Title: Bluebells and roses.

Chapter 9.

This is the next part of an AU/AU, a tribute to a great short story and a marvellous film.

Timeline: before the introduction chapter, we're swimming between end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.

Thanks as usual to all of you who read and posted a review. It is so important for me.

Disclaimer: intellectual property of Ms. Proulx, no commercial use, no copyright infringment.

Special thanks as always time goes to my dear Beta Sam, her help is very precious and deeply treasured.

The days in the cabin ended too quickly. Ennis was obliged to reach the Lake District; he was Lord Alcott's favourite godson and his mother had taught him to always respect the importance of such a position.

The place was really beautiful, like a fairy tale, Ennis reported to Lureen. Lord Alcott greeted Ennis like a son and there were so many servants around that Jack could have a real holiday, too.

Ennis and Jack spent very little time alone due to the presence of various friends, but in the heart of the night, when everybody else was sleeping, Ennis opened the communicating door between his large room and Jack's small cubbyhole.

The young men kissed and embraced with the force of desperation; Jack was the sweetest drug for Ennis, who in the space of a few days felt his world had turned upside down more than once.

Far too soon it was time to return home, and Ennis and Jack once more found guests at the house; one of them Ennis' school principal, Mr Aguirre.

Although it was common for people of their social status to entertain various acquaintances throughout the year, Ennis always disagreed with his father's choices. Ennis wasn't at ease with Mr. Aguirre at school; the principal was a short and fat man with dark moustaches, born and raised in Malta. His features betrayed a not-so-English background but his oppressive discipline was surely pure British.

When he had become principal ten months ago he had soon set new rules, fixing more chores for the younger boys and giving control to the boys of the last class. Ennis did his best at school to avoid him, but now it was worse, for they were under the same roof in his own house.

It was hard to be at the same time so close and so far away from Jack during their holiday, and Aguirre's presence would surely make things harder.

Lureen was passing in front of a window just outside the grocery room when she saw a carriage approaching with Ennis and Jack. She was carrying a basket of apples, which she put swiftly put on the floor. She took off the red apron she wore over a plain blue dress and went outside.

Ennis was already walking toward the barn to see his horses, while Jack was in the middle of the back yard with two bags at his feet. He seemed tired – his shoulders heavy with an invisible weight – and unsure – he moved his head like a pendulum between the house and the barn.

Lureen called his name, Jack turned and the woman saw his face.

She couldn't imagine what, but something surely had happened to Jack. He no longer was the young man of a month before, the last time she'd seen him.

He was polite as usual and greeted her with a broad smile. They chatted a little of everyday things, but Lureen ended the conversation quickly because she wanted to go to Ennis. Jack understood he was dismissed, and entered the house with the bags.

Lureen approached the barn, the door was ajar and she saw Ennis, partly hidden behind the huge body of Signal.

"Ennis!" she called.

"Little sister!" he answered, moving toward her.

Ennis lifted up Lureen in a strong embrace. "Ennis, stop," she teased him.

"I'm stronger than you."

"All right, you win, you win!"

It had been their private joke since they were young, when they were playing chess or pretending to fight.

Ennis was happy, Lureen had never seen her younger brother in such a joyous state. "How was your holiday?"

"Very good, Lureen."

"A hunting paradise?"

"Some pheasants and a deer, nothing else."

"Ennis, you're surprising me, you are the best hunter in the village."

"I had other ways to pass my days. I discovered a small lake very good for fishing. Jack says now I could work on a fishing boat. We stayed at a camp on the shore of the lake and Jack and another valet cooked for everybody."

"Jack Twist a cook? I can't believe that."

"I swear it's true. Let's find him, he'll tell you the himself."

"He'll be in the kitchen, I imagine."

"Let's go! I've brought a gift for you from Glasgow."

Lureen lifted her hand to stop her brother. "First you must know Father is home, earlier than we expected."

The young woman explained briefly what had happened while they had been away. "He arrived three days ago and didn't find you here. He was angry because he had forgotten to tell you that he'd invited guests, and your absence meant he had to take care of them all alone."

"It seems everything I do is always wrong for him. But this isn't the first time we've had guests."

"Yes, Ennis, but one of them is your own principal."

Ennis and Jack had hoped in vain to have peace at home; it wasn't meant to be.

A few days after their return they met near the service stairs on the first floor in the guest's wing. Jack was carrying two chairs and Ennis was heading for his old study on the second floor. They were surrounded by empty rooms, lunch time was near and everybody else was downstairs.

Ennis stopped to whisper a few words.

"I'm sorry, Jack, but we must wait and be careful."

"I only want to talk."

"I know, it's so hard…please!"

"Sometimes I think you don't want me any more, it's crazy but…!"

"No! I'm afraid to be caught."

Jack resigned himself, and bowed his head, then he checked again to see if there were somebody else around. He left the chairs under the window and dared to extend an arm, he wanted desperately to touch Ennis' only for a moment. Both felt the heat of the contact and Ennis grabbed Jack's hand by instinct.

He retreated as he heard the sound of the lock of a double door - already partially ajar - touched to open it further.

Ennis looked around and asked, moving only his lips, "Which door?"

"I'll check," Jack answered in the same way, before walking away swiftly to continue his duty.

Ennis took refuge in a small parlour on the other side and tried to see if somebody was walking in the gallery, but it was too dark and the thick carpet was reducing the sound of footsteps.

Later he went looking for Jack and found him in the library, refilling a tray of bottles.

"It was Aguirre's," Jack murmured.

"Damn!" Ennis cursed in the lowest possible voice, "that man hates the whole of mankind, let alone two boys together."

"Maybe he didn't see us."

"I'll try to find out later, but I need to be careful."

After dinner Ennis entered the drawing room. Mrs. Walton was playing Chopin on the piano for the guests, and Ennis chose to remain near the window leading to the garden, to have a way out.

Aguirre approached him, he was surely ready to make a move because his eyes were shining like they did when he was going to administer punishments at school. His sweaty face glistened in the low light. He seemed fatter than before, the formal black evening jacket made him look like a penguin.

Lureen noticed the motion, when the music ended she crossed the room to be nearer.

"Ennis, your home is really magnificent." Aguirre said during a pause.

Around them Jack was busy refilling glasses and could only offer Ennis a gaze of encouragement.

"Thank you, Mr. Aguirre."

They moved toward the terrace to smoke a cigar.

"And your family, too. Your sister is such a sweet lady."

"She's the portrait of our mother," Ennis answered, trying to appear nonchalant.

"What a pity she can't marry, too fragile."

Ennis clenched his jaw; every hint about Lureen's problems was still difficult for him to bear. He was sure his father had been the one who had informed Aguirre about Lureen's health. "I hope her health will improve soon."

"And you, Ennis, maybe you can't marry, either. Not enough heirs for this lovely estate?"

"I must finish school before marrying in any case."

"Well, it won't be so easy for you, if you have so many friends among the young servants….I wonder what Lord Charles thinks about that."

The music stopped for Ennis, he felt his own sweat wetting his shirt. Aguirre's words were like a sword in his flesh. So that hideous man really had seen something and was inclined to use his most precious secret against him.

He had two immediate possibilities, deny everything, or admit it, and submit to whatever Aguirre wanted from him.

He had a sudden flashback, remembering the way one of his classmates – a very polite boy, often ready to help the newcomers - changed his attitude after being called to the principal's office to discuss a strange exam failure. The boy had quickly become shyer, isolating himself more and more from the others and refusing to talk about his now frequent meetings with the principal. He started having exam failures but strangely his grades remained very good.

Ennis felt a bucket of ice run down his spine…. Maybe Aguirre was one of those men who used their power to control people, or worse, one of those who were interested in young boys, whether or not they were interested in him.

Lureen, partially hidden by a velvet curtain, couldn't know her brother's fears but heard the exchange very well, because Aguirre didn't care if his voice was too high.

Aguirre was now closely observing Ennis, whose only desire was to be anywhere else. Ennis swallowed twice and decided to pretend Aguirre's idea was only a fantasy. "My father is very busy and often away from here."

"Good answer, Delmar, but there are letters and conversations and other ways to explain to Lord Charles what happens in his house. Do you think he will be happy to hear such a news?"

Ennis thought that "happy" would be the mood of Charles Delmar after having beaten his own son hard enough to draw blood. Happy to give his boy a good lesson about life!

A female voice interrupted the discussion.

"Ennis, dear, would you like to escort Mrs. Walton to the new fountain? She wanted to see it in the evening light."

"My pleasure, Lureen. Excuse me, Mr Aguirre." Ennis walked away quickly, feeling relieved and grateful to his sister.

Aguirre appeared furious about the interruption, but after a moment he smiled back to Lureen who took his arm and lead him to the balcony overlooking the garden.

"I'm very happy to hear that Ennis is good at school."

"One of the best."

"Good. Lord Charles wants only the best for my brothers, although he's very exigent with them. He will surely assure them a solid social position and a wealthy marriage. It seemed to me you were talking about that with Ennis."

"Well, after a fashion, Miss Newsome."

Aguirre's arrogance was fading away quickly with Lureen so close. His education still obliged him to respect ladies and to have a proper attitude with them.

"I'm quite sure there is already a young lady reserved for my Ennis. I hope he'll love her with all his heart. But nothing will destroy his happiness while I'm alive. Do you know my late mother's best friend, Lady Alcott?"

"I haven't had the pleasure to meet her in person, although her high reputation is well known."

"She loves Ennis deeply and she wants to see him happy, just like I do. She's well known in London and she often complains that her two sons didn't receive a perfect education at St. Jerome."

"There have been rumours about St. Jerome for three years."

"Yes, and I'm sure Lady Alcott, knowing how Ennis is treated at his school, could induce many families to send their boys to an institute as prestigious as yours. I could write her about you."

She would add other important but not so favourable information about Mr. Aguirre in her soon to be written letter, but he had to remain unaware of it.

"That would be a pleasure, Mrs. Newsome."

"I would do anything for my Ennis, and I'm sure you'll receive a high consideration from Lady Alcott."

Aguirre recognized defeat. He left Lureen with a soft kiss on her hand and a perfect bow.

TBC

Please review.