* * *
John felt amazingly refreshedwhen he awoke later that afternoon. But he was famished and, after bathing and dressing, he went to the kitchen in search offood.
“Why didn’t you ring for me, Your Grace,” Standish asked as he found the Duke in thelarder.
“I couldn’t wait. Just wanted to poke around and see what I could find formyself.”
“I’ll call cook, shallI?”
“No. This cheese, this meat pie, and that bread will be justfine.”
“Let me,” Standish insisted, taking the food from John and preparing him aplate.
John sat at the kitchen table and began to eat. This upset Standish, who felt decorum was being flouted as the Duke should not be eating where the food wasprepared.
“Your Grace, if you like I can set a place for you in the breakfast room, at a table by the fire in the sittingroom.”
John waved his hand. “I’m just fine, thankyou.”
Resigned, Standish shrugged and stood by in case the Duke needed anythingmore.
“Have you checked in with Simon,” Johnasked.
“He’s still sleeping. And I have someone withhim.”
“Let me know as soon as heawakes.”
“Yes, YourGrace.”
John finished his snack and stood. “I’m going for a ride. I’ve been sitting for too long, and I need to be out in theopen.”
“Verygood.”
John stopped and turned back. “And Miss Susan… Wasn’t today the day the twins were coming to play withElizabeth?”
“Yes, they came earlier thismorning.”
“Are they stillhere?”
“No, they have returnedhome.”
“Good, then would you please find Miss Susan and see if she would like to go riding with me? Tell her I shall be in thestable.”
“Yes, YourGrace.”
* * *
Susan scamperedto find her riding costume. John had summoned her, and she jumped at the chance to ride with him. She dug into the armoire, found the riding dress, changed, and ran to thestable.
“John, thank you for asking me to ride withyou.”
“Ah, good, you’ve come. Let me find you the perfecthorse.”
John disappeared and reappeared shortly with a groom leading ahorse.
“Buttercup will delight you. She’s gentle and responsive. Do yougallop?”
“Of course. I evenjump.”
