And there must be a reason for Manners to choose his wife a guard who looks so much like him. He is a very deep and intriguing man, I'm glad to have the chance to get to know him. Thank you so much for your hospitality, Mr Darcy, and for letting me be part of your family for few a days.
You go see your wife, she is trying to catch your attention.'
And Elizabeth was, probably because of the crossroads approaching ahead.
Darcy was worried, Prince George saw so much, despite everyone being on their guard he was finding out more and more about how things were in their family, as he so aptly called it.
A few weeks ago, Nick would have been afraid of being in for it after letting Liquor draw so much attention to the two of them. He did lose control for a few moments, when Mr Darcy suddenly rushed down that slope full speed without warning. Or maybe he had given a warning but Nick and Simon never heard it, keeping a little distance from the genteel folk.
He had Liquor back under control soon enough, but then Mrs Darcy challenged him to a race, and it was impossible to refuse such a thrill. That slender brown horse of hers was incredibly fast, there had been no way to keep up, but when she jumped the hedge Nick knew he wanted that, too, so he took the chance and did. Once on the road they had slowed to a walk, but Mrs Darcy had not stopped to wait for the others so he'd merely joined her.
'I'm sorry I left you no choice but to jump that hedge, Nick,' she said, 'I thought you had Liquor in hand or I would not have temped him to follow.'
Of course that wasn't what really happened, and he told the plain truth.
'There is no need for an apology, ma'am, Liquor didn't decide to jump that hedge, I did. It looked easy, the way you jumped it, so I thought I'd try as myself.'
'I'm glad to hear that. And was it easy, after a month of riding lessons?'
'I didn't have any trouble getting Liquor to take it, nor did I come close to falling off. So I guess it was, ma'am.'
'You must be the best natural horseman I've ever met, weren't you afraid at all?'
'Merely to have been out of bounds, Mrs Darcy. I'm just a guard, I'm not supposed to brag with my skills. Which I wasn't trying to do, I just like riding so very much. I did lose control of Liquor when you all suddenly chased down that hill.'
'You didn't hear Fitzwilliam's warning? Maybe we should incorporate a hand signal for those in the rear. I'm glad you are all right, and I'll make sure Fitzwilliam doesn't fault you for what was in fact my doing, I felt like racing and your Liquor seemed the most likely candidate to join Barley in a fast run.'
'And yet he couldn't keep up, ma'am, Barley is really very fast, though he isn't all that large.'
'His father and grandfather have a lot of Arabian blood in them, you know, those desert horses. They are supposed to be really fast. Except I guess that in the desert it is more difficult to run into things, like road signs, and fences, and rivers.'
'I have indeed heard they have very few rivers in the desert, ma'am.'
She laughed heartily and offered, 'I'm glad you could join us, Nick, though Prince George is obviously wondering what Mrs Manners needs guarding from. Be prepared to have him address you, you may be certain he will.'
Nick did not expect that but she seemed so certain, and she knew Prince George best of any of them.
'I thank you for the warning, ma'am. I suppose I'd better return to Simon's side, though it's too late to keep a low profile.'
She nodded to give him permission, then looked for her husband, who was talking with the prince.
Nick held his horse for a few moments, to let the others pass, then joined Simon, who was riding by himself, surprisingly calm after such a sudden gallop.
'You certainly managed to not be noticed, what got into you?'
Mrs Darcy had brought that message a good deal more kindly, though of course she had challenged him to do it in the first place.
'My horse ran wild, and when I had him back under control Mrs Darcy wanted to race the horses so I did. But it was foolish, I admit, now Prince
George couldn't help but notice me. But in my defence, I didn't hear a warning we were going to gallop down that hill and Liquor is quite a fractious horse, he got away from me for a second.'
'Never mind, Nick, I was only teasing you, I wish I could ride like you. Now mind your tongue for we are about to have some company, and he can get a stone to spill its life's story, I swear.'
And Simon immediately inclined his handsome head to the prince, who had reined in his horse to ride with them. Ahead, Anne and Mrs Darcy were riding with their husbands, both couples looking a true ideal of marital happiness.
Nick followed suit, bowing as deeply as one could from a horse's back but taking a good covert look at Prince George at the same time. He sat his beautiful horse well, though he was certainly a little portly. His coat was more practical than magnificent, his face round like a full moon, and his hair seemed to be thinning under his tall hat. There was no way that this man could be a competitor for Anne's affections, Nick would respect him as a superior but he would not fear his influence on the woman he loved.
'My good man,' he addressed Nick, 'you are truly a superb rider! I have heard you only learned a month ago, I am stunned! The way you took that fence!
Were you afraid at all? By the way, might I ask your name?'
Well, now he had to say something.
'My name is Nick Fowler, Your Highness, I am Mrs Manners' guard. I thank you for your kind compliments, I just love riding so much, the speed, being one with the horse, the excitement, I'm never afraid when riding my horse.'
'Liquor, I hear you've named him, an intriguing name.'
'Liquor is his short name, Your Highness, I actually named him Liquorice, because he is black.'
'Ah, that explains a lot. So you are never afraid on a horse. And you are a guard, I guess that means you are a brave man in general. Tell me, Nick, is there anything you do fear?'
Well, that was an easy one with the Prince of Wales riding next to him.
'Yes, Your Highness, I have a tremendous fear of powerful men. I suppose that may sound singular to you.'
'Surprisingly little, my friend, remember, however influential a man, there is always someone who can harm him. I for instance have long feared my father, who is little forgiving of mistakes, especially in his eldest son. I suppose you have always worked in a dependent position.'
'Yes, Your Highness, ever since I was fifteen years of age.'
'That is rather young, were you always a guard?'
'Mostly, though I have also served as chaperone for two young ladies. They preferred entertainment which would have caused the usual elderly lady to blanch or even faint, and still their father chose to indulge them in their taste.
My qualities as a guard were sometimes very useful.'
'I can see that he trusted you with their respectability as well as their lives.'
'They were like sisters to me, I would have given my life to guard them from harm.'
'And would you give your life for Mrs Manners, Nick?'
Damn the man, he was smart. Nick couldn't hide that he would, without a moment's hesitation.
'I would, Your Highness.'
'She is lucky to have such a loyal man. I understand why Mr Manners entrusts his wife to you. But she can hardly be like a sister to you.'
'That would be highly presumptuous, Your Highness, she is no feckless girl but a woman grown.'
'A woman grown, that she certainly is. And yet she is still so young, and so fresh and beautiful. I cannot help it, Nick, when I see such a beautiful, admirable woman I fall in love instantly, each and every time. It has gained me some unforgettable times but it has cost me at least as much. If you were to ask me what I fear most it would be reporters. They have their opinion of me all thought out and they see confirmation in anything. I would so love to be faithful to one woman, but somehow another always crosses my path who is even more special. How do men like Darcy do it? Give all their love to o
ne woman, unconditionally? I've never understood. Do you? Nick? Simon?'
'I have certainly never been able to give my love to a single woman, Your Highness,' Simon said, laughing. 'I've never met one who could tempt me to stay true to her. But I'm sure if I met the right person I would be faithful until the day I died.'
That last was said with more than a little irony, and Nick could see that Prince George appreciated Simon's sense of humour very much, though of course he did not know where Simon's self-critique originated. Nick found himself answering honestly, though carefully, somehow he felt a case had to be made for the faithful.
'I used to be a real ladies' man, I never intended to fall in love and worship a single woman to the exclusion of everything else. But it happened when I
least expected it, and I haven't so much as looked at another woman since.
And I used to have a different one every day.'
'Wasn't that difficult, living in a household?'
'Some of the staff disapproved, but my master knew and he sort of admired me for my prowess. His wife had strings of lady friends visiting to see me.'
'Really? Ladies, of your master's class? And you gave that up for a single woman? Did you marry her? Did you leave her in London? I would never have guessed you to be a family man.'
'Alas, she wouldn't marry me. For her I would have become a family man, if only she'd have me. But I see her now and again, just enough to keep me going. No family for me, not yet. I may still convince her to start one, though.'
'You sound so determined, Nick, in the face of such adversity. I almost feel ashamed of my own wandering eye. Until I see another pretty face and I am lost in love once again.
Well, I wish you both a pleasant ride, I'm going to spend some more time on one or both of those charming ladies here, I'm really very much in love with both, but of course they're way too young for me. Mrs Darcy could have been my daughter! Still, I'll enjoy her delightful conversation and her husband's incredible self-control, any other man would have challenged me by now. At the very least to a game of billiards. I'll have to be more careful of your master, he is less envious of his lady's attention but ever so much more subtle, it wouldn't do at all to anger him, I'm sure his enemies never see him coming. But Mrs Manners, she is a true delight, not my daughter's age at all.
Do you think she would have me, just for a night? He is not that good looking. Though he is probably a very good lover, that must be it. Athletic, which I certainly am not. Much gentler than he presents himself to the world outside, I bet.'
Nick looked at Simon and they couldn't help smiling. Simon just had to do it.
'You may be right, Your Highness, you may just be right. I'm guessing Mrs Manners is very satisfied with her man, but I'm just a simple valet, what would I know?'
'You're not fooling me, Simon, there is nothing simple about you. I guess I'll just enjoy the ladies' company then. See you both later.'
Chapter 16
They managed to find the little village Anne wanted to see again and it was a delightful visit despite Prince George spending more time with Nick than Anne could herself. But she would have him in her arms that night, and she still saw him jumping that fence out of nowhere in front of her mind's eye. He was so strong and fearless, how could she not love him and want him? The strength in those arms and legs, and yet how tender he could be when he looked at her in a certain way and covered her with those little kisses.
'Your cousin has the most delightful little villages on his estate, Mrs Manners. What is different here from other places? I'd swear all villages look alike and yet they don't, I've seen enough of them to know.'
Torn from her musings, Anne considered his question seriously, comparing this village to her mother's estate, and the villages they had passed on the road.
'I think Darcy takes better care of his people. The cottages are in better repair, and it's as if there are fewer of them, with larger fields and better-maintained vegetable plots. I think he doesn't allow families to split the farms, for their own well-being. I suppose tenants need taking care of.'
Prince George nodded, he probably had people running his estates for him, but he certainly saw a lot. If he could manage his weaknesses he would be a good king.
'A lot more than some seem to think, I've passed any number of sad hovels on my way here. Don't those landowners understand that sick or hungry tenants work less hard? And that timely maintenance saves money later?'
Thinking of her mother Anne quite naturally commented, 'And yet most people also need less guidance than we might think. My mother takes care that the cottages on her estate are in good repair, but she also interferes in people's lives. These cottages reflect their tenants, somehow. They make them personal, I like to see curious trees or works of art or those strange little buildings in the yards. See, like that one over there, what's that? A chicken coop?'
'Poor chickens! They'd be squashed flat. I guess they are a kind of conservatory, meant to grow crops that need more heat, like my oranges.'
'That's it! And look at that dog kennel over there, like a little church! My mother's steward would never let any of her tenants keep something like that
in their yard, my mother doesn't like to see such fripperies. When I inherit Rosings I'll encourage my tenants to have a bit of fun with their house. And to just have a little fun, they work so hard, why shouldn't they?'
'You are so right, these villages look cared for, and not just by the landlord, by the tenants as well. Your cousin is a very caring man, though at first glance he doesn't look like one.'
'Both he and Frederick say it's because they were sent to school at a very young age, they learned to hide their feelings or be bullied.'
'They are so right! And yet they will most likely send their sons to school as well. We just cannot escape our upbringing.'
'But Darcy has also changed a lot, he used to be really disagreeable to people he thought beneath his notice. Among whom a certain young lady from Hertfordshire called Miss Elizabeth Bennet.....'
'No! Mrs Darcy?'
'Yes. She disliked him violently when secretly he was madly in love with her.
She broke his heart before she finally found out he was actually quite nice.
And he improved himself until he became the man he is now. It's a very romantic story, you should ask her to tell it to you some time.'
'I think I will ask Darcy instead and get an even more interesting version. No wonder he loves her so, he suffered before he conquered! I reckoned with his looks and reputation he'd gotten the girl with a mere smouldering look.
Thank you for telling me this, Mrs Manners, it's very difficult to connect to someone who is set to dislike you, but talking of his love will hopefully make him more inclined to forgive me my weakness.'
Anne did wonder why Prince George would want to connect to Darcy at all cost, he could just be polite to his host and avoid him to make his visit less of an imposition, couldn't he? Or maybe he was like Frederick, maybe the prince also needed to be liked.
For another ten minutes they observed quaint details in the houses they passed and pointed them out to each other, until Darcy left the road once again and took them back into the hills, where they rode single file along a really narrow path through thick young growth. Then they crossed another field at a gallop, Nick keeping perfect control of Liquor this time.
The rest of the way they used the road, and Prince George returned to Anne's side, chatting with her until they reached the stables, where Nick and Simon took care of their own horses and the others left for the house immediately.
Anne hoped to see Nick appear in her room for their usual private time whilst
changing, she was afraid Nick would doubt her because she spent so much time on their guest.
The only one in their midst not altogether pleased with what the changing would bring was Simon, he was starting to fear the prince's clever questions and genial manners, designed to draw people out and talk to him freely.
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Simon was desperately afraid to tell Prince George something he could use to get to the truth of Anne and Frederick's marriage, the man was so curious and it was so difficult to refuse to give him what he wanted. Since Simon had initially been planning to get to know the Prince of Wales a lot better he couldn't help laughing at himself, at this moment it seemed as if things were going rather in the opposite direction, towards the prince getting to know Simon. He needed to see Frederick to ask whether he could tell the prince about Vienna if that clever fellow kept trying to find out why Mrs Manners had a body guard, it was the only logical explanation.
There really was no time for Simon to take care of his own horse, he had work to do, dressing two gentlemen was quite a task and he hoped to have a little time to spend with Frederick before they would have to part again. If he asked Nick to brush and feed his horse, his friend would do it, but Nick needed to spend time with Anne.
'You see to your charges, Simon, and we'll see to ours. I understand why you would stay behind to make your own way back to the house, but Fanny tells me you have two gentlemen to help dress, you need to go back to your duties.
You, too, Nick, the coast is clear, you go back to the house and we'll take care of your horses.'
Who would have guessed that Bob would ever gain so much self-confidence!
'Thank you so much, Bob, I really don't have the time to brush my horse today, though I kind of like doing it in general.'
See, Nick had been thinking the same, though he didn't have to dress the heir to the throne as well as give his partner a little love. But Anne and Nick's bond would be under significant pressure, and while Simon knew Nick was not jealous of the time Anne spent on the prince, he would need some confirmation of her love after the ride just now.
'I'm very grateful, Bob, you see things so clearly, I don't like leaving my horse like this when she worked so hard to please me, but I really have to fly.'
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