The day was too pretty to spend inside learning to read in a language that failed to interest her. Ryan had left her alone so that he could help a tenant with a roof repair, instructing her to finish the chapter and then write what she thought it was about. Frankly, she did not care. There were more interesting things to learn than reading.Silently, the girl slipped out of the house and began walking towards the vast meadow that was studded in bright, fragrant wildflowers that wilted slightly in the heat. She picked a handful, inhaling their delicate scent deeply, before walking down the long, tree-lined dirt road that led to the tiny farm village which was part of Ryan’s holdings. Yarlshire knew of the status that their earl and his family held as reformers, and it was easy to deduce that the girl was one of those chosen to be trained by the masters themselves. She was greeted with warm smiles and offers of hot tea and biscuits, which she gratefully accepted.The villagers were delighted with the odd girl and her strange accent, helping her with her English as they introduced her around.
