It ended in a series of trills; she did not know the words. At the head of the stairs she met Granton returning. Granton stood primly expressionless, waiting patiently for her to have done before venturing to speak.
Marcia completed her measure and broke off with a laugh. ‘Well, Granton, what’s the matter?’
‘Angelo has taken Master Gerald’s pony to Palestrina to be shod and both of the carriages are to be used, so the other men will be needed for them, and there isn’t any one left to ride with you.’
Marcia’s smile changed to a frown. ‘How stupid! Angelo has no business to go off without saying anything.’
‘Mr. Copley left orders for him to have the pony shod.’
‘He’s not Mr. Copley’s groom; he’s mine.’
‘Yes, miss,’ said Granton.
Marcia went on slowly downstairs, her frown gathering volume as she proceeded. She wished to take a horseback ride, and she wished nothing else for the moment. She foresaw that her aunt would propose that she ride into Tivoli and take tea with the contessa. If there was one thing she hated, it was to ride at a steady jog-trot beside the carriage; and if there was a second thing, it was to take tea with the contessa.
She heard Mrs. Copley’s and Gerald’s voices in the salon and she advanced to the doorway.
‘Aunt Katherine! I’m furious! This is the first time in four days that it has stopped raining long enough for me to go out, and I’m dying to take a gallop in the country. That miserable Angelo has gone off with Gerald’s pony, and there isn’t another man on the place that can go with me. You needn’t propose my riding into Tivoli to take tea with the contessa, for I won’t do it.’