Jump.

'Don't go. Your dad was in the pub, but he was going straight home to look after Etta,' lied Seth. '"I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?"' he murmured. The words always worked.

Next moment, he had taken her in his arms, warming her with the heat of his body, drawing her behind a hedge where they collapsed on a sodden bed of willow herb.

'Oh Trixie, Trixie, Trixie, my lovely water baby.' His practised hand unhooked her bra and unzipped her jeans and she was lost and a second later naked against the shocking-pink flowers. 'You are so beautiful,' Seth said truthfully.

There was no time or need for foreplay, such was their longing. But at the moment of bliss, as he drove deeply into her, she was distracted by a terrible screaming.

'What's that?'

'Hush, it's only Priceless, got some baby rabbit.'

'We must save it.' Trixie tried to leap up but Seth pushed her back.

'Not a hope, he'll rip it to shreds in an instant.' But as his lips stopped any further protest, Trixie realized that in his arms she was as helpless as that poor baby rabbit.

110.

Etta was in despair. She had visited her bungalow. Everything was wrecked: the red b.u.t.tonback chair, Sampson's king-sized bed, the sea-blue sofa off which Priceless had kicked everyone, the television, the ancient gramophone, all her books impossibly crinkled as though she'd dropped them in the bath, the Munnings of the mare and foal, which she'd known she could sell off if all else failed.

Suddenly 'Blot' and the tiny shady garden where she, Gwenny and Priceless had been happy and so many people, especially Valent, had dropped in, seemed immeasurably dear. So did her Polo, which she'd been forced to abandon in the road. Even if dried off it was most unlikely to pa.s.s its MOT.

Etta wished someone would b.u.t.ter her paws. Her mobile had vanished in the flood and no one knew she was now at Alan and Carrie's. Carrie, who'd whizzed down to a.s.sess the damage, was predictably unsympathetic.

'Don't know why you're upset, Mother, Martin and I made sure you were well insured. So you can replace everything with some nice stuff from IKEA and have a few bob left to spoil yourself.'

Etta was frantic to ring Valent, to hear his voice, to thank him, but when she finally screwed up enough courage, Bonny answered.

'He's busy,' she said icily. 'Hasn't he helped you enough, Etta? He doesn't need lascivious old "ladies",' deliberately Bonny put quotes round the word, 'invading his personal s.p.a.ce.'

As the rain stopped and the River Fleet slowly retreated, Willowwood started the ma.s.sive task of clearing up. After Bonny's cruelty, Etta was overwhelmed with grat.i.tude when a task force of Woody, Joey, Mop Idol, Tresa, Josh, Rafiq and Tommy descended on the bungalow like seven maids with seven mops, armed with buckets and steamers to clean the carpets and try to remove the foul-smelling mud and silt which coated everything.

She must pull herself together and think of other people. No one in Willowwood was untouched. Joey, she knew, had disastrous gambling debts, and Mop Idol wouldn't get her new kitchen because the council didn't cough up for people who owned their own houses.

Chris and Chrissie had been badly flooded and with more and more people economizing and drinking at home, the takings were right down. Even though the council had agreed to repair the Salix Estate, the stress of water swirling round her knees had driven Woody's mother finally off her head, and Woody was facing the prospect of an expensive nursing home.

The Government, trumpeting the necessity for cuts in the health service, had cancelled Alban's latest quango. Ione meanwhile had invested so much in solar panelling, wind turbines, heat pumps and court battles to install them, it would be years before she recouped in saved energy. The tiny interest on their shared capital was dwindling. Rather than jeopardize the house, an always frugal Ione's first move had been to cut both Poc.o.c.k and Mop Idol down to two days a week.

More dramatically, Toby, supposedly on paternity leave, was seen on television at the Lords Test and promptly fired by Carrie. Phoebe as a result was milking it. She knew everyone in Willowwood would help Toby look after b.u.mp while she got a job. Painswick must be due for retirement any minute and Phoebe felt sure she could handle Marius better.

Carrie, with the collapse of the hedge fund market, was in real trouble, about to lose 500 million. Alan felt the sandbag of a rich wife was suddenly emptying. Without half of Carrie's income, his dreams of running off with Tilda were in tatters.

Tilda was having an even worse time, with her cla.s.sroom flooded, her library and computer wrecked. The money she'd saved to get her teeth fixed would have to go on repairing School Cottage, which s.h.a.gger had insufficiently insured for her. s.h.a.gger had also been foul to her because he felt she should have abandoned her school during the flood to s.h.i.+ft his furniture upstairs.

s.h.a.gger admittedly was not in an enviable position. His company was facing 150 million worth of claims for flood damage. Mrs Malmesbury was one of his clients and although her geese had been saved, her house had been trashed. The flood had overturned furniture and ripped plaster and pictures off the walls. Her ancient dachshund, after sailing round and round her flooded kitchen in his basket like a little boat on a rough sea, had happily been rescued by Mr Poc.o.c.k.

Gales had blown numerous slates off her roof, but when she came to claim the insurance set up by s.h.a.gger, a blonde with a laptop had rolled up and announced that the gale had been measured at 48 mph and they only paid out for gales above 48 mph.

'The only way to get anything these days is to be an unmarried mother with ten children and foreign,' grumbled Mrs Malmesbury.

Miss Painswick had not been badly flooded, thanks to Mr Poc.o.c.k's help, but she was now incensed that Ione had laid him off. He'd been so loyal, never taking holidays in the growing season.

Corinna had been so delighted by her notices in New York that she agreed to herself and Seth putting on an evening of Wilde and Shakespeare in the village hall to swell the flood victims' fund, to which Valent had already anonymously given half a million.

Trouble was in store, however, because Bonny, whose tour was ending and who wanted to raise her caring profile, was determined to join Seth and Corinna and wanted the evening to take place at Badger's Court. Seth, in a weak moment, because he wanted to sleep with her, had agreed to this.

The Major, terrified of being rumbled for taking bribes from Bolton, was boring everyone with his action group on preventable flooding. Direct Debbie was heartbroken because they were now a no-carp family and because a still incarcerated Chisolm had escaped and stripped her garden of any splash of colour.

The fete was cancelled, to everyone's relief except Bonny's, who had been going to open it and Greycoats and the church, who in a normal year would receive 3,000 each from the takings.

The only person to profit spiritually from the floods was Niall. Away on his month's loc.u.m in Suffolk, he had been replaced by a lady vicar, a windbag called Susan Burrows, who was immediately nicknamed Mrs Loc.u.m.

Because it was the only warm and dry place, the church was

So Craig Green had launched into 'O Wors.h.i.+p the King', but as the congregation shuffled to their feet, Mrs Loc.u.m shouted from the pulpit that she hadn't finished yet.

So the congregation sat down again, whereupon Ione bellowed, 'For G.o.d's sake get up or she'll start again.'

So Craig launched back into 'O Wors.h.i.+p the King' and Mrs Loc.u.m stormed out, refusing to hover in the porch and offer words of consolation to her flooded flock.

Having slagged off Niall for so long, Willowwood was now gagging for his return, particularly after he popped back in the middle of the month to commiserate with the villagers, many of whom were living in caravans, still with no water.

Finally, Amber was in despair. The doctors had p.r.o.nounced her fit once more. Riding out on Mrs Wilkinson towards the end of July, she noticed meadow browns crowding an amethyst sweep of thistles, enduring the p.r.i.c.kles in order to suck out the honeyed sweetness. Who would put up with her p.r.i.c.kly crosspatch nature and love her, when she was so unlovable? Amber knew she'd been vile to Tommy and b.i.t.c.hy to Rafiq, of whom she was now so jealous. He had become so much less sulky and unforthcoming, even managing a win on Family Dog, that lots of owners were asking for him personally to ride their horses when the yard threw off the shackles of foot and mouth and became operative again.

Amber had also written a hundred letters to Rogue thanking him for the freesias and torn them all up.

111.

It was a red-letter day for Throstledown when, on 9 August, the restrictions on animal movements were finally relaxed, which meant Marius could s.h.i.+ft his horses and Chisolm was allowed home from her priest's hole, to the ecstasy of Mrs Wilkinson. Chisolm's little tail didn't stop waggling as she rushed round the yard greeting her human, canine and equine friends, disappearing into the bushes with Horace the Shetland before rus.h.i.+ng back to Mrs Wilkinson.

A mad scramble ensued to get the horses match-fit for the next season. Valent's rescue of Mrs Wilkinson had attracted a huge amount of publicity for Mrs Wilkinson's trainer, and three new owners had decided to send him a total of ten horses. One, a beautiful chestnut mare called Miller's Daughter, arrived ahead of the others.

Miss Painswick had just sent out the invitations for an owners' lunch and a parade of the horses in early September, when it was discovered Miller's Daughter had a cough, a running nose and scoped dirty, indicating an illness.

Summoned, Charlie Radcliffe shook his head.

'Sorry, Marius. You'll be off for two months at least.'

Within a couple of days, every horse in the yard was coughing. The new owners had to be warned to keep their horses away, and because they wanted to run them, they took them to other trainers. Except for Miller's Daughter, who had to remain at Throstledown until she was no longer infectious. Her owner, a comely blonde called Alex Winters, wasn't nearly apologetic enough that she had grounded Marius's yard. Judging by the speed with which she'd taken her other horses to Harvey-Holden, Marius wondered if Miller's Daughter had been fed in deliberately.

He was on the verge of suicide. He couldn't pay his staff and had little to feed his horses, except for the forage he'd got in early. That morning he'd had a foul letter from his bank manager, who was threatening to seize the yard. Marius couldn't ask Valent for any more money. He was acutely aware that Amber and Rafiq were in despair at having no rides. At least Rogue was getting plenty from Rupert Campbell-Black.

Marius was just waiting for Painswick to go home so he could get stuck into a bottle of whisky, but she was hanging around shuffling papers. He pretended to be glued to At the Races At the Races, which was showing a race in Saratoga, in which Rupert's grandson Eddie Alderton, on a black horse in a white bridle, was being ponied down to the start.

'Boy's alleged to be as good a rider as Rupert,' said Marius, turning up the sound. 'Go home, for G.o.d's sake.'

Miss Painswick walked over and turned off the television.

'I'd like to say something. But first I'd like you to pour me a large gla.s.s of whisky.'

'I need the whole bottle myself, just b.u.g.g.e.r off.'

'Don't swear, it doesn't help. I know how bad things are, I do the books.'

'I'm f.u.c.ked,' said Marius, getting out the whisky bottle.

'I may appear disapproving and frosty but I've enjoyed working for you, and I'd like to go on doing so.'

'I said I'm f.u.c.ked, so you can't.'

Any good trainer always looks tired. Marius looked near death, black hair nearly all grey now, hollow cheeks, sunken, bloodshot eyes, teeth savaging his lower lip.

'You poor boy,' said Painswick, 'I know how hard you've tried. Things will pick up. I'm prepared to work for nothing until you get straight.'

Marius's hand trembled as he handed her a gla.s.s of neat whisky.

'That's amazingly kind.'

'I also have a few savings. You're welcome to those if you'd like them. I'd like to help out. With the floods I'm not sure how many of Mrs Wilkinson's syndicate are going to be able to pay her training fees.'

Marius slumped on to the sofa, narrowly missing Mistletoe, who jumped up and tried to lick his face, which was now in his hands.

'That is so incredibly kind, Miss P. I can't believe it when I've been so persistently b.l.o.o.d.y to you. If I could not pay you until the b.l.o.o.d.y cough's gone, and perhaps borrow a few grand?'

How could she have said these things, handing over her savings, wondered Painswick as she walked slowly home. Awaiting her on the doormat was a letter from her insurance company saying they couldn't pay her for any flood damage because they'd gone into receivers.h.i.+p.

Miss Painswick was always depressed at the beginning of September. The turning trees, reddening apples and traveller's joy foaming like sherbet along the hedgerows reminded her of returning to Bagley Hall to work for her beloved Hengist Brett-Taylor.

Poc.o.c.k was also depressed to have only two days' work a week. Men with spare time on their hands, however, become bossy. Poc.o.c.k consequently started nagging Miss Painswick to rid Ivy Cottage of the ivy which encased it, darkening its rooms by growing over its lattice windows and even creeping inside bathrooms and landing windows.

'It'll pull out the brickwork, like chewing gum pulls out your stoppings,' he nagged yet again when he paused to pa.s.s the time of day as Miss Painswick dead-headed the roses in her front garden.

'But it's called Ivy Cottage.'

'I've lived in Willowwood since the war, place didn't always have that weight of ivy. Pretty cottage underneath.'

'I'm perfectly satisfied,' said a nettled Painswick.

'If you ever wanted to sell it, or raise a mortgage on it, it'd be much easier with the ivy off. If you don't like it bare you could always grow up a honeysuckle or a nice red rose.'

The smothering dark ivy, Poc.o.c.k reflected, was rather like Miss Painswick's clothes: dark tent dresses, loosely cut coats and skirts, only occasionally brightened by a bright hat or Hengist's green and blue scarf, clothes which so concealed her body that no one had any idea what her figure was like at all.

'I could take it off for you,' he offered. 'I'm free Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays now.'

'I'll think about it,' said Painswick.

Later she accosted Etta, weighed down from shopping in Larkminster, who since the Polo was grounded was walking back from the bus stop.

'Poc.o.c.k wants to take off the ivy.'

'He's probably right about it not doing the house any good,' pondered Etta.

'It might have gone too far and he might pull the whole thing down,' said Painswick.

Next moment, Ione, on a one-woman mission to save the planet, came by on her bike, trailing jute bags of organic goods.

'Hear you're taking off the ivy,' she yelled. 'Good of you to give Poc.o.c.k some work, but ivy does provide food for the bees and shelter for the birds. Ivy flowers are particularly good for late feeders in winter when there's not much food about. So think carefully about it,' and she pedalled on.

'Bossy old bag,' said Painswick with surprising ferocity. 'She didn't think carefully about cutting Harold's hours.'

They were joined by Alan, who'd been for an unlikely walk, with his s.h.i.+rt b.u.t.tons done up wrong. He urged Miss Painswick to get the ivy off, 'Poc.o.c.k's such an old pro,' and insisted on carrying Etta's shopping home.

'But what about the birds and the bees?' Etta asked him anxiously.

'I don't think Painswick knows much about them,' said Alan.

So Painswick gave Poc.o.c.k the go-ahead.

After a restless night, Painswick set out for Throstledown. Marius's remaining horses were out in the fields, shaking manes and tails, kicking irritably to drive away the flies from their bellies. Heavy rain in the night had bowed down the willows, so, like George Eliot's hair, their crinkly pale green tresses divided at the top to reveal yellow partings.

Half an hour later, Poc.o.c.k rolled up at Ivy Cottage, s.h.i.+nned up his ladder and began cutting back, tugging, pulling, clipping, sweating, swearing. By working frenziedly, he managed to get half the ivy off the first day and returned on Sat.u.r.day. Collecting a cup of tea and leaving Miss Painswick to scrub the kitchen floor, he was soon up his ladder, cutting and pulling, trying to swear less.

Tugging off the ivy which was threatening to invade a rather pretty bedroom window, he nearly fell off his ladder, for there, changing to go out after a vigorous morning's housework, was a naked Miss Painswick. Poc.o.c.k had to grab hold of a clump of ivy, for she had the most charming body, with full high b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and as she turned, a plump but firm bottom curving in at the waist. Leaning inwards, he discovered there was not a varicose vein in sight and her pubic hair was the softest mouse brown.

Scrambling down the ladder, a huge erection steepling his dungarees, Poc.o.c.k frantically pretended to be draining a cold cup of tea as Etta and Priceless arrived to take Joyce shopping.

Five minutes later, hearing excited squeaks of 'Joyce, Joyce,' Painswick ran out to find Etta admiring the cottage and Poc.o.c.k's work.

'Oh Joyce, the cottage looks so pretty and Harold's just unearthed the most charming little window upstairs.'

Painswick, primly dressed in her grey boxy jacket and straight skirt, stood back to look, her lips pressed ready to disapprove.

'It does look nice, very nice indeed. Thank you, Harold. You were quite right.'

'Not finished yet,' Poc.o.c.k smiled, showing several missing teeth.

As he finished stripping her house, he now dreamed of undressing her as well.

Poc.o.c.k wouldn't take any payment, so Painswick presented him with a lovely dark blue scarf she'd been knitting him to say thank you and invited him round for a drink the following afternoon.

Having invested in a couple of bottles of really good red, she spent a happy afternoon making canapes: asparagus rolls, smoked salmon sandwiches, cheese straws, mushroom vol-auvents, sweet potato wedges and little chicken kebabs, all laid out on a table spread with a pretty pale blue cloth.

On impulse, Miss Painswick removed all the photographs of Hengist Brett-Taylor and replaced them with vases of flowers from the garden. Then she settled down to read the Lady Lady and and Country Life Country Life. She loved working at Throstledown but it was nice to get away.