Throughout the rest of the day and into the next morning, Juliette made heartfelt appeals to her father, hoping to persuade him to let her ride the majestic horse.
"I'm sorry, Juliette, but he's too spirited. You are allowed to ride any horse from our stable, but not this wild one."
"But, Daddy, please! I've never wanted anything in my life as much as I want this horse! Please!"
John's tone was final as he responded, "Enough, Juliette. We're not discussing this any further. We've always practiced democracy in this house, but now I must play the card of a father and the head of this household. No one will ride that horse."
John felt a pang of regret at his daughter's disappointment but knew he had made the right decision for her safety. He then turned his attention back to the responsibilities of the estate, ready to focus on the day's tasks with William, who was waiting patiently in the library for their session to continue.
They set at the ornate writing desk in the library. Books and papers were spread out before them. John guided William through the various undertakings that kept the estate thriving. William, keen and attentive, absorbed every word.
"As you'll see, each decision we make impacts not just our bottom line, but the community and the land itself. It's a delicate balance, one that requires foresight and a deep commitment to our principles."
The butler entered, breaking their concentration with a slight bow.
"Excuse me, my lord. Lord Ashford is here."
Lord Ashford was the head of the Paddington family, owners of the neighboring estate. He was a burly man, slightly heavyset, with a commanding presence. He strode into the library, and accompanying him was his granddaughter, Priscilla, a girl William's age.
"John, my apologies for the unannounced visit." Alfred said.
"No problem at all. It's always good to see you, Alfred."
Turning to Priscilla, John offered a kind nod, "Miss Priscilla, It's lovely to have you here as well."
"Thank you, Lord Avebury. It's nice to be here."
Lord Ashford turned to William. "How do you do, young man? I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you and your academic achievements from your grandmother."
"Thank you, sir. It's very kind of you to mention."
John invited them to sit, signaling to the butler to bring in some refreshments.
"You can probably guess why I'm here." Lord Ashford said. "It's because of that impossible horse. He's a fine animal but can be quite headstrong. Escaped once before, though he didn't go this far last time."
"He's quite a magnificent creature, very spirited." John said. "We've kept him secured in our stables."
Lord Ashford explained, "I paid a fair price for him, his parents were champions. And what I got was this untamable creature."
"Our Juliette is quite taken with the horse." William said. "She'll be heartbroken to see him go."
"Then, would you perhaps be interested in buying him?" Lord Ashford asked. "I'll give you a good price."
"Ah, that's a generous offer, Alfred." John said. "Juliette has indeed grown fond of him, but I must consider all implications. A horse of his nature requires careful handling."
"Of course, I understand your concerns. But honestly, I'd be relieved to find him a home where he's appreciated for his spirit. He's just too much for us to handle with our current setup."
"Father, I think you should do it." William said.
"William, let the adults talk." John responded with a firm tone.
Lord Ashford turned to William, "Young sir, why don't you take Priscilla to show her the gardens? She only came with me because she heard you have a particular species of rose - the Rosa Eden, I believe it's the name. She's really interested in seeing it."
With the children gone, the atmosphere in the library slightly shifted.
Lord Ashford said, "I am genuinely interested in selling you this horse, especially if it would make your daughter happy. I'd be willing to gift him to you, but it seems you wouldn't accept such a gesture."
John nodded, acknowledging the offer, "If we decide to take him, we would certainly pay for him."
"In that case, the price will be merely symbolic," Lord Ashford quickly added.
"Alfred, you're so eager to rid yourself of this horse, you're starting to sound a bit suspicious."
Lord Ashford sighed. "John, I'll be honest. It's not about the horse. It's about Elizabeth."
"Ah, I see."
"I don't know what's happening. I thought we were close. But it seems she's upset. The problem is, I don't know why. She neither responds to my letters nor answers my phone calls."
"I haven't heard anything. We haven't seen her around for days." John replied thoughtfully.
"Could you possibly inquire on my behalf? I would be very grateful."
John was not entirely comfortable with the idea of his mother seeing Lord Ashford, so he was unsure how to respond.
Lord Asfhord, sensing the hesitation, added, "I would really appreciate it if our two families were on good terms. Not just because of Elizabeth, who is, I must mention, very dear to me. But you have a son, and I have a granddaughter. They seem to get along. Why don't we work towards uniting our two families?"
William was familiar with Priscilla. They had encountered each other at family gatherings and county events, but they had never really had the chance to get to know one another. She was a pretty girl, with long, auburn hair and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
"May I ask you a question?" Priscilla asked as they walked.
"Of course."
"When did you first become so advanced?"
William chuckled softly. "I'm not sure I became advanced."
Priscilla persisted, "I mean, how did your parents find out you were academically gifted?"
"It was actually my nanny who first noticed, when I was about three. She saw how quickly I picked up reading and numbers. So, I started at Dragon School at the age of seven, with students five years older than me. Then I started taking special courses at Oxford a year later."
"That's insane. You must have felt so different."
"Yeah, it was challenging at times, but it also opened up a lot of opportunities for me."
As they approached the particular rose Priscilla wanted to see, William began to enthusiastically share details about its variety. However, Priscilla quickly steered him further into the garden.
"I'm not interested in the rose. I just told my granddad that so we could have an excuse to get away from the adults."
As they found themselves shielded by dense shrubbery, away from prying eyes, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"Have you ever been kissed?" Priscilla asked.
William's heart skipped a beat. "No, I haven't."
Priscilla nodded. "Neither have I. It's tough when you're in a girls-only school, and outside of school, you're always under the watchful eyes of chaperones. I wanted to go to a co-educational school, but they wouldn't let me. I'm twelve now and I've realized this is the right time for a first kiss. I don't want to turn thirteen without having been kissed."
"Why not? It's a perfectly good age for a kiss."
Priscilla seemed to consider his words before replying, "Perhaps you're right, but since we're here, why not seize the moment?"
William didn't even have time to respond. Priscilla leaned in and kissed him. It was a sweet, soft kiss. Then she pulled back, smiled mischievously, and dashed away.