The Night She Lied by Lucy Dawson

Author:Lucy Dawson [Dawson , Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781835253182
Published: 2023-11-15T16:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

‘So do your parents own horses?’ Margaret asked, inspecting her Vamp nails as they crossed the gardens, heading in the direction of the stables.

Richard shook his head. ‘A paper shop. The girls from the local hunt yard would come in for their crisps and Coke and talk to me if I was serving. They let me start to muck out. I loved it, I love horses. They have souls.’

Margaret glanced at him and flicked a small bug from the front of her crisp white shirt. ‘I think you’re probably right.’

‘My mother died two years ago, and the horses helped me a lot when that happened. They were kind to me.’

Margaret frowned and looked out across the parkland. ‘I’m sorry to hear that you lost your mother. You must miss her very much.’ She turned back to the boy. ‘Remind me how old you said you are?’

‘Fifteen.’

‘And are you quite sure your father is happy for you to be doing this?’ Margaret asked. ‘I had a son who would be about your age now and I’m not sure I’d have wanted him turning up at a place where he knew nobody, looking for a job?’

His face darkened. ‘I can’t work in that shop every day for the rest of my life, having the same conversations over and over with my dad. I love him, but I’ll do myself in.’

Margaret put her hands in her pockets. ‘Well I don’t think that will be necessary.’

She turned the corner and walked into the yard. A radio was playing ‘Love is All Around’ to the horses in their boxes but there wasn’t a groom in sight.

‘Typical,’ Margaret tutted, walking straight over to a handsome young horse waving his head at them.

‘This is Drivetime, my baby.’ She scratched the white flash on his nose. ‘He’s new here too and also like you – a bit impulsive. He’s not a big fan of people, particularly men, so don’t…’ the words died on her lips as Richard simply walked straight up to Drivetime, who regarded the boy with liquid chocolate eyes before pushing his nose against the flat of Richard’s outstretched hand, butting it gently.

‘Reminding you he’s boss… but he likes you.’ She watched the horse and boy with interest.

‘I like him too.’ Richard looked at him in admiration. ‘He’s beautiful.’

‘Right, let’s be having you, you nasty little…’ Tansy called out as she rounded the corner carrying a bucket. She stopped dead at the sight of her boss.

‘Good morning, Lady Fawkes,’ she stammered, her eyes widening as she took in Richard scratching Drivetime’s nose.

‘I know, no biting!’ Margaret remarked. ‘This is Richard, he’s going to be working here now and, by the look of it, I suggest you hand over care of Drivetime to him – under your supervision, of course. Train him up to your high standards, please, Tansy, and I’ll ask Mrs Brooks to send someone down to sort out where he’s going to sleep.’ She eyed Richard. ‘We might put you in the separate cottage.

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