"I'm sure she'd enjoy that," he agrees. "She doesn't mention it much, but she misses Sherwood a great deal."

True, Kiseki and Lineave aren't here, but that will hardly dampen the pleasure of a ride.

"I was thinking we might take Merry and Susan to the beach for a picnic, too. It'd be a lovely way for them to get outside and give Marta a break, don't you think?"