The Harrogate estate was beginning to resemble the venue for a medieval jousting tournament with large coloured marquees spread out on the rear lawns, and a series of matting across the front two for parking armour-carrying wagons. Or, as Tanta had told me, cars. I contemplated extending the stable block to accommodate the shire horses. “No need,” he"d said, “everything"s in hand.” My knees almost buckled upon hearing that word "everything" again.
The inside of The Hall had been transformed from one of pompous tradition to one of ceremonial showiness. Garlands of pink and blue flowers had been hanging from picture rails and chandeliers for the past week, keeping to the pageantry that the marquees would represent. The bunting added the regal touch with the proposed strolling minstrels addi
