Tucker's Inn by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788636315
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2019-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Gavin, when I next saw him at luncheon, seemed to have quite regained his usual breezy manner.

‘I’m so glad you’re here, Uncle Gavin,’ Antoinette greeted him. ‘I was very afraid yesterday that Papa had upset you.’

‘Oh, he’s always upsetting me, you know that,’ Gavin said ruefully. ‘But it would take more than a few harsh words to get rid of me!’

‘I certainly hope so! I want you to have a look at Perdita for me. I thought she seemed a little lame, but Thompson insists there is nothing wrong with her.’

‘Of course I’ll look at her for you, sweeting.’

‘And perhaps ride with me if there really is nothing the matter with her?’

Gavin raised an eyebrow. ‘Faith, I am honoured! It’s not often you ask your old uncle to ride with you.’

She dimpled at him. ‘Oh, you’re not old! You’re much younger than Papa.’

‘A couple of years only.’

‘Well you seem much younger. And much more fun! And if you don’t ride with me, I won’t be able to go. Papa has forbidden me to go out alone.’

‘Ah! Now I see it all. It’s not like you to obey your father so readily, though.’

Antoinette gave me a sly look. ‘I have to answer to Flora while Papa is away. And she is very strict, aren’t you, Flora?’

I shook my head, smiling, and refusing to be drawn.

‘Do you ride, Flora?’ Gavin asked.

‘I’m afraid not,’ I admitted. ‘Anywhere I needed to go, I went by trap. And riding can be expensive as well as time-consuming. Neither money nor time were plentiful at Tucker’s Grave.’

‘In that case, I think you should learn!’ Gavin said. ‘Why, I’d be happy to teach you myself.’

‘Oh, I don’t think so.’ I couldn’t help but wonder what Louis would say if he came home to find me trotting about the countryside on a horse belonging to him, and with his much-disliked brother for company.

‘Well, you have only to say the word,’ Gavin told me. Then his face became serious. ‘If you could ride you could go back to visit your friends and even spend an hour or two in your old home, and no one the wiser,’ he said. ‘You must miss it all a great deal.’

‘I do,’ I agreed wistfully. ‘But even if I could ride, I wouldn’t be able to get into the inn. Louis has had it all boarded up.’

‘But you must have a key.’

‘No. There was only the one, and Louis has that. He is the rightful owner now, remember.’

Antoinette was becoming bored with this conversation. ‘Uncle Gavin, can we ride this afternoon?’ she begged. ‘When you’ve checked out Perdita for me?’

He laughed. ‘Don’t you think I have any work to do?’

‘No,’ she said without hesitation. ‘That’s Papa’s domain. You… I’ve never known you to choose work over pleasure. In fact, I don’t think you do any work at all!’

Gavin’s eyes flickered over my face and for a brief moment I saw an almost uncanny reflection of that look I had seen when I surprised him in the study.

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