" "Yes but bestride a horse, - I mean." Beverly and Antoinette are bestriding theirs, as are the ostlers and lesser servants. Bedside's it's m...ch more comfortable this way. Sidesaddle hurts my back after a long period and anyway, the horses are only walking. If I get tired I'll join my mother and the Chinese doctor." Eric smiled and fell silent. It was only one more day to the coast and then the ship the Damsel II would take them to England. There a post rider could be sent ahead. It was easy to see that the increased taxes and the oppression of the Sheriff into everyone’s life was fast building up to a full-scale revolt and that blood would be soon flowing faster than the sought after wine from the hills of France.Shortly after they took to the road again, they came into sight of the extensive land holdings of Lady Cordelia and their pace became noticeably quicker in the mid-day haze. A line of happy servants ran out to line both sides of the long driveway to greet the. My stomach felt really sore and stiff, and the initial red colour of the bruise had turned purple overnight. That meant it was getting better, although it didn’t feel like it.When I got down to the kitchen for breakfast, Mum and Terri were already there. Mum gave me an icy glare, which stifled any inclination to talk while we ate.After Terri left for school, I decided it was worth risking making things even worse. “Any chance of a lift to the bottom of the mountain?” I asked my mum.The look I. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t leave. Not yet. It felt like hours before the fire was completely contained. The pavement was black, oily streams of water ran down the steep grade carrying ash and debris from the hacked away front of the house. Hoses were everywhere, curled in piles or strewn haphazardly across curbs, soft now, spent but still dribbling out their last drops. Spotlights glowed on the quiet efficient movements of men and women who knew the danger was past, at least here, at least.