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Chapter 6

Lisbeth was notified that the trust had approved the purchase of a pony for Lara to ride the grounds of Westmoreland. There were extensive horse trails winding through the estate, more than enough to keep a girl and her pony happy.

Lisbeth made her way to Westmoreland’s large oak barn where she knew Mr Bryant would be at this time of day cleaning the stables and providing fresh hay for the twenty thoroughbred horses owned by the de Neville estate.

‘Mr Bryant may I please have a word?’

‘Certainly, Ma’am.’

‘Firstly I think we should address each other by our Christian names at least while we are alone.’

‘Sounds fair to me, Lisbeth.’

‘Excellent, Peter. Now what I want to talk to you about is finding and acquiring a pony for young Lara.’

‘I see, do you have any particular breed in mind?’

‘I believe a Connemara pony would be an excellent choice.’

‘You’ve chosen well Lisbeth. The Connemara is an intelligent, manageable, and exceptionally kind pony. Perfect for a young beginner.’

‘The trust has allocated £200 for the pony and tack. Do you think that will be enough?’

‘That should just about cover it. So do you want me to go ahead and find a suitable animal?’

‘Yes please, I’m sure you’ll choose the right horse.’

A week had passed by when Lisbeth received a telephone call from Peter Bryant informing her of the purchase of a Connemara pony with a full tack for £180. Lisbeth was delighted. She wanted to keep it as a surprise for Lara but knew it would be difficult to keep the news to herself for too long.

The pony arrived at Westmoreland stables on Friday, September 7 and Peter housed it in a stall next to the most placid horse in the stables, Bonnie.

The next day the nanny suggested to Lara that they take a walk to the stables and say hello to the horses. This was a regular occurrence and one that Lara enjoyed immensely.

‘Nanny, take a look in this stall it seems there is a new pony.’

‘Oh isn’t it beautiful. I wonder if it’s a girl or a boy?’

‘Judging by its pretty face I’d guess it’s a girl.’

‘Can I pat it, Nanny?’

‘Why don’t I ask Mr Bryant to take it out of the stall then we can both pat it.’

‘Yes, that would be great.’

The caretaker put a bridle on the pony and led her out of the stall so Lara could get close. Both Peter and Lisbeth were touched by the affection Lara showed the pony.

‘What’s her name, Mr Bryant?’

‘Well, that depends on what you decide to call her.’

‘What does he mean, Nanny?’

‘He means that this is your pony darling. You choose a name.’

‘Mine, are you saying this is my pony?’

‘Yes that’s right, it’s yours.’

‘Mummy and Daddy promised me a pony when they came home from America. They must be home!’

Lara left her pony and ran out of the stables heading for the manor. She was sure her parents had returned from America – they weren’t in heaven after all. Lisbeth followed her into the house. The excited girl was running from room to room calling out for her mummy and daddy. Finally, she slumped on the floor crying.

‘Lara darling it’s all right Mummy and Daddy are still in heaven. They wanted you to have the pony so whenever you take her for a ride, you will think of them.’

‘I always think of them Nanny – I miss them.’

‘I know you do, we all do.’

Lisbeth stayed with Lara consoling her until she asked to see the pony again. They walked to the stables and up to the stall where the pony was once again housed.

‘I’m going to call her Princess, that’s what Daddy called me.’

‘That’s a lovely name she looks like a princess.

Lara and her nanny went riding through the estate at every possible opportunity, the young girl on Princess and Nanny on Bonnie.

Lara enjoyed her first year at St Leonards Girls School. She made many friends. However, her best friend remained Megan, who she met on her first day at school.

She was coping well with her lessons and she also excelled at sport. However, the orphan girl was still grieving for her parents.

December 1948

The students in Lara’s class put on a Christmas play for parents and family in mid-December. She played one of the three wise men and looked the part with colourful flowing robes and a full beard. Although she enjoyed being part of the pantomime, the young orphan was conscious that her Mummy and Daddy weren’t in the audience applauding. Her nanny attended, but it wasn’t quite the same.

St Leonards broke up for the Christmas holidays on December 20th and snow was falling when Lisbeth arrived in the estate’s car. Mr Spencer the Westmoreland driver opened the door for the young countess, and they made their way back to the estate.

‘So darling, are you looking forward to the holidays?’ asked Lisbeth.

‘I think so although I’ll miss seeing Megan and the other girls.’

‘Well, I have a surprise for you! Megan will be coming to visit us on Boxing Day and staying for a whole week.’

‘Really that would be wonderful, thank you, Nanny. We’ll be able to go riding together. The only thing is she won’t have her pony.’

‘Yes, she will. Her Daddy will be bringing her pony when he drops Megan off.’

‘That’s great1 I can hardly wait.’

December 25, 1948

A typical Christmas for Lara would encompass waking up constantly throughout the night, sneaking downstairs to check under the tree to see whether Santa had been. Finally, about 6 am she would discover many brightly wrapped presents; it was then that she would run back up the stairs knock on her parent’s bedroom door announcing excitedly that ‘Santa has been!’

This Christmas was different; Lara slept through the night and in the morning it was Lisbeth who knocked on her bedroom door to announce Santa had been.

Although she received some wonderful presents including a new saddle, she wasn’t that excited. Lisbeth sadly looked on knowing that this little girl would take some considerable time to get back to normal, whatever normal was.

Christmas lunch was served on the long table in the dining room and all the staff and their families attended making the occasion a joyous one.

December 26, 1948

Lara was more excited about Megan arriving than she had been about celebrating Christmas. She kept checking the driveway looking out for a car with a horse float. Finally, at 2 pm, Megan arrived. Both her father and Lisbeth were amused to see the two girls hugging each other and talking to each other at the same time. Lisbeth was sure not a single word was heard or understood by either of them.

Lisbeth suggested that the girls and Megan’s father, James Whitlock, should come into the house for afternoon tea. Lara and Megan couldn’t sit still and Lara asked Nanny if they could go outside to help put Megan’s pony in the stables. Peter Bryant had unloaded the pony called Star and was taking her to join Princess.

‘Hello, Mr Bryant, can we help you with Star?’

‘Yes, certainly Lara and who’s your little friend?’

‘This is my best friend Megan. She’s come to stay for a week. Star is her pony.’

‘Well, we better introduce Star to Princess.’

‘Yes, I hope they become good friends,’ said the excited girl.

The two girls and Peter led Star into the stables and placed her in the stall next to Princess.

‘Now young ladies, I think it best that we leave them like this until the morning. It’ll give them a little time to get acquainted. Tomorrow we’ll get them out, and you can go for a ride together.’

‘OK I can hardly wait,’ said Lara.

‘Either can I,’ agreed Megan.

The two friends returned to the house and Lara showed Megan where she would be sleeping. Lisbeth had arranged for an extra single bed to be moved into the bedroom.

After dinner, they shared a bath and dressed in their pyjamas ready for bed. Lisbeth came up to their room and read Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Both girls were asleep by the time Lisbeth finished the second chapter. Lisbeth looked down on the two sleeping beauties. She was so pleased Lara had met such a good friend after all she had been through.

The next morning after breakfast the two friends asked Lisbeth whether they could go riding. She agreed on the condition that she and Bonny accompany them.

The three horse lovers dressed in their riding outfits including helmets and made their way to the stables. Peter Bryant was mucking out the stalls.

‘Good morning, Mr Bryant. We’d like to take the ponies out for a ride. Would you be good enough to help the girl’s saddle up?’

‘Certainly, ma’am.’

Bryant led Princess out first. When she was saddled he tied her to a post and then fetched Star. She was a little jittery and difficult to saddle up. Megan went over and stroked the pony’s neck and nose. Star responded, calming down.

Once the three horses were saddled Mr Bryant assisted the two girls to mount their ponies, and Lisbeth led them out on Bonnie. She decided to take the trail which ran down by the river – it was a relatively easy ride.

Apparently, Princess resented Star being on her turf and she attempted to bite the other horse anytime Megan tried to ride side by side with Lara. Lisbeth suggested they ride single file to alleviate the problem. They were riding through a wooded section when Megan moved too close to Lara and Princess. The pony kicked Star in the chest with both hooves causing Megan’s mount to rear up. Megan lost her balance, falling off the pony. She was wearing her riding helmet but she hit her neck on a tree stump. Lisbeth dismounted immediately as did Lara: Megan was unconscious. Lisbeth checked her neck for a pulse. There was one albeit very faint.

‘Lara, you stay here with Megan just stroke her hair and keep talking to her. I’m going to ride back to the house and get help.’

‘Don’t be long.’

‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’

Lisbeth mounted Bonnie, riding as fast as she dared along the track. She arrived at Westmoreland hoping she would find Peter. He was working in the front garden.

‘Peter! Quick! Get the Land Rover. Megan’s had a fall and needs to get to the hospital as soon as possible.’

‘My God.’

They ran to the machinery shed and leapt into the Land Rover driving as fast as he could over the uneven terrain. Eventually they reached the two girls. Lara had her friend’s head in her lap, stroking her head and crying, pleading for Megan to wake up.

‘Lara we need to get Megan to the hospital quickly let me take her. You sit in the backseat,’ Lisbeth instructed.

‘I’ll tether the horses and return later to bring them back to the stable,’ said Peter.

Peter drove back to Westmoreland and then onto the recently opened Musgrove Park Hospital five miles away. On arrival, Lisbeth carried the still unconscious girl into the emergency ward. A doctor took her immediately, however, it was too late – Megan had died on the journey to the hospital. She was classified as ‘Dead On Arrival.’

The doctor who made the pronouncement listed her cause of death as a vertebral artery dissection that led to a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Lisbeth sat next to Lara in the emergency waiting room put her arm around the little girl and whispered in her ear that her best friend had gone to heaven.

Lara’s reaction was unexpected she got up and yelled.

‘It isn’t fair!’

She ran from the emergency room. Fortunately, Peter was having a cigarette outside on the footpath. He called out to her. She stopped and lay down on the nature strip, crying. Lisbeth appeared and again lay down beside her grieving charge trying to console the little girl. Lisbeth couldn’t care less that they were outside a busy hospital – Lara was her main concern.

Lisbeth and Peter managed to convince the grieving girl that they should go home. They drove the five miles listening to Lara sob – it was gut wrenching.

When they arrived, Lisbeth took Lara into the kitchen to make her chamomile tea. This scenario was becoming all too familiar; surely this was enough grief for a little girl to bear.

Peter returned to the scene of the accident with a horse-float loading the two ponies together; this could be a problem, he thought, but they were behaved. They possibly sensed that their animosity to each other had caused the accident.

Upon arrival at the manor, he noticed a police car parked outside the portico. He decided to take the ponies back to the stables; the police would seek him out if they needed to talk to him.

Lisbeth encouraged Lara to go to her room while the police interviewed her about the accident.

The police took Lisbeth’s statement and asked where the accident occurred. Lisbeth explained she couldn’t leave Lara alone but suggested Peter guide them to the scene.

The caretaker drove the two police officers in the Land Rover to the spot where Megan was thrown from her horse. After examining the area, they were satisfied with Lisbeth’s statement as to how the accident occurred.

The next task for the police was to notify Megan’s parents. This was a task most police dreaded.