day hadnt come yet. But if you ever want a day off forsome reason, we can discuss it. I want you to be happy, you knowthat.Ido, Henry. I know it very well. Martin looked Henry in the eye andsmiled. Im so glad youre my master. He hesitated, thenadded, If you have any more questions about slaves, Id be happyto answer them. Slaves lives arent secret, after all.Imsure Ill think of something, Henry said. Do you want to playcards until your dinnertime?Martingot up from the bed, grinning. Just let me get the pennies.Cloudsstarted rolling in Saturday night, and they woke up to snow onSunday. The snow was picturesque, turning the dormant garden into aglittering fairyland in the pale winter sun, but it was alreadybeginning to melt, sliding in slushy slabs from the eaves anddripping where it was precariously heaped along bare branches.AsHenry ate his breakfast with Martin at his side, Martin slid his footacross the carpet to nudge Henrys boot.Sir?Would you want to try to enjoy the snow while its still pretty?Before its all grey and melted?Whatdo you have in mind?Wehavent had the horses out in awhile, Sir. We could ride.Henrycertainly had no better idea, was quite willing to do whatever Martinmight want, and bade Martin call the stables so the grooms mightready the horses.Theyquickly changed into their riding clotheswith the addition ofwinter underwear, sweaters and scarvesand made their way over tothe stables. There wasnt terribly much snow, actually, just two orthree inches, already mostly cleared or melted from the roads andsidewalks. The cold brought out spots of pink on Martins cheeksand his eyes looked green as grass. His hair seemed particularlycoppery in the watery light, a beautiful color. Even in bulky layers,Martin was slim and graceful, and Henry ached with fondness for him.He wished he could kiss him, or even just offer him his arm whilethey walked.Martinhad been saying something about the violin, talking about sometechniquevibrato? portato? or maybe it was spiccato versusstaccatobut Henry hadnt been paying attention to the words, andhe was afraid Martin would be able to tell.Martinstopped speaking abruptly, suddenly bashful. Really, Sir, hesaid. You mustnt let me ramble on about my music like that. Itmust be very boring.Itwasnt boring,but it was largely incomprehensible. I wish you had someoneknowledgeable you could talk with, Henry told him. Maybe Ishould ask my father again about lessons. A good teacherMartinflushed and shook his head. Please dont trouble your father,Sir. As hes already pointed out, further instruction isunnecessary. Its not as though Im going to be joining anorchestra.Henrydidnt agree lessons were unnecessary, of course, and he was goingto say so, but then they were at the stables and Jerry and Arthurwere bringing the horses out to them. Henry felt a littleself-conscious, knowing what he did about the grooms sex life. Hestudied them a little as Jerry helped him to mount, trying to discernif there were any subtle signs that they were lovers, but they seemedmuch as they always had, businesslike and deferential, and there wasno indication they were anything more than colleagues. It wasreassuring and made him feel more confident that he and