“Well, first I was wondering about a pony for her. She seems to evidence a fondness for animals and if she began riding now, as she grew, it would provide her both exercise and an enjoyment she could carry intoadulthood.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea. And you haveothers?”
“And what about a tree house? As a young girl, my brother and I spent hours playing at the top of a tree in our very ownhouse.”
“Might she be a little too young for that? And she doesn’t have siblings so it might be a solitaryendeavor.”
“A good point and one I also wish to make. I think we need to find some neighboring children for her to play with. What about some of the workers’children?”
John frowned. “I’m not sure about that. That may not besuitable.”
“Is it because they are workers’children?”
John nodded. “It might blur thelines?”
“Whatlines?”
“Social lines. I’m not sure it’s quite right for children of a different class to be playing with a Duke’sdaughter.”
“I see,” she said with a trace ofdisapproval.
“I’m sorry. You may not see things in the same way as Ido.”
“Perhaps not,” she said, lowering her head and saying nothingmore.
“There are some close neighbors I could approach,” John said trying to take this discussion in a more desirabledirection.
Susan nodded. “Then if you will supply me with their names I can make arrangements for the children to gettogether.”
“I will.” John was feeling uncomfortable. He realized he’d offendedSusan.
“And as for the playhouse, I thought if the two of you began planning it now, as she got older the two of you could build it together, and I believe the both of you would benefit greatly fromthat.
“And I would also like your permission to take her on some walks with me in the mornings. Not the extended walks I take for myself but, again, just to introduce her to exercise and the joys ofnature.”
John added, “All of those are excellent ideas, Miss Susan. And it occurred to me as you spoke that a tree swing might also be enjoyable forher.”
“Oh, most certainly, John. I am so happy youagree.”
John smiled and nodded. And once again he found himself greatly enjoying looking at the beautiful woman before him. It had been a long time—far too long, in fact, since he had sincerely appreciated such a lovelylady.
“Miss Susan, you have my permission to do as you like with Elizabeth, and I shall make arrangements for a pony, a swing, and, if you remind me, I’ll find some time to begin treehouse discussions with my daughter. How does thatsound?”
“Most excellent,” Susan said as she rose toleave.
John held up his hand to stop her. “Miss Susan, forgive me for my earlier comments on the workers’ children. I don’t mean to sound as if I find them inferior; it’s just that I need to keep a separation from my work life and my private life. Can you understandthat?”
Susan seemed to consider that. “Yes, Your Grace, Ican.”
Uh oh,John thought,she’s used ‘Your Grace’ again. She’s definitely not happy withme.
But she was so damningly appealing he could not be angry with her for even oneminute.
* * *
Elizabeth had takento walking in the morning with Susan like a bee to a flower. But there was much more stooping to examine something new, or picking a small bouquet of flowers, than actual walking. It was not unlike taking a puppy for a walk that needed to stop and smell everything, tugging at the lead every fiveseconds.
One morning Elizabeth discovered a mushroom, and like so many children decided to taste it. Unfortunately, Susan’s attention was diverted by seeing John approaching with hisdogs.
