My grandfather was by that time too frail to travel, but insisted I attend nevertheless. 'The century is almost ended, Jamie,' he said, 'and my generation of spankers along with it. Time to hand over the reins to younger folk. This Lord Newburn is a fine fellow, by all accounts, and he's on good terms with some very influential people. You must go and make his acquaintance.' Advice from my grandfather was not to be squandered, for the man was a god to me. It was he who'd raised me, my mother having died bringing me into this world and my father just a few short years after. A spanker his whole life long, my grandfather had trained me thoroughly in the noble art, as his maids could testify. It was a rare night indeed when one of them at least didn't cast off the bedclothes to cool her hot, sore bottom. On the morning in question, shortly after dawn, I set off for Chapsom Parva. As she so often does, however, Fate had a say in the matter, for my horse threw a shoe on the way and I arrived several hours late.
