Note: I think I failed at writing cockney for one of the characters in this chapter so sorry about that!

Chapter 2: Hold Your Horses

"Jackson Frost, this is the third time I've had to bang on your door, you better be awake and in the stables in the next two minutes otherwise you'll find yourself out on your arse."

A loud rapping noise accompanied the deafening voice. A groan came out of Jack as he heard the voice of the butler. Gritting his teeth, he finally forced himself out of the bed and towards his closet. Hanging on a coat hanger were his clothes for the day. He had made sure to have them laid out all neatly the day before. His mother had made sure of it.

Quickly getting dressed, he raced out of his room and out of the servant's quarters. Following the spiral staircase, he found his mother and sister in the kitchen already. His mum was already barking orders at the scullery maid. Apparently, she had dropped and broken a third bowl. Jack would have felt sorry for her but he was too busy trying not to get seen by his family or he would get the same treatment as that poor scullery maid. He was almost at the backdoor, his hand was on the handle, ready to turn it when he heard his name being shouted across the room.

"Jackson Frost!" his mother called. So close, Jack thought before turning his attention to his mother, a sheepish expression on his face. "Why are you only up now?"

"Um," the expression on his face said it all. Carefully avoiding his mother's ladle, he exited the kitchens and headed out to the stables.

"Make sure you are up on time tomorrow young man!" he heard her shout after him.

Arundel Castle had a large number of horses available to the Earl's family and so needed an equally large stable to accommodate all of them. Jack hadn't been too thrilled to learn that his mother had signed him up to be one of the new grooms in the stables but he liked horses and knew how to manage them. So, perhaps, this wasn't going to be a total disaster after all. Making sure that his stable uniform was up to snuff, he marched towards the stables. This was one job he wasn't going to mess up.

The head groom was already there – a man known Shaw, Jack didn't know what his first name was – and he already looked peeved. Shaw was tutting away as he looked at his pocket watch. A small fathom of guilt came over him. Okay, so he may have been half an hour late for his shift – not a good start to the day – but this was all a learning experience, right?

"Frost, 'bout time you decided to show up," Shaw barked at him, not looking an inch impressed.

Shaw walked into the stables where a dozen gorgeous horses were in their stalls. They all perked their ears up at him as he passed as if to size him up. A boy, who didn't look older than Jack was at the end, tending to a beautiful chestnut horse. The horse was grunting and clopping at the ground happily at the boy's touch. When Jack got closer, he saw why; the boy was feeding the horse apples.

"Cooper," he barked at the boy who instantly got to his feet, "this is one of the new grooms, Jackson Frost, get him up to speed on how things are done here. I have to head out in ten as his Lordship is going on a trip into town and needs me."

"Yes sir," Cooper said. The two of them watched as Shaw left the stables and the second, he was out of earshot Cooper's demeanour changed. "You slimy ol' toad." Jack had to suppress a laugh. Perhaps he and this Cooper were going to get along just fine. "Righto," Cooper clapped his hands together. "What do yer know about 'orses?"

"A bit I guess?" Jack shrugged.

"Well, let's start with what yer do know and go from fere, shall we?"

Over the next couple of hours, Cooper had shown Jack all the horses and the stables including where everything was kept. Soon, Cooper had Jack grooming one of the gentler horses – a female Dutch Warmblood by the name of Guinevere. Apparently, the Earl liked naming his horses after famous literary characters.

"That fere is one of the Earl's favourites," Cooper remarked as Jack brushed the mane. "She may need a little exercise soon. I'll show yer how to walk her and then we can walk the rest."

"How many horses does his Lordship have?" Jack asked as he tried to get a difficult knot out of Guinevere's mane. It was tougher than it looked.

"Fourteen," Cooper said. "'is Lordship picked them all out himself. Sometimes, 'e or 'is family will want to have a ride so we will need to make sure that the 'orse is all prepped and ready for that."

"What's the family like?" Jack said. "I think I meant one of the nieces – Elsa?"

"Oh, yer meet the famous Lady Elsa I see," Cooper gave a small snigger. "She is very private that one. Won't let a single person in or say much in terms of words to any of us servants or anyone outside the family. Probably why she isn't married. 'asn't found a mind reader of a husband or she is too stuck up to attract one."

"Oh?" Jack cast his mind back when he met her, she was gorgeous for sure, but perhaps there was an air of elegance and arrogance about her? "Yeah, maybe no man is willing to put up with that. Like she is beautiful, sure, but maybe she doesn't have a lot in the personality department?"

"'er nickname isn't the Ice Queen for nothing!" laughed Cooper.

"Ahem! Ahem!" a coughing sound from behind them made the two jump as they turned around. Right behind the pair, who had obviously had heard every single word, was the woman herself; Lady Elsa. Jack wished he could evaporate on the spot. There was a look in her eyes that could kill. It looked like it was taking every ounce of British upbringing to not kill them.

"Cooper, would you please kindly go and saddle up Snowflake for me? I would like to go for a ride today."

"Yes, milady, at once."

Cooper shot Jack a guilty expression before racing down to the other end of the stables leaving Jack alone with the Ice Queen herself.

"So," she really drew out the word, "Jackson," Jack was actually amazed she remembered his name, "are you enjoying your time here at Arundel Castle?" her words would imply a friendly chat but there was a coldness in her tone that clearly told him that there was another meaning behind them.

"Y-yes," Jack managed to stammer out.

"Good," Elsa walked over to Guinevere and placed her hand on her nose, rubbing it gently. Instantly Guinevere closed her eyes and nuzzled into her hand affectionately. "You should know," she said, with ice piercing every syllable, "that my personal life is not a hot gossip topic."

"I know that-" Jack began but he was cut off.

"As is the personal life of any member of my family," Elsa continued as if Jack hadn't spoken. "Our business is ours and your business is yours. I personally don't care what you get up to in your spare time but if I hear you discussing matters that do not concern you, there will be consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

She shot him a look – those blue eyes could impale through his soul. The look was so alarming that it took Jack several seconds to find his voice again.

"Crystal," he spoke in a small voice.

"Excellent," she said.

At that exact moment, Cooper came in leading an elegant and magnificent white horse whose ears perked up and quicken her pace when she caught sight of her owner. Elsa mounted her horse in a poised and elegant way and Jack noted that she wasn't riding side-saddle. Perhaps she wasn't like the other ladies.

"I expect to be a couple of hours," she said to Cooper, not looking at Jack. "I hope everything will be sorted for when I return."

"Yes milady," Cooper said.

Elsa led her horse out of the stables and out of sight. The second she was, Cooper leaned against one of the posts and let out a huge sigh of relief, and wiped his brow.

"I really fought she might have our heads," Cooper muttered. "Guess we can no longer chitchat. 'er ladyship basically gave us an order. Come on, we better get moving."

Jack nodded and started to clean out the stalls of muck as per Cooper's orders. Over the next couple of hours, Jack cleaned the stalls, groomed and exercised the horses, and made sure everything was neat and tidy while Cooper feed the horses and cleaned them. Over this time, Jack came to learn the breeds and names of every horse that the Earl had. According to Cooper, he had a select number of racehorses as well but they were kept at a separate stable on the other side of the grounds which they weren't responsible for.

"There are also about an additional eleven 'orses at Carlton Towers," Cooper said as Jack put away the last of the horses from his exercise. "Oh, the Earl's other estate," Cooper added when he saw the confused look on Jack's face. "The Earl's family go fere a few times a year and we may be called upon to help out if we go with his Lordship. Any questions for me before we return to the castle for lunch?"

"Yes, where do we eat? In the main servant's hall?"

Cooper laughed. "We don't eat with the other servants. We eat in a small building that is just around the corner with the other grooms and coachmen."

"How many others are there?" Jack asked as he feed a few extra carrots to Guinevere.

"Well, there's us and Shaw," Cooper gave a small shiver at the name, "there are about six or seven coachmen and about another four grooms plus another 'ead Groom for the other stables, so about fifteen in total?"

"Wow, that's a lot of people to take care of some horses," Jack remarked.

"The Earl 'as a lot of servants, so I guess it's within the norm?" Cooper shrugged.

"So, who do we answer to?"

"Shaw and Shaw answers to 'enderson – the butler, who I am sure you have already met?"

Jack nodded. "I am guessing he is a strict rules man."

"'e is but above all, 'e is very fair and will listen if you 'ave anything to say. So don't be afraid to go to 'im if you have troubles especially with Shaw."

"How do I stay on Shaw's good side?"

"You don't," Cooper's facial expression darkened slightly. "In my experience, you do the work 'e asks you to do, and 'e won't bother you too much."

"How long have you been here?" Jack asked as they walked around the stables making sure everything was in place before lunch.

"Three years this July," Cooper said. "I got the job when I turned sixteen. 'ad to support my family. I have four younger sisters and three younger brothers to take care of and our father died some years ago so, it was up to me I guess?"

"That's tough," Jack sighed. "My father died too and I guess you could say there is a similar pressure with me to look after my mum and sister."

"It's tough but it's something I guess we 'ave to do. Your family works here too, right?"

"Yes, my sister is the new scullery maid and my mum is one of the new cooks."

It was at that moment when Elsa returned from her ride, she barely acknowledged the pair as she dismounted.

"Shaw still out with Uncle?" she asked Cooper as she removed her riding gloves and helmet.

"I believe so milady," Cooper responded.

"Hmm, okay."

Elsa started to walk towards the exit of the stables and that was when Jack had made up his mind. Quickly chasing after her, he caught up with her just a few metres outside the stables. She did not look impressed to be stopped.

"If you have come to whirl more insults about the lack of a love life, please can you save them for a later time? Preferably when I am not around?"

There was something strange hiding in the background of her icy words. It almost made Jack lose his cool to do this but he quickly regained his willpower. This was something he needed to do and sooner rather than later.

"I just wanted to apologise milady," he whipped off his hat and did his best to look sincere. "That wasn't very nice of me to say those things and agree with what was said. It was rude and uncalled for. I know I am new here but I do want to make a good go of things here. So, I hope, in time, you will find it within your heart to forgive this idiot for stupid things he said in a stable?"

Elsa clicked her tongue several times as if she was mulling over what he had said.

"Perhaps," she drew the word out, "I will consider this." She started to walk away but then she turned around and gave him a searching look. "Thank you for the apology, Mr Frost. It was nice."

Those were the last words she said before she headed back towards the castle.

A/N: Fun fact: this chapter was based on a scene in one of my favourite shows; Downton Abbey (the one where Mary first meets Mathew).

Guest: ME TOO!

Nico: Di Angelo101: So glad you enjoyed it! I hope this chapter is to your liking!

Kuro-d: heyyy art goddess! Lots of research is going into this and I am so happy that it's coming through!