My Name Is Rose by Sally Grindley Read Free Book Online Page B

He’s not too big and has a sweet temperament.’
    Rose was disappointed when she saw that Mrs Luca was pointing to a piebald pony, and wanted to tell her that she was perfectly capable of riding a much larger horse. She pulled a face, which Mrs Luca took to mean that she thought the pony was too big.
    â€˜Or this one, then,’ said Mrs Luca, moving to the next box, where another, smaller pony was shaking its head.
    Rose shrugged, losing interest, and saw a flash of irritation cross her guardian’s face.
    â€˜I’m doing my best here, Anna. Try to show some enthusiasm.’ Mrs Luca walked purposefully away from the boxes, before turning to say, ‘I’ll tell you what, you can ride each of the ponies and then make up your mind. Is that all right?’
    Rose nodded and made an effort to look pleased.
    â€˜As soon as you’re stronger, we’ll walk you round the yard with them.’
    Satisfied that she and Rose were in agreement, she started to head off in the direction of the gardens. They rounded the corner of the stables just as a tall, dark-haired boy was striding towards them. He was carrying a bucket, which caught Mrs Luca on the shin.
    â€˜You fool!’ she cried, bending down to rub her leg. ‘Didn’t you see us coming?’
    â€˜I’m very sorry, ma’am,’ he spluttered. ‘No, I didn’t see you.’
    â€˜Hurry up and get on with your work, then. The ponies both need mucking out.’
    â€˜Yes, ma’am. I was about to see to it. It’s good to have you back, ma’am.’
    â€˜Yes, I’m sure,’ replied Mrs Luca.
    The boy touched his fingers to his forehead in a vague interpretation of a salute, glanced quickly at Rose and hurried past them.
    â€˜Nothing but trouble, that one,’ Mrs Luca said to Rose as they proceeded towards the gardens. ‘Unless we nag him, nothing gets done. I don’t know why we keep him on, except that he has nowhere else to go, and I like to provide work for people from our home country. He came over here with his sister, but she found herself a husband and didn’t want him hanging around. I’d rather you didn’t mix with him, though. I don’t want you mixing with the servants.’
    She shot a look at Rose. Rose wasn’t sure whether she was expecting an answer or not, but nodded anyway. She had no intention of mixing with a strange boy. She knew too well that her parents wouldn’t have approved if she did.
    She trailed along beside Mrs Luca, who led her through an area of formal gardens, telling her about all the work she had had done since they moved in eight years before, and pointing out rare and unusual plants she had had flown in from different parts of the world. The centrepiece was a long, rectangular pond surrounded by a low stone wall, home to numbers of large orange and red-and-white fish.
    â€˜The fish are my husband’s,’ Mrs Luca told Rose. ‘They’re koi carp. Ugly things, I think, but he’s passionate about them. The colours make some of them very valuable. Very valuable indeed.’
    Rose peered into the water and was amazed at the size of some of the fish. One came close to the edge, rose to the surface and opened its mouth. Rose smiled. She could see right down its throat.
    â€˜It’ll suck your finger if you put it in the water,’ said Mrs Luca.
    Rose didn’t think she’d like having her finger sucked and shook her head.
    They continued through an archway into a walled kitchen garden, where neat rows of vegetables and herbs were growing. At the far end, a man with long black hair tied back in a ponytail was digging up potatoes.
    â€˜Ah, there you are, Goran,’ Mrs Luca called. ‘How are things?’
    â€˜Good day to you, ma’am. I’m delighted to see you back safe and healthy,’ replied the gardener. ‘The place hasn’t been the same without you. And is this the young lady