#scarsdale

"You know how I feel, about free will, yes?"

"I know. I'll get rid of it." he takes her hand "If you want me to."

She shakes her head, giving his hand a squeeze. "I can be pragmatic."

Vashti says "you two should discuss thing vigorously, river and knight... perhaps a swim.. cold and damp. Pardon" She hides a smile and slips away

"cold and damp?" earl turns only to see the pooka is gone, then looks back to Zara "what was that about?"

"Vashti!" But she's gone.

"Well then." A pause. "It is true, we have the house..."

"Oh? OH" He picks her up into his arms, "then, lovely lady, let me show thee to thy chambers"

She gasps, and then laces her arms around his neck. "Aye, my artist-knight..."

And he kisses her, then carrying her up the stairs to her chamber....the door closes. And.. a moment later opens again, a small pile of books, some of them new, laid out in the hallway along with a confused Bronte, but suitably bribed she begins to read again, the matters of mammals the last thing on her mind

(end Scene)