Page 97 of A Change of Location
“I was referring to Meg. Shona and I gave both horses a wash yesterday and kept them blanketed when we stabled them. I curried Meg’s mane and rubbed baby powder on her socks to whiten them, like I was preparing her for the show ring.”
“When her owner leaves boarding school, she’ll be more interested in boys than ponies. Why don’t you offer to buy Meg?”
“I’ve considered it. She’s a dream to ride. And perfect for Chloe’s lessons.”
“Did the Ellistons enjoy their seaside holiday?”
“I should say so. Jack’s been in quite a cheery mood since he came back. I reckon he’s relieved Andy Riddell and I managed not to burn down The Peacock. And the takings were good.”
“Any developments to report?”
“With Jack?” Poppy shrugged. “Nothing’s changed. For the better part of a week, I proved myself a trustworthy and reliable temporary pub manager. He’s still older than me, without a clue how I feel.”
“This isn’t the eighteenth century,” Hannah replied. “Be proactive. Tell him.”
“And risk rejection? I think not.” Poppy went quiet, but not for long. “When we were working together, Andy was really, really weird. More dejected than usual. One night, after dropping a pint glass, he was practically in tears. While we cleaned up the mess, he admitted he was responsible for Millie’s injury.”
“I’m glad he told you. How did it happen?”
“He’d taken out his dad’s quad bike, without permission. Millie was in the field and he called her over to race him. When he was doing a wheelie, the daft kid, the tire struck her leg hard and she went down. He was so scared he’d be found out that he took the bike to the shed first. By the time he went back to check on Millie, you and Mart had taken her to the vet.”
“You must know why he kept quiet so long. He thought you’d be furious.”
“What would be the point? I reminded him that if he’d fallen off, he could’ve been very badly hurt as well. He’s been saving up his wages to reimburse me for Millie’s operation, but I can’t take his money. Instead, he’s going to walk Millie after school, before he has to be at the pub.”
“Community service,” Hannah said approvingly. Chase’s post-prison experience was evidence of its many benefits.
“And he’ll come to the estate office at weekends to study. He needs to get good marks his GCSEs. Especially now that he’s thinking he wants to be a vet. I had to answer a lot of questions about Millie’s surgery.” Poppy peered past the assembled spectators. “Isobel’s here. Looking quite hearty, too. Let’s say hello.”
The older woman greeted them warmly.
“Does Martin know you’re breaking quarantine?” Hannah asked.
“I promised to remain outdoors and keep my distance. He brought Caroline to Holly Cottage last week and prepared dinner for us. She told us about learning how to ride on the sidesaddle, and invited me to watch the filming. Ron drove me over and will take me home when I’m ready.”
Hannah’s smile wavered. Martin and the leading lady had eaten meals together on set and at the pub and on the terrace here at Stanwell. She’d taken him to a wedding. They visited his mother at Holly Cottage. He’d cooked for her.
“In that riding habit,” Isobel said, “she looks like she stepped out of a painting, doesn’t she?”
“Always,” Hannah acknowledged. Determined to say something nice, she added, “Her performance will force film critics to invent new forms of praise.”
If only Caroline was a bitch, she silently fumed, and an ego-maniacal diva. Then I could detest her as well as envying her for spending all her precious free time with Martin.
The leading actress was a firm favorite with everybody involved in the production. She’d made friends with some of the lowliest crew members, preferring their company to that of her co-star and their castmates. Instead of bemoaning protracted set-ups, she waited patiently under her caravan’s awning, studying her lines or knitting or playing solitaire on her phone. And chatting with anyone who passed by. Gorgeous, gregarious, gifted... no wonder Martin enjoyed her company.
“She had to overcome a significant amount of parental objection to her acting career,” Isobel said. “The Brydens were appalled when she left university for RADA.”
Fascinated by the complex mechanics of an action scene, Isobel remained until midday.
Caroline ruefully announced that if they kept her on Meg’s back any longer, she wouldn’t be capable of walking to her trailer to eat her lunch. Owen Parry pulled Lucas aside to give performance notes. For the duration of the one-sided conversation, the actor wore a sullen expression and tapped his riding crop against the top of one boot.
“I detect friction between the director and the leading man,” Hannah commented to Liz when their paths crossed.
“Owen wants to draw maximum passion and desperation from his performers. By speaking to Lucas and Caroline separately, he forces real-time reactions, unrehearsed.”
“Divide and conquer.”
“You’ve seen the dailies. Spine-tingling scenes, with depth and beauty. And that’s without editing. Or a musical score.”
