“This’s just arrived, my Lord,” he said to the Earl. “Although I tells the groom as brought it to wait in case there be a reply, he rode off.”
The Earl took the letter from the salver and said politely to Raina,
“You must forgive me if I read this.”
“Of course, my Lord. I would expect it is from one of your neighbours.”
The Earl did not answer, but opened the envelope.
When he read the letter, he frowned.
“It is from the Lord Lieutenant,” he said, “who I understand is now Lord Lewis. I think I remember him.”
“Of course you do. He is a short, rather busy man, who your father thought did too much too quickly and did not attend enough to detail.”
The Earl laughed as if he could not help it.
“That sounds very much like my father!” He looked again at the letter.
“He welcomes me, havin
