It is not easy living with a writer, who is totally absorbed when a book is going well and suicidal when it is going badly. Therefore the lion’s share of my gratitude must go to my family, including my mongrel Barbara and her agent Gypsy (who met a very nice class of dog at polo matches) for their endless understanding and good cheer.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to all the gallant ponies who take part in the game and to the grooms who spend such long hours looking after them.
CHARACTERS
BART ALDERTON: An American airplane billionaire. Polo patron of the Alderton Flyers.
GRACE ALDERTON: His second wife.
LUKE ALDERTON: Bart's son by his first wife. A professional polo player.
RED ALDERTON: Bart's and Grace's son. An unprofessional polo player.
BIBI ALDERTON: Bart's and Grace's daughter – a poor little rich girl.
THE HONOURABLE BASIL: English polo player, BADDINGHAM: jack of all trades.
PHILIP BAGLEY: A vet.
DREW BENEDICT: English polo player and a dashing Captain in the Welsh Guards.
SUKEY BENEDICT: His wife. An English heiress and jolly good sort.
JAMES BENSON: A smooth private doctor.
MRS BODKIN: Rupert Campbell-Black's housekeeper.
MARGIE BRIDGWATER: An American lawyer.
JAIME CALAVESSI: An Argentine polo player.
RUPERT CAMPBELL-BLACK: Show-jumping ace, later MP for Chalford and Bisley and Minister for Sport.
TABITHA CAMPBELL-BLACK: His daughter.
BRIGADIER CANFORD: Chairman of the Pony Club and later of the British Polo Association.