Harold Saves Her Husband Pt. 01

"Because they all ride for the pleasure of it," Serena answered. "Any of them could have ridden here in half a day or faster if they were in a hurry."

"You mean on a horse?" Mohan was incredulous.

"Yes. These women are not used to being carried in litters. They ride their own horses, walk considerable distances..."

"And they are ladies?"

"Certainly Mohan. English ladies are very different from our ideas."

I couldn't stop Lisa intervening.

"Lord Mohan," she said, "even our Queen Victoria rides a horse when she wants to."

I think Lord Mohan was more shocked that Lisa had addressed him directly than by the idea that Queen Victoria could ride. Women at his court could only reply if spoken to. Looking around the hall I could see that many of his courtiers were appalled by the apparent freedom of speech exhibited by the Lady Archers sitting beside them.

I had overheard some snippets of conversation. One lady was asking her escort about the local method of horse-breaking. Another was discussing the methods of irrigation used locally. Both their partners were unable to give coherent replies. They weren't used to women showing intelligence. One younger lord had unbent sufficiently to have an animated argument about rearing of elephants for forestry work.

Lord Mohan looked as if he had a bad smell under his nose as he surveyed the assembled company.

After the final course had been cleared away, Lord Mohan summoned his major-domo who asked the company to move to the dancing room for a display of local dances. Lord Mohan and Queen Serena rose from their seats. Lisa and I followed.

To be continued...