***chapter 39***

***Companions***

Jimmy would never forget that first magical glimpse of Hepplethwaite's. The sadness that had weighed him down ever since the tragedy fell away like the shedding of a heavy cloak. He had always loved animals, but the Maddocks were adamant none would ever be kept on their vast London estate. Prudence, who had never been particularly fond of them to begin with, still unfairly blamed Magic for the accident that disfigured her nose and, illogically, held every dumb creature, horse or otherwise, personally responsible for everything wrong with the world.

Being swept up in the demands of his job as chauffeur, ferrying his employers to and fro all hours day and night, Jimmy had given little thought to how greatly he missed Whistledown and Follyfoot. It was only since Jack Stanford had been hired as assistant chauffeur that he had had time again to resume his enjoyment of long country walks.

London wasn't, and never could be, where his heart truly lay, with the quiet villages that dotted the old brown earth and green rolling hills of Yorkshire, but even here gems of nature could still be found. In the 1950s its long Roman roads, along which soldiers had marched and chariot wheels trundled, were not enough for the growing number of cars and more and more transport links were being built. A great many years ago, unsullied by exhaust fumes and belching smoke of factories, perhaps here had been some medieval farm where a chattering stream sparkled in the sun, or there some iron age settlement where offerings were made to gods and horses roamed wild and free. But the land was often nothing more now than a tangled mass of trees and stagnant waters.

Yet it had been on one such walk that Jimmy had happily stumbled on Hepplethwaite's several miles away. And, as always, from passing the time of day at the riding stables, making small talk with staff and riders, although, mindful of the Maddocks' high political importance and fabulous wealth, he never revealed much about himself, he returned home, lighter of heart.

Lord and Lady Maddocks however had been frantic. Arthur had happened to tap on the cottage door to present Jimmy with a rare plant that had been given him by a visiting diplomat, and, receiving no answer, began asking if anyone knew where he was. When he discovered nobody had seen him since he left early that morning in swirling snow, he and Prudence were convinced he'd slipped and broken his leg or stepped unwittingly on a glacial pond and fallen through or frozen to death in the middle of nowhere (the scenarios worsened with each passing minute) and they were just about to phone the police when young Jack Stanford returned, whistling happily.

Jack, who was the only one Jimmy had told about Hepplethwaite's, had been enjoying the rare treat of being "on call" but not required urgently and had spent a pleasant day with his girlfriend, rekindling the embers of what had seemed to be a dying romance. Fresh from his lover's arms, blissfully unaware of the lipstick smudge on his neck and congratulating himself on always keeping a packet of condoms handy in his pocket in case he "got lucky", he smiled broadly and smoothed back his hair, a man of the world. Jimmy would be back in no time, Jack predicted confidently, adding that his friend had been loath to tell Lord and Lady Maddocks about his visits for fear of upsetting them as he knew they both disliked horses.

Almost as if he'd just read an instruction to "enter stage left" Jimmy did indeed come through the gates at that very moment, warm winter scarf half masking his face, coat flying in the wind, flat cap pulled down low over his forehead, his boots leaving a trail of ridged footprints pressed into the icy blanket of white. Deep in thought, watching out for slippy patches, he was astonished when Lord and Lady Maddocks hurried towards him as fast as the treacherous snow underfoot would allow. Thanking Jack for his help and informing him he may take tomorrow off too, the predicted blizzard conditions making it too dangerous to drive, they linked Jimmy at either side. Arthur brushed away from his eye a hasty tear or two that had nothing to do with the bitter weather (although he would have you believe otherwise) and Prudence was, to Jimmy's bafflement, talking rapidly about an alarmingly long list of possible winter accidents. There and then, albeit with the very best of intentions, they made their friend promise that if he must go and see horses (Prudence shuddered at the very notion) he would at least never ride them.

"I couldn't bear it if a similar misfortune were to befall you," she declared, rubbing her much hated nose and sounding as though she had a very bad cold, her thickening nasal tones another legacy of the day Magic threw her whilst trying to avoid the swerving car and drunken pedestrian.

"Or worse," Arthur remarked.

Prudence squealed dramatically. "Darling! Don't! We should be thankful the brutes didn't have a chance to harm him. Jimmy, we must retire to the drawing room and toast your safe return."

It was in vain that Jimmy tried to explain the "brutes" were actually gentle giants who would give much love if only they were allowed to. It always was. Whenever he left for Hepplethwaite's, they urged him to "take great care" and fretted until his safe return.

Of course, as soon as she could walk and talk, Dora wanted to go with him but this was hardly surprising. Prudence and Arthur gave their only child everything money could buy, but as love and attention cost nothing they were at a loss to know which store they could purchase these priceless items from and, stocks being in very short supply, the little girl latched on to the one person who gave her both in abundance.

It was quite usual to see Dora, chatting excitedly as she clutched Jimmy's hand, on the way to his cottage where she had her own plot in the garden; or "helping" Ada bake, standing on a stool and covered in flour up to her elbows, while Jimmy, enjoying a cuppa and catching up on kitchen gossip, ensured she didn't topple the mixing bowl; or, strapped in her car seat, wearing her own pretend chauffeur hat and pretend chauffeur badge that Jimmy had made (and which she would have worn to bed if she only could) as they set off to fill up with petrol or to light a candle at his church.

The household had changed a good deal since Dora's arrival. Prudence's great friend Daphne, having time to kill as she waited for a large divorce settlement from her ex-husband, the Duke of Hunterwood**, had been hired as Nurse, and, as wealth and titles impressed Lord and Lady Maddocks more than experience and qualifications, this arrangement suited everyone except Dora. The Duchess, who found small children somewhat irritating, almost daily handed her charge over to Jimmy the moment she was washed, dressed and breakfasted (usually by one of the other house staff) and then went off to shop, wine or dine or to discuss complicated divorce matters with her lawyers. The various snobbish tutors employed to educate the privileged child were scandalized that said privileged child "hobnobbed with the under classes". But Lord and Lady Maddocks (and Daphne) were only too delighted to hand over responsibility and Jimmy and Dora were quite happy with the status quo.

Arthur and Prudence were at first extremely reluctant to allow their daughter to visit a riding stables, but they had told Jimmy they would consider the request.

"She is very fond of horses." Arthur, sitting up in bed, lay down his book and sighed. Affairs of the state were much easier to attend to than children. "And Jimmy thinks it would be good for her to spend some time with animals."

"Dora is given an expensive new toy every week yet one would think the child never owned any! Those dreadful chipped wooden horses go with her everywhere." Prudence, sitting at the dressing table, applying face cream and frowning at her nose, had, like her husband, either forgotten or was genuinely unaware that the figures were Beauty and Magic, and carved by Davey. (I like to think that, had they known, a later incident in this story would never have occurred.)

At last, they reached a compromise. Dora was permitted to go to Hepplethwaite's every Tuesday provided she NEVER rode a horse for fear of accidents and that nobody ever learnt her true identity or connections.

Still, the Maddocks need not have worried about ransom demands or political dishonour or whatever it was that troubled them. There was very little curiosity about Dora and Old Jim at Hepplethwaite's. The young people who worked there, being young, were far more interested in dating, dancing, music and fashion than exactly who their visitors were. They simply accepted Old Jim and Dora. Perhaps, as my father told me long ago, those who share a love of animals always do.

Oh, but then another thought strikes me! Hepplethwaite's HAD come to be in a very strange manner. A very strange manner indeed and I wonder if...No. I've done enough talking for now. I shall tell you all about it in the next chapter.