Page 94 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

Lepida left it at that, and poured more tea. ‘What about the evening lectures, then? Do you care to join me?’

‘Yes, please – if Aunt says I may.’

The leaves on the trees were July-thick and July-dark, the shadows deep and sharp under them. The tracks were dry, and the ruts had been beaten out into dust so Alice hardly needed to watch where Pharaoh was stepping any more: she could relax into his rocking canter and just enjoy the movement. She thought about Giles and her new sister-in-law, who would be in Italy by now. It seemed a waste to leave England just when England was at its best. She wondered how life would change when they came back. Rachel would be seventeen next month, so she supposed she would start going to parties, and be brought out next spring. Would Kitty chaperone her? Their mother had never shown any interest in them, or any desire for their company.

Pharaoh turned off onto the track of his own accord – he had been here several times now. She slowed him to a walk, and as they arrived in the yard, Dolly came bustling out with a single bark, announcing her. She freed her foot, unhooked her knee and slid off, stooping to caress Dolly’s head.

Axe came to the door. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ he said.

‘You don’t mind?’

‘Welcome,’ he said. ‘Want me to tie him up?’

‘I can do it.’ The rope halter was hanging from the ring for her. Axe went to get an armful of hay while she loosened the girths. When she turned round, the three fat puppies had come wobbling out into the yard and were approaching her with large, inefficient enthusiasm. She knelt to do them justice. They pawed at her and licked her fingers, nudged and snuffled and overbalanced. Dolly went off to sniff in the bushes. ‘She’s not interested in them any more,’ Alice said, as Axe came back.

‘She’s about sick of ’em,’ he said. ‘They’re always at her, trying to suckle. Time they was weaned.’

She watched the puppies tumbling over each other, play-biting. ‘And then you’ll be getting rid of them, I suppose?’

He regarded her indulgently. ‘They’ll go to good homes. Dolly’s famous hereabouts. Everyone’ll want one of her pups.’

‘Oh, good,’ Alice said, standing up and brushing off her skirt. ‘Only our head man Giddins got rid of some pups once, when Papa’s spaniel was visited by the wrong dog.’

‘Did you think I’d knock ’em on the head? My Dolly’s pups?’

‘No, of course you wouldn’t.’

‘Want to come in? I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘Thanks.’ She followed him into the dark, cool interior. There was a book on the table. ‘Oh, what are you reading?’ she said, picking it up.

‘It’s not mine,’ he said sharply. ‘It’s borrowed.’

She glanced at him, surprised. ‘I won’t hurt it. I know how to handle books.’

‘Course you do,’ he said, blushing slightly and looking away.

‘Gulliver’s Travels,’ she discovered. ‘It’s good, isn’t it? How far have you got? My favourite part is about the Houyhnhnms.’

‘I don’t know that bit. I’m only at the beginning, about the little people.’

‘Oh, the Houyhnhnms are a race of intelligent horses. The horses are the masters, and the humans are the slaves – and they’re horrible, primitive humans, too, nasty and violent. I’ve always thought Swift got that right – horses are so much more noble than us.’

He smiled faintly. ‘I don’t know about that. A horse’d never do you a favour, or look after you when you were sick.’

‘Who did you borrow it from? It’s a nice copy.’ She turned it over in her hands – leather-bound, gilded, with marbled end-papers. ‘We’ve got one at home just like this.’

‘I’m practising reading,’ he said, taking it from her and putting it on the dresser, out of the way. ‘I learned in school, but I was never quick at it. I’d like to read better so I can enjoy stories and such.’

‘Good for you,’ said Alice, not noticing that he hadn’t answered the question. ‘I love reading, though most of the books in our library are pretty boring. But there’s The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor. Have you read that? I’ll get it for you when you’ve finished Gulliver. No-one will notice – I’m the only person who goes into the library now Giles is away.’

‘Had any word from him?’ Axe asked, pouring water into the teapot.

‘No, but I wouldn’t expect to. People don’t write home from their honeymoons – or do they?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine.’

‘I expect they’d be too busy,’ Alice said. He sat down opposite her, and put milk into the cups. She was facing towards the range and noticed the ornament on the mantelpiece. ‘Will you tell me about your china shepherdess? I’ve been meaning to ask you.’