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I strapover my back and take the bicycle because Dove has earned a day off if she’s earned anything, and I bike through the benevolent day to the Malvern Yard

As before, when I get to the yard, it is bustling with activity Groohbreds out to the gallops for their run, stable boys sweeping down the cobbles

"Kate Connolly," says one of the grooms "Sean’s not here"

I didn’t think he would be, but I don’t like to hear it anyway Still, I say, "I’ for Benjamin Malvern, actually"

"He’ll be up at the house -- is he expecting you?"

"Yes," I say, because if he wasn’t expectingrooate for me and my bicycle

I thank him and walk my bicycle up to the Malvern house It sits behind the stable and is a big, grand old thing Like Malvern hi but not particularly handsoainst the wall and walk to the front door and knock

For a long moment there is no answer, and then Benja," I say, and I step past hi, just wide-open ceiling and a little drawing-roo roo in thetea," he says

"Good ti, then," I reply I don’t wait for hi room Like the center hall, it’s nearly eed roo but brass sconces on the walls It see in here wondering if the sea would ever spit out the piebald or Mutt Malvern again I sit in a chair opposite to the one already ajar

Malvern’s ar?"

I fold my ar"

He raises an eyebrow beforeme a cup of his odd tea He pushes it toback

"What brings you blowing into my house like a hurricane, Kate Connolly? It’s quite rude"

"I expect it is I’ve coainst my lips and he watchesa scone or licking the carpet "Three things I’d like"

"That’s quite a lot of things to like"

I reach into the schoolbag and place a s I’d like to do is pay everything owed on the house"

Malvern eyes the money but doesn’t touch it "And the second?"

I take another big drink of tea for emphasis It requires quite a bit of heroics on ive me a job"

He sets down his teacup "And what is it you think you’ll do in this job?"

"I think I’ll probably muck stalls and ride horses and push wheelbarrows, to start, and I think I’ll be good at it"

Malvern considersto be had on this island, you know"

"So I’ve heard," I reply

Benjaers over his h above us There’s a bit of a crack in the plaster and he frowns at it "I think I couldyou’d like?"

I set down my teacup and look at hi, this is the moment "I would like you to sell Corr to Sean Kendrick even though Sean didn’t win"