His Aunt Nicole

[Simonssister]

Chapter 227.

Bobby made scrambled eggs on toast.  Ellie arrived about ten-thirty.  They ate, had coffee with her, then headed out.  They saw May raking hay at the top of the new stable block.
“Hi May!”
“Hi, guys.  You finally woke up then.”
“Yeah.  You must be pooped.”
“No.  Play hard and work hard.  We’re used to it.”
“Where’s Jessica?” asked Tim.
“Next door.  Go say hello.”
Tim disappeared into the next stable.
“You got some sleep then?”
“Couple of hours.”
“That was really fun, yesterday.  Thanks for coming over.  We were gonna ask you out, but you beat us to it…sorry…”
“It doesn’t matter who asked who, Bobby.  Anyway it’s the girl grooms who are like the men here – we’re in charge.  Remember that, by the way…”
Bobby laughed.  “I will.”  He paused, shyly.  “Maybe we can do it again…?”
“Of course.  We’d love to.”
“One day next week, maybe…”
“Sure.  Or Sunday.  We have a day off.”
“Oh…ah!”
“Problem?” 
He was thinking mainly of Bobby the pony, but fortunately he had another excuse.
“Yeah…  Miss Poole wants to see us Sunday afternoon.”
“Miss Poole?  Why?”
“We have to get fitted for our new outfits.  The lady who makes them is coming up, and…”
“New uniforms?”
“Yeah, see…  We’re not always gonna be wearing the same ones…  They’ll change every few weeks…”
“Really?”  May grinned.  “What, keep the punters interested?”
“Something like that…”
“Ooh…  So what are the new ones like?”
“Well…”
“Come on, tell me.  We’ll find out anyway.”
Bobby sighed.  “Oh, er…  pageboys…”
“Pageboys?”  May snorted with laughter.  “Thay sounds cute…”
Bobby was blushing again.  May gave him a little hug.
“You’re so sweet…  Oh…  Speak of the devil…”
“What?”
“Miss Poole.  I’d better get on.”  She grabbed her rake.
It was indeed Miss Poole, and not only Miss Poole, but Clarissa, MĂ©lisande, Charlotte and Amelia.  When they caught sight of Bobby, Charlotte and Amelia came running up and jumped on him.
“Bobby!  We’ve come to ride our ponies!  Isn’t it amazing?” squealed Amelia, grabbing his hand.
“Yes,” added Charlotte, hanging onto his shirt and jumping up and down.  “Can you watch us?  Please?”
MĂ©lisande, who had obviously been watching the exchange between Bobby and May, gave the latter a contemptuous glance, and glared at Bobby.
“Oh…  H-hi Mellie…”
“Having fun?” she replied, shortly.
May herself had retreated into the stable and was watching proceedings open-mouthed.  “Seems like you’ve already got a whole gaggle of girlfriends, Bobby Tucker,” she said to herself. 
Tim appeared from next door, looking confused.
“N-no…  We were just, er, on our way out…” stammered Bobby.
“Didn’t look like it,” said MĂ©lisande, shortly.  “Anyway, the girls’ ponies are being saddled right now.  They’d love you to come watch their first ever ride.”
“Oh…sure...okay.  Yes, I'd love to.  Coming, Tim?”
“Sure.  No probs.”
“Hi boys,” said Clarissa.  “How are things?”
“Fine, thank you, Mrs Burlington…”
“The boys are quite a hit,” said Miss Poole.  “I’ve had nothing but good reports.  And with the new uniforms, I expect even greater things.  Don’t forget your fitting Sunday, will you boys?”
“No, Miss Poole.  Four o’clock.  We’ll be there.”
May had emerged from the stable. 
“Good morning, Miss Poole.”
“Good morning, May.”
“Miss Poole, Bobby was just telling me about their new outfits.  Would it be presumptuous of me…”
May had nerve, but discretion as well.  She knew just how to approach old-school types like Miss Poole.
“…to ask if Jessica and I could attend the fitting as well?”
“Oh…”
“Because we were very impressed with their original ones, and maybe we could offer an objective grooms’ opinion…as many of their customers will be Pitt’s Wood girls…”
“Oh, yes…  That’s rather a good idea, don’t you think, Clarissa?”
“I think it would be very useful, Violet.  Why don’t you invite them along?”
“Certainly.  Yes, girls.  Thank you for the suggestion, May.  Please come to stable twenty-two in the new block at four.  I’ll be interested to see what you think.  Speak your minds, girls.  I like honesty and frankness.”
“Yes, Miss Poole.”
Bobby and Tim looked at each other in dismay.  May winked at Jessica.  MĂ©lisande glared at May.  Clarissa suppressed a smile.
“So let’s go find those little ponies, shall we girls?” continued Miss Poole.  “Come along boys.  Come and give your little friends some moral support….”