Chapter 25: The Hunting Party and the Fair

The dogs were barking ecstatically and running circles around the men as the horses were being prepared for everyone. Eve was standing in the parlor watching the chaos ensuing outside. Peter was tapping his foot impatiently as his friend was talking his ear off. Eve noticed he was anxious and turned away from the window to go outside. She mounted the horse she was given with the help of a footman and waited for everyone. Peter jauntily rode his horse next to hers and stopped.

"Fine day," he said happily.

"Yes," Eve said in agreement nervously. She was trying to keep her horse calm. The dogs were doing circles around her and the horse was getting spooked. It kept flicking its head and pounding its hoof in the dirt. Eve had a tight grip on the reigns. She was holding tight. The horse was becoming increasingly skittish and she was afraid that it would buck up on its hind legs and throw her to the ground.

Everyone finally started off with their horses and headed to their destination. It wasn't too far on horseback to the clearing where the servants had already set up for breakfast with tea. The women in the party were expected to sit still and watch the men shoot their guns at birds for sport. It rattled Eve to hear guns going off constantly but she would put up with it the best she could. She dismounted her horse and a servant took the reigns from her, leading it away. She sat down on one of the chairs provided for the ladies and tea was handed to her. She sat still and just stared at the horizon. The first gunshot nearly startled her but she hid it well.

"It's a bit of a shame that the Meriweather girls couldn't be here," a woman, who Eve barely knew, spoke up, trying to make her come out of her shell.

"Oh, yes," Eve said, "My uncle called for them to be home this morning. They were needed."

Eve was happy that Mrs. Cabbett had stayed with her along with Jean. He was not too thrilled about the hunting party but he obliged to join them since Eve would be there. Eve watched him for a moment. He was standing with a gun, packing it with powder slowly. He looked a bit bored. A flock of birds suddenly fluttered chaotically out of the brushes and he raised his flintlock, shooting and bringing down one bird. The men all praised his shot and he prepared his gun again as a servant went to retrieve the bird from the dog that had fetched it out of the field. Eve could sympathize with Jean at that moment. They were both tired of polite society. They were going along with the motions of it all. The dinner parties, the balls, and the parties all wore on their nerves at times. Eve only felt a bit of excitement when it came to the parties only because of the dancing. However, she could only dance so much.

Peter looked at Eve and wondered what she was thinking. She was staring silently off into the distance. She was tired, by the looks of it. She had barely sipped her tea. He watched as Jean approached her and sat beside her. Peter snapped his gun shut and shot at the group of birds. He missed. His friend laughed to himself and looked away when Peter shot him a glare.

"I've heard on the wind that there will be a fair tonight."

"How does that concern me?"

"I heard they are holding boxing matches," he said, "perhaps you could talk Miss Cromwell and Mr. Villeneuve into joining us?"

"Miss Cromwell would not attend such a barbaric event," he laughed, "besides, how would that help?"

"You could prove your youth," his friend said before lifting his gun and trying to aim.

Peter thought for a few moments, staring into the woods, "you have a point."

…..

A knock at Eve's door woke her up. She had been taking a nap to rid herself of the exhaustion she was feeling. She opened the door slightly and looked out. Peter had an impish smile on his face.

"I was wondering if you would like to accompany us to the fair tonight," he said, "it would be a wonderful distraction."

"I'm very tired, Mr. Davidson, but thank you for the invitation" she groaned, trying to close the door. He put his foot in the way and stopped her from shutting it. She sighed and opened the door again.

"I won't take no for an answer, Miss Cromwell," he said. She begrudgingly nodded her head, agreeing to go.

"You've made me a very happy man, Miss Cromwell," he said, "I bid you adieu."

Eve watched him canter down the hall. The young people were in a bit of excitement. Eve took a deep breath and walked down the hall quickly. She stood in front of Jean's door and hovered for a moment before she knocked. Jean answered it and looked a bit surprised. She was standing there, seeming as if she was keeping her eyes open with all her power. She stepped into his room and closed the door, not caring for propriety at the moment.

"Mr. Davidson wishes me to attend a fair tonight," she said, leaning on a nearby table, "I tried to say no but he wouldn't hear it."

Jean picked up the book he had been reading and closed it, "Fake being sick," he joked, "all though you look very tired, perhaps that would work?"

"I am not ill, Mary kept me up all night, talking about the party," she said with a smile, "I didn't mind it but when I remembered what time I had to get up for the hunting party-"

"You don't want to go do you?" he asked.

"No, unless, of course, you go with me," Eve said, "I can't bear these people. Mrs. Cabbett, I'm sure, won't go."

Jean tried to keep a smile to himself.

"I'll go," he said, "I don't see why you are going in the first place."

"I don't wish to be rude," Eve replied, "I have no valid excuse for not attending."

…..

The fair was not what Eve expected. It was more like a gathering of gypsies and ruffians with a scattering of polite society that had fallen victim to boredom. She stuck close to Jean, wondering why she didn't just tell Peter no and leave it at that. Peter led them into a tent where the stench of sweat smacked Eve in the face. She looked at the scene before her in shock. Shirtless men were boxing one another. Eve tried to turn and leave but one of the young women in the party pulled her back in, giggling.

"Mr. Davidson is going to box," the woman said, "you wouldn't wish to miss this would you?"

She turned around and watched in surprise as Peter started taking off his jacket and loosening his cravat. The man he was about to fight was a bit bigger than him. He had no shirt on at all. Eve uncomfortably stood in the crowd. The other woman's hands were tightly clinging to her arm in excitement. She glanced over at Jean, who seemed a bit amused. He didn't look bored for a change.

Eve winced as Peter started walking around his opponent with his fists up. He had laid the first blow and the man fell down. Eve suspected his opponent knew who he was and didn't wish to cause trouble. She rolled her eyes as he strutted about.

"Choose your opponent!" someone shouted from the crowd. Eve was too busy trying to escape the grip of the excited young woman, who was jumping up and down like a giddy girl. Anne would love this, Eve thought amusingly. She hadn't noticed that Peter pointed Jean out in the crowd to challenge him. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place at that moment. He could decline and look like a coward or accept and look like a fool. He started to loosen his cravat, not wishing to seem cowardly. Eve's eyes widened once she noticed what was happening. She pried her arm from the woman's as Jean was taking his jacket off.

"What are you doing?" Eve hissed. Jean handed her his jacket but the look on her face was priceless. He started to second guess himself but thought it best to accept the challenge. It might be a bit amusing, he thought. Eve pushed herself to the front of the crowd and watched. She suddenly caught herself feeling a bit excited because of the action. Things had gotten a bit stifling. She was starting to find this to be the most amusing thing she had seen. However, she was a bit worried for Jean. Eve flinched at every punch that was thrown. The crowd was cheering and things were beginning to heat up. Eve noticed money being exchanged between hands.

Unfortunately, Peter threw a blow at Jean that he couldn't handle. He fell backwards on the ground and laid there as Eve ran to him. She knelt down, throwing his jacket on the ground, and examined his face. A massive bruise was starting to form on his eye. He was starting to bleed from his nose. The crowd was beginning to disperse but Peter was gloating a bit. Eve glared at him and he looked a bit surprised. It wasn't the reaction he was expecting from her.

"What were you trying to prove?" Eve asked Jean as she looked down at him. She was holding his face and trying to wipe the blood off his nose. He relished the moment for as long as he could.

"Nothing," he said with a big grin on his face. For the first time in years, he felt young again.

He sat up and took his jacket, putting it on. He locked eyes with Eve before they started laughing at the situation. Eve had to admit she had been very amused by the situation. Peter was watching in surprise. His friend cleared his throat to get his attention.

"What do you propose now, Peter?" he joked.

"Oh, hush up," he said as he rubbed his jaw and listened to it clicking. Jean had thrown a very hard punch he didn't expect.

Jean got to his feet and Eve wiped the dust off her dress. They both assessed the situation and decided it was best to leave before things got out of hand.

"I think it would be best if I escorted Miss Cromwell back to Twickencote," Jean said. Peter nodded, still holding his jaw. He thought it best to allow Eve to leave early. She was a bit angry with him and he knew it.

…..