Chapter 146

Nick could not remember being this relaxed, who would have thought it this morning? Was it just the booze or was he finally starting to trust Mr Frederick Manners? After Nick's well-meant expression of gratitude towards Frederick he hadn't even been disappointed with Anne moving to Simon's side, they'd be together in their lovely soft bed soon enough. Frederick sat beside Nick and observed, 'I'm very glad it wasn't painful for you, Nick. I'm happy to have formalized our agreement, I cannot deny that, but neither can I say I enjoyed the occasion as I thought I'd have, I'm glad we didn't have a large wedding. That would have been agony, for all of us.'

Nodding in acknowledgement Nick nevertheless thought this should be it, it was done, they'd talked about it, time to leave the wedding behind them. But despite his newly found trust, he didn't dare change the subject as he wanted to.

'Please don't do it, Nick, don't restrain yourself again because I am supposedly above you. How come you seduced countless ladies, and are totally familiar with Anne, who tells me she wasn't even nice to you at first, and yet still seem to fear me? I've never been anything but kind to you, have I?'

Even in his current boneless state Nick still had to fight a certain urge to bow or make an excuse for himself. And obviously he didn't succeed all that well, for in his own state of intoxication, Frederick's self-control failed him and he clearly showed his hurt.

'I'm sorry, Frederick, I do know you're trying and I appreciate it, but it's so strong. I can relate to ladies, but whenever I see an influential gentleman I feel so small. I don't choose to be deferential, it seems some kind of reflex, it just happens.'

'Have you always been deferential? Even as a child? Where did that come from?'

'I don't know, Frederick, I certainly didn't use to be. I'm sure my parents thought I was heading for the gallows by the time I was fifteen.'

A questioning look.

'That is not entirely true, though I did commit some hanging offences: breaking into houses, standing watch for burglars. But my parents never suspected a thing. I didn't have much respect for anyone then, I don't know what happened. I suppose it started during my first service.'

And he told Frederick what he'd told Eric a few days ago, how he'd been terrified by his criminal neighbours just disappearing and had taken service with a wealthy family as night guard. How the lady of the house had seduced him and started his near-endless chain of conquests.

'Did your master do something to you as well? For you understand your mistress did in fact misuse you?'

He'd suspected she had, and now Frederick confirmed it. He had never protested what his mistress did, but he'd never asked for it either. And though he had liked her attentions, he could not have refused his mistress even if he hadn't, not at a mere sixteen years of age.

'I don't think her husband ever found out, or maybe when the baby was born. The master looked nothing like me. But he never confronted me with it. In hindsight I don't think it was a good first position, it was not really a task for a young boy, staying up all night, prepared to face burglars with only a cudgel. Maybe they didn't realise how young I was, I looked much like I do now, you see.'

One look proved Frederick did not believe that at all.

'Sixteen is sixteen, Nick. I totally agree with you that is too young to bear responsibility for a business, no matter how good a fighter you are. How did that make you feel?'

Nick could not remember anyone ever asking how he felt about something. Anne did, of course, or didn't need to because he told her without her having to ask. But Frederick really cared, and that made Nick feel very good, on top of the comfortable fuzziness of the booze.

'I was often afraid and lonely, and despite my bearing such responsibility my master treated me with condescension. Of course once I did his wife his arrogance couldn't hurt me anymore. I don't think I ever felt awed by him, he never inspired respect in me because I rarely met him, never got the chance to admire him for his capabilities. I wasn't sad to leave, but there was no trauma involved, I chose to do that myself.'

'So that is not where you lost your self-respect, though you could have. It's a very sensitive time in your life, and to be forced to live at night, all by yourself, that cannot have been easy. So where do you think you got such a respect for men of rank?'

'Most of the households I lived in expected me to be very respectful towards the higher-ranked staff and of course the master of the household. The staff always knew of my secondary activities and generally that got me acclaim, but somehow there always was at least one bully in each house. It was always a matter of knowing whom to trust. Maybe I hadn't enough of a private life to recognise how distorted my views of the people around me had become, bowing and scraping where once I had been totally self reliant. But only towards the men, women always liked me. When Anne treated me with condescension I thought it quite funny, somehow I never felt hurt or insulted by her arrogance. Maybe we had an instant connection. Though if I'd first met her when she was so beautiful already I'd never have dared talk to her or tease her. It's as if beauty creates an immediate distance.'

'I remember first seeing Simon at Netherfield. I think I fell in love instantly, but I didn't know he was like me, I sought him out just to be able to gaze at him. Then one day he made the first move, brave fellow, though I supposed he'd looked right through me.'

'You do show your feelings sometimes, Frederick, where Simon is concerned. I can imagine he suspected you were attracted to him, but still he was very brave to let you know.'

By now, their glasses were empty, and Frederick refilled them from the second bottle of whisky. Nick was starting to get rather drunk, but he felt Anne was right, without the booze he would never get over his habit of bowing and scraping, it was so ingrained by now it would probably return as soon as he was back to sobriety. He still had a lot to learn. But Anne also wanted Nick to get to know Frederick, and so far Frederick had only shown an interest in Nick, he had not told much of himself. But Nick didn't have to think of questions to ask, for his last remark triggered something in the man beside him, who for the first time in his life had drunk enough spirits to truly lose control over his feelings.

'Those feelings you have so rightfully pointed out to me, Nick, are just the tip of the iceberg. We may look alike, and seem to have more or less the same character, you know, bossy, born leader, except that yours was suppressed by circumstances, making you much too deferential, and mine was encouraged by an early independence after having learned to be strong to survive. My character was shaped by my life just as much as yours. The first seven years of my life were likely happier than yours, for of course my parents lacked nothing and I was an only child, loved by my mother but never spoiled. But then I was sent to school and everything changed. For I was a sensitive child, easily frightened and eager to share my feelings. Big mistake. I suffered until I found out I was tall for my age and very, very strong. I learned to lead to survive, I didn't have the natural inclination. By the time I was allowed to go home for Christmas, my mother had passed away, and comfort was nowhere to be had. I just squashed my feelings, I knew I could never show them again, and adapted totally to life among my peers, making allies, taking care of those who were talented but weaker than I, and so I became the man I have been for most of my life: popular, familiar, everyone's favourite, but still utterly alone. So you see, I'm as much a slave to my past as you are.'

'But you can be yourself with Simon, can't you?'

'I can now, but it took him a while to break my protective shell, he was as much at a disadvantage as you have been. He, too, had been brought up in servitude, and he took too much crap from me. We didn't see each other all that often at first, you know, with him in the back and me in the front of the house. Of course it's much better now, but it took time. And I understand now that you need time as well. I wanted you to like me, I felt hurt when you didn't respond to my overtures, but that was my problem and I tried to make it yours. If you'd stepped outside yourself to please me you'd have been in trouble with Darcy or Elizabeth. Your way is much better, I see that now.'

Nick nodded, though he doubted that Frederick wasn't really self-assured and bossy. Maybe it started as an act, but it had become habit, and now he had become so formidable that Nick couldn't think of anyone besides Mr and Mrs Darcy who would dare gainsay him. Still, despite the thick haze of drunkenness, Nick realised that Simon and Anne also had a lot of influence on Frederick, and that from now on he was included in that group. He might never dare impose on the respected gentleman, though he could, but he would treat him as a friend and be careful not to hurt his feelings. Frederick might be adept at hiding those, he had entrusted Nick with knowledge few other people had of him, and Nick would use that knowledge to enable himself to treat his new friend with familiarity and cause him no more pain.

As the level of whiskey in the bottle dropped, their talk became ever more intimate, and by the time Anne urged them to move to their headquarters for some dinner, they were totally comfortable together, and ready to share almost every aspect of their lives.

Though it was strange to have the wedded couple disappear straight after coffee, Darcy did understand why they'd do so. And it was a perfect opportunity to go riding with Georgie and Fielding, they were ready to leave the riding paddock by now, their horses were so gentle, and Darcy would take the black instead of a hunter, nothing could go wrong. Though a little reluctantly, both pianists did agree to accompany them, and soon they were on their way across the bridge, towards a quaint village Elizabeth wanted to see again. It was not very far and the paths leading there should be very beautiful, with plenty of dry stretches to make a little speed. Not too much, just a little canter across a level field and through a straight lane.

Darcy took the lead, the path he was planning to take was one he hadn't used very often before Lady Drummond's excellent example: he had usually taken the road or the broader paths, but he had enjoyed the scenery of the moors so much he was planning to explore his own grounds more thoroughly, hoping to find even more scenic spots to show their visitors come April, but also the Lady and the Colonel should they ever visit. The letter to the Colonel had not been sent, yet, though it was largely finished. But he wanted to add his experiences with riding a side-saddle, and he had not dared face doing that yet. Not out of fear to fall off, he knew he could stay seated. No, he had to admit he was afraid to make a spectacle of himself. It was so unconventional to ride a horse as if he was a woman. Of course he would do it, but maybe he could at least use a less embarrassing horse than placid Daisy?

Georgie and Fielding were not yet up to chatting while they were riding, but they certainly were enjoying themselves riding through the brushes, now budding ferociously, some early species already blooming. There were no bees about, at least Darcy didn't see them, so why did those trees and bushes take the trouble? His gardeners probably knew.

Trusting his sense of direction, Darcy took a narrow path to the right, up a hill but not steeply, hopefully it would stay that way. There were some hoofprints visible where the rock was covered with soil, a horse had been ridden over this hill before, and the climb to the top should be worth the trouble since he expected the view to be spectacular. If he was right, they'd see the river winding through a mostly cultivated valley with small-scale tilled fields, orchards and meadows, and a picturesque village with a bridge where they could cross the river.

The hill was thickly grown with trees and brush, and indeed, once they topped it the trees thinned until they had the exact view Darcy expected. To heighten its impact he stopped so the others could take their time admiring it.

'That is the most beautiful view I ever saw,' Georgiana sighed, 'and it's right here, where I grew up. Though I suppose I'll see some spectacular ones when we go to the continent.'

'I don't know, Georgiana,' Fielding commented. 'I've seen quite a lot of beautiful places, rough mountains, Medieval cities, the Danube valley and Vienna, endless Lower Country river plains with intricate cloud formations over them, but I suppose there is no place like good old England.'

Since Darcy preferred not to think of his sister so far away across the North Sea, he asked, 'Shall we gallop down this large field until we reach the road over there? Then we can cross the river in that quaint village and try to find another trail to follow to our destiny.'

They all assented, though Fielding and Georgie did look a little fearful, but Daisy and Fielding's horse were truly very easy-going, they would never misbehave. The new riders seemed to understand that, and off they went, Elizabeth first this time, though not too fast for the others to keep up.

The road they continued on was broad enough to ride in pairs, and Darcy ended up next to Fielding, with Elizabeth and Georgie in front of them. The horses were not ready to slow down, so they stayed in a canter until they reached the village, where Elizabeth slowed down to a walk, admiring the cottages with their wood-rail fences and perfectly trimmed hedges, laundry bobbing on washing lines, chickens pecking at the side of the road, fruit trees in the front yards either in bloom or about to bloom.

The hired maid Pauline didn't plan to live a small life in one of these neat cottages, the curtains starched and ironed, the front steps scrubbed to a sheen, the vegetable garden ready for seeding or planting from the tiny propagators most households had built from wood scraps and broken window panes to allow for early planting of their favourite vegetables.

No sir! Pauline would try to find a place in her landlord's London house, completely unaware how lonely she'd be out there, feeling countrified and naïve among the hard-faced London serving maids. Maybe he should send her to town for a season, she'd either be happy to return and get married to a fresh-faced farmer's son, or some cooper or smith with a nice customer base, or she'd adapt and find a place to suit her in town. He'd planned to have Nathan test the sister, but he didn't think he should wait for the steward to return, he would be busy enough after a two-week absence. Darcy could probably do it himself, or maybe Georgie would like to visit the girl, she was ready for some responsible tasks.

'This is just beautiful, Darcy, I'm glad we came along, this will be such an inspiration for me. Though I know from experience that quaint small cottages can be really cold and uncomfortable in winter. My parents were always busy, taking care of the cows, feeding, lugging manure to the few good fields, planting, weeding, milking, grazing the cows on the moors, churning, making cheese, and after that, my mother still had to cook and clean and take care of her brood, though my sisters helped a lot. I was glad to escape, I loved my family and missed them terribly at first, but I wasn't cut out for life on the moors.'

'Have you ever written?'

'They didn't read, I sent a few letters through church but when the minister was transferred I lost touch. Also, Mr Zumpe didn't like it, and once I lived with them my original family seemed very far away, I hadn't seen them in ten years or more. Maybe I should write, one of my sisters or brothers may have learned to read. They may even have heard of my success, and be glad to receive a few words from me.'

Darcy nodded, it would be the right thing to do, though he couldn't imagine Fielding having anything in common with his birth mother and father, if they were even still alive.

'This is very pleasant, Darcy, everything is so beautiful and well-kept. I seem to remember our cottage being a lot less sturdy, though I was still very young. Do you choose the people living on your grounds?'

'Most families have lived here for generations, of course some leave the area to live somewhere else, mostly younger sons and occasionally a daughter. And some tenants die without leaving any children. Then my steward finds a new tenant, usually in concurrence with the minister or a village elder, which generally means a younger son or a daughter gets a chance to live in the village of her birth, without having to share the resources of one farm. One cannot do that too often, you know, or everybody will suffer poverty, and the land will be overgrazed or exhausted. Which is why my steward makes certain it doesn't happen. It can be hard for younger children not to be able to marry and get settled in their home village, but it would cause poverty and suffering.'

'I suppose that may have been the case with my parents. My father had too little land to keep all his children, I suppose he was glad to be rid of me. And my uncle lived really close. I suppose they split their father's land, and maybe he split his father's land.'

'They did own their own land?'

'I think they did, but maybe they didn't. I was seven when I left, and a rather self-involved little chap.'

By now they had crossed the bridge and were almost out of the village, and they stayed on the road until Darcy found a path leading in the right direction.

'Shall we chance this path, my dear?' he asked Elizabeth.

'Of course, if we get lost we can just return home, we'll find that village another time. Do you think Barley can already find his way home?'

'I suppose so, remember, Mrs Norman rode him for months before you saw him. He may know my grounds better than you do, you were here for just two weeks before I dragged you off to the city.'

But they did find the village that had been their destination, and after admiring the Medieval church and a little wilderness that seemed to have been dropped down right in the middle of excellent farm land, they returned over the road, Georgie and Fielding would be feeling their muscles, it was time to get them home.

While Elizabeth was unsaddling her Barley, handing the saddle and bridle to Peter whilst Hugo unsaddled Darcy's black, and Bruce and Bob took care of the other two horses, Darcy decided to take the plunge and ask Hugo about the side-saddle. If he didn't ride it he'd never live it down, and following a colonel's example could never be truly demeaning. But he had to try to up the stakes a bit.

'We advised Colonel Drummond of the Newcastle army camp to let his wife ride astride, Hugo,' he started, well, in fact Elizabeth had told Lady Drummond but that didn't matter to Hugo, 'and we also told him about Peter trying the side-saddle.'

Hugo's reaction was neutral, he was merely waiting for his master to come to the point.

'And now he writes to me he has done the same, as has his stable master. Frankly, it was a challenge, and it I do not take it I will be shamed. But I also feel ashamed to ride a faithful old plug like Daisy. Can't you put the side-saddle on my black for me to up pick up the Colonel's challenge with dignity?'

This time, Hugo did react, though dryly.

'I am not ready to face Mrs Darcy after having you killed, Mr Darcy. With all due respect, your black has not been trained to bear such a saddle, and the unfamiliar balance and excess movements from you would drive him out of his mind. I suppose Mrs Norman could train him to the side-saddle, but I am guessing you need to prove yourself to this colonel pretty soon? She'd take about three months to retrain your black, and all for half an hour? For who would want to ride a side-saddle a moment longer than that? It's very uncomfortable, I've tried and I did not appreciate my family jewels getting crushed against a very hard piece of horse tack.'

'You tried the saddle?'

'Like you, I was challenged, but in my case by my own stable boys. I could not refuse, and I showed them some. Though not on Daisy, seeing that she was with you at the time, on your horse that Mr Fielding is using now. But he's no match for your black, not since you took that one in hand and really started to ride him. I'm guessing Mrs Manners' grey has been trained side-saddle as well, that is as good a lady's horse as I ever saw. Mr Manners' stable master knows his horse-flesh, those horses are all sound and especially suited to their riders. The chestnut is like Daisy, calm and collected, but the black, Liquor Nick has called him, is quite a character. It would take a body guard to dare ride that one as his first horse. Though of course having Peter's instructions helps as well.'

Hugo's manner of speech indicated plenty of respect for Fowler, interesting.

'You say Liquor may be dangerous?'

'Not with Nick riding him, but I'd say he would be dangerous for either of the other new riders. Well, barring Mrs Manners, maybe, she is a natural and quite fearless, like your lady wife. But she looks much better on the grey, and I'm guessing that she will not want to stop riding in town, like your own lady, meaning she'll want to learn to sit a side-saddle eventually.'

Well, that only proved Hugo was very observant, which was what Darcy paid him for.

'I'll ask my cousin whether I can use her Peppermint to ride a side-saddle with dignity. Knowing you did, too, I'll feel less embarrassed.'

'Even Bruce did it, sir, which means you really cannot forgo.'

That did it. Now Darcy would ride that saddle if it lay on a cob. Bruce had only learned to ride this winter, if he dared do it, Darcy could not refuse. He would lose his staff's respect as well as Colonel Drummond's.

Three days later at breakfast, Elizabeth read the results of Anne's reporting skills and Eric's newspaper contacts. Well, and the efforts of several express riders, for how had they managed to get that message to London so quickly? The newly-weds had not come back to the drawing-room on their wedding day, and the next morning all of them, Anne not excepted, had looked much the worse for wear physically, but very close and totally familiar with each other. Nick had seemed totally at ease with Frederick from that moment on, and whatever they had done after the wedding had accomplished that.

Of course Anne had not hesitated to explain.

'I set them drunk for the first time in their lives, at least for Simon and Frederick, and we talked. A lot. Had I known intoxication would make me feel so miserable the next day I would have laid off the wine myself, though it was excellent wine, and Simon told me things that would have been too embarrassing to hear without its help. Very educational, though, if you feel your mind can use still more improvement than Pierre has been able to offer, I'd recommend asking him. By yourself. In private.'

Elizabeth had not asked her to explain, she could guess what Simon had told Anne about, and it was totally logical, who would know more about making love to a man than a man who was intimate with a man? Well, she might yet do it, but not just like that, she would wait for a special occasion, and it would indeed be very embarrassing. Back to the paper, where an article from Mr Goodfellow's hand was taking up a prime spot on the society page. The serious reporter would consider that a bit of an aggravation, but reporters had to make a living as well, and this piece of hot news really had no business anywhere else in the paper. And he did have the piece marked with his name, he was not that ashamed to print gossip.

Sorry ladies, he's taken.

News travels fast, especially good news. Though some of our maidens keen on making a perfect match will not be rejoicing to hear that our beloved master of ceremonies, Mr Frederick Manners, was joined in holy matrimony to Miss Anne de Bourgh two days ago, in the parish church belonging to Mr Darcy's Pemberley estate in Derbyshire.

Although the wedding was a very private affair, I have been able to establish a faithful representation of the ceremony, thanks to my extensive inside contacts. According to my source, the groom was dressed to London standards with his characteristic black cravat. The bride wore revolutionary flowing split skirts of the finest shimmering silk, combined with a frilly blouse of the clingiest muslin, cut to her elegant figure and adorned with mother-of-pearl buttons and a tiny bit of lace. Her hair was done up in a simple style, with blonde curls escaping wherever they could. Very artfully done.

The only people present besides the bride and groom were the new Mrs Manners' cousins, Mr Darcy and his wife, and Mrs Fielding and her talented husband. My source tells me there were two other gentlemen present, and one of them was obviously a relative of the groom since there was a striking family resemblance between the two, except the younger gentleman was more traditionally garbed. Of course we all know Mr Manners to be an only child, which means these two gentlemen are probably friends or distant relatives from the north, most likely Mr Manners'.

So, I'm very sorry, young ladies, another bachelor has been lost to you. But we all hope this very private wedding was merely the new couple's way to prevent having to invite a certain relative belonging to the bride, that Mr Manners will still be the man who is mentioned with respect and envy whenever a party is thrown in our beautiful capital.

Apparently they told Mr Goodfellow quite a bit, they could easily have kept silent about Nick and Simon. But maybe they wanted people to think Nick was a distant relative of Mr Manners, though Elizabeth thought enough people knew he wasn't to make that virtually impossible to pull off. Or maybe they planned to do that outside London, enough people read that newspaper outside the capital, and they didn't know about Nick.

When Fitzwilliam entered the breakfast room he looked excited, but Elizabeth didn't know why, they weren't planning anything special today, well, Frederick was going to join Sarah's riding lesson today but that wasn't exactly something for Fitzwilliam to be excited about.

'I'm going to redeem myself today,' he said, smiling. 'Colonel Drummond challenged me to ride a side-saddle, and Hugo told me he and even Bruce have done so on a dare from Peter, so I have asked Anne for the loan of her Peppermint and she agreed!'

'Why not just use Daisy, my love?'

He looked really pained, apparently Daisy was not good enough for a landowner. But he had originally bought her as a road horse for himself! And never used her, all right. But, Elizabeth had to agree, Peppermint was much better looking than Daisy, though not as beautiful as Barley. If Anne and Frederick were indeed going to the continent, they might send her to Colonel Drummond to use in his breeding program, she looked much like Cavort, a useful, sensible horse turned out a bit more beautiful than others.

'All right, all right, you use Peppermint. You would feel very embarrassed to ride such a small horse even if it were astride. And is Anne going to ride her lesson on your black?'

'Is something wrong with Peppermint?' Frederick asked, having just come in.

'No, Fitzwilliam is going to borrow her to ride side-saddle,' Elizabeth replied.

'She knows a side-saddle? Of course your stable master discovered that, despite his all-too-human side he has several extraordinary qualities. I can imagine your not wanting to use Daisy. Can I join you? I've always wanted to try, you ladies make it look so easy but I suspect it is rather difficult, and possibly painful.'

Fitzwilliam seemed rather eager to have Frederick join them, was he afraid to look ridiculous in front of the stable staff? All the men had done it themselves!

'Yes, please, Manners. I'd feel much better not to be the only one making a spectacle of himself.'

Well, at least he admitted to it.

Then Elizabeth pointed their attention towards the article, and Frederick said, 'Yes, we decided to sow a rumour that Nick is a distant relative of mine. Of course Mr Blackwood and his staff and your London staff know Nick isn't my relative, but they do not move in the exalted circles we plan to frequent. And besides, which gentleman ever looks beyond a livery to actually see the man wearing it?'

First they had their riding lesson, Frederick on his grey gelding, who was a perfect match to Anne's mare, and Elizabeth on her faithful Barley. Sarah was going to teach them a few advanced exercises, and Elizabeth was curious whether Frederick would be up to them.

The others had separated into two groups by now, those who wanted to practise playing the piano, Georgiana and Eric, and those who wanted to improve their riding, which were the remaining three. Peter was teaching them, and to spare her grey mare and gain some experience with a different horse, Anne was using Daisy. Fitzwilliam's black would have to wait a little longer, he was a little bit too fractious for a novice rider, even a promising one like Anne. Somehow, Frederick was a lot less careful with Nick, his black Liquor was almost as temperamented as Fitzwilliam's black, but Nick didn't seem to care much. He exuded self-confidence, and his strength and natural abilities gained him a lot of respect from the stable staff. And yet he was not rough with the horse, he did exactly what Peter suggested and had great results. His first ride outside the paddock had been more of a challenge, Liquor trying to disconcert him by breaking away from the group and shying at unfamiliar objects, but nothing seemed to faze Nick, he merely kept his seat and used the techniques Peter had taught him to take back control and direct Liquor where he wanted the horse to go.

But now Elizabeth needed to pay attention, this was going to be difficult and very tiring.

Frederick did not know what to expect from his lesson, he'd seen the others learn to ride but of course he knew how to ride a horse really well. Still, there was always something to learn, and this time would be no different.

As he followed Elizabeth's gelding at a sedate walk through the riding paddock, Mrs Norman walked to the middle and said, 'Good morning, Mr Manners, welcome to our advanced riding class.'

She said that with a certain kind of smile that proved she didn't take this quite as seriously as it seemed. Frederick had heard she was an independent spirit, despite her husband working for Darcy, and he appreciated that. She was reputed to be the best horseman in the neighbourhood, and it took a strong will to train hunters of the kind her father bred.

Coming towards him, she fell into pace with his horse and gave him some very useful advice on how to improve his posture, and complimented him on the way he kept in constant contact with the horse.

She asked, 'Have you ever ridden figures in a paddock, Mr Manners?' which he hadn't, and told her so.

'Then please follow Elizabeth until you recognise the names, most of them are pretty self-explanatory but not all.'

Elizabeth, no less! Small wonder she had plenty of confidence. But she was polite enough to Frederick, and she explained a few exercises, which he dutifully executed, following Elizabeth until he knew what he was supposed to do with which instruction. Mrs Norman called out tips and comments, and whenever he managed to follow her instructions he could immediately sense a difference in his horse. This really did work!

Then she had them do all those exercises at a trot. Frederick never trotted, it was just not comfortable so why do it? Soon, his legs started to ache, but since Elizabeth never faltered he was not going to, either. Next were instructions to follow the patterns she called, but this time each rider had his own instructions, sometimes riding side by side, then splitting to a different side, crossing each other's path, then back together. This was great fun but also hard work, he had to match his horse's stride to Barley's, and when they rode side by side the horse in the outermost lane had to move a lot faster than the inside one. And all of this still in a trot!

After some time they did find a certain rhythm, and for a few moments it was as if their horses were moving exactly the same. Well, wasn't that what carriage horses did, adapt their movements to each other?

'All right, that was enough for today. You are an excellent rider, Mr Manners, next time we'll start on the really difficult exercises, you're both ready. Maybe you'll want to join them, too, Mr Darcy? Peter has never taught you these, he's still working on perfecting them himself. As am I, it is a lifetime of practise, like your sister and brother-in-law.'

To Frederick's huge delight, Darcy was taken totally off guard, and he almost stammered an assent. Then he recuperated and observed, 'I'd love to, Mrs Norman, and I'd like to do some of those riding-together exercises, too. It seems like great fun!'

'They are. You can do them together, all of you, and have a group of six or eight. It's not too difficult for the novice riders, and it is a perfect way to become one with the horse.'

And that was their lesson, now he was going to ride a side-saddle and hope he wouldn't look like a complete fool without the pretty face and the matching dress that made women look so elegant and charming when riding like a lady.

Peter had dismissed his own class, and Simon and Nick looked as if they had been working as hard as he had. Anne looked as fresh as ever, she had come such a long way from the pale, drawn ghost of a girl she had been. Now she was a blooming woman in her prime, beautiful, healthy and full of energy.

'Will Peppermint mind if I try, too? And I think Nick wants to, even if he hasn't actually said so.'

Of course Nick would, he'd told Frederick all the Pemberley stable staff had tried themselves, and were looking forward to seeing their master following their example.

'If she gets fractious we'll put the saddle on Daisy or Mr Fielding's horse, Mrs Manners, they're both used to it,' Peter observed, 'you can all try.'

It was still a bit new to have Anne referred to as Mrs Manners, but the feeling of being married wasn't, somehow. They were all very comfortable with the situation as it was, it was just the name that took some getting used to.

With Peppermint waiting patiently, side-saddle in place, Darcy offered to go first.

'You've already had a lesson each, I'm ready to do some riding while you recuperate.'

Of course everyone agreed, Frederick was feeling his legs after so much trotting, but he was not going to back off if Anne and Nick were not.

With Peter holding the rein, Darcy used the stirrup to lift himself in the saddle, then swung over his leg to sit sideways.

'Try to keep your seat even, Mr Darcy,' Peter remarked calmly, 'as much on your right side as on your left. It can be difficult, but it's better for the horse.'

Darcy was letting his legs pull him slightly to his left, and he corrected readily, making Peppermint a lot more comfortable. Then he used his left leg to set the horse in motion, kind of brave, since he had never ridden Peppermint before. Nothing untoward happened, and he walked a few rounds, then tried to trot and gave up, then cantered. After about ten minutes he sat back, unhooked his right leg then slid to the ground.

'So, I did it, but it's very uncomfortable. I'm glad I tried. You look fabulous my love, in a riding habit on a saddle like this, but like Colonel Drummond said, it's like having his men charge running sideways. Unfair, and ridiculously dangerous. You try, Manners, and tell me what you think.'

So it was his turn next, of course, he was the experienced horseman of the remaining group. Peppermint was obviously very patient, as he put his left foot in the stirrup and mounted as he was used to. When his seat was nicely balanced, he swung his right leg over the horse's back, to be supported by the saddle on the left side. It felt wrong, and very unbalanced. Taking care to remain seated in the middle of the saddle, he settled his right leg as comfortably as possible, which was not very much so, then touched Peppermint's left flank with his heel. She ambled off in the direction he had in mind, and he did the same as Darcy had done, walking until he had the hang of that, then speeding up, finding the trot impossible to sit through in this position without his knees and ankles to take the upward motion of the horse. The canter was acceptable, to the left easier than to the right, because he kept feeling as if he'd fall off to the side where he had no leg to support himself. It was uncomfortable and it put a strain on his back that didn't seem healthy, though it hurt less in some places than he'd expected.

Instead of sliding down he unhooked his right leg and brought it back to the right, then dismounted as he'd do his own horse.

'I salute you, Elizabeth, for riding like this. It is rather difficult and it doesn't seem very safe at all. I totally agree with Darcy, it looks beautiful but it's not practical. Still, I'm glad I know now. Do you want to go next, Anne?'

'No, let Nick go first, I don't mind using one of the other horses if Peppermint objects to carrying four different people, none of whom have a clue what they are doing.'

So Nick did exactly what Frederick and Darcy had done, mount in the usual way, then move the right leg to the other side. He did not show any discomfort after having ridden an intense lesson just before, and he needed only the slightest help to sit in the middle of the saddle.

Making Peppermint move was harder for him, he had learned to ride only recently and he did not know the exact spot where to touch the horse to tell it to walk, maybe he mainly used his weight and posture to guide his own, or maybe his Liquor just liked to move a lot and didn't need much encouragement.

Still he got the hang of it and rode his circles, tried to trot and gave up, and with Peter's help he even managed a canter, on both sides. Then he dismounted and observed, 'That was more difficult than our whole riding lesson just now. But like you, Mr Manners, Mr Darcy, I'm glad I tried.'

And then Anne's turn had come, and she performed bravely and competently. She had the same amount of instruction Nick had, and dared try the canter. When she had dismounted she joined them, accepting their compliments graciously.

'I might say I'm glad I tried, but I know may have to get used to riding this way for part of the year. If I want to keep riding I will have to, no lady rides astride in town. Which is why the experience was different for me. I can feel the lack of balance, I see the danger, but I will have to think of ways to overcome them. But I know I'll look fabulous in one of those dresses, on this beautiful white horse, which may make up a little for the unfairness of it all.'

And that was all she said before she turned to Peppermint to thank her for her efforts.

Nick did not show any admiration, he was good at this! Of course, Frederick still had a lot to learn in that respect, but at this moment he didn't have to, he was allowed to show as much admiration for Anne as he felt, he was her husband and supposed to admire her. Fortunately that was easy, as Nick had said, Anne was stronger at heart than any of them, with what she had been through, and how she was always positive and took care of not one, but three men.

After their afternoon of drinking on their wedding day, Anne had made certain they all ate heartily and drank some tea or plain water. Then she'd told Frederick how she and Nick had accidentally forgotten their protections that morning. Remembering how nervous and affected Nick had been just before the wedding, Frederick had not been surprised, and they had talked a little about babies. Anne had made a strong case for not being sorry if she were to be with child, she was twenty five already after all. Frederick hadn't thought there was much chance of her getting with child from one little accident, and he hadn't cared at that time, not as drunk as he had been, and as thrilled at having had an intimate talk with Nick. And he still didn't care, it would be inconvenient but he was certain it would be great fun to have a child about the house.

'You must be thinking great thoughts, Frederick, you're terribly quiet,' she laughed, still petting the horse. 'Though they don't seem all that bad.'

He couldn't help smiling back, she made an incredible picture with the beautiful grey mare.

'I was thinking small thoughts, but precious ones. You're a heroine to me, Anne, I've never thought about the hardships facing women, I never thought much about women at all, I didn't know very many. But now I do know some of you, I realise you often have to be very strong, and it is barely recognised. Not by men, but I guess not by your own sex either.'

Anne released Peppermint to Peter and came straight towards him. She took his face in both her hands and kissed him full on his lips.

'I wouldn't call those thoughts small, Frederick, though they are indeed precious to me. Now, it seems to me we have forgotten someone. Simon, do you want to try the side-saddle? I think Peppermint is patient enough for one more lady.'

And indeed, Simon did want to try, and he did well enough for Frederick to have to take some trouble to keep his love and admiration from showing. But he managed, and soon after they all retreated to their rooms to change, and they had plenty of chance to celebrate their love.