“Don’t make excuses for that dickhead.”
Ru pushed to his feet. He didn’t want to be in here with Jasim when Mike came back with the keys.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I need some air. Maybe I could sit by the pool.”
“Okay. But in the shade.”
Once they were outside and away from Georgia, Ru sagged. “Mike threatened to tell everyone that you were fucking me. He said it to Paolo. And Georgia heard it too. He has no reason to say it. But…”
“What did Paolo say?”
“That no one would believe him. That if he opened his mouth, he’d never work as a polo groom or play polo again. Did Paolo tell you that?”
“No.”
“Maybe because he thinks it’s a load of crap.”
They reached the pool and Ru lay down on a lounger out of the sun. “I ought to leave too,” Ru muttered. “I’m bringing you trouble.”
“I want you as my groom on Saturday at the match.”
“Me!” Ru whispered.
“Yes, you. Now rest while I go and get something to bathe your head.”
Jasim came back with a glass of orange squash as well, then cleaned Ru’s head. He was so furious with Mike, that if he saw him, he’d hit him. He’d asked Paolo to tell him when Mike had gone, then they’d change the code on the gate. It was a bad time to lose a crucial groom, but others could do Mike’s work and Ru could handle the ponies in the game. Jasim didn’t think there was anything significant Mike could tell their opponents. Polo was tactical, but it was a matter of adapting your tactics as the match progressed. No plan was infallible.
“I’m sorry,” Ru whispered and sipped the drink. “He hates me so much. He tried to set me up for stealing Kirstie’s rings. He left one in my pocket. I found it when I came round in Lightning’s stall and I put it in Dream’s equipment box. I suspect the other was put in Bela’s cage and she took it. She might bring it back but she thinks stuff in her cage is for her.”
“You think Kirstie is in on this?”
“Yes. She left Bela’s cage until the end when she searched my room, and spent longer than she needed to poking in the sawdust. She and Mike are an item. If she leaves with him, then maybe that says something.”
Jasim kept the cold cloth against Ru’s head. It was no longer bleeding but there was quite a lump.
“I don’t know if Paolo believed him about you fucking me,” Ru whispered. “I feel as if something is starting to unravel.”
Maybe it was. Maybe Jasim didn’t care. If he’d been open about his sexuality, then he wouldn’t be sitting here holding a cold compress against Ru’s head.
“I should just come out,” Jasim muttered.
Bela landed close by and walked towards them. She fluttered up onto Ru’s leg and a ring dropped from her beak.
Jasim gave a startled gasp. “You were right.”
“Get the other ring and take them to Kirstie.”
Jasim picked up the ring. “I need to find out where her loyalties lie. Stay right here.”
He pocketed the ring and headed for the stables. He found the other ring where Ru had said he’d put it, then made for the accommodation block. When he slipped inside, he heard a woman crying and since he’d just seen Poppy in the stables, he guessed it was Kirstie.
“Come with me,” Mike said. “Losing another groom will really fuck them up.”
Jasim moved to the door of the room. The urge to slam his fist into Mike’s face was strong but he reined it in.
“What was the point of all this?” Jasim asked.
