1935
The children were on summer break, Marguerite and John were thoroughly enjoying family life, it had been a long while since any turbulence had stirred their lives and all in all, they were enjoying a period of peaceful bliss. Soon, they were to host Veronica, Ned and their family for the summer, promising a lively household filled with family and friends.
In anticipation of the days ahead, Marguerite decided to take a few days for herself. She planned a brief trip to London to indulge in some shopping and meet up with her lady friends. It was a chance for her to enjoy a slice of city life and mentally prepare for the full house soon to ensue.
Marguerite appeared at the top of the grand staircase. She wore her summer travel outfit - a tailored dress in soft beige with short sleeves, perfect for the warm weather.
Just as she stepped off the last stair and began walking towards the doors, her daughter Juliette burst through them, tears streaming down her face, and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist.
"Juliette, my darling, what is it?" Marguerite asked.
Between sobs, Juliette managed to speak. "It's Daisy!"
Marguerite had been aware of Daisy's injury a few days earlier, knowing the difficult decision that awaited the poor pony, but she hadn't realized the moment would come so suddenly today. The news caught her off guard just as she was about to leave for London.
Taking Juliette's hand gently, Marguerite led her into the small library, perfect for a moment of privacy and comfort. They settled into a lounge chair by the window. The window was open, allowing a light breeze to flutter the curtains.
Juliette rested her head in Marguerite's lap, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Marguerite's hands tenderly stroked Juliette's hair as she murmured the words of comfort.
"Sometimes, when animals like Daisy are in a lot of pain that can't be fixed, we have to make the very hard choice to let them go. It's the most loving thing we can do, even though it makes us very sad. You know, Daisy led a truly beautiful life for a pony, and much of that beauty came from the love and care you gave her. Every morning you were there, making sure she had her favorite treats and fresh water. You brushed her coat until it gleamed in the sun. Because of you, her life was full of happiness. Every pat, every treat, every moment you spent with her added to her joy. She was lucky to have you, and I know she felt loved every single day. That's the most wonderful gift you could have given her."
Juliette smiled slightly, a sense of pride overcoming some of her grief.
The library door opened and the butler entered.
"Excuse me, my lady, the chauffeur has asked me to remind you that it is time to depart if you are to catch your train on time."
Marguerite looked down at Juliette, who was just beginning to find solace in her care. With a soft sigh, she made her decision. "I will need to skip this train and catch the next one. Please tell him that."
"Very well, my lady," the butler responded with a nod, then quietly exited the room.
Juliette lifted her head from Marguerite's lap. "Don't miss the train on my account. I am being silly."
"Darling, taking care of you and making sure you're alright is never silly. London can wait."
They remained in the library, the outside world momentarily forgotten as they continued to share stories and memories about Daisy, their beloved pony.
Isabelle, Juliette's twin sister, appeared, looking for them.
"Mother, weren't you supposed to go to London?"
"Yes, but they put Daisy to sleep." Marguerite explained.
"Oh." Isabelle uttered as she joined them by the window. "I'm so sorry. I loved that crazy pony, too. But, at least, Juliette can now ask Daddy to buy her a real horse."
"Certainly, a new horse cannot replace Daisy's place in our hearts." Marguerite said, "But your father and I have already talked about it. We both agreed that Juliette might be ready for a real horse, considering her riding skills."
The moment came for Marguerite to catch the next train. She stood, smoothing out the fabric of her dress.
"Alright, my girls, I need to get going. Be good to each other. Isabelle, I want you to be there for your sister, whatever she needs. This is a tough time for her."
She leaned down to give each of them a warm, reassuring hug.
"May I ride Dante while you're away?" Juliette asked.
"Of course, but make sure you use the full setup, never without a saddle."
Juliette nodded enthusiastically.
With a final wave and a heartfelt smile, Marguerite left the library.
Isabelle moved closer to Juliette and wrapped an arm around her.
"I'm really sorry about Daisy. Even though I'm not much for riding, she was a part of the family. If you want, we can go upstairs and play with the dolls. I'll let you pick any one you want."
"Thank you. I will, but later. I think I'm going to go outside now." Juliette replied.
As Juliette approached the stables, she found her father, lingering there long after the veterinarian had left. The loss of Daisy had hit him too, and he found solace in watching the stable hands care for the remaining horses and chatting with them about their well-being.
Archimedes, the seven-year-old Scottish Shepherd followed closely behind Juliette.
"Hey there, princess." John said. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm feeling better. I think I'll take Dante out for a run. Mother gave me permission."
"Would you like some company?" John offered.
"No. Not today. Don't take it the wrong way, but I'd rather be alone. Well, Archie and Dante will keep me company."
"Alright, if you say so. But don't go too far. Stay within the bounds of the estate. And don't be out for too long. I'm going to ask Molly to make us some chocolate pudding."
John helped Juliette mount Dante, not because she needed assistance, but because it was a father's instinct to help and protect his daughter.
As she burst out of the stable, the wind whipped through her hair. Archie raced alongside her. John watched the scene unfold with a swell of pride before turning back towards the house.
Every time Juliette rode, the world made sense again. In the horses, she saw an expression of her own restless spirit. She felt free, as if she could fly. It felt like pure power.
Dante was one of her favorite horses. The vast estate was their playground. As they galloped across fields and through patches of woodland, the troubles of the day seemed to dissolve into the air behind them.
Although she had promised her father that she wouldn't venture beyond the boundaries of their estate, there was only one place she wanted to be right now — The Standing Stones of Avebury.
Reaching the stones and dismounting Dante, Juliette walked the last few steps to the center of the circle. She laid her hand on one of the stones, feeling its cool, rough surface. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed the sense of peace that pervaded this place to touch her, soothing her spirit.
Juliette wandered among the stones for a while. Eventually, she sat down on the grass, leaning back against one of the stones. Archie came over and nestled beside her. She stroked his thick fur, then buried her face in it, drawing comfort from his loyal presence.
"My dear, poor Daisy... Goodbye may feel like forever. Farewell might seem like the end. But in my heart a memory stays, and there you will always remain."
Her eyes teared, and Archie, sensing her sadness, let out a compassionate whine.
A young, unfamiliar horse appeared at the edge of their peaceful scene. It was a brown horse with a distinctive white mark on its face. It approached them, stopping a fair distance away but close enough to catch Juliette's attention.
She stood up and took a few cautious steps towards the newcomer.
"Hello, there. Aren't you a marvelous thing?"
However, the horse didn't react as she had hoped. Suddenly, it reared up on its hind legs, clearly startled. Juliette instinctively stepped back as Archie barked at the sudden movement.
The young horse then turned and began to run away from them, its movements wild and unrestrained. It galloped across the field, kicking and bucking like a horse fresh out of the wild. Juliette watched in awe, her eyes wide with admiration for its spirited display.
"He's beautiful, isn't he?" She asked as she watched him.
At her side, Dante snorted jealously.
"Of course, not like you, Dante. But I've never seen him before, and I know all the horses around here. He must be new. I wonder whose he is."
After returning home, Juliette quickly changed into her indoor outfit. Feeling refreshed, she made her way to the large library where her family was gathered. William was sitting with his legs crossed on the sofa, engrossed in a book. Isabelle was already enjoying pudding.
John looked up as she entered. "Ah, there you are, Juliette. Just in time for the pudding. How was your ride?"
"It was perfectly lovely. We went to the standing stones."
"I thought we agreed to stay within the bounds of the estate."
"Yes, but it's the standing stones. It's the most special place, and we met a new horse there. He must be new because I have never seen him before. Oh, Daddy, he was magnificent. His movements were absolutely remarkable. He had this incredible extension in his trot, his legs reaching out in perfect harmony. And his canter was so powerful and controlled. When he jumped, it was like a professional jumper. He was the loveliest thing, you should have seen him!"
John smiled, grateful to see his daughter so animated and happy. "It sounds like an interesting encounter."
"Oh, it really was. I do hope to see him again."
Isabelle teased. "Sounds like you're in love."
"Maybe I am. It's not every day you see such a spirited horse just roaming free."
"How does it feel to be in love with a horse?" Isabelle asked.
Juliette put a hand to her chest. "Your heart just skips a beat."
"I wouldn't know. My heart only skips for boys." Isabelle said.
"Let's not be in any hurry about that," John said protectively. "The boys can wait a few years... A lot of years, in fact."