***Chapter 11***

***A Gathering Storm***

And so the golden light of summer turned to autumn and the brittle leaves of autumn swirled and fell till they lay buried beneath the harsh snows of winter. The dark of the morning sky hung late while the gloom of twilight fell early and a hush descended over Follyfoot Farm that touched the mood of all. There was a grave expression oftentimes now to be found on Arthur's once genial countenance and Prudence given to scowls and sighs that had little to do with her spoilt tantrums of old.

Matters were afoot, the staff whispered worriedly to one another. Perhaps being so close to death in the accident had caused it; perhaps money was tighter than it had been; perhaps they were simply growing apart. Perplexed as to what it could be, they minded their Ps and Qs much more carefully than they had done in the laissez-faire atmosphere that prevailed when the carefree, newly married young couple first stepped over the threshold of the manor house. Jimmy however, while obviously aware of the change in his employers, had too other things on his mind.

Without her mate, Beauty crumpled.

It was all the head groom could do to persuade her even to eat or drink. He spoke to her constantly. About his family. About his work around the Farm. About Magic. Her sad brown eyes would look at him as though she understood every word but she was a shadow of the proud, spirited creature she had once been.

Occasionally, some of his colleagues would bring treats and she would affectionately nuzzle their hands in gratitude, but Jimmy was the only one she brightened with and then only briefly. Davey, never known for his timekeeping, began arriving for work earlier and leaving later than usual and, because he steadfastly believed in never working a minute over the time he was paid for, would simply sit on an upturned tin bucket, elbows on knees, chin in hands, chatting to Jimmy as he fed Beauty or rubbed her down after a ride.

For Jimmy still took her for her daily exercise, riding over the same hills and fields where he, sometimes accompanied by Davey had often taken Beauty and Magic. Once he tried a different route, thinking a change of scenery might bring some light back into those soulful eyes, but the beautiful black horse came to a dead halt. He jumped anxiously down.

"What's wrong, girl?"

She looked at him with a look that tore his heart to shreds and her eyes spoke volumes.

Do you really need to ask? Have you forgotten Magic so soon?

They never took a different route again.

The accident had had a profound effect on Prudence, who unfairly blamed poor Beauty and Magic for something that would never have happened if a motorist hadn't swerved to try to avoid a man who had staggered all over the road, still drunk from the previous night's excesses. She was overly sensitive about her badly mis-shapen nose, broken when she was flung from her horse, and even more so when she learnt that surgery could only offer a 50/50 chance of success and there was a chance it may even worsen the problem.

Jimmy froze in horror when he collected the Maddocks from a hospital appointment (Eddie's rheumatism was becoming sometimes too painful for him to even undertake light duties and Jimmy was being required to chauffeur more and more) and Prudence ranted and raved about selling Beauty for horse-meat. But Arthur calmed her down and later sought out Jimmy, who was mucking out the stables. This was actually Davey's job, but Davey had sneaked off for a snooze, and, though he'd promised Jimmy he'd do the mucking out before he left and, unlike in the early days of their working relationship, never backtracked on promises anymore, Jimmy hated to be idle.

"My wife spoke in anger and haste and of course has no intention whatsoever of carrying out her threat. Beauty will remain with us for the foreseeable future although I'm afraid our horse-riding days are over. Other matters are paramount and could call us away at a moment's notice." Arthur absently patted the horse as he spoke, seeming distracted, which he quite often was of late. "And where, pray, is Davey? I haven't seen him in quite a while."

Jimmy thought fast. "Call of nature, sir."

"And, given the length of time he's been gone, no doubt decided to take the scenic route on the way back!" Arthur gave a half smile and shook his head, but made no further comment. It was a rare moment of humour from him these days. His shoulders hunched almost as soon as he turned away.

For the foreseeable future! It sounded as though there was no certainty. For Beauty's sake, Jimmy had to know. He took a deep breath. "Mr Maddocks, sir, I hope you don't mind my asking, but is something troubling you?"

Arthur turned and looked Jimmy square in the eye with such severity that for a terrifying few minutes he was sure he was to be fired on the spot for asking such a personal question.

"Yes," he said at last. "But what I'm about to tell you is in the strictest confidence. It must go no further."

"You have my word."

"Good enough." Arthur looked towards a winter-ravaged tree where a trilling robin soared into the yellow winter's sky, shaking small droplets of snow from the abandoned branch in its wake. He sighed heavily, grinding down snow with the heel of his boot.

"I fear there are changes on the way, Jimmy. Great changes. Being involved in Government affairs, Mrs Maddocks and I are at the very helm, so to speak. I spoke with Mr Baldwin only yesterday. It seems if talks break down at this crucial stage - and sadly each day that passes we are no nearer reaching a solution - there could well be a political unrest in Europe, the like of which has not been seen since the Great War."

A shiver ran down Jimmy's spine. His own father had been killed in the early days of the Great War; two older brothers he barely remembered had perished in the Battle of the Somme. Three times he had seen his mother break down after receiving the dreaded telegram. A neighbour, who's only son had lied about his age to run away to join the Army, drowned herself after hearing of his and her husband's deaths on the very same day. Another war and the pain it brought was too terrible even to contemplate.

"I wish there was something I could do, some way I could help you and Mrs Maddocks, sir…" he said dejectedly.

"In the fullness of time, there might well be. For now, we can only both hope and pray I am wrong." Arthur patted Beauty once more and headed back to the manor house like a man carrying the weight of the world.

The snow had begun to fall again even before he reached the path, flurrying around his coat and hat like ice cold tears.