The whole thing was most unfortunate, first that she had been stupid enough to come so far away from London that whatever happened she would have returned much later than she had expected.
Secondly that the horse should not only have cast a shoe but that the blacksmith was not at home.
‘He must be here by now, he must!’ Petrina murmured to herself beneath her breath.
As she spoke, Lord Rowlock came back.
“He is here?” she asked eagerly.
He shook his head.
“But this is impossible!” Petrina exclaimed. “I insist that we hire a carriage – there must be one available – and travel back to London with one horse.”
“I am afraid that is impossible?’
“But why?” Petrina asked. “There has be a carriage or a gig of some sort available.”
“Even if there is,” Lord Rowlock replied, “I have no inten
