My own battered land of Acquila was going to lucky to avoid becoming the next "client state" or province of Caester. Would the weary leftovers of our ...rmy, angry that their blood and sacrifice had been for apparently nothing, band together to stop a legion or two coming from Caester to 'help their kingdom neighbor in their time of need'? Not a chance. I figured on about five years for the absorption to begin to slowly occur and I was overly optimistic. Less than a year later and after an. ’ ‘That’s the Poms for you, still bleeding that they lost the colonies. I told her I must ask you to invite her to dinner.’ ‘Jimmy we can’t do that, not in our humble home. She’s peerage.’ Jimmy looked puzzled. ‘What’s that?’ ‘Because of who her father-in-law is she was entitled through marriage to use the title of lady. People in England called her Lady Greer Gregory, using the name Greer because there are several Lady Gregory’s. But Greer has refused to use the title and that is so sad.’ ‘But. " The other girls tried not to giggle. "You impudent little whelp!" Lady Thackeray fumed. "If your mother had the strength, she'd-" "There's no cause for anger, my dear." Edmund interrupted. "We shall simply show Miss Sullivan how to properly whack a rug." He stood and pointed to Emily. "Fetch the rug beater." Emily noddedand darted out of the room. "Only, I believe Miss Sullivan should experience this particular whacking from the rug's point of view." Lord Thackeray took a tall wooden chair. The grin painted across her face was akin to that which you might find painted on the bust of a cartoon clown. It wasn’t Zoe’s fault. She couldn’t help herself. After spending the day with Riley as the prescription to her morning’s illness she could do nothing to contain the overwhelming happiness she felt when she looked at her new companion. ‘So I’ve decided that we can talk again. I mean, I’m surprised I went this long. The last time I went that long without talking I…….I don’t think I’ve.