Hey there! Thank you for choosing to read my first ever fanfic. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: All of the mentioned characters belong to Julia Golding.


Note to Reader

Some of you may have favoured my brief visit to Paris. In this adventure, I will be returning to heaped helpings of dancing, pick-pocketing and, most importantly, fun. If these dishes sound pleasing to your appetite, please take a seat at my table and jouir.


Prologue

I'd experienced this dreaded feeling once before. This second time was not any better; and it grew worse with each passing second. I sighed deeply, closing my eyes. Frank, Rabbie and Syd were still out poaching. Frank was teaching Syd and Rabbie the delights of this sport, and the birds shot were to be for Syd's father, the Bow Street butcher. No doubt they would be having loads of fun.

I, on the contrast, was bored out of my mind. I would do anything; even pay a visit to Billy Shepherd, my old enemy, to get out of this neat, unexciting drawing room. But of course, that was out of question. Rabbie and I were invited to stay at the house of Avons' on two conditions – that we remain presentable and orderly in front of guests and that we don't do anything rash or catastrophic. Those rules had been easy to obey most of the time, but at moments like this I was almost willing to get kicked out for a bit of fun. You may be thinking that I'm being over-dramatic, but boredom was honestly pretty new to me. Back at Drury Lane, I was kept on my toes at all times until the moment I topped onto my bed and fell asleep before I touched my pillow.

I was tearing my hair in frustration when the men burst in, faces flushed red and panting. Syd and Rabbie were beaming, no doubt having just had one of the best experiences of their lives. Normally street-folk like Syd, Rabbie and I would never dream of shooting pheasants - or, in my case, being bored - but thanks to our friendship with some off the highest class blue-bloods, we had been experiencing delights beyond any involvement before.


"Six, Cat! I shot six!" Syd exclaimed proudly.

"And I got seven,' Rabbie boasted. He'd developed a pretty good London accent now, and most would never guess he came from Scotland.

Frank nodded. "They were both very good for beginners. I find it hard to believe they hadn't done it before." He sat down opposite me, gesturing for the others to take a chair as well.

I smiled for the first time in 3 hours. I was relieved that my facial muscles had rusted. "You forget, my lord, that we lower class people do not get access to guns and specially bred birds for shooting."

"But you two seem to be getting used to these luxuries pretty quickly, Cat," Frank said, grinning. "You've stopped admiring every room you walk past."

"To be honest I quite envied the servants this morning," I admitted. "When you have nothing to do you start appreciating the pleasure of emptying chamber pots."

Rabbie smirked. "Sewing makes work for idle hands, Cat. There's an option for next time."

I looked at him sadly. "And to think that I almost considered it … I think I'm going mad."


After Syd went back to his shop with a bunch of plucked pheasants, we went horse-riding to my delight. I practically ran down to the stables and resisted poking my tongue out at the horrified looks on the maids' faces. I was riding Sasakwa, my Indian horse from the Americas. We raced across the fields, Rabbie winning every time. He'd had lots of practice getting away from the sheriffs, I comforted myself, as Frank and I struggled to keep up.

"It isn't natural, you know," Frank complained. "I should be the one out stripping you two by far. Storm here is a quality mount, a handful of steps up from Rabbie's shaggy stallion."

I laughed. "The horse might be, but without a rider the same level he doesn't stand a chance." I let myself enjoy the indignant look on Frank's face before giving Sasakwa a kick and galloping ahead of him.

We finally caught up with Rabbie who was grinning from ear to ear, scoffing at our 'daidling pace' and breathlessness.

However the next day, after exhausting myself with horse riding and playing ball games with Rabbie the day before, I still found that my agitation had not ceased. It was like I had forgotten to do something, and it bothering me like a swollen mosquito bite. I decided to visit Syd to take my mind off it.

The bells on the door twinkled, announcing a newcomer. "'Ang on!" Syd called. Then the cleaver thumped down on the chopping board and he appeared, wearing a bloody apron. Upon seeing who it was, Syd grinned and leapt over the front counter. "What may I do for you, Cat?" He offered me a chair.

I smoothed my skirt and sat down. "Nothing much. I just thought I'd come and see you. How're the pheasants selling?"

Syd showed me the empty display line proudly. "Never 'ad a better day; with business and wi' my match, too."

I sat up straight and stared at him with wide eyes. "You – you had a boxing match?"

Syd looked awkward. "Yeah, just yesterday. It went fine, I was only versing this midget of a kid. I didn't get hurt or anything, Nick was there with the gang –"

"But I'm always at your matches!" I protested. I felt betrayed. Why hadn't Syd told me?

Syd shrugged apologetically and ruffled my hair. "I just thought you'd be busy."

I opened my mouth to protest more, but then a delightful thought came to me. "Are you sure that's the only reason? Or, perhaps, you had another girl who you wanted to impress? You know I wouldn't have told anyone, apart from maybe Rabbie and Frank and Bridget and - oh my goodness, did you take her out on a date afterwards?"

Syd gave a snort. "Me? Courtin'? Nah, Cat, I've got too many scars from me boxin'. No one wants a bruised an' battered face like this."

I quickly got over my disappointment. "That's not true, Syd! You're probably still the handsomest man around Leicester Square."

Syd scratched his chin. "Why don't we go an' see? They're havin' a ball down at the Crown an' Anchor – a proper one, not like the apprentice ball we had before. No lords an' dooks, mind, but everyone 'oo's anyone will be there. What say we go an' 'ave a look?"

I grinned, jumping up. "Definitely! Can Rabbie come?"

"'Course. We can't have one Royal without the other. It'll be 'is first one, won't it?"

I nodded. "When does it start? I'll go tell him right away."

"Meet me here at eight."

"Eight it is. Maybe we'll find a girl for you, Syd!"


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