Dinner was taken early.
Valeria was so grateful that her Papa was one of the party. Susan was unaccustomedly quiet but Lord Waterford was courteous and exchanged a flow of anecdotes with Sir Christopher about horses and breeding.
He hardly looked at Valeria, however, and she grew more and more silent as the dinner progressed.
At the end of dinner Susan announced that she and Valeria would not be leaving the gentlemen to their port.
“I wish to show Sir Christopher the stables before the light disappears,” she explained with a charming smile. “Will you come with me, sir, my brother feels it would be too much for him just yet?”
She held out her hand and he appeared happy to go with her.
Lord Waterford rose.
“I would be very grateful if you would accompany me onto The Castle ramparts,
