Oh, really! All the younger girls seemed quite obsessed with Marianne, as if she were some victim rather than a lucky young lady with an extremely comfortable life. ‘I shall write to Sir Edward this very afternoon and explain my decision.’ She put her hand inside a sock and, addressing the hole in the toe, asked, ‘Might this news please Mary, do you think? At least just a little.’

‘Very much so,’ Cassy began cheerfully, before she got that horse-trader look back and piped up again. ‘But oh! I nearly forgot. There is one other matter which causes her much terrible sadness.’

‘I am sorry to hear that.’ Fanny stifled a sigh. ‘Pray, do go on.’

‘Well, dear Miss Atkinson had promised to teach Mary to ride in their free time.’ She looked up at Fanny. ‘Do you know, up to now nobody ever has? Poor Mary, sometimes it is as if she just gets forgotten—’

‘I see,’ Fanny cut in. She was getting the hang of these negotiations: it was clear the girls had thrashed this all out between them, and now Cassy had come in with their list of demands. ‘So she might also like her own pony, is that it?’

‘Yes!’ Cassy had the pleasure of a teacher whose struggling pupil had worked out a sum. ‘I do believe she would like that, very much indeed.’

‘It can be arranged, and I can ask one of the lads in the stables to offer instruction.’

‘No need!’ Cassy almost sang happily. ‘The groom has already agreed it, and Papa has a horse for her over in Godmersham. Oh—’ She realised her error.

Fanny started to pack up the work bag. ‘Then that is most kind of him.’ So yet again, they had all been talking behind her back. She felt a sharp twinge in the heart area. ‘I do wish her the best with it.’

She rose, indicated the door and Cassy walked half through, then one more thought seemed to occur and she poked her head back around. ‘It will be all right, Fan, if we both continue to write to Miss Atkinson? I am sure you cannot mind it? We have been so close, after all.’

‘You may,’ Fanny said wearily.

‘Sir Edward will not object, I hope?’

‘I am quite sure he will not.’ Though it might be for the best if Sir Edward was not informed. ‘And before you go, Cassy, I would like to make it quite plain that I thoroughly expect to see you both at breakfast tomorrow. Please do make sure that you pass that on to Mary.’

‘But of course, Fanny dear!’ Cassy tripped, cheerful now, towards the top of the stairs. ‘Do you know, I think she may well feel better already.’

PART THREE

CHAPTER XVII