As Pips galloped across the fields, the wind streaming through her flowing hair, the farm labourers stopped their work to watch her. ‘There she goes,’ they said, smiling, for they were all, without exception, fond of the feisty, outspoken young woman. ‘It’s a pity’, they’d say, ‘that she won’t be the one to inherit the estate, though the son will be a good master, no doubt. But there’s just something about Miss Pips that has us all eating out of her hand.’
‘And just look at her on that horse. He’s a wild one.’
‘He matches her spirit,’ they’d laugh together and then return to their work with a smile on their faces for having seen her that morning.
Pips reined in, dismounted and walked beside Midnight for a while. It was unusually cool and breezy for July, but it was still not, Pips thought, a day for anyone to be thinking about plunging their country into conflict. Her thoughts turned to William. Whilst she did not agree with him, she could respect his feelings. He was a gentle soul and though he worked for the estate, his main work now was in the gardens of the house, the parkland and the stables when he was needed. She remembered how, as a youngster, he’d run from the sight of a pig being killed. They hadn’t been able to find him for hours and even now, he never wanted to be around when animals were killed or sent for slaughter. And war was a slaughter, however much anyone tried to glorify it. But there was one thing that William was good at and no one could deny it. He was clever with machinery of any kind and was in his element at harvest time when he was in sole charge of keeping the threshing engine going. He also kept Dr Maitland’s car in reliable working order and his eyes had lit up the day that Robert had ridden his Phelon & Moore motorcycle into the yard.
But what to do about him now? If his family didn’t understand him, then there was little chance that anyone else in the village would either. He was in for a tough time.
‘Oh, Midnight,’ she said, resting her cheek against the horse’s neck. ‘What are we to do about William? You’d tell me if you could, wouldn’t you, my beautiful boy?’
With a sigh, Pips mounted and turned her horse towards home.
Back in the yard, the stable lad was waiting for them.
‘I’ll groom him, Jake. I have some thinking to do and it always helps. Besides, it helps me bond with him.’
Jake, a thin, gawky boy, grinned. ‘I dun’t reckon you and this horse could be any closer. He idolizes you, Miss Pips.’ The young boy could have added, ‘Like we all do’, but was too shy to make such a bold remark. Instead, he said, ‘You’re the only one he’ll do anything for. He plays us up summat rotten when you’re not about.’
‘Do you, Midnight?’ she pretended to scold her horse. ‘We can’t have that sort of behaviour. Now, you be a good boy for Jake. You hear me?’
The horse harrumphed and pawed the ground, just as if he understood.
‘D’you want me to hold the rope for you, Miss?’
‘He’ll be fine. He’ll just stand, won’t you, boy?’
With a hoof pick, Pips removed all the dirt and small stones from Midnight’s hooves. Then, using different brushes in turn, she groomed him until his black coat was smooth and shining. She sponged his face and then gently combed his mane and his tail.
‘There. You’ll do.’ She stood back to admire her handiwork. ‘What a handsome fellow you are. Jake will look after you now.’
With a final pat on the horse’s neck and a nod of thanks to Jake, Pips turned towards the house.
‘Giles has had a letter delivered this morning – by hand,’ Robert whispered on the Saturday morning, ‘but he’s disappeared up to his room to read it. I don’t like to ask.’
‘Well, I will,’ Pips said. She ran lightly up the central staircase to the first floor and turned to the left to the guest room where Giles was sleeping. It was the bedroom they called the Tiger Room, with a four-poster bed, red drapes and curtains and a patterned carpet. Nearby was a dressing room for the comfort of their guests. She rapped sharply on the door.
‘Giles – are you there?’
She heard movement in the room and a few seconds later, the door opened. He was holding a sheet of paper in his hand but, because his face was in shadow from the window behind him, she was unable to read his expression. As forthright as ever, she asked, ‘Have you had news about your position at the hospital?’
‘Yes – I have.’
‘And?’
‘I’ve been appointed to the post.’
Pips clapped her hands. ‘Oh, that’s marvellous. Congratulations. We must celebrate tonight.’ She paused, as he remained silent. ‘Aren’t you pleased?’
‘Yes – yes, of course I am.’
‘I feel there’s a “but”.’
‘It’s just that I can’t feel celebratory when there’s the threat of war hanging over us all.’
She put her head on one side and regarded him thoughtfully. ‘You know, what Robert said the other night sounds eminently sensible to me. Perhaps you should both carry on with your careers as planned until we know exactly what is happening. Even if war is declared, it might well be over in a few months, weeks even.’
He smiled thinly. ‘You’re right, of course.’
‘Please come down and tell the others about your success. They’ll be delighted.’ She held out her hand towards him and he took it. Together, still holding hands, they went downstairs and into the parlour where Henrietta was planning the day’s meals with Mrs Bentley, the cook. Edwin was opening up his Saturday morning surgery and three patients had already arrived at the rear door of the house.
‘Mother—’
Henrietta glanced up to see her daughter and their young house guest holding hands. Though not displeased, she was startled to see how quickly their friendship had developed. Could it be a real romance?
‘Sorry to interrupt, but Giles has wonderful news. He’s got the position at the hospital. Where’s Robert? We must tell him. I thought he was waiting for us in the hall, but he seems to have disappeared.’
Giles seemed slightly embarrassed by Pips’s enthusiasm, but was relieved when Henrietta smiled and said, ‘Then this calls for a celebration, my dears. As for Robert, he’s sitting in on your father’s surgery this morning. High time he got to know his future patients.’
Pips giggled. ‘He’s known most of them all his life.’
‘Yes.’ Henrietta pulled a face. ‘I suppose, in some ways, that might prove to be a disadvantage. Still, never mind about that now. We shall see in due course, no doubt, how it all works out.’ She turned to Giles. ‘Congratulations. I am delighted for you. And please, you must stay here as long as you want. When do you take up your position? You could live here, if you wanted.’
‘That’s very kind of you, Mrs Maitland, but I shall get lodgings near to the hospital, though I would very much like to visit you now and again on my days off.’
‘You’ll always be very welcome.’
Suddenly becoming aware that they were still holding hands, Pips and Giles let go of each other; reluctantly, it seemed to the hopeful mother.