The girls had gone upstairs to play. John turned to William.
"What are you reading?" He asked.
William showed him the cover of the book: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.
John smiled. It was Marguerite's favorite author. She had instilled an appreciation for Wells in William.
John then shifted the conversation toward a more practical matter.
"William, this summer, I want to involve you more in the day-to-day management of the estate. It's important you understand the finer details of what keeps this place running."
"What exactly does that entail?" William asked.
"Well, I thought we'd start with something that might align with your interests. You can help review the estate's investment in our current projects, analyze the cost versus the benefits, and help predict the long-term impacts. This way, it'll be engaging for you but you'll also learn all about the outgoing projects on the estate."
William managed a small, somewhat reluctant smile. "That doesn't sound too bad. As long as there are numbers, it's fun. Anything but the boring politics."
"For now, we'll stay away from politics. But eventually, there will be a bit of that too. Being a lord isn't just about the land. It involves leadership. You know you will eventually inherit my place in the House of Lords."
"Dad, I don't think that place will ever see me."
John paused, considering his son's words. It was important to him that William understood the significance of his duties, yet he also recognized the need to support his son's individuality and personal aspirations.
"I understand that it feels far removed from what you're interested in right now. But part of my responsibility is to prepare you not only to manage our lands but also to understand our role in governance."
"What if I want to pursue science as a full-time occupation?"
"If you truly wish to pursue science as a career, I would support you. It's important to me that you find your own path and happiness in whatever you choose to do. However, as the future Lord Avebury, there will be responsibilities that you can't ignore."
William was not entirely satisfied with his circumstances. He felt as though he had been thrust into both roles - the student and the heir - without anyone ever asking if he wanted them.
What William really wanted was to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and to be accountable to no one.
As William wrestled with his thoughts, the butler entered the library.
"Excuse me, my lord. The stablemasters require your consultation. A horse of somewhat wild disposition has appeared, and they are uncertain how to handle it. It seems to have strayed from one of the neighboring estates."
William's face brightened with curiosity and relief at the interruption.
John nodded to William, acknowledging the break in their conversation. "We'll continue this discussion another time."
As John headed towards the stables to address the issue, William took the opportunity to visit his sisters upstairs. He walked up to the twins' bedroom and knocked gently on the door before entering. Inside, the girls were sprawled on the floor, engaged in a playful world of their own, surrounded by figurines and a dollhouse.
Isabelle's eyes sparkled when she saw him.
"Oh, William, good. We needed a third person to play the villain. You'd be perfect for it."
"I actually came to tell Juliette that a strange horse just appeared. Dad went to see what to do about him. I don't know if it's the same one you saw, but…"
Before he could finish, Juliette was already on her feet, dashing through the door.
"But we haven't finished playing!" Isabelle called out after her.
She then turned to William. "Why did you do this?"
"Sorry. I didn't think she'd run off like that. I'm going out to see what's happening. Do you want to come?"
"No, I don't care about some stupid horse!" Isabelle snapped, knocking over a few figurines in her irritation before getting up from the floor and sitting on the bed.
William shrugged, accustomed to Isabelle's tantrums. They were nothing new. He then left to join his sister and father outside, curious about the mysterious horse that had stirred such sudden excitement.
William found them in the meadow behind the stables. Two stablehands were trying to corral a beautiful brown stallion that was resisting their attempts. As William approached, Juliette ran up to him.
"Willy, that's him, that's the one! The horse we saw today. He followed me home!"
The horse was truly beautiful. Its wild nature was evident in every movement—powerful, graceful, and completely free.
Ultimately, they managed to subdue the spirited animal, and John instructed the stablehands to lead him into the stables and lock him securely in the box stall.
"Oh, Daddy, can we keep him?" Juliette asked.
"We'll hold him here tonight and send word around that he's with us. We can't keep him permanently because he's not ours. We'll take care of him until the rightful owner comes forward."
"But what if no one comes?"
"Someone will surely show up, Miss," said Peter, one of the stablehands. "This is a purebred racehorse."