Mrs. Malory and A Time To Die Read Online Free Page A

long-distance relationships never seem to work. That was more than a year ago and, as far as I know, he hasn’t found anyone since. I did wonder, though, when he said he was going to London, whether he was going to see her.
    Jo came in then and we all congratulated her on her first prize.
    “Yes, I’m really pleased with Starlight,” she said. “I think she’s going to be something special. Freddy Barnet—he’s one of the judges—he said that she’s really first class. You know him, Charlie; we met him at the Bath and West last year. Oh, thank you, Simon.” She turned and smiled at him as he handed her a drink. “Just what I needed! Liz is seeing to Starlight—we have to stay on for the President’s Cup—but I must go and take over when I’ve had some lunch. I couldn’t eat anything first thing—too nervous.”
    “Like a first night?” Rosemary suggested.
    “Oh, worse, though that was always bad enough. But even for quite a small show it’s worse because it’s the horse as well, not just you.”
    The mention of lunch reminded me that I had to go and find my family, so I got up.
    “I’d better come too,” Rosemary said, “and drag Jilly and the children away from those horses and get some food into them!”
    After lunch I wandered around for a bit, but quite soon I began to feel tired and was glad when Thea said, “I think Alice has had enough. Do you feel like coming away now?”
    When I got home and had fed the animals (if I’ve been out all day their reproach takes the form of constant and repeated demands for food), I went upstairs to look for my old tweed hacking jacket, which I had promised to give to Thea now that she’d started riding again. It was many years since I’d worn it and I finally ran it to earth at the back of the cupboard in the spare room. It really is amazing the things one comes across if you’re a hoarder like me. I found garments I’d had before Michael was born. Needless to say I couldn’t get into any of them. I left them in a pile on the bed so that I’d be obliged to pack them all up for the charity shop. I suppose they’re fashionable again by now—retro, I think the term is.
    I tried on the hacking jacket and found that, amazingly, it still fitted me, and for one mad moment I thought perhaps I might start riding again, but common sense prevailed and I decided I really must have it cleaned before handing it on to Thea. I noted with resignation that Foss had curled up and was resolutely asleep among the clothes on the bed, and went downstairs to make myself a cup of tea.
     
    A few days later I took the newly cleaned jacket round to Thea and asked her how she’d been getting on at the stables.
    “The first few times were agony afterwards,” she said. “All those muscles I haven’t used for years! But it’s fine now. Except that everything I learned now seems to be out of date.”
    “How could it be?” I asked.
    “You know how it was so important to use your knees to control your horse? Well, it isn’t now.”
    “Good heavens!”
    “No, now it seems you have to use the whole of your lower leg. Well, you can imagine how difficult that is. I mean, all your instincts are to do things the way you always have.”
    “How awful.”
    “I think I’m getting the hang of it now. I’ve been out a couple of times with Liz, who tactfully reminded me, and once with Jo, who yelled at me when I forgot!”
    I laughed. “At least Alice will be learning properly from scratch. Has she had any lessons yet?”
    “Yes, a couple. On a leading rein, of course, though Jo, who’s taking a real interest in her, thinks it won’t be long before she can go on her own in the ring. Oh, I must show you something.” She went away and came back with some very small jodhpurs and a pair of boots. “There! Aren’t they gorgeous! I know it was silly of me, but she’s so keen and was longing for the proper gear. Michael says I’m mad and we ought to wait and see how she gets on,