CHAPTER FOURThe Duke went to the stables and found as he expected that the only sounds were those of the horses moving in their stalls and everybody else was asleep.
He was aware that the stable boys would be in the attic overhead, while the Head Groom doubtless had a cottage or better accommodation elsewhere.
He therefore shouted up the narrow stairs that led to the attic and a few minutes later one of his own stable boys came hurrying down the stairs pulling on his trousers.
“I want Caesar saddled immediately,” the Duke said and walked towards the stallion’s stall.
It took nearly five minutes before Caesar was saddled and bridled, while the Duke was aware that Aldora was, every second, getting further and further away from him.
Just before he mounted he said to the stable boy,
“I b
