Harry smiled at her sudden seriousness, although his last words had certainly been rather earnest.
"I simply wondered if you had an opinion one way or the other, that is all. It has been a difficult choice but I had all but decided to take Hector. I thought perhaps you might sway my choice at the last minute, but as you rightly say, the choice must be mine. He summoned one of the grooms from the yard and ordered him to have Hector saddled and brought round to the front of the stables, as he would be taking him into the field. He turned to Faolan.
"At this point I have the dubious pleasure of sharing refreshments with the owner. I am perhaps unfair, he is a decent man, but somewhat obsequious and a little dull. You can remain down here with the other grooms if you want, and be ready when I am back down, or you can wait on me upstairs, but if so then you must of course play the servant part well; pour our brandy and speak and move as little as you can."
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