Peter had dismissed his own class, and Simon and Nick looked as if they had been working as hard as Frederick himself had. Anne looked as fresh as ever, she had come such a long way from the pale, drawn ghost of a girl she had been. Now she was a blooming woman in her prime, beautiful, healthy and full of energy.
'Will Peppermint mind if I try, too? And I think Nick wants to, even if he hasn't actually said so.'
Of course Nick would, he was the one who'd told Frederick about the entire Pemberley stable staff daring each other to try. They were undoubtedly looking forward to seeing their master following their example.
'If she gets fractious we'll put the saddle on Daisy or Mr Fielding's horse, Mrs Manners, they're both used to it,' Peter observed, 'you can all try.'
It was still a bit new to have Anne referred to as Mrs Manners, but the feeling of being married wasn't, somehow. They were all very comfortable with the situation as it was, it was just the name that took some getting used to.
With Peppermint waiting patiently, side-saddle in place, Darcy offered to go first.
'You've already had a lesson each, I'm ready to do some riding while you recuperate.'
Of course everyone agreed, Frederick was feeling his legs after so much trotting, but he was not going to back off if Anne and Nick were not.
With Peter holding the rein, Darcy used the stirrup to lift himself in the saddle, then swung over his leg to sit sideways.
'Try to keep your seat even, Mr Darcy,' Peter remarked calmly, 'as much on your right side as on your left. It can be difficult, but it's better for the horse.'
Darcy realised he was letting his legs pull him slightly to his left and corrected readily, making Peppermint a lot more comfortable. Then he used his left leg to set the horse in motion, kind of brave, since he had never ridden Peppermint before. Nothing untoward happened, and he walked a few
rounds, tried to trot for a few horse lengths and gave up, then cantered. After about ten minutes he sat back, unhooked his right leg and slid to the ground.
'So, I did it, but it's very uncomfortable. I'm glad I tried. You look fabulous my love, in a riding dress on a saddle like this, but like Colonel Drummond said, it's like having his men charge running sideways. Unfair, and ridiculously dangerous. You try, Manners, and tell me what you think.'
So it was his turn next, of course, he was the experienced horseman of the remaining group. Peppermint was obviously very patient, as he put his left foot in the stirrup and mounted as he was used to. When his seat was nicely balanced, he swung his right leg over the horse's neck, to be supported by the saddle on the left side. It felt wrong, and very unbalanced. Taking care to remain seated in the middle of the saddle, he settled his right leg as comfortably as possible, which was not very much so, then touched Peppermint's left flank with his heel. She ambled off in the direction he had in mind, and he did the same as Darcy had done, walking until he had the hang of that, then speeding up, finding the trot impossible to sit through in this position without his knees and ankles to absorb the upward motion of the horse. The canter was acceptable, to the left easier than to the right, because he kept feeling as if he'd tumble towards the side where he had no leg to support himself. It was uncomfortable and it put a strain on his back that didn't seem healthy, though it hurt less in some places than he'd expected.
Instead of sliding down he unhooked his right leg and brought it back to the right, then dismounted as he'd do his own horse.
'I salute you, Elizabeth, for riding like this. It is rather difficult and it doesn't seem very safe at all. I totally agree with Darcy, it looks beautiful but it's not practical. Still, I'm glad I know now. Do you want to go next, Anne?'
'No, let Nick go first, I don't mind using one of the other horses if Peppermint objects to carrying four different people, none of whom have a clue of what they are doing.'
So Nick did exactly what Frederick and Darcy had done, mount in the usual way, then move the right leg to the other side. He did not show any discomfort after having ridden an intense lesson just before, and he needed only the slightest help to sit in the middle of the saddle.
Making Peppermint move was harder for him, he had learned to ride only recently and he did not know the exact spot where to touch the horse to tell it to walk, maybe he mainly used his weight and posture to guide his own, or
maybe his Liquor just liked to move a lot and didn't need much encouragement.
Still he got the hang of it and rode his circles, tried to trot and gave up, and with Peter's help he even managed a canter, on both sides. Then he dismounted and observed, 'That was more difficult than our whole riding lesson just now. But like you, Mr Manners, Mr Darcy, I'm glad I tried.'
And then Anne's turn had come, and she performed bravely and competently.
She had the same amount of instruction Nick had, and dared try the canter.
When she had dismounted she joined them, accepting their compliments graciously.
'I might say I'm glad I tried, but I know may have to get used to riding this way for part of the year. If I want to keep riding I will have to, no lady rides astride in town. Which is why the experience was different for me. I can feel the lack of balance, I see the danger, but I will have to think of ways to overcome them. But I know I'll look fabulous in one of those dresses, on this beautiful white horse, which may make up a little for the unfairness of it all.'
And that was all she said before she turned to Peppermint to thank her for her efforts.
Nick did not show any admiration, he was good at this! Of course, Frederick still had a lot to learn in that respect, but at this moment he didn't have to, he was allowed to show as much admiration for Anne as he felt, he was her husband and supposed to admire her. Fortunately that was easy, as Nick had said, Anne was stronger at heart than any of them, with what she had been through, and how she was always positive and took care of not one, but three men.
During their afternoon of drinking on their wedding day, Anne had told Frederick how she and Nick had accidentally forgotten their protections that morning. Remembering how nervous and affected Nick had been just before the wedding, Frederick had not been surprised, and they had talked a little about babies. Anne had made a strong case for not being sorry if she were to be with child, she was twenty five already after all. Frederick hadn't thought there was much chance of her getting with child from one little accident, and he hadn't cared at that time, not as drunk as he had been, and as thrilled at having had an intimate talk with Nick. And he still didn't care, it would be inconvenient but he was certain it would be great fun to have a child about the house.
'You must be thinking great thoughts, Frederick, you're terribly quiet,' she
laughed, still petting the horse. 'Though they don't seem altogether bad.'
He couldn't help smiling back, she made an incredible picture with the beautiful grey mare.
'I was thinking small thoughts, but precious ones. You're a heroine to me, Anne, I've never thought about the hardships facing women, I never thought much about women at all, I didn't know very many. But now I do know some of you, I realise you often have to be very strong, and it is barely recognised.
Not by men, but I guess not by your own sex either.'
Anne released Peppermint to Peter and came straight towards him. She took his face in both her hands and kissed him full on his lips.
'I wouldn't call those thoughts small, Frederick, though they are indeed precious to me. Now, it seems to me we have forgotten someone. Simon, do you want to try the side-saddle? I think Peppermint is patient enough for one more lady.'
And indeed, Simon did want to try, and he did well enough for Frederick to have to take some trouble to keep his love and admiration from showing. But he managed, and soon after they all retreated to their rooms to change, and they had plenty of chance to celebrate their love.
Chapter 11
Fitzwilliam had postponed finishing his letter to Colonel Drummond until after he'd faced the older man
's challenge. Elizabeth knew he would have liked to do more to prove his mettle, the colonel had distinguished himself in the revolutionary wars in France, and Fitzwilliam might consider himself lacking in bravery compared to an army officer who had been on active duty five times. And riding was very likely the only field in which Fitzwilliam was more daring than the colonel. But there really was no need to prove anything, Fitzwilliam had responsibility to his tenants, and the colonel to his regiments, and they both had to discharge that responsibility as best they could. Why the need to be more daring than another man?
After reading the letter, which contained an invitation to both the colonel and his wife to visit during the hunting season, Elizabeth decided she'd go and see Mrs Reynolds to make the final arrangements for the tour of the house.
March was coming to an end and the weather seemed to be warming daily,
soon people would start requesting to view the house, and while Mrs Reynolds loved to lead them around, she also liked to have her mistress'
opinion on what to tell them and what not.
Expecting to find the housekeeper in the common-room, Elizabeth made her way there first, but instead of the housekeeper, now back to work entirely but still excellent friends with Mrs Eliot, she found Fanny, hemming what seemed to be a large embroidered tablecloth. Though surprised to find her mistress in the servants' quarters, Fanny curtseyed politely but not humbly, still, she seemed a lot less independent than whenever she was in Elizabeth's own dressing room. Well, in a way it was not surprising that an elderly lady like Mrs Annesley or Mrs Reynolds inspired more respect in a young woman than Elizabeth, who was very young and rather familiar with her personal maid.
'Mrs Darcy, can I help you?'
'Yes, please, Fanny, I'm looking for Mrs Reynolds.'
'I think she is in the cellar, ma'am, I can fetch her for you if you like. Though I think she will be back soon, she left when I started and I'm nearly done.'
'In that case I'll wait, and you can tell me how things are going here. You know, with Bob, and Dora, and all the others.'
Fanny did not hesitate but merely fell into the comfortable mood she usually displayed when working on Elizabeth's toilette, more familiar towards her mistress though still hard at work. She was one of those people who could perform a rather precise task and still talk sense.
'Let me see, ma'am, I'll start with Bob. He is very happy to be back here and I can see why, it's like having a large family. Everyone has been so nice to us, even Bruce. And everyone has been nice to Bruce, that could have been different, people like Bob so much, they might have tried to get back at Bruce but they didn't. Bob is everything I hoped for in a husband, caring, sweet, but he puts his foot down these days when he knows he is right, and not just to me. Bruce wants to return to town, and Bob is teaching him how to keep the horses trim and eager when living confined. And our rooms are lovely, ma'am.'
'And how does living in the country suit you, Fanny?'
'Excellent, though I miss my mum and sisters and brothers. They can rarely write, you see, because of the cost. But the people here are like family, and not so different from back home. I could get used to living here, I think, though I loved being your personal maid more than anything.'
Poor Fanny, there wasn't much chance anymore of Elizabeth wanting to be dressed and made up to within an inch of her life on a regular basis. Life was much better in the country. But once Fanny got with child she would want to stay put a little more, and she'd want Bob there for her. Maybe they should indeed have Bruce taught to drive the thoroughbreds. Or take Hugo to town, let him share responsibility of the Pemberley stables a little more often with the adult stable hands like Bob and Peter.
Fanny was not the kind to complain and she quickly added, 'But Mrs Reynolds always finds something to do for us, ma'am, I have not felt useless, nor has she asked me to do anything that might be considered demeaning for a personal maid, like clearing fireplaces or doing the rounds upstairs.'
That was probably their way to refer to emptying the chamber pots.
'I'm glad, Fanny, and in April we expect visitors, then Mrs Fielding and I will need your services again. My aunt Gardiner really likes to see her nieces dressed up. So how is Dora?'
'She'll be pleased you asked, ma'am, she felt so much better to have talked to you and Mrs Fielding but she was ashamed to have let herself go. I told her that if Mrs Fielding asked, she wanted to know and Dora could not have refused to answer. That settled her just fine, and now she is hoping for miserable weather to be allowed to do up the young lady's hair. I remember Mrs Fielding vaguely resembling a mop or a sheep when we tried that, but if she has promised Dora they'd try it, she will remember. She always keeps her promises, Mrs Fielding does. They are such a beautiful couple, she and Mr Fielding, and so very happy together.
Oh, and Dora received a letter from that boy she wrote, she refers to him as a boy but Fowler says he is as much a man as Dora is a woman. Where she can hear it, too, he does not gossip. I can't imagine why she fell for him, he is exactly like a bossy older brother, I'm glad I'm the eldest at home. But she still yearns for him sometimes, though it's getting less obvious, and I have to admit he can be very charming and he is quite handsome when he smiles.
Pauline said he got her into a world of trouble, told on her to Mrs Reynolds when she chatted him up a little, just to be nice. But I didn't believe that and I told her so, Fowler would never lead someone on, he is nice but always correct. And then she admitted Mrs Reynolds had merely warned her to be more careful with men, they might take her advances seriously and get her, and themselves, into trouble. I think she wanted to use Fowler to get at Simon, she always watches him whenever he is in here. He knows, he has
been very cool and polite to her but she doesn't seem to get it. I'm afraid she is not planning to settle, ma'am, she seems to want more than she can get.'
Nick had said Pauline wanted help for her sister and to improve herself. Well, Georgiana had had the sister over to test her intelligence and her knowledge and she had been impressed. If the father agreed Fitzwilliam wanted to send her to town to be taught nursing, and since the man had only one daughter fewer than her own father and decidedly less means to raise them, she expected him to jump at the chance to have one of them able to support herself.
But hearing Fanny she doubted that Pauline would manage to wrestle herself loose from her humble roots, she'd likely chat up some farmer's son as well and get herself with child and into a hurried marriage. If she was lucky. Well, if they managed to help the sister, some of that advantage would flow back to Pauline, who did after all get her the help she needed.
'I trust your judgement, Fanny, and Nick's and Mrs Reynolds'. She can probably stay for our relatives' visit, and if she hasn't started to adapt by then she probably never will. But you were going to tell me about the letter Dora received, did it make her happy?'
'Oh yes, ma'am,' Fanny said with a cheeky wink, 'and not just because Fowler spent half an hour on her helping her read it. She told me all about it afterwards, apparently this man almost begged her to give him a chance. That it had nearly broken his heart to see her with Fowler. Of course that had been quite embarrassing to read with the man sitting next to her, helping her spell it out, but apparently he took it well. I do think he feels like her brother, he is very protective of her. And of Mrs Manners, he follows her around everywhere. Why does Mr Manners keep a guard around, ma'am, if I may ask? He can protect her well enough himself, can't he? He is as broad as Fowler and Bates says his master can wrestle like no-one else.'
Well, the question was going to pop up at some time. Better give Fanny a good story now and she'd not hesitate to address that issue whenever it cropped up.
'You know Mrs Manners' mother tried to take her back to her estate?'
'Yes, ma'am, I heard.'
'She won't try again here, but they are not going to stay here forever. And they are planning to go to the continent, where life can be quite dangerous, even for
a gentleman. Having a personal guard is quite intense, he is supposed to follow you everywhere, and you can imagine a lady wouldn't
want just any strong fighter that close. There needs to be a certain bond between a guard and his charge, and that is why Nick is still here, or here already: Mrs Manners trusts him, he has proven himself worthy of that trust, and he has excellent references. If Mr Manners dismissed him now he would find another employer soon, and Mrs Manners would have to get used to a whole new guard when they leave here. And not just she, all the others would have to live with this new man, too. He might not be as suitable. So they have decided to keep Nick, teach him some extra skills he might need on the continent, like behaving like a gentleman, so he can accompany Mrs Manners everywhere without people knowing he is actually a dangerous fighter.'
'Fowler is dangerous, ma'am?'
Elizabeth laughed, apparently Fanny bought her excuse, even though Anne was married now and Lady Catherine would be very pleased with the match.
'Extremely dangerous, Fanny, though I admit he doesn't look the part. Which makes him all the more valuable as a guard. I've seen him teach Mr Manners some fighting tricks and believe me, they were very nasty. And effective.
Also, he is rapidly learning how to use a rifle accurately, and I think Mr Manners may get him a handgun once they're across the North Sea. But I hope you understand now why he accompanied Mrs Manners to Pemberley?'
'I do, ma'am. And I know he isn't dangerous to us. It's just that some questions were raised.'
'And you have my permission to address them when they do so again. Or they might ask Nick himself, he won't mind answering them.'
'Well, some hinted that he liked Mrs Manners more than he should, but then the others said that was Mr Manners' business, not theirs. They did not say that in front of Dora, though, she'd have killed them. I like a bit of news as much as anyone, ma'am, but some people just take it too far. I know Fowler has this reputation, but as far as I know he is kind and respectful to everybody. I don't like hearing people gossip about him, and neither does Mrs Reynolds.'
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