Jacinta had arrived back at Grimthorpe House late on Sunday night with her mother. When Alice-Miranda and the girls got back they’d explained to Mrs Howard what had happened and Mrs Howard telephoned Ambrosia to let her know that it was fine for Jacinta to stay with her for the evening but Jacinta had wanted to come back to school and Ambrosia needed some time on her own to get things sorted out.

Monday had been a busy day and in the evening after dinner the girls had been enlisted to make signs for the show. The dining room was covered in cardboard and marker pens and the girls were having a wonderful time being creative.

‘Is everything all right between you and your mother?’ Alice-Miranda asked Jacinta quietly as they worked on a sign for the flower show.

‘I suppose so. She’s really needy and now I’m worried about her being here all the time. It’s not much of a surprise though that Daddy has decided they should get a divorce – well, not to me, anyway. They’ve never liked each other all that much and my father has always been disappointed that I wasn’t a boy. I just can’t imagine Mother staying here forever though. The Village Women’s Association won’t exactly be her thing. But at least she finally told me the truth. I let her know how pathetic she was, sitting there in her bedroom bawling among the ball gowns.’

Alice-Miranda smiled at her friend. ‘Don’t be too hard on her, Jacinta. The break-up may have been quite a shock for your mother. I think she’s lucky to have you so close now.’

‘I suppose,’ Jacinta shrugged.

At 8 pm Mrs Howard asked the girls to finish the signs they were working on and head back to the boarding house. The poor woman looked dead on her feet and she was worried that the girls would be late getting to bed.

On Tuesday night there was napkin folding duty and on Wednesday the girls made decorations for Mrs Smith’s cafe, including a giant backdrop of a Parisian scene to hide the stage at the end of the pavilion. The excitement of the show was certainly building and all of the teachers were helping out too.

Alice-Miranda kept up her training at Chesterfield Downs and Mrs Smith kept up her baking. But on Thursday afternoon, when Mrs Smith picked Alice-Miranda up after her ride, instead of going straight back to school, she turned the Mini onto Downsfordvale Road and explained to Alice-Miranda that they were going to visit Miss Pepper. The girls were having a sausage sizzle for dinner back at school and Charlie and Billy were taking care of it, so it didn’t matter if they were a little late getting home.

‘I’m a terrible friend, Alice-Miranda,’ Mrs Smith informed her young charge.

‘Why do you say that?’ the girl asked.

‘I’ve only been to see Evelyn twice since she’s been in hospital,’ Mrs Smith sighed.

‘But you’ve done all that baking for her boys and I know you’ve been talking to her on the telephone quite a lot,’ Alice-Miranda pointed out. ‘I’m sure Miss Pepper knows that you’re a very good friend.’

Mrs Smith frowned. ‘That’s not what Myrtle Parker said. I know I’m just overreacting and I shouldn’t let her get to me but that woman loves to make trouble.’ Mrs Smith eased her foot off the accelerator as they reached the edge of the village.

She turned right into the hospital car park and drew into a spare spot.

‘I wish I’d known we were coming,’ Alice-Miranda said as they got out. ‘I’d have asked Mr Charles for some flowers.’

‘It’s all right, dear.’ Mrs Smith walked around to the back of the car and opened the tiny boot. ‘He gave me these.’ She pulled out a lovely bunch of roses with silver foil wrapped around the stems.

‘They’re gorgeous,’ Alice-Miranda exclaimed.

Once inside the hospital, Mrs Smith led Alice-Miranda through a long ward to the room at the very end of the corridor. She poked her head around the door. ‘Hello Ev, are you awake, dear?’

‘Awake and bored out of my mind,’ Evelyn Pepper replied.

Doreen Smith walked to the side of the bed and gave her friend a hug and kiss on the cheek. She handed her the roses.

‘Oh, these are lovely!’ Evelyn buried her nose into the centre of the blooms and sniffed. ‘Charlie’s handiwork, no doubt.’

Alice-Miranda stood beside Mrs Smith.

‘Hello Miss Pepper. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve come along. I was hoping to see you soon anyway. I’m . . .’

‘Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones,’ Evelyn said. ‘And I’m very glad that you came.’

‘I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me, Miss Pepper. I saw you earlier in the year when I was out riding my pony Bonaparte in the village,’ Alice-Miranda said.

‘Of course I remember you. I liked your pony too. He was a very sweet fellow,’ Evelyn replied.

‘I think you’re one of the only people who would say that about Bony, other than me,’ Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘And maybe Mr Boots. Bonaparte really likes him for some reason too.’

‘I feel as if I know you quite a bit already,’ said Evelyn. She grimaced and shifted in the bed.

‘Really?’ Alice-Miranda asked, noticing the woman’s discomfort. ‘Why is that?’

‘When Her Majesty was here last month, Dick and I were invited to dinner over at the house and she was regaling us with tales of your aunt’s birthday party and her wedding on the Octavia. She had us in stitches,’ Evelyn recalled. ‘She has a wicked sense of humour.’

‘Oh, we’ve have had a lot of fun with Aunty Gee this year,’ Alice-Miranda confirmed. ‘You should have seen her and Mrs Oliver when they took the speed boat out for a spin around the ship after the wedding. You would have thought they were both seventeen, not seventy.’

‘Come and sit down.’ Evelyn motioned at the two chairs either side of her bed. ‘You two are making the place look untidy.’

‘Is there anything I can get for you?’ Mrs Smith asked.

Evelyn licked her lips. ‘Actually, I’d love a cup of tea. I think there’s one of those dreadful machines just down the hall. Have one with me, Dor.’

‘I’ll be right back. And you can tell Miss Pepper all about Rockstar’s little romance with your Bonaparte,’ Mrs Smith told Alice-Miranda before exiting the room.

‘I think we’d call it a bromance,’ Alice-Miranda said.

‘Ahh,’ Evelyn nodded. ‘I’ve heard my Rockstar has a lovely new friend. So what else has been going on there? I’ve talked with the new lad Wally quite a bit but old Dick just seems put out that I’m here.’

Alice-Miranda told Miss Pepper all about the first day she and Millie went to visit Wally and how Bonaparte had got loose and charged into the stables. Wally was terrified about riding Rockstar at first but he had done marvellously. Miss Pepper agreed that if she’d been Wally she’d have been petrified too.

‘That horse has always been a one-woman animal, I’m afraid,’ Evelyn said. ‘I’m stunned that the lad has done so well. Sounds like we should keep him for sure.’

‘It’s wonderful that Rockstar can still run in the Queen’s Cup on Sunday,’ said Alice-Miranda happily.

‘I hope you’re right,’ Evelyn replied. ‘Dick doesn’t seem as keen as I’d hoped.’

Mrs Smith returned with two steaming cups of tea and a hot chocolate for Alice-Miranda. She placed Evelyn’s on the portable tray and wheeled it in close to her.

‘How are you feeling?’ she asked her friend.

‘I think I might be able to convince the doctor to let me go home for the Cup,’ Evelyn replied.

‘That’s great news,’ Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘Mr Wigglesworth was very concerned that they’d let you out too early and you’d overdo it.’

‘If he’s so concerned, he should have come to visit a little more frequently. The lousy so-and-so has only been here twice,’ said Evelyn, frowning. ‘And he spent the whole time telling me that he didn’t think Rockstar should run in the Cup. It was too much of a risk, blah, blah, blah. Anyone would think he didn’t want us to win it!’

‘I think he’s just worried about you, Ev, that’s all,’ Doreen said. ‘You know Dick.’ She shrugged.

‘That’s just it. I thought I did but he’s been behaving very strangely since I’ve been in here.’

‘What’s that you’ve been looking at?’ Doreen Smith picked up a real estate magazine sitting on the bedside table. ‘Are you buying a place?’

‘Yes. I think it’s high time I had my own little patch of ground. I’m getting too old for this game, Doreen,’ Evelyn Pepper declared. ‘I’ve found a lovely holding up north near a village called Penberthy Floss. I want to have a look at it once I’m out of here.’

‘That’s not far from where I live at Highton Hall. It’s the next village along from Highton Mill,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘It’s so pretty. But it’s a long way to drive to work each day.’

‘I’m rather hoping to retire,’ said Evelyn as she thumbed through the magazine and pointed at the cottage she had been talking about.

‘But what about Rockstar?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

‘He’ll be fine,’ Evelyn said. ‘If he wins on Sunday he’ll retire to stud anyway. I think it’s time to do some things for me.’

‘Of course you should,’ Mrs Smith said with a nod.

There was a memory tugging at the corner of Alice-Miranda’s mind. ‘But Mr Wigglesworth wouldn’t know what to do without you, Miss Pepper.’

‘Dick Wigglesworth will be fine without me. Besides, all bets are off unless Rockstar can bring home the Cup. It’s the last piece of silverware missing from Her Majesty’s trophy cabinet and I’ve promised myself I’ll get it for her. If he doesn’t win, then I’ll give it another year,’ Evelyn explained. ‘Anyway, I’ve spoken with Dick and he’s going to take Bonaparte to the showground for you in the morning, Alice-Miranda,’ Evelyn said.

‘Thank you, Ev,’ said Mrs Smith. ‘I was thinking I’d have to drive Alice-Miranda over to your place before dawn so she could get the pony ready in time and over to the ground.’

‘It’s the least we can do. I’m sure the only reason Rockstar’s not still having a mighty great sulk is because of Bonaparte. And Dick will float Bonaparte back to Chesterfield Downs on Friday evening and have him at the showground again on Saturday. I hope that’s all right, Alice-Miranda. I just don’t want to risk separating them at this stage. I’m planning to take Bony to the racetrack on Sunday too,’ Evelyn explained, ‘if that’s all right with you?’

‘That’s perfect, Miss Pepper,’ said Alice-Miranda. ‘I’m just glad that Bonaparte’s being a good friend.’

The trio chatted a while longer before Mrs Smith noticed that it was almost six and said they should be getting back. Alice-Miranda gave Miss Pepper a peck on the cheek. Mrs Smith did too.

‘See you on Sunday, Miss Pepper,’ Alice-Miranda said with a wave. ‘And good luck. I’m sure that Rockstar will do his best.’

‘And good luck to you for tomorrow, my dear. Give Bonaparte a special hug from me,’ Evelyn replied.