Sarah woke early the next morning, despite the excitement of the previous evening.
Sarah's parents did not wake early. In fact, Sarah was halfway through her eggs and bacon when they finally stumbled into the breakfast room.
Lady Phillips blinked at the sunlight streaming in through the paned windows. "It certainly is bright all right, isn't it?" she said wonderingly.
"It certainly is," her husband replied with a yawn. He spied the steaming platter of sausage and grinned broadly. "Don't mind if I do."
"I suppose, dear." Lady Phillips looked as if she were going to be sick.
Sarah set down her fork and cleared her throat. "I thought I'd go riding alone this morning," she said hesitantly.
"Yes, dear," her father said.
"Um. Really?" Sarah hadn't expected that her parents would let her ride by herself on an unfamiliar estate.
Her mother was looking everywhere but the window and the food. "Of course, darling. Be back before lunch."
"Of course," Sarah said quickly. "May I be excused?"
"Yes, yes," her mother said hastily.
Sarah shot a quick glance at her father, who was practically eating the plates off the board, and bolted for the stables. On her way out of the room, she nearly collided with a doorman bearing a note on a silver tray. "Sorry, Edward!" she called over her shoulder.
Edward looked after her with a surprised expression on his face. He opened his mouth as if to call her, but she was already around a corner.
Lady Phillips stared bemusedly after her daughter. "I wonder what that was all about," she said.
"I beg your pardon," Edward said, "but there is a note for Miss Phillips."
"Oh?" Lady Phillips asked with a slight frown. "From whom?"
"A Mr. James Hiller," Edward replied. "He left no return address with the night doorman."
"Oh. Well, leave it here, Sam and I will have a look at it."
"As you wish." Edward bowed and left the tray on the table.
** end Chapter Three
A/N: Intrigue! Hangovers! Intrigue! Thanks to my fabulous reviewers: jerseygirl13, Pottergirl, Melee, and DaggerQuill (nice. very nice). That is really all I have to say. Other than "hey, give feedback!" But that's implied, or so I should hope. Uh...look for some hot action next chapter, probably. Hey! Give feedback!