“. . . we’d leave your kitchen garden, the chicken coop, and even expand the kitchen garden to allow for more produce for the new workers we’d bring on. Your old cow barn would become the broodmare barn, the dairy would become quarters for the Master of Horses, and your old stable quarters for his helpers. These fields, here, here, and here would all be allowed to go fallow, your existing meadows would remain meadows. We reckon to add about ten workers to the property: the Horse Master, the Farrier, and eight hands.”

“You wouldn’t be putting anyone in the manor house?” Sussena asked.

“Not unless you wanted them there. The Crown is prepared to start paying you rent and start work fixing and renovating the buildings immediately. We think we might have them done in time to bring the mares here in early summer, and the first crop of foals will be the spring after next,” Kat told her. “That is, if you are prepared to accept the Crown’s offer.”

By this time Tobin had gotten over his awe and had crept into the room to listen. “Be a mort less work nor raisin’ her-ubs,” he pointed out. “An’ steady income. Nobbut so much’s hevin’ a damn good year, but a sight better’n hevin’ a wet one where ever’thin’ rots i’ field,” he finished, with a decisive nod.

“Would we be expected to feed all these people?” she asked.

Kat nodded. “The Crown would supply the provisions, plus produce from your kitchen garden, as the Crown would supply all provender for the horses other than grass, but your staff would be expected to cook and clean for the new workers.”

Sussena looked at Tobin. “Th’ auld ’oman c’n do’t wit’ two, three more kitchen girls an two, three more ’ousemaids.”

“You’d have been adding that much staff anyway, what with all the new farm workers you’d have needed to care for the herbs,” Abi pointed out, as Sussena wavered a little. “I’m sure Hansa can handle them.”

“I’m sure Hansa could handle an army,” Sussena said, and then she smiled. “Tobin, you are finally going to get a well-deserved promotion, then. You will be my farm manager; all these new horse people will answer to you. Hansa will be the housekeeper. We might as well hire on someone to cook so she can concentrate on managing.” She turned to Kat. “I believe, your Highness, that we will accept the Crown’s offer. You may send your crews to start work immediately.”

Kat grinned and extracted a small pen and a tiny, stoppered jar of ink from her belt pouch. “I was hoping you would, milady. Now, if you can just sign here. . . .”

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