Part 21 (1/2)

Sir Roderick looked at her incredulously, then he laughed.

”But of course!” he said. ”I realise that they, like you and Vulcan, are now my responsibility. Well, the house is big enough. I am prepared to provide for as many as you like! ”

Astara flung her arms around his neck.

”I thought you would say that, and it will make things so much easier.”

”I see you are expecting me to live to a ripe old age, and still have my uses, ” Sir Roderick remarked, but his eyes were twinkling.

”You will certainly disappoint us if you do anything so stupid as to die,” Vulcan remarked.

”Get off with you both!” Sir Roderick said. ”I can see that my role in the future is going to be very different from what it was in the past a nursemaid an aged grandfather oh, well, I have done everything else in my life so far. I might as well try that!”

He laughed again and with his arm round Astara he walked with them into the Hall.

Outside a Phaeton with a team of four chestnuts as magnificent as those which belonged to William was waiting.

The luggage in the charge of Chang had already gone ahead.

Astara looked at the horses with delight.

”Vulcan is thrilled with his wedding present!” she exclaimed, ”but like a great many other things you will have to look after them until we return.”

”That is what I intend to do,” Sir Roderick replied, ”and they will give you something to think about when you are riding a refractory mule!”

”I shall dream about them at night,” Vulcan promised, ”unless they make Astara jealous.”

”I shall be, if you think or dream of anything except me,” she said.