Maidan Steeplechase and Tilts
Outcome: The steeplechase ended in a heap. Thomas won the tilting after three rounds and opened the prize brandy for the crowd. Sophia Surlish rode against the party by name, in front of the garrison, and lingered over the brandy with Freddy.
Participants
- Havildar Pratap Singh — organised the course, the rings, the canopy and the prize
- Adrien de Montferrand — collided with Thomas at the fences
- Freddy Cavendish — dragged over the line by a stirrup; outshone by Sophia at the rings
- Thomas Wyndham — thrown and trampled; won the tilting
- Sophia Surlish — arrived on horseback, joined the tilting, rang two hoops in one pass
- Arabella Fitch — watched from the side, cheering for Freddy
Summary
On the morning of Monday 10 October 1814, Havildar Pratap Singh had sepoys from the fort lay out a steeplechase course and a line of tilting rings on The Maidan, with a canopy, refreshments and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts off, and borrowed cavalry horses from Fort William for the gentlemen. The race was a disaster and the tilting was not.
What Happened
- The steeplechase. Adrien and Thomas collided at the fences and went down in a heap while their horses wandered off to graze. Freddy crossed the line on the ground, dragged by a foot caught in the stirrup. Thomas came up battered and bruised from the fall and the trampling.
- Sophia. Sophia Surlish came up the track on horseback, alone, watched the wreckage with amusement, and accepted an invitation into the tilting. Pratap warned her privately that her husband might not like it. She dismissed it with the confidence of long practice.
- The rings. In the first round she rang her own hoop and carried on to take the one Freddy had just missed, then handed it back to him with a smile. After three rounds Thomas was the sole winner.
- The prize. Pratap unveiled a cave à liqueur, two brandies and a crystal service. Thomas opened it at once and shared it with the crowd.
- After. Sophia stayed to talk brandy with Freddy, and the interest was more than conversational. Miss Fitch cheered Freddy from the sidelines throughout.
Outcome & Consequences
- Freddy and Sophia have met properly, by name, on the one hour of the day that belongs to her.
- A married woman rode at the rings in front of the garrison. Her syce saw it. So did everyone else’s.
- Thomas holds the brandy and has been seen sharing it with half the plain.
- Pratap’s standing with the fort’s sepoys and the party’s hosts rose another notch. The horses go back to Fort William.
Connections
People
Had participant
- Adrien de Montferrand Player character neutralCollided with Thomas at the fences
- Arabella Fitch NPCwatched from the side, cheering for Freddy
- Freddy Cavendish Player character neutralDragged over the line by a stirrup; outshone by Sophia at the rings
- Havildar Pratap Singh Player character neutralOrganised the course, the rings, the canopy and the prize
- Sophia Surlish NPC warmFirst encounter away from her husband; names exchanged
- Thomas Wyndham NPCthrown and trampled; won the tilting
Places
Located at
- The Maidan Location neutralA course of fences and a line of tilting rings, with a canopy and cucumber sandwiches
Things
Created
- Cave a Liqueur Item neutralThe prize, won by Thomas Wyndham