‘Maggie, darling – I’m just fixing Dolly a stiff drink in here. She’s a flight risk,’ Sage muttered in an undertone, then as Dolly came in, she said, louder, ‘Doll, do you remember Maggie Richardson?Be quiet!’ This was directed at Bramble the terrier, whohad started to yap lazily. The pregnant whippet, Beetle, thumped her tail but could not find the energy to even open an eye.
‘Yes, of course. Hello, Maggie.’ Dolly gave her a hug. ‘Something smells delicious. Hello, you two,’ she added, bending down to make a fuss of the dogs, who had not been bothered to get out of their beds.
‘Ah well, Madam Betsy wanted boeuf bourguignon and dauphinoise potatoes but I didn’t like the look of the recipe so I made a nice, safe shepherd’s pie with carrots and peas. You know where you are with a shepherd’s pie, you do so. Miss Sage, you’ll find a bottle of your grandfather’s Scotch in the cupboard next to the larder. You look a picture, Miss Dolly, you haven’t changed a bit.’ Maggie busied herself at the Aga, pulling a tray out of the oven.
‘Can I do something to help?’ Dolly asked.
‘There are some quails’ eggs and celery salt on the side there, girls – will you take them through and give me back the kitchen, please.’ She winked conspiratorially at Sage as Dolly, less nervous now, picked up the bowl and held it in front of her like a shield.
‘Great, I’ll bring the drinks. Thanks, Doll.’ Sage beamed at Maggie, then followed Dolly out of the kitchen and down the hall. Hearing the back door slam, she hastily ushered Dolly into the drawing room and as soon as her friend was safely talking to Betsy, she gently removed the quails’ eggs and swapped them for her drink with a reassuring smile. She then doubled back towards the boot room to quietly head her brother off at the pass, without an audience.
Casper was already coming down the hall. He was dressed in the suit he always wore after racing and looked worn out, fed up, cold and very hungry. Scamp skittered past Sage after a cursory ‘hello’ wag of his stumpy tail, intent on his final destination: the kitchen, where he knew he would receive love and sustenance from Maggie.
‘Hi, darling,’ said Casper, rubbing a hand over his face. ‘I’ve had a horrible day. My horse in the last fell and the brute landed on top of me. It hurts like hell – I think I’ve busted a rib. Then Isabel made me go over to hers on the way here and ended up screaming at me because she hadn’t been invited for dinner tonight. I said she’d be welcome to come but for some reason that only made her angrier. I just left her mid-rant about how I never take her away on holiday … I mean, we’ve only been together for a couple of months!’ He stopped, and took a deep breath as though to draw a line under the day’s events. ‘Sorry, it’s been a long day. How are you? How’s the little man?’
‘Look, Cas – I need to warn you that Dolly is here for dinner this evening. I know things are weird between you two, but can you try and keep the peace? She’s very nervous about seeing you and I sort of forced her to come. She’s my oldest friend and it would mean the world to me if you could get on again. Please?’ Sage looked up at her brother beseechingly, pleading with him on another level where words were not necessary. ‘She’s in the drawing room.’
‘Oh God.’ Casper blanched. ‘You don’t ask much, do you? Dolly is here …now?’ He had not seen her for almost five years and looked as if he would rather turn on his heel and walk straight back out of the door. But clearly this mattered to his twin and so he squared his shoulders and said ruefully, ‘Well, I suppose this just about finishes off my bloody day. Right. Into the breach, dear sister.’ He headed unenthusiastically towards the drawing room. Sending up a quick prayer, feeling guilty but relieved, Sage followed him in.
‘Hello, mate.’ Casper was relieved to find Rafe there. They had race-ridden together as teenagers in point-to-points and had always liked and respected each other enormously. They shook hands warmly, both thankful to have found a familiar ally.
‘Casper,’ Betsy greeted him warmly, ‘darling, you lookshattered – what would you like to drink?’ She got up from her seat beside the fire and fussed over him fondly, passing him the quails’ eggs which he accepted gratefully but only allowed himself one before placing them on a side table and moving out of reach.
‘Thanks, Gammy – I’d like a fizzy water, please.’ He gave her a kiss and went over to sit on the sofa next to his grandfather, studiously ignoring Dolly who was looking extremely awkward in a large armchair by the window.
‘Hello, Casper. How did you get on today?’ Dennis asked gruffly.
‘I had two winners, a third, one pulled up and the last one fell on me at the first fence,’ Casper said tiredly. ‘Hello, Dolly,’ he added, finally looking at her.
‘Hi, Cas,’ she replied wanly. Her face had drained of all colour as she stared at Casper and gripped her hands together uneasily around her rattling glass. Sage stood frozen to the spot, not sure how to help. She had thought it might be awkward between them, but she hadn’t considered it being quite this painful for Dolly. Luckily Dennis stepped in, sensing tension.
‘Right – let’s go in to dinner, shall we? Rafe, Sage and I will all be getting up at the crack of dawn.’ Dennis stood up. ‘Bring your drinks in with you if you haven’t finished yet.’ He was getting twitchy; he was always in bed by ten o’clock. Betsy hurried out to the kitchen to help Maggie.
Sage watched her brother and Dolly in fascination. Their gaze kept returning to one another; they both looked spellbound. In a bid to give the pair a little time to recover their equilibrium, she stood up and motioned for Rafe to follow her grandfather into the dining room. Three big silver candelabra sat glittering on the long refectory table, six places neatly set for them all.
‘So, Rafe, where are you from?’ she asked, casting about slightly desperately.
‘I live in Newmarket,’ he said with an amused shrug.
‘No, I realize that,’ she said briskly. ‘I mean … where are you from originally, Rafe? Where is your family?’ she added, trying to compose her whirling thoughts.
‘Sorry, I was being deliberately obtuse,’ he said, pulling out her chair and indicating for her to sit down. She would have to sit beside him now. ‘I know what you meant. My family are from Gloucestershire – my parents live in a little village called Chipping Crockford. My younger brother, Louis, sometimes lives there too, when he’s not hell-raising in London.’
Casper and Dolly came to the table and sat down opposite Dennis. They were talking, at least, and their conversation appeared to be amicable, if a little stilted.
Rafe continued, ‘I’m guessing there’s a bit of history between those two?’ He gestured at Casper and Dolly. ‘Are you OK?’
Rafe could see that Sage was on edge. He could not quite work her out. She presented a strange combination of confidence and nerves; although she looked full of courage, he was afraid she might bolt. ‘Don’t worry, they seem to have relaxed a little.’
‘Yes, a long story. Are you married?’ She had not meant to say it: the words had slipped out, taking advantage of her confusion.
‘No. Are you?’ Rafe asked, without missing a beat.
‘No. Well, yes. I mean … sort of.’ Sage wavered. For some reason, she did not want to tell this unsettling man about Santiago’s existence. ‘I have just left my husband. We’re getting a divorce,’ she explained, biting the bullet.
Rafe berated himself over the startling sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach on hearing that this woman was married, and then again as relief swept over him that her marriage was ending.Pull yourself together, you fool.
‘I’m sorry to hear that – it must be difficult.’ He could have turned away from her then, started up a conversation with Dennis, but he felt drawn to Sage like a magnet.
