The Death of Lyndon Wilder and the Consequences Thereof by E A Dineley

Author:E A Dineley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

‘I have been home, sir, and come back again.’

‘It’s dark.’

‘I don’t mind the dark . . . or not too much. The pony knows the way. I like it better here with York and the Andalusian.’

‘But what of your lessons?’

‘I don’t do them. I’m teaching myself French. I practise on the Andalusian. I believe him to have a little French.’ He ran the brush down the grey flank of the stallion, who did his normal trick of swinging his head round in mock ferocity, making a grab at Horatio’s seat but not actually engaging his teeth in the cloth.

‘Monsieur l’Andalusian, je vous en prie de ne pas manger mes pantalons. Mr Andalusian, I beg of you not to eat my trousers. Could it be done in Latin? O Andalusian . . . no, I don’t believe he has Latin.’ Horatio turned back to Major Wilder and added, confidentially, ‘Sometimes I think I’ll run away.’

Major Wilder was standing within the loosebox now, his back leant against the railings. He said, ‘It can turn out a mistake.’ The Andalusian, pleased to see him, stretched out its nose and blew in his face.

Horatio said, ‘Do you think so? They would catch me and send me back.’

‘Very likely. Perhaps you shouldn’t tell me where you intend to go.’

‘But you are my friend.’

‘So I hope, but if one sees a friend committing some act one knows to be unwise, is it not one’s duty to prevent it if one can? If I thought you were going to jump in the river, should I not pull you back? Still, it’s a difficult one, for I’m sure such acts have spoilt many a friendship.’

‘But, sir, I should only run off to Gloucestershire to see Lottie.’

‘Certainly my sister would welcome you, but her conscience would make her relieve your mother’s anxiety by returning you.’

‘But perhaps not immediately.’

‘Perhaps not on the same day.’

Horatio was silent.

Major Wilder then said, ‘And it was I who sent Lottie away.’

‘You were not thinking of me at the time.’

‘No, though I have thought of you since. I mean to go to Finch Hall myself for a month or so, take my hunters if I can find accommodation for them. I have already helped fill the stables of my long-suffering brother-in-law.’

‘Why, I could come with you . . . I could disguise myself as your stable lad and make myself useful.’

‘You’re a fanciful boy. Why should it be necessary?’

‘So I could go with you.’

Major Wilder thought, If I am to find a means of taking my father, why not the child too and anyone else who cares to go? ‘Would your mother allow you to go?’

Horatio studiously bent to brush under the belly of the Andalusian, keeping his face averted. He said, ‘If you asked her . . . she would.’

Lady Charles thought her life had become intolerable. There was nothing to lift the greyness of each day. Under the excuse of mourning, she had let it be known she saw no one but her family, with the exception of Mrs Kingston and the rector, for the latter one could not escape.

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