Langdown Manor by Sue Reid Page B

moved a bit closer to me.
    â€˜What is it?’ I asked grumpily. I wasn’t pleased that she’d woken me up. Didn’t she know how tired I was every day, and I wasn’t sleeping well at night either.
    â€˜Fred’s worried,’ she said. ‘He says that Miss Penelope is a handful, worse than his lordship’s new horse.’ Sarah looked desperate. ‘He says he came down on her a bit hard. Now he’s afraid she’ll complain. Jess, what if he loses his place?’
    â€˜He won’t, silly,’ I said.
    â€˜He might if she complains,’ Sarah said darkly.
    â€˜She won’t do that,’ I said biting the end off a piece of thread.
    Sarah leapt on my words eagerly. ‘How do you know?’
    I could have bitten my stupid tongue in two.
    But her big eyes were fastened on me. I couldn’t let her down. ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ I muttered. ‘It’s just a feeling I have.’ I couldn’t explain how I knew. I just did.
    â€˜She told you what happened then?’ Sarah probed.
    I hated this. This probing and questioning. I felt as if I was being pulled between the two of them, and I didn’t like it. ‘No, she hasn’t, but I know she’s upset.’ I’d already said more than I’d meant to. If only Sarah understood how difficult this was for me.
    â€˜Upset?’ Sarah pounced. ‘Why should she be upset?’
    I wanted to crawl away somewhere. Whatever I said it would be the wrong thing.
    â€˜Look,’ I said at last. ‘Let’s just say I have a hunch that there’s nothing to worry about.’
    To my relief that seemed to satisfy her. I saw a smile peep at me, as if what I’d said had made the sun come out. ‘Feeling hungry now?’ I asked. ‘You didn’t eat much dinner. Maddie was upset you didn’t finish her rice pudding!’
    â€˜I wasn’t hungry then,’ Sarah mumbled. Her face had flushed pink. How often I’d wished I had someone of my own, but I wouldn’t want to be as much in love as Sarah was. Never ever.

U PSTAIRS

    I walked into the stable yard. It was three days since I’d been there. For three days I’d grabbed at any excuse to avoid it. Yesterday I’d shown unusual enthusiasm for piano practice. The day before the weather had been on my side. It wasn’t on my side now. The sun was shining. It was a beautiful winter’s day. I tried to reason with myself: I had a choice. I could remain cooped up and miserable in the house, or brave the stables. No report of my bad behaviour had reached Aunt. Clemmie had even told everyone that she had seen me gallop side-saddle. I’d thought that Aunt would faint! But Uncle had chuckled and said he hoped I’d join them the next time the Hunt met at Langdown. If I was to do that, I had to get into the saddle again. I’d have felt better if I’d had Clemmie, an ally, by my side. But Clemmie had gone to a party at a neighbour’s, and wouldn’t be back till dark.
    I unlocked the catch on the stable gate. The door to Starshine’s stall was open. As I walked up to it, I could hear Fred’s voice inside, coaxing Starshine out. I wanted to turn and run, but I was too late. Fred had seen me. My cheeks spread with an enormous blush. He touched his cap. ‘Good afternoon, Miss Penelope,’ he said. I bowed my head slightly. I’d told myself that if I saw him I’d be polite but distant. I felt my colour begin to subside. Starshine was already saddled and bridled and Fred helped me up. Neither of us said a word. Good. Then we had both reached the same conclusion. We both wanted to get the ride over as soon as possible. Tomorrow Jem could take me out. I couldn’t think why I hadn’t asked for him today. I patted Starshine’s mane. I had to admit that I had missed her.
    Fred swung himself up on to his horse, and we left the yard at a walk. I kept how I