As she walked upstairs there was a mischievous smile on her lips.
*
It was a relief to Charles that his grandmother always breakfasted in her room, so that he and his mother could eat alone. It meant he could speak about his cousin more frankly. The Dowager Countess might berate John behind his back, but he was still her grandson and Charles was too kind to wound her feelings.
The morning after the quarrel, his mother joined him in the breakfast room overlooking the garden.
“You’re dressed for riding, dearest. I’m glad. It will blow the cobwebs away.”
“That’s what I hope.”
“And I suppose you’re going alone?” she asked in accents of disapproval.
“Certainly I am.”
Charles knew that both his father and grandfather had always ridden with one or two grooms bringing up the rear. They had
