Ellie took the book from Catherine with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The book with it's rich binding was thick. It underscored the size of the challenge Ellie had just accepted. What had she agreed to?

"Thank you, Miss," Ellie said softly, her fingers brushing over the cover of Black Beauty. Truthfully, she had never considered horses much. They pulled carriages, carts, and trams, the notion that rich people owned them as pets, like a cat, was odd, but she supposed it to be true. Still, it resonated with her; The idea of a horse, with its own story, was a new one to her. she understood what it felt like to be vulnerable and misunderstood.

"Horses are useful tools. I've seen some treated poor and some treated kindly, they've seemed everso big to me."