Lady Charlotte rode Zeus, her favourite black stallion, pressing in her spurs for greater speed. She used the whip freely, laughed as the wind flicked the hat from her head, and allowed her elaborate coiffure to dismantle, so her hair streamed behind her. She looked around her, realised she was lost and laughed again.
“You!” Lady Charlotte reined up beside a farm servant in the ubiquitous dirty white smock and straw hat. “Which way to the Spike! Quickly now!”
The servant took the straw from his mouth before he replied. “Straight ahead, ma’am. That’s the north lodge there.” He used the straw as a pointer.
“Is John Smith in the Spike at present?” Lady Charlotte asked, smiling.
“I don’t rightly know, ma’am,” the servant said as Lady Charlotte cracked her whip on Zeus’ rump and cantered on
