'Hewouldn'thavesentyouwithout.i.t.Howdidyouget.i.t?'

'Drivingmyhunters,'shesaidmatter-of-factly.'Alsomyshowhorsesandeventers.Anyquestions?'

Thesortofhorseboxesshewouldhavebeendrivinghadhome-from-homelargelivingquartersinfrontofthestalls,thenomadicluxurymotorsforeventingatBadmintonandBurleigh.Shehadtobeafamiliarfigureinthatworld,widelyrecognisabletotoomanypeopleforthepresentpurpose.

'PerhapsIoughttoknowyou?'Isuggested.

'Ishouldn'tthinkso.Idon'tgoracing.'

'Er,'Isaidmildly,'hereyou'dneedtobeabletofindtheracecourses.'

'Patricksaidyouwereboundtohaveamap.'

Patrick,Ithought,hadtakenleaveofhissenses.

Shewatchedmynodoubtobviousmisgivingswithcoolamus.e.m.e.nt.

'Myhorseboxesarebasictransport,'Isaid.'Nofridges,nocookers,n.o.bathrooms.'

'They'veMercedesengines,haven'tthey?'

Inodded,surprised.

'I'magooddriver.'

Ibelievedher.'Allright,then,'Isaid.

Ireflectedthatwhatevershemightlackasaninvestigator,Idefinitelydidneedanextrapairofhandsformywheels.WhatHarveandJoggerwouldmakeofherIdreadedtothink.

'Good,'shesaidprosaicallyandafterabriefsecond'spauseasked,'DoyoutakeHorseandHound?

Ifetchedthatweek'sasyetunreadcopyofthemagazinefromasidetableandhandedittoher,watchinga.s.sheflickedthroughtowardstheend,tothemanypagesofcla.s.sifiedadvertis.e.m.e.nts.Shecametothehorse-transportsectionwhereaboutonceamonthIadvertisedCroftRaceways,andtappedthepagewitharose-pinkfingernail.

'Patrickwantstoknowifyou'veseenthis?'

Itookthemagazinefromherandreadwhereshe'dpointed.Inanoutlined,single-column-widthadvertis.e.m.e.ntwerethesimplewords: TRANSPORTPROBLEMS?Wecanhelp.Anythingconsidered.

Afourthlinegaveatelephonenumber.

Ifrowned.'Yes,I'veseenthat.It'sinthetransportadsnowandthen.Ratherpointless,I'vethought.'

'Patrickwantsmetocheckitout.'

Noone,'Iobjected,'wouldadvertiseasmugglingservice.It'simpossible.'

'Whydon'twetry?'

Ipa.s.sedheracordlesstelephone.'Goahead.'

Shepressedthenumbers,listened,wrinkledhernoseandswitchedthephoneoff.

'Answeringmachine,'shereportedsuccinctly.'Leavenameandnumberandthey'llgetback.'

'Manorwoman?'

'Man.'

Welookedateachother.Ididn'tbelievetherewasanythingsinisterintheadvertis.e.m.e.nt,butIsaid,'PerhapsPatrickVenablescouldusehismuscleonHorseandHoundandfindoutwherethatadcomesfrom.'

Shenodded.'He'sdoingittomorrow.'

ImpresseddespitemydisbeliefIwentovertothedeskandconsultedthechart.

'I'veprobablygottwoboxesgoingtoTauntonracestomorrow,'Itoldher.'MywomandriverPat'sgottheflu.Youcantakeherbox.Itcancarryfourhorsesbutyou'reonlylikelytohavethree.YoucanfollowmyotherboxtoTauntonsothatyouarriveattherightplaceattherighttime,andforthepick-upthisendI'llsendamancalledDavewithyou.Heknowsthestablethehorsesaregoingfrom.Afteryou'vecollectedthehorses,drophimbackatourbaseandfollowtheotherboxfromthenon.'

'Allright.'

'Itwouldbebetterifyoudidn'treportforworkinthatcaroutthere.'

Shegavemeaglimmeringsmile.'You'llhardlyknowmeinthemorning.AndwhatdoIcallyou?Sir?'

'Freddiewilldo.Andyou?'

'Nina.'

Shestoodup,tallandcomposed,everyinchtheoppositeofwhatIneeded.ThetriptoTaunton,Ithought,wouldbeherfirstandlast,especiallywhenitcametocleaningtheboxafterthereturnhome.Sheshookmyhand-herownwasfirmanddry-andwentunhurriedlyouttohercar.Ifollowedhertothedoorandwatchedthescarletexcitementdepartwithits.e.xpensivedistinctiveMercedespurr.

Noone,Ireflected,hadmentionedpay.RosewouldwanttoknowwhatI'dagreed.NotevenundercovermissionsfortheJockeyClubcouldbeconductedwithoutubiquitouspaperwork.

Sundayswerealwayscomparativelyquiet,businesswise,withrarelyasmanyashalfthefleetontheroad.ThatparticularSunday,thedrivershortageposingnoproblem,Harve,JoggerandDavecouldalltaketheiraccustomeddayoff,alongwithabunchofothers.MostofthedriverslikedSat.u.r.dayandSundayworkastheywerepaidmoreforweekends,butIwasluckyingeneralwithallofthemasateam,astheyhatedtoseeworkgotorivalfirmsandwoulddriveontheirallotteddaysofftoprevent.i.t.Accordingtothelaw,theirhoursandcompulsoryrestperiodswerestrictlysetout:IsometimeshaddifficultypersuadingthemthatIcouldbeprosecutediftheybenttherulestoofar.

Likemostjobsinracing,drivinghorseboxeswasmoreawayoflifethansimplyameansofearningalivingand,asaresult,onlypeoplewhoenjoyedit,didit.Staminawasessential,alsogoodhumourandadaptability.Bretthadbeenamistake.

Thenewsofhisleavinghadspreadalreadythroughtheracinggrapevine,andbeforeeleventhatmorningtwoapplicantshadphonedforhisjob.Iturnedthembothdown:onehadworkedfortoomanyotherfirms,theotherwasoversixty,toooldalreadyfortheintensephysicaldemandsandnogoodasalong-termprospect.

IphonedHarveandtoldhimI'dengagedatemporarywomandrivertotakePat'splaceuntilshewaswellagain.ShewouldbedoingtheTauntonrunplannedforPat.

'Good,'Harvesaid,unsuspecting.

Sofar,theweekaheadlookedlessbusythantheonejustcompleted,notabadthinginthecirc.u.mstances.IwouldbeabletogotoCheltenhamracesinspectatorcomfort,towatchotherluckyslobswintheGoldCupandsmashtheircollarbones.

JerichoRichonthetelephonebouncedmeoutofunprofitableregrets.

'YougotmyfilliestoNewmarketokay,then,'heshouted.Yes,Jericho,'Iheldthereceiveraninchfrommyear.

'IexpectyouknowIcheckedeverythinginyouroffice.Agoodjobwelldone,I'llsaythatforyou.'

Goodgrief,Ithought.Theheavenswouldfall.

I'vegotadaughter,'hesaidloudly,yes,I'vemetherattheraces.'

'She'sboughtashowjumper,somed.a.m.nedfancyname.Can'trememberit.It'sinFrance.Sendaboxforit,w.i.l.l.you?'

'Pleasure,Jericho.Whenandwherefrom?'

'She'lltellyou.Giveherabuzz.IsaidI'dpayforthetransportifitwasyouwhofetchedit,soshe'sdoingyouthehonour.'Helaughed,fortissimobutforhimalmostmellow.'Don'tsendthatdriver,though.Thatonethatpickedupthehitchhiker.'

'He'sleft,'Ia.s.suredhim.'Didn'tmygirlstellyou?'

'Well,yestheydid.'Hereadouthisdaughter'sphonenumber.'Giveherabuzznow.Notimelikethepresent.'

'Thanks,Jericho.'

Ibuzzedthedaughterasdirectedandbeganonthedetailsoftheshowjumper:age,s.e.x,colour,value,allfortheagentswhowouldarrangethepaperworkforthehorse,andovernightprovisionforthedriver.Shesoundedstraightforwardandlessfussythanherfather,merelyaskingmetocompletethetransfera.s.soonasIcoulda.s.sheneededtopractisebeforetheshow-jumpingseasonstarted.ShegavemeanaddressandphonenumberinFranceandaskedifIcouldarrangeforagroomtotraveloverwiththehorse.

'Icouldprovideagoodmanfromhere,'Isuggested.'OneItrust.'

'Yes.Great.Sendthebilltomyfather.'

IsaidIwouldand,todohimjustice,JerichoRichwasapromptpayer.MostlyIbilledthetrainersforthetransportofalltheirrunners,thetrainersthenbillingtheindividualowners,butJerichoalwayswantedhisbillssentdirecttohimself.Jerichobelievedtrainerswouldchargehimmorethanthey'dpaid,allofapiecewithhisgeneralmistrustofanyoneworkingforhim.

Onthewhole,peopleaccusedothersofdoingwhattheywoulddothemselves.Dishonestybeganathome.

He'daccusedmeinhistimeoftakingbribesfromabookmakertoloseononeofhishurdlers.I'dtoldhimverypolitelythatIwouldn'trideforhimanymore,andaweeklater,asifnothinghadhappened,he'dofferedmeanenormousretainertorideallhisjumpersthenextseason.Ithadturnedoutprofitably:IputupwithhisyellingandhegavemelavishpresentswhenIwon.Apermanentstand-offperhapsdescribedourongoingrelations.

ItookaquicklookatthetimeandswitchedthephonethroughtoIsobel,whotookbookingsonSundayswhenIwasbusy.ThenIgotonwithsuchsmallthingsasdressingandtidyingandgoingoutintothegardentopickflowers.Thispeacefulactivitywastheresultofstrongpromptingsfrommyabsentsisterandbrotherwhoconsideredthatflowersshouldoccasionallybeputonourparents'grave.AsitwasI,theyoungest,whohadinheritedthefamilyhome,andasitwasIwholivednearthecemetery,theyfelt.i.tonlyrightandproperthat.i.twasIwhopickedtheflowersandputtheminplace.Thewholepoint,forthem,wasthattheflowersshouldcomefromtherightgarden.Boughtflowerswouldnotbethesame.

TherewaslittlebutdaffodilsinthefirstweekofMarch,thoughIscavengedalsosomecrocusesandanearlyhyacinthalongwithevergreensprigsofcupressus,anddrovethemtothegatesoftheorderlycemeteryonahillsidewherewe'dburiedtheparentswithintwoyearsofeachothersometimeago.

Actually,Inevermindedtheerrand.Thegravewashighonthehillb.u.t.theviewwasworththewalkupthere,andasIhadnosenseoftheirbeingaroundinanyway,Itendedtoleavetheflowersasthanksformyownsatisfactorychildhood,theirgift.

Theflowerswoulddie,ofcourse.Itwasdeliveringthemthatmattered.

MaudieWatermead'slunchbeganinspringsunshineinthegarden,withheryoungerchildrenandguestsbouncingonatrampolineandtheireldersplayingtennis.Stilltoochillyforstandingaroundin,theMarchairdrovefaint-heartsbackthroughthegardendoortothedrawing-roomtoenjoythebrightlogfireandMaudie'sideaofchampagnec.o.c.ktails,whichbeganwithangosturabittersonsugarlumpsandfizzedtothebrimwithcoldpinkbubbles.

BenjyandDotUsherwereplayinginlongtrousersonthehardcourt,arguingaboutb.a.l.l.sbeinginorout.Weengagedinunathleticmixeddoubles,DotandIbeingout-arguedbyBenjyandtheWatermeads'daughter,Tessa.BenjyandTessawereenjoyingtheirpartnershipinawaythathadDothissing,tomyprivateamus.e.m.e.ntandourpublicdefeat.

BenjyandTessa,asvictors,tookontheWatermeads'son,Ed,andMaudie'ssister,Lorna.DotglowereduntilIpersuadedherintothedrawing-room,wherethenumbershadswelledandthechatter-levelrisentothepointwhereindividualvoiceswerelostinconglomeratenoise.

Maudiehandedmeagla.s.sandgavemeasmilewiththefriendlyblueeyesthatasusualsetmethinkingpowerfullyadulterousthoughts.Thoroughlyawareofmydilemma,shewasforevertryingtotransfermyfeelingstohersisterLornawho,whilealikeinplatinumhair,shapelywaistandendlesslegs,simplylackedformeanythingbutphysicalattraction.Maudiewasfun,Lornawastroubled.Maudielaughed,Lornaearnestlychampionedpraiseworthycauses.Maudiecookedroastpotatoes,Lornaworriedaboutherweight.MaudiethoughtIwouldbegoodforLornabutIhadnointentionofbecominghertherapist:thatwaythreatenedboredomanddisaster.IthoughtLornawouldbeperfectforBruceFarway.

TheworthydoctorhimselfwasatthatmomentstandingnearthefirewithMaudie'shusband.ThebubblesintheFarwaygla.s.swerecolourless.Mineralwater,Isurmised.

Maudiefollowedmygazeandansweredmyunexpressedsurprise.

'MichaelthoughtthatasitlooksasifheintendstostayinPixhill,we'dbetterteachthegooddoctorthatwe'renotallroguesandfools.'

Ismiled.'He'llhavetroublebeingsuperciliouswithMichael,that'sforsure.'

'Don'tyoubelieveit.'

MyattentionmovedontowardsthewomannowtalkingtoDot,ayoungerwoman,blondelikeMaudie,blue-eyedlikeMaudie,lighthearted,lefthanded,apianistandthirty-eight.

'Doyouknowher?'Maudieasked,againfollowingmygaze.'SusanPalmerstone.Herfamilyareallheresomewhere.'

Inodded.'Iusedtorideherfather'shorses.'

'Didyou?It'seasytoforgetyouwereajockey.'

Likemanyflat-racingtrainers'wives,Maudieseldomwenttojumpmeetings.I'dcometoknowheronlythroughthetransport.

Fromacrosstheroom,SusanPalmerstonelookedinmydirectionandfinallywalkedover.

'h.e.l.lo,'shesaid.'Hugoandthechildrenarehere.'

'Isawthechildrenonthetrampoline.'

'Yes.'

Maudie,makingnothingmuchoftheexchange,wanderedovertoDot.

Susansaid,'Ididn'trealiseyou'dbehere.Wedon'tknowtheWatermeadsverywell.Iwouldhavesaidwecouldn'tcome.'

'Ofcoursenot.Itdoesn'tmatter.'

'No,but...someonetoldHugohecouldn'thaveabrown-eyedchildandhe'sbeenfussingabout.i.tforweeks.'

'Hugo'sagreen-eyedredhead.Hecanhaveanythingasathrowback.'

'IthoughtI'dbetterwarnyou.He'shalfwaytoobsessed.'

'OK.'.

ThetennisplayerscameinfromthegardenandalsoHugoPalmerstone,who'dbeenwatchingthechildren.ThroughthewindowIcouldseemydaughterstandingonthegra.s.s,armsakimbo,disparaginglycriticalofherstraight-hairedblondbrothers'bouncing.Cinders,mydaughter,hadbrowneyesanddarkcurlyhairlikemineandwasnineyearsold.

IwouldhavemarriedSusan.I'dlovedherandbeendevastatedwhenshechoseHugo,but.i.thadbeenalongtimeago.Nothingremainedoftheemotion.Itwasdifficult,even,torememberhowI'dfelt.Ididn'twantthelong-buriedpastcastingashadowoverthatchild'slife.

SusanmovedfrommysidethemomentHugoenteredtheroom,butnotbeforeherealisedwe'dbeentalkingtogether.His.e.xpressionashemadehiswaydirectlytomewasnotpromising.

'Comeoutside,'hesaidcurtly,stoppingayardaway.'Now.'

Icouldhaverefusedhimbut.i.thought,perhapswrongly,thatifIdidn'tgivehimtheopportunitytosaywhatheclearlyintendedtosayitcouldfesterinhismindanddoharmtohisfamily.AccordinglyIquietlyparkedmygla.s.sandfollowedhimoutontothelawn.

'Icouldkillyou,'hesaid.

Itwasaremarktowhichthereseemedtobenoanswer.WhenIsaidnothing,headdedbitterly,'Myb.l.o.o.d.yaunttoldmetoopenmyeyes.Myfather-in-law's.e.x-jockey!Takealookathim,shesaid.Dosomesums.Cinderswasbornsevenmonthsafteryourmarriage.Openyoureyes.'

'Youraunthasdoneyounoservice.'