Chapter twoFilipa was up and dressed by half past six.
This did not worry her, because she was used to rising with the dawn.
She preferred to be alone in the house before the old Smeatons appeared as they were always very slow in the morning.
Smeaton was suffering from his rheumatics and Mrs. Smeaton liked to sleep late and Filipa therefore usually made her own breakfast.
This morning she dressed herself in her mother’s gown.
As she did so, she thought with a little leap of her heart that it was going to be the most exciting day she had ever known.
How could she have imagined, how could she have even dreamt that Mark would wish her to ride with him in a race?
It would be thrilling, even though she was disguised as a Pretty Horse-Breaker, to meet his friends.
Although she had not ad
