The claret curled about warmly in his stomach and he began to grow drowsy. He eyed the muffins with a marked lack of enthusiasm and admitted that he couldn’t manage even a nibble. He decided to take them to his room and down several the next morning before breakfast.
He fell asleep not long thereafter, comfortably stretched at his full length on the large Tudor bed, his head clear of the effects of too much drink. It was a pleasant condition, one he had seldom experienced in the past several months.
3
Julien awoke later than intended the following morning. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself looking up into his valet’s perturbed face.
“Good God, Timmens, what a face to be greeted with after a pleasant night’s sleep. Go wash it or something.”
“Good morning, my lord,” Timmens said, his voice as stiff as Julien’s malacca cane. He gave an audible sniff of displeasure and helped his master into his dressing gown.
“Come, man, surely things are not so bad as all that. I assure you that even though my Hessians and coat have suffered in your absence, you won’t find them quite beyond repair.”
“They were awful, my lord. I have already expended a goodly number of hours endeavoring to restore your Hessians, and it was an experience that I would not care to repeat.”
Julien paused a moment, now fully awake and aware that the sensibilities of his stiff-lipped valet were ruffled in the extreme. He said with perfect seriousness, “Of course I have missed your fine service, Timmens. You are a grand valet, a gentleman’s gentleman of exceptionable ability, whom I find invaluable and—”
“I quite understand, my lord, indeed I do. Do allow me to assist you now in the renewed quiet of the morning.”
Finally dressed, Julien was at the point of escaping to his breakfast when he chanced to see the plate of muffins beside his bed, still untouched. He eyed Timmens, who was arranging his hairbrush and shaving gear in too-neat rows on the dressing table. A small punishment, just a bit of revenge, he thought, would be just the thing— ah, but subtle, that was important. He cleared his throat and said, “Timmens, you see the muffins here by my bed?”
“Yes, my lord, they are indeed muffins.”
“As a reward for your excellent service this morning, I require you to enjoy at least two of them before allowing the maids to enter the room.”
Timmens darted his rheumy eyes again to the muffins, bemused by this ambiguous token of praise. He realized that his master was awaiting his answer and said, “Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord. It is a fine reward for my invaluable services, if one doesn’t think of other rewards which would be perhaps even more tasty to the palate.”
Not more than an hour later, in fine good humor, Julien mounted his Arabian mare, Astarte, and rode out of the park at a comfortable canter to inspect his lands.
Bright sunlight poured down through the crisp morning air, as if bending all of its brilliance on St. Clair. With a great sense of well-being, Julien turned Astarte into an open field and gave her her head. His body moved smoothly with hers, swaying in rhythm to her firm stride. The chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves and foliage were a welcome change from the ever-present noise of the London streets.
Julien quite lost track of time, and some time later, realizing that Astarte was blowing hard, he reined in, straightened in the saddle, and looked about him. A short distance ahead lay a large wood, forming a near-circle around him. He saw with vague interest that he was no longer on St. Clair land.
“Come, Astarte, let us see what lies ahead. Perhaps we’ll find a leftover dragon from my boyhood still lurking in those woods, waiting for me to stick him with my sword.”
Julien made out a small path just to his left that led into the woods and click-clicked Astarte forward. The floor of the woods was green with spongy moss that deadened the sound of Astarte’s hooves.
All too soon the trees began to thin and Julien could make out a small clearing a few yards ahead. Suddenly he knew he wasn’t alone. He wasn’t certain how he knew, except that his ears had grown used to the sounds of the forest.
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