Read Langdown Manor for Free Online

to stroke her nose. She stamped her foot and shook my hand away to nuzzle my palm. I saw Fred smile. ‘What is it?’ I said.
    â€˜I can see you like horses,’ he replied. ‘You can always tell. Something about the way you touch them.’
    I smiled back. ‘What’s her name?’ I asked.
    â€˜Starshine,’ he said.
    I laughed. ‘Of course.’ Fred was easy to talk to, I thought. I found it hard to remember that he was a servant.
    I ran a hand down the horse’s nose and touched the star. ‘Hello, Starshine, I’m Polly,’ I said. The name slipped out automatically.
    Fred looked perplexed. ‘Polly is a sort of nickname,’ I explained. ‘It’s what my friends call me. Father said Penelope was too grand a name for a tomboy like me. So I became Polly. And you and I,’ I turned back to Starshine, ‘are going to be friends, aren’t we?’ I stroked her mane. ‘Fred, would you saddle her for me, so that I can ride her?’
    â€˜What now, miss? I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’ve already taken her out this afternoon.’
    â€˜Well, can I ride another horse then?’ I asked.
    He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, miss, I’ve had no instructions from the house that any of you young ladies are to ride this afternoon.’
    â€˜Does that matter?’ I exclaimed.
    â€˜I’m afraid it does,’ he said.
    I felt like crying with frustration. I’d put on my riding habit for nothing. All day I’d been looking forward to a ride. All Aunt ever did was put obstacles in my way. Yes, you may go to the stables, so long as you only look at the horses. I couldn’t even try appealing to her. She, Uncle and Arabella had gone out for a drive in the carriage and wouldn’t be back until tea. It would be dark by then. I stalked away angrily, but I wasn’t watching where I was going. Halfway across the yard I heard a shout and felt a hand grab my wrist, and pull me backwards. I tried to shake it off, but the grip was too firm.
    â€˜Sorry, about that, miss,’ Fred said breathlessly, releasing my wrist. ‘But I had to stop you before you stepped under that horse’s hooves. Didn’t you see her?’ He nodded his head. A few feet away, a young horse was walking round and round, dragging at her halter, fighting a lad for it. ‘That filly is a wild one, you never know where she will put her hooves next,’ he said.
    I felt a bit shaken, but I laughed. ‘Thank you, Fred,’ I said.
    â€˜She’s his lordship’s latest purchase,’ Fred said, admiringly. ‘But she needs a bit of handling. Nervous. His lordship hopes to race her at Ascot later this year.’ He hesitated. ‘Well, if you’re all right, miss, that lad needs help.’ He touched his cap and ran up to the boy’s side. I watched as they struggled with the horse. She was putting up quite a fight. I felt I knew how she felt.
    I went to find Clemmie. She was leaning over the edge of a stall, talking to her pony and stroking its nose. Miss Dunn was standing well back, glancing around nervously, as if afraid that a passing horse would kick her. ‘Has Fred found you a horse to ride?’ Clemmie asked. Neither of them had seen my narrow escape.
    â€˜He has,’ I said. ‘Her name is Starshine. She’s beautiful. But I can’t take her out today,’ I said crossly, ‘or any other horse.’ I still felt sore. Why hadn’t Aunt thought I might actually want to ride?
    â€˜Never mind, we’ll go out tomorrow,’ declared Clemmie. ‘It will be fun, won’t it, riding together. Usually Fred or one of the other stable boys takes me out. Arabella won’t – she doesn’t like horses.’
    That didn’t surprise me. I couldn’t imagine Arabella on a horse. And at least, I thought as we walked back to the house, there was one place at the