When he reached it, he looked around and saw on the other side of the road that there were several small boys staring with admiration at the horses.
He beckoned the tallest of them who crossed the road eagerly.
“I want you to hold my horse,” the Marquis said. “Do you understand horses and how to be quiet and gentle with them?”
“Aye, sir.”
“Just take him by the bridle and if he becomes restless you can walk him a little way up the road as far as the Church and back again. Do you understand?”
“Aye, sir.”
Seeing what the Marquis was doing, Anthony did the same and the two boys, pink with excitement were patting the horses and making a fuss of them as the Marquis and Anthony walked up the small flagged path of the black and white painted cottage.
The door was opened by a buxom young wom
