Everyone turned to look at Lysander with astonishment, as if a potted palm had spoken. He stood very straight and tried to seem not at all leafy. "I'm good with horses." He slid a glance at Bing. "And ponies."

Bing shifted, clearly willing but just as clearly weary to the bone. He grumbled. "It ain't like he's a real pony," but he subsided quickly when Gemma nodded briskly.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Worthington. That will do very nicely." She turned to the sheepherder. "I shall follow along directly with my kit. Mr. Worthington will assist me, won't you, Mr. Worthington?"

Lysander nodded. He had no idea what he would be doing, but he vowed to himself to do it as well as he was able.

The man nodded gratefully and backed out of the doorway that he had never entirely entered. Lysander felt a passing oddness in that. The way the man had addressed Gemma was the way that common folk in London addressed the nobility. Did she hold herself so very high to the local folk?

He followed Gemma into her stillroom. He found her opening a strange folding box and checking its contents. It looked like something his brother Orion would use to run chemistry experiments, for it was full of small bottles. Some were filled with liquids of different colors and some small jars held dried plants or powders. He recognized the milky contents of one bottle. Laudanum.

After plucking a few things from her shelves and inserting them into the case in an exacting manner, Gemma tried to refold the sides. She struggled, and Lysander stepped silently to her side and took the job over. The case closed to a neat square box of a size that could ride behind a saddle or on the seat of the cart. Gemma murmured thanks and quickly snapped a set of latches tight. However, when she tried to lift it by the handle, Lysander simply hefted it from her grasp.

Once they were outside in the crisp evening air, Gemma in a woolen coat and Lysander in an ample knitted scarf that she had insisted he add to his own outerwear, Bing had led Bad Pony into the kitchen yard with the elderly cart rattling behind. Two lanterns were affixed to the front corners, for the clouds obstructed the moon. Shepherd Orren had ridden on ahead.

Bad Pony gave a belligerent snort and stepped restlessly sideways, knocking his haunches into the traces and jostling the cart. He even took a forward swing at Bing with his front hoof. Undeterred by the failure, he snaked his head out with teeth bared. Bing stood well back from the animal's reach.

"Hvatit!"

Bad Pony jerked his head about and tilted his shaggy ears in Lysander's direction, clearly at full alert.

Gemma took advantage of the pony's distraction and allowed Bing to help her up into the seat of the cart. Lysander stepped forward until he was very close indeed to Bad Pony.