A Roll in the Hay, стр. 23
“It’s fine.” Susannah waved her hand, dismissing the whole topic as if it were just a delicate mist that had settled for a moment and then moved on. “Some people don’t get on with their in-laws. Mine want to rob me of every penny and drag my name through the mud in the process. It is what it is.”
“So, all lies, then?” Tess didn’t mean to sound hopeful; she swore she didn’t.
“Not all of it, no. Just the worst possible take on a set of facts, as usual. That’s all the media is now, really—a bunch of people trying to be the most controversial and bending the truth until it snaps.”
“I think I was right when I called you a cynic. And for what it’s worth, I’m sure nobody reads that stuff. Today’s news is tomorrow’s recycling and all that.”
“You don’t have to be nice to me because of some misguided idea about customer service. I’ll pay your bill regardless.”
“Do people only talk to you about money or something? A person could really take offence at how you think that’s all I care about. No, I get it, I’m just staff. I was only trying to make conversation, but I can get in my car and leave this to your actual vet anytime you like.”
Tess didn’t usually get this snippy, but the conversation with Caroline and all her ex’s half-assed self-pity was still ringing in her ears. That and some residual guilt for dropping Susannah’s name inappropriately a little while ago was making for a very odd mood all round.
“No, no. That won’t be necessary, sorry. I truly didn’t mean any offence. I…appreciate the company. It can feel like the ends of the earth out here sometimes.”
Tess nodded. “It always seemed to go on forever when I was growing up. Then I got on a bus and found out what distance really was.”
“You like to travel?”
“I was obsessed for a while.” Tess figured it was just making conversation. “And living in London, the world’s on your doorstep. A different trip every weekend, if you put everything you have into it.”
“Sounds nice. I always wanted to travel more. But responsibilities… It’s one week away in the summer each year, and that has to be enough.”
“More than some people get, I suppose.”
“Quite.” Susannah looked down at her hands, clasped loosely in her lap as she leaned against the wall near where Tess sat. “Do you always wear your hair like that?”
“Like what?” Tess moved a defensive hand up to her ponytail. “What’s wrong with it?”
“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. I just wondered if you ever wear it down. When I tie my hair up all day, it gets this line through it. It made me think of that.”
“Well, on workdays, yes. Trust me, you don’t want it falling in your face during surgery.”
“That makes sense.”
“So glad you approve, Your Ladyship. But on weekends, in the evenings? Depends on how I’m feeling, I guess. Or who I’m with.”
Susannah looked over at her then, and the way she raked her gaze up and down so slowly was an unasked question in its own right. Despite the urge to blurt something out, Tess stayed silent and just let it happen. That seemed to satisfy something in Susannah.
They sat for a companionable few minutes in silence, watching Billie Jean gingerly moving as little as possible. Before long, a flatbed truck came grunting along the road, towing a high silver horse box behind it.
Tess supposed she shouldn’t be surprised that Dave from the other day was the one driving. He’d already shown that he was loyal to the Karlson estate.
“Riding your horses too hard?” he joked with Susannah even as he went straight to Billie Jean to check her over. “Looking for a holiday, old girl?”
“Hey! She’s not that old,” Susannah said. “Thank you for doing this. My own grooms both have their hands full in the paddock. I didn’t want to leave her here waiting for them.” Susannah paused and glanced over to Tess, then back to Dave. “Oh, sorry, this is, uh—it’s Tess isn’t it?”
“We’ve met,” Tess replied, shaking Dave’s hand despite her annoyance about Susannah pretending to fumble for her name. Heaven forbid she be seen slumming it with the help, right? “I’ll leave you both to it. I’ll get my car and follow you back to the stables, if that’s okay?”
“Okay?” Dave answered, looking to Susannah for confirmation. “She’ll be good?”
“As long as you two can get her in the box between you. If not, I can stay here and help,” Tess said.
Susannah wasn’t looking at her anymore. “No, we’ll manage. You’re right, you should go and get your car.”
Tess trudged off to do exactly that, getting another burst of unplanned exercise as she jogged up the long track. At least this job meant she wouldn’t need a gym membership.
By the time she got her car back down the lane, still a little out of breath, the horse box was loaded and ready. Like a strange little procession, they set off for the estate and its practically mythical stables.
They seemed to cover half of the Scottish Borders getting back. If she’d known, Tess might have asked for snacks and a pee break. She parked in front of the house and jumped out, ready to see what other fine horses might be stashed away up here. It was only when she turned into the courtyard that the full scale of the Midsummer Estate hit her.
This place was massive. Huge. Buckingham Palace wished it had grounds like these. The whole village could have fit in it fifty times over and still had room for a second pub. Tess let out a low whistle without quite