After that long a day around animals, Abi ordered both of them to make a complete wash-up, and got one for herself, before they all went to their rooms for supper. Not even traipsing around the Fair all day had repressed Kee’s energy; he chattered at high speed to Kat and his nurse when Abi delivered him to the door of the Royal Suite. Abi was exceedingly grateful that Tory was less talkative.

Mags was in very good spirits when he joined them, and so was Perry. The first words he said over dinner explained it.

“So, did ye like m’agent, then?” he asked of Abi and Tory. “I’ve allus found ’im a good feller.”

“Seth Wrenmarsh is your agent?” Abi exclaimed. “He’s a very nice man!”

“Th’ whole Wrenmarsh fam’ly,” Mags corrected. “Though proper speakin’ ’e was yer Granther’s agent afore ’e was mine.”

“I saw you at the dog shows, so I asked him to keep an eye on you, since he had a dog in the sheepherding contest anyway,” Perry said proudly. “After all you did have Kee with you. I wanted another safe pair of eyes on our little Prince.”

“Did he win?” was all Abi wanted to know. “Wrenmarsh’s dog, I mean.”

“Came in second,” said Perry. “Wrenmarsh wasn’t put out though; his dog is just a pup, and it’ll do better next time.”

Abi didn’t honestly expect to hear anything more about the kindly farmer ever again, but the next day, she was to get a surprise, when she was called out of class by her father.

•   •   •

Mags didn’t say anything to her at all other than, “Abi, there’s a problem ye might could help with,” before he led her to the King’s Lesser Audience Chamber. And there, much to her astonishment, was Seth Wrenmarsh, who had evidently just finished explaining something to King Sedric.

“And here’s the girl who might be able to help you, Goodman Wrenmarsh,” the King said cheerfully as she and her father entered after being announced.

Wrenmarsh’s brow furrowed. “I mun say, Highness, I were expectin’ some’un older.”

“Just tell your tale all over again, and we’ll see,” the King urged him.

He shrugged. “It be short enow. We be neighbors t’ the Lord or Lady of Asterleigh Manor, time out’o mind, as be most’o the freeholders ’round it. Now, ye mind I said ‘freeholders,’ aye, young mistress?”

Abi nodded. “So you all hold your property and farms in your own right, not renting them from the Manor.”

“Aye that. Manor has ’un’s own Home Farm, an’ that’s all. Happen they had more, betimes. Every farm round about milord’s manor was rented from ’em. But milady’s great-granther died, an’ the fortune couldna be found.”

“Wait . . . what do you mean, couldn’t be found?” Abi asked.