Grace

Chapter 41.2

There was another cheer. And in the blink of an eye the game had started. I had no idea where the referee was, or even if there was one, but the players seemed to know what they were doing at all times and which rules had been broken. I didn't know what the rules were, or even what a foul looked like. All I knew was, was that the thunder of hooves on grass was really loud, everyone moved really quickly and the horses defied belief with their shows of agility and the ability to obey unseen and unheard commands from their riders.

The players hot the ball (which I really wanted to call a puck) with amazing precision, sometimes tapping it, sometimes chipping it and occasionally sending it all the way to the other end of the arena. When the riders clustered together it was difficult to see what was going on and even with the commentator describing what was happening I mostly had no clue as to who was doing what. What I did recognise is the international hand gesture for "oh what?!". It came from one of the blues and him throwing up his hands in the air was the only reason I knew there had been a disagreement and a possible breaking of the rules. That session or 'chukka' ended and all players came off the pitch. The reds were winning three goals to two.

Damn.

I might not have known what was going on, but I could certainly get into the competitive spirit of the sport. I wanted my man's side to win. I knew there was no prize at the end, but I wanted the blues to win on principle.

"What do you think?" Caroline asked me. "Will you be playing any time soon?"

I laughed. "I'm afraid I don't have that kind of hand-eye co-ordination. I also play cricket left handed so I guess I'd play this left handed too. If I was allowed."

She smiled. "Perhaps the next one will have to be a ladies cricket match."

"Ooh, I'm not that good," I stressed. "I'm better at rounders but the last time I played that I was eleven."

"Your Royal Highness," the man stood in front of us said.

It was the Prime Minister. Oily. Sly. Conservative. Caroline stood up and shook his hand with a smile.

"Prime Minister," she said. "How are you? Enjoying yourself I hope."

"Excellent day for it, Ma'am. Everyone's looking good out there. Prince Jonathon especially."

"He's been putting some practice in especially. May I introduce Grace Bennett?"

I stood up and reluctantly shook his hand even though I was smiling. There were some people you just weren't allowed to be rude to no matter how much you disliked them and what they were doing to the country.

"Prime Minister," I said.

"Grace, good to meet you."

Caroline sat down so I did and he pulled a chair over.

"How's Eton?" he asked me.

"Oh you know. You went there. Pressure, pressure, pressure. But it's fun, you know?"

He smiled. "Yes. What's the next big school fixture? Fourth of July isn't it?"

I nodded. "We have some inter house competitions lined up, but yeah. That's the next big one. We decided on the ladies rowing costumes yesterday."

"Care to divulge?"

"I'm afraid it's top secret. Not even the guys know and we train together every day."

"Ah. So even at Eton ladies like to keep men in the dark."

I nearly said it wasn't just ladies who liked to do that, but really didn't want to embarrass Ben.