“Is his Lordship thinking of riding him?” Rocana asked.
“No, miss, this is Vulcan and the one he’s bin ridin’ ’as to be ridden by the outriders. Jed’s supposed to ride this one.”
“I ain’t ridin’ ’im!” Jed called out quickly. “’E’d kill me and I don’t want to die yet!”
“Surely his Lordship does not want you to saddle him before luncheon?” Rocana asked.
“’Is Lordship’s orders, miss,” the groom who had been speaking to her before said, “is that he’ll leave as soon as possible after the race and we daren’t keep ’im waitin’!”
The other grooms nodded agreement and one piped up,
“We all be ’fraid of the Master’s anger.”
“I ain’t ridin’ ’im, I tells yer, I ain’t ridin’ ’im!” Jed cried frantically.
“Nobody ain’t gonna ride ’im if we don’t get this bridle on ’im,” the other groom moaned.
“L
