I sent the girls away so that I could unpack my things myself. It was almost strange being back in my room, surrounded by my things, after staying in The Eden for over a week. It had been lovely there, don’t get me wrong, but there was something nice about being back.
Plus, unpacking and putting things away gave me a chance to resituate myself, and come to terms with a week of excitement and new things. The Derby had been the highlight, of course. I’d spent nights after reliving it: the way the crowd’s emotions had been a living thing, the sight of the horses, winning.
It had felt like I’d won a lot of things.
“You seem to have an eye for horses.” My father had said to me after the race, eyeing me with vague interest.
“Not really,” I’d shrugged. “Before today I’d never seen one in p
