being taxed out of existence – there were no state benefits in those days. Lady Godiva rode out to save them, she was a heroine. It’s so topical. It would make such a wonderfully colourful chapter in her biography,’ he pleaded. ‘Not much else to fill it until January.’
‘You won’t have a book at all if you sell her,’ implored Etta.
‘Where are you staying in London?’ Phoebe asked Bonny.
‘Just off the Little Boltons.’
‘Wish those two were off there too,’ muttered Woody.
Etta, despite the danger, got the giggles.
Bolton cleared his throat.
‘Let’s get on with the meeting. As a majority shareholder,’ he reminded them ominously, ‘I’d like to donate a Mercedes Sprinter so we’ve got something decent to travel in. I also propose we sell Mrs Wilkinson.’
‘You can’t,’ cried Etta.
‘Let me finish, please. I propose to buy two babies. I’ve got my eye on a pretty filly I’d like to call Cindy Kate.’
‘Oh Lester,’ shrieked Cindy, looking up from Hello! ‘Do let’s buy some flat ‘orses, racing’s so much nicer in the summer. Then we can go into the Royal Enclosure at Ascot.’
‘Hardly think she’d get in,’ murmured Bonny.
Cindy and Bolton had powerful allies: Shagger, Phoebe, Toby, Major Cunliffe and Direct Debbie, who’d give anything to dump Cindy but liked the thought of the Portuguese villa.
Chrissie polished glasses and edged closer to hear what Woody and Joey were arguing about. Joey, who had terrible gambling debts and had spent too much money on Chrissie, was reluctantly in support of the motion.
‘Marius doesn’t do flat horses,’ said Shagger. ‘And I’m sure we’d do better with Harvey-Holden – Ilkley Hall won again yesterday – or Rupert Campbell-Black.’
‘We would.’ Cindy, Bonny and Phoebe licked their lips.
‘Isa Lovell’s set up on his own,’ said Joey, ‘and Cosmo Rannaldini’s got all his horses with him. Dermie O’Driscoll’s taken a yard in North Gloucestershire, which should be a riot.’
‘Marius is really working to get Mrs Wilkinson fit again,’ cried a frantic Etta. ‘He feels sure she’ll be back in the New Year. He’s so grateful you’ve been so patient.’
‘Funny way of showing it,’ snapped the Major. ‘There’s no guarantee she’ll win again. We could all go on pouring money into her for ever.’
‘I think we should vote,’ persisted Bolton.
‘What are the rules, Major?’ asked Bonny.
‘Members must abide by a majority decision,’ intoned the Major, ‘and we must hold a syndicate vote before any horse is allowed to run in a selling plate.’
‘Mrs Wilkinson can’t run at all at the moment,’ said Woody.
‘Then she must go to the sales,’ said Shagger.
‘She’d fetch nothing,’ said Joey.
‘She would as a brood mare,’ said Seth. ‘Father’s Peppy Koala, mother’s Little Star.’
‘She must go through the ring then. I’m sure she’d find a good home,’ said Phoebe.
‘Rubbish,’ said Painswick. In her fury she dropped three stitches. ‘You know no such thing. We couldn’t possibly sell the dear little soul like that.’
‘Let’s follow the democratic process and have a vote,’ urged Shagger.
‘We can’t,’ gasped Etta. ‘Alban isn’t here, can’t we try him on his mobile? He wouldn’t want to sell Wilkie, nor would Dora and Trixie, let me try and ring them.’
‘Alban doesn’t have a mobile,’ said Alan.
Neither Dora nor Trixie answered theirs.
‘They’ve got better things to do. Bagley’s got a dance with Marlborough this evening.’ Alan didn’t meet Etta’s eyes.
‘If Wilkie goes, you won’t have a book to write,’ a distraught Etta told him.
Bonny, talking to Seth, looked round.
‘If her career’s over, he won’t have one anyway.’
‘Joey and Woody,’ pleaded Etta, ‘you were in at the start.’
‘Sorry, Ett, but it’s a lot of money to fork out each monf, particularly along with Crowie and Doggie,’ said Joey.
‘I don’t want to sell her,’ insisted Woody, ‘or leave Marius. He’ll get her right.’
Bolton glared at Woody. ‘I thought you liked working for me,’ he hissed.
‘You two only have one vote between you, Woody. You and Joey cancel each other out anyway,’ pointed out the Major.
‘What about Tilda, she’s got a half-share with Shagger.’
‘Tilda’ll do what I choose,’ boomed Shagger, looking at Etta. ‘She’s not Wilkie’s greatest fan after the way she was humiliated at your party, Etta.’
‘No, I understand, I’m sorry.’
Pocock was dickering. He loved Etta and Miss Painswick. He was very fond of Wilkie. But he didn’t like Seth or the Major or Bolton, he hadn’t been able to go racing very often because of work and the presence of Alban in the syndicate intimidated him.
Joey went over to Chrissie and the bar because he felt a traitor and wanted to fill his glass.