fitted with a new shower and kitchen, which delighted blonde Tresa, who had officially moved in with Josh.
The fact that Marius could afford to do up the cottage and buy back Furious convinced observers that he was receiving financial help from Valent.
Back at Throstledown, also in September, Marius held a parade of the horses to attract new owners and to enable existing ones to meet each other over an excellent lunch. Furious the unpredictable was shut away in a far-off field. To distract people from the hairiness of some of the horses’ ankles, the prettiest stable lasses, Tresa and Angel, were deputed to lead them past. The yard, however, looked wonderful, newly painted by Joey’s men, the buildings in good order, Etta’s flowers blooming in tubs and beds. There was definitely a feeling of renewal and optimism.
Unfortunately, Harvey-Holden had a parade on the same day with a band and a marquee, which took away a chunk of the clientele, and so did Rupert Campbell-Black. Rupert’s invitation said his yard needed advance warning of any helicopters landing. Lester Bolton would have given anything for such an invitation and would have used it as an excuse to buy a helicopter. He was irked that at Marius’s open day, no one bothered to introduce him to Lady Crowe or to Brigadier Parsons, who owned History Painting. He felt he and his princess had been slighted again.
He was also outraged that the moment he sold Furious back to Marius, the horse should win so spectacularly in that selling race at Stratford. He was not, however, as outraged as Carrie Bancroft, when she returned from Russia and discovered Trixie had ploughed all her exams.
‘You’ve been sacked from seven schools. You promised to work at this one. How could this have happened?’ yelled Carrie.
‘I didn’t work hard enough,’ admitted Trixie. ‘My hopes were slightly too high, I guess. For some beyond-me reason I failed.’
Carrie was even angrier when someone, probably Dora, leaked the story of the straight ‘U’ grades achieved by the daughter of the Businesswoman of the Year – did high achievers fail their children?
The atmosphere was truly dreadful, particularly when Uncle Martin, who had the hots for Trixie anyway, dropped in at Russet House and suggested that if his sister had been more caring and less of an absentee mother, and Alan not so obsessed with his writing, things would have been different. ‘Children need nourishing and encouraging. Frankly you neglect Trixie, Carrie.’
‘She does,’ agreed Trixie.
Martin indicated he’d be only too happy to be a father figure to his niece.
Meeting Tilda for lunch to discuss depression, Alan turned out to be the depressed one. He cheered up when Tilda said she’d be only too happy to give Trixie some coaching.
Etta, meanwhile, had expressed her worries about Trixie to Seth. ‘She’s so moody and unhappy, I’m sure it’s Josh officially moving in with Tresa.’
‘“Partners are all we need of hell,”’ smirked Seth and said he’d be only too happy to coach Trixie and act as a father figure in return