A Star Looks Down Page 12

  profession, touching lightly on Beth's future career and hinting, too,

  at their pleasant social lives in London, and having made his point he

  suggested to Beth that she might like to go and have a few words with

  Mrs Trugg, adding that he would be sure and let her know when the

  horse-box arrived.

  Beth almost laughed at his highhanded behaviour, but it gave her the

  opportunity of running down to the kitchen to wish her old friend

  goodbye.

  Truggy was waiting for her, making a cake on the scrubbed kitchen

  table.

  "Oh, Miss Beth," she said eagerly,

  "I did hope you'd be able to have a word with me-so lovely it is to see

  you again, dearie--and that nice gentleman, even if he is foreign.

  ' Beth perched on the table and began scraping the cake mixture from

  the bowl with a forefinger and licking it off.

  "Truggy, do you know what he's done?

  He's bought Sugar and Beauty we're waiting for transport for them he

  paid an unheard-of price for them.

  ' Her voice shook.

  "Truggy, Philip said he was going to send them to the knackers!

  ' "That's right.

  Miss Beth, and so he was.

  Wicked, I call it, after all these years but now they'll be safe.

  No heart, that stepbrother of yours, no heart at all.

  ' She looked so sad that Beth asked: "Truggy, when are you going to

  retire?

  ' "Well, love, I must wait until I can get my pension that's another

  year or more.

  ' "But, Truggy, why must you wait?

  Couldn't Philip give you your pension now and there's the lodge at the

  back gates Father promised you that.

  ' Mrs Trugg snorted.

  "That I know.

  Miss Beth, but what your dear father promised and what your stepbrother

  does are two different things.

  I'm not to have a pension nor get the lodge.

  It's let, anyway, to some fancy friends of his who pay him a good rent

  for it.

  ' "But, Truggy your pension he must give you one.

  ' "There's no must about it, dearie, but don't you worry your head

  about me.

  Tell me about Master William and that flat of yours and how came you

  here in the first place?

  ' Beth plunged into an account of William's | success and how

  comfortably they were living | in the flat, and if she painted their

  lives rather more vividly than they were, it was for Truggy's sake.

  But while she talked she was wondering what she could do to help her

  old friend; to speak to Philip or Margaret would be of no use at all;

  she would have to talk to William when she got back to London.

  She was still worrying about it when the sitting room bell jangled

  above the old-fashioned dresser--a signal that she should return to the

  sitting-room.

  "I must go, Truggy," she spoke reluctantly, 'but William and I will

  think of something-some way.

  .

  .

  ' She kissed Mrs Trugg and went back upstairs.

  The profess or got to his feet as she went in and greeted her with an

  easy: "Are you ready, dear girl?

  Jack has just arrived with the horse box, shall we see it loaded and be

  off ourselves?

  ' Beth made her brief farewells and watched as the profess or made his;

  he wasn't being arrogant--not quite, but he wasn't being more than

  coldly polite either and underneath his bland exterior she sensed

  contempt, and thought that Philip did too.

  Her stepbrother accompanied them to the stables, watching while Jack

  loaded Sugar and Beauty, and Beth, standing silently by the profess or,

  was terrified that at the last minute something would go wrong and

  Philip would refuse after all to let the profess or have them.

  She sighed loudly as the land rover with the horse box in tow,

  disappeared down the drive on its way to Caundle Bubb, and her

  companion, making a second, cursory leave of Philip, looked at her and

  smiled, although he didn't speak to her as they got into the car.

  It wasn't until they were driving through the village that he spoke.

  "Well, that was a near thing, wasn't it?

  ' and then, gently: "Don't cry.

  Miss Partridge.

  ' "The beast!

  ' said Beth on a furious sob.

  "The b-beast, he was going to have Sugar and Beauty put down--they've

  been there ever since I can remember--how could he be so cruel and

  callous--and that stable, it was awful.

  I could kill him!

  ' "Oh, indeed, so could I," the profess or spoke mildly, but all the

  same she believed him, 'but I fancy that with care and gentle exercise

  and a little attention from the vet, they will live for a number of

  years yet.

  ' Beth sniffed and mopped her eyes.

  "T'll never be able to thank you enough.

  You really do want them, don't you?

  They will do for the children?

  ' "Of course.

  I'm hoping that you will be able to give them their first lessons

  before you go back to St Elmer's.

  ' "That would be simply super.

  ' She relapsed into silence and began to, think about Mrs Trugg.

  "Something is worrying you?

  ' He gave her a long, sidelong glance; the violet eyes were quite

  something even in her blotchy face.

  "Tell me," he invited.

  It seemed the most natural thing in the world to take him at his

  word.

  "It's Truggy," she started, and out it all came; the lodge that Mrs

  Trugg wasn't to have after all; and no pension and nowhere to go, and

  how was she going to live on the OAP and the few pounds she had

  saved.

  None of it was very lucid, but he seemed to understand and his

  questions, though few, cleared up the muddled bits.

  "Quite shocking," he commented, and meant it, 'but there must be a

  solution, Elizabeth, and I have no doubt that we shall discover it.

  ' "Yes, I know, but I can't think what she would hate to come and live

  in London.

  I'll have to think of something.

  Thank you for being so kind about it.

  ' "There is a little time before your brother is likely to give her

  notice?

  ' "Oh, yes I believe so, even he wouldn't dare to give her a week's

  notice.

  ' "A great deal can be done in a week or two will you leave it to me,

  Beth, and try not to worry about it?

  ' "But I can't allow you.

  .

  .

  ' "Please?

  ' and when she nodded with a wonderful sense of relief: "Good, now let

  us have lunch.

  I promise you that when I have thought of something I will tell you at

  once.

  ' They lunched at Bowlish House in Shepton Mallett, at a table in one

  of the elegant windows overlooking the gardens, and although Beth

  hadn't felt hungry, she ate the beef olives Provencal and apple pie and

  cream with a healthy appetite, and, assured that it would not go to her

  head, drank a second glass of claret, while her companion talked

  cheerfully about the fun the children would have learning to ride, and

  egging her on in an unobtrusive manner to tell him about Beauty and

  Sugar and th
e fun she had had as a child.

  On the way back to Caundle Bubb she found herself feeling quite

  lighthearted; somehow the profess or had taken her worries on to his

  own broad shoulders and she had no doubt at all that he would resolve

  them for her.

  She hadn't felt so happy for years.

  CHAPTER SIX they all spent a glorious afternoon; there was no question

  of riding Beauty or Sugar right away, but for the moment at least the

  children were content to admire them, stroking their noses and offering

  sugar lumps while Beth, the profess or and Jack explained the fine

  points of grooming a horse and the intricacies of its harness, and when

  the vet arrived the whole party, by now augmented by the presence of

  Mevrouw Thor becke, crowded round and watched while he examined the two

  animals.

  He found nothing much wrong; elderly of course and neglected, but with

  good feeding and regular grooming and gentle exercise they should be

  good for several years yet.

  Reassured, everyone trooped in to tea, leaving Jack to settle his

  charges comfortably, and the rest of the day was spent, by the children

  at least, in planning a colourful and improbable future for themselves

  and their new pets.

  The success of Sunday was a foregone conclusion; the morning was

  largely spent hovering round the stables and the adjoining paddock,

  while Beth and Jack, with the children's enthusiastic assistance,

  groomed the animals.

  It was astonishing how quickly they 121 were recovering after barely

  one day's proper care, and on Monday, Beth promised, she would show the

  children how to harness Sugar and Beauty, and perhaps by the next day

  Sugar would be fit enough to ride.

  Lunch was a decidedly cheerful meal, with the children talking of

  nothing but horses.

  "Which reminds me," the profess or interpolated,

  "Prince and I had some exercise before breakfast, but he needs more--so

  do I--I shall take him out again this afternoon.

  Would you come with me, Beth?

  Kitty needs to stretch her legs too.

  We could go out towards Loving ton, along the bridle path.

  What do you say?

  ' She looked up from her trifle with a delighted face.

  "Oh, I'd love to, but I haven't ridden for years--is Kitty quiet?

  ' "I keep her specially for my girlfriends; some of them don't ride so

  very well," he declared solemnly, a remark which provoked shrieks of

  laughter from the children and a faint feeling of petulance in Beth.

  She had almost forgotten the joys of riding, and Kitty, quiet enough

  when she needed to be, had a nice turn of speed in the open country.

  Beth, riding more soberly beside the profess or on their way home,

  declared that she couldn't remember when she had enjoyed herself so

  much.

  She was very untidy by now, with her hair hanging around .

  her shoulders and no make-up to speak of; she was wearing slacks and a

  cotton sweater, neither of them new, and with no riding boots available

  she had put on a pair of borrowed Welling tons.

  The profess or glanced at her several times, smiling a little, and when

  they were within sight of Caundle Bubb remarked goodnaturedly: "I'm

  glad you have enjoyed yourself, Elizabeth, you are a very competent

  horsewoman.

  ' She turned to look at him.

  "Oh, so that's why you wanted me to come with you--to see if I would be

  safe with the children, I might have guessed.

  ' She didn't go on.

  His reason for wanting her company had been so obvious and she hadn't

  even thought of it; indeed, she had actually imagined that he had

  wished for her society.

  It was a lowering discovery.

  "Well, that was partly my reason, but only partly, little Partridge.

  It is a pity that I have already promised to ride with neighbours of

  ours tomorrow, for I should have enjoyed helping you with the children,

  but I shall be free in the afternoon and I wondered if we might all go

  to Cheddar Gorge; the children haven't been there and they will be

  going home in another week and I promised them a treat.

  Mar tina can come with us and if she is tired, she can stay in the car

  while we take the children into the caves.

  ' Beth knew the caves well.

  "They'll love that," she assured him warmly.

  "I think Go ugh's cave is the best, don't you, but do you suppose

  they'll want to see them all?

  ' "Very probably. It will probably be an exhausting afternoon, but I

  don't need to leave until after dinner, so we shan't have to hurry."

  She agreed soberly, thinking that in a week's time she would be going

  back to St Elmer's herself, a reflection which prompted her to ask:

  "When do you go back to Holland?" "Oh, very shortly." "For for good?"

  "Lord, no. I come over to England several times in a year, you know,

  though I don't believe that I am coming to London for quite some time

  not, that is, to lecture. Edinburgh, if my memory serves me right,

  Bristol and Birmingham. I shall spend a few days here, naturally and

  it is easy enough to come over for a week-end in the London house." He

  smiled at her. "You see, I am partly English, am I not?

  and I would wish to remain so." They were ambling up the drive to the

  house now and there was no need for her to answer him because the

  children, on the watch, had seen them and came pouring out to meet

  them.

  The next morning went too quickly; Sugar and Beauty, delighted to be

  among friends again, allowed themselves to be saddled and bridled and

  made much of, and then Beth mounted Dirk on Sugar, and herself on

  Beauty, ambled round the paddock, with the boy, impatient of the

  leading rein, urging her to go faster.

  "No," said Beth decisively, 'they've got to get quite fit first; you're

  doing splendidly, Dirk, but think of Sugar; he needs a few more days of

  rest.

  Ambling along like this won't hurt either of them and by the time

  they're quite fit, you'll be good enough to get up on Beauty.

  ' Dirk was good after that, puffing out his skinny chest, telling his

  brothers and sisters what Beth had said and so pleased with himself

  that he waited patiently while she took each of the other children in

  turn, and then allowed them all to help her groom the beasts.

  It was difficult to get them away from the stables; if it hadn't been

  for the prospect of the Cheddar Gorge, she fancied they would have been

  content to have stayed there all day.

  They were playing hide-and-seek in the garden when the profess or,

  riding Prince, came home, and Beth, waiting to be found, concealed

  behind a box hedge, had the leisure to study him as he came up the

  drive.

  He looked good in riding kit and he sat a horse as though he had been

  born to it--probably he had, she conceded.

  What was more, he was handsome enough, despite his craggy face, to make

  any girl look twice at him.

  She wondered why he hadn't married, and became so engrossed in this

  interesting fact that she hardly heard Hubert's voice asking his uncle

  if he had seen her, but she did hea
r the profess or's reply.

  "Oh, yes, I've seen her all right, though I imagine she thinks she is

  nicely hidden--I had a splendid view of her out of the corner of one

  eye.

  ' He leaned down as he spoke to take up Hubert and sit him before him

  on Prince and then wheel the horse so that Hubert could see her too,

  and set him down again to chase Beth delightedly into the house while

  he rode on towards the stables.

  They set out for the Cheddar Gorge after a hilarious lunch, with the

  children too excited to eat and even Mevrouw Thor becke in a gayer mood

  than Beth had seen her in.

  The Gorge looked beautiful and a little awe-inspiring in the April

  afternoon sun, and it was still too early in the year for there to be

  many visitors.

  The profess or slid the Citroen slowly downhill between the grey rocky