Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait but please enjoy and review. Also I have changed Percy's age in the story so he is now thirteen and the twins are eleven so there is a more of an appropriate age gap between him and Annabelle. Love Miffygirl18 xxx
Chapter 47 – The Hunt:
"Here we go again," Jane and Tarzan gulped as they stood outside the Yellow Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. They had been invited for a private afternoon tea with King Edward and Queen Alexandra and they couldn't believe it at receiving a second invitation to the palace! Cecilia primed and prepped them for the occasion, dressing Jane in a demure but lovely dove grey afternoon dress trimmed with black lace and a wide brimmed black hat and Tarzan in a smart grey 3-piece suit.
The attendant knocked and then opened the grand double doors to the drawing room and he and Tarzan bowed at the neck whilst Jane bobbed a neat curtsey.
"Mr and Mrs Tarzan Porter your Majesties," the attendant announced with great dignity to the King and Queen.
"Ah Lord Tarzan of the Apes!" King Edward announced boisterously as Jane and Tarzan walked up to them and then bowed and curtsied again before them, this time more deeply. They shook the King Edward's hand and then kissed Queen Alexandra's hand.
"Welcome once again to Buckingham Palace," Queen Alexandra smiled politely, "I trust that the snow has not been too burdensome to your journey here?"
"No not all your Grace," Tarzan replied, his heart pounding in his chest. The Queen was very poised and graceful but she had a kind face, which alas didn't subdue his nerves.
"I hope that you had a good Christmas? Your first Christmas in England I believe Mr Porter?"
"Yes and for our children. It was a magical experience to say the least."
"Please be seated and let's have some tea," King Edward motioned for them to sit on an ornate canary gold brocade settee and the Porters made sure that they sat down after the King and Queen did, as was the protocol.
"How many children do you have Lord Tarzan? A load of strapping sons I bet!" the King said as the attendant poured and served them tea with sugar and slices of fresh lemon.
"We have a daughter Annabelle your Grace who is twelve and a son William who will soon be six months old."
"How splendid to have one of each," the King remarked before taking a sip of his tea. "So you had a long journey to get here, not too many storms I hope?"
"No it was relatively smooth, just one nasty storm though near France."
"Did you manage to visit France, Paris?"
"Yes but just the ports I am afraid your Grace."
"Shame, you must visit Paris. A wonderful, most beautiful, lively city! Excellent theatre."
As she sipped her tea, Jane saw for a second Queen Alexandra stiffen for a moment at the mention of Paris but quickly retained her composure. It was no secret that King Edward was a complete philander who loved the high life as well as the company of women, particularly in Parisian brothels!
The Porters and the King and Queen chatted politely over afternoon tea, mostly asking Jane and Tarzan questions about their life in the jungle. As Tarzan nibbled on a scone, he tried hard not to stare as the King quickly polished off his third cake. He was amazed at the size of the King, the bottom button of his waistcoat undone to accommodate his large stomach.
It seemed clear to Tarzan that King Edward's voracious appetite was not at all healthy and was possibly sending him to an early grave. But of course he said nothing, he wouldn't dream of saying anything of that ilk to the King of England!
"How fascinating!" King Edward mused as Tarzan told him about the gorillas, "And you communicate with them as we do as humans?"
"Yes Your Grace. Gorillas and all the other animals in the jungle have their own languages just like man."
"Tell me, how do you say 'How do you do, I am the King of the England'?"
"Well, we don't have a word in gorilla for king. The closest we have for it is 'leader' which I suppose Lord would probably be the best level of hierarchy to describe it. So it would be oo-ooo-ee-ahh-oh-ah-ah-ooooo."
"Oo-ooo-ee-ahh-oh-ah-ah-oooo," King Edward repeated somewhat sceptically and Tarzan smiled to show him that he pronounced the sounds perfectly.
"Bravo my dear," Queen Alexandra smiled and clapped politely, "Mr Porter will have you speaking it fluently before you know it."
"Indeed!" King Edward smiled at his wife and then turned back to Tarzan, "I don't suppose you could talk to my horses and ask them to run faster at the next Ascot?"
"I'm afraid I do not know the language of horses, but I would certainly be interested in learning."
"We are having a hunt next week in Richmond Park," the King noted as the attendant poured him another cup of tea, "Mrs Porter and yourself should join us."
"What a splendid idea," Queen Alexandra concurred, "I heard Mrs Porter that you are indeed a good horsewoman."
"Was I'm afraid," Jane replied, a little nervously. "It has been years since I have been on a horse and my husband has never ridden one."
"I'm sure that once you get back in the saddle and get a little practice under your belt you will be perfectly fine Mrs Porter," King Edward beamed and Jane cleared her throat.
"Unfortunately we don't own any horses any more Your Grace. My father instructed our staff to sell them once we decided to live in Africa."
"Hawkins!" King Edward motioned for a butler who immediately came to his side. "Please make a note to tell my Master of Horse to allow Mr and Mrs Porter to use one of our more steady horses and a saddle so that they can ride together for the deer hunt next Wednesday."
"Of course Your Grace," the butler nodded before discreetly backing away.
"There we go, a problem solved," the King smiled as he reached for his teacup, "I am sure that both of you will enjoy chasing down a handsome stag or two."
"We are most looking forward to it Your Grace," Jane added in quickly before her husband could turn down the invitation. She knew that Tarzan would absolutely object to the idea of hunting an animal not for food but for sport, but the idea of turning down the King of England's invitation was absolutely out of the question!
"I'm so sorry," she said to him once they got into the coach after they finished having afternoon tea with the royals. "I don't want to do it as much as you do, believe me, but we have no choice." Tarzan nodded silently and looked out of the window as the coach back its way back down the Pall Mall, not saying another word for the rest of the journey.
A few days later, the Porters together with the Foxtons and Francesca Maggolini walked into the stable yard of Richmond Park which filled with the hunting party and many hunting hounds all barking and howling in anticipation.
"This is going to be such a hoot!" Cecilia enthused after they said hello to the other members of the hunting party, made of various ranking nobles of the royal court. She was wearing an exquisitely made black riding habit, cinched in to show her slim waist, a white stock at her throat and a black top hat pinned securely to her glossy golden hair.
"Absolutely!" Charlie grinned, also looking extremely dashing in a traditional red moleskin hunting coat together a white cravat, cream coloured jodhpurs and long black leather riding boots.
Jane and Francesca were wearing virtually similar riding habits to Cecilia whereas Tarzan wore a black hunting coat and had his dreadlocks tied in a low bun to accommodate his top hat.
"So you ride horses a lot then Charlie?" Tarzan asked as a stable lad brought over to Charlie, a huge and handsome grey stallion for him and a white mare for Cecilia.
"Oh Charlie lives and breathes horses!" Cecilia laughed as Charlie inspected the stallion before taking the reins off the stable lad. "My husband is also a dab hand at playing polo!"
"A fine sport which I must teach you some time Tarzan my friend!" Charlie laughed as he patted his stallion, which snorted in excitement. "This is Topthorn, isn't he a damn fine specimen!"
Tarzan nodded as another stable boy approached them with a palomino coloured horse.
"Sir. Madam. This is your horse for the hunt, Hazel." The stable boy nodded as Jane took the reins and Tarzan stared at the beautiful elegance of the creature with its pale caramel coloured body, white blond tail and mane. Jane could see a special saddle was set up on the horse's back with a pommel for her to ride side saddle at the front and it was also long enough for Tarzan to sit behind her.
"A sweet filly I must say," Charlie remarked as a groom cupped his hand and helped Jane up onto Hazel and she hooked her leg around the pommel.
"I must say you do look very fetching in that riding habit," Tarzan remarked as Jane adjusted her long black skirts.
"You don't look so bad yourself," she teased playfully and Tarzan raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe you can wear it later… tonight!"
Jane blushed and pulled down the net veil over her face when a loud commotion started up in the stable yard.
"The King!" someone shouted and everyone, men and women dusted themselves down and adjusted their hats as the sound of horses entered the stable yard.
The King came into the stable yard, dressed in traditional hunting attire and riding a strong, tall, jet-black Arab stallion. He looked mighty pleased with himself and was happy to be doing his favourite pastime. His eyes surveyed the court in their riding attire and the many hounds barking, all ready to hunt their unsuspecting prey.
"Good morning Viscountess Foxton, Madame Maggolini," he noticed the two elegant women standing side by side, stroking their horses.
"Good morning Your Grace," the women curtsied and Francesca added, "a most beautiful day for the hunt."
"Absolutely," the king replied, his breath misting up in the crisp, cold January air. "Who will you ride with today Madame Maggolini?"
"On my own Your Grace," Francesca replied as she gracefully pulled on her black leather gloves and smiled demurely at the king's playful teasing.
"Your bay is a beauty but too short in the back. Next time I shall let you use one of my own horses."
"That is very generous of you Your Grace but I have had mi Carina for many years. I couldn't be parted from her." A groom lifted and helped Francesca onto her horse. For a couple of seconds, she slightly lifted her skirts as she wrapped her leg around the pommel and the King was taken by the tiny flash of her shapely calves.
"I never understand how those side saddles work," he continued, "how do you stay on the horse without a man to hold onto?"
"The exact same way as you do Your Grace," Francesca raised an eyebrow as she pulled the net face veil down from the brim of her top hat and smiled rather brazenly, "with my thighs!"
King Edward's eyes narrowed in desire and all the court pretended not to look but were eagerly wondering if Francesca Maggolini would soon be the King's new mistress. Jane saw for a second Cecilia looking shocked, almost betrayed by this flirtation. But she quickly put on a smile and settled in the saddle of her own horse.
"Away!" the king yelled and the Master of the Hunt blew his hunting horn. The King galloped out of the stable yard with the rest of the hunting party and the hounds following in hot pursuit. Jane lightly nudged their horse and a moment later they were galloping and catching up with the rest of the group.
For a while they galloped through the sweeping grounds of the park, the horses' hooves churning up the frosted earth and splashing water as they crossed icy cold streams. Jane had good control over Hazel who seemed to be a very well behaved horse and had no qualms about jumping over stone walls and fallen trees.
Jane couldn't help laughing as they galloped hard across the frost-covered park and enjoyed the feeling of her husband's arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She realised that she missed of the thrill of riding a galloping horse and was lapping up every second of it as the adrenaline surged through her veins.
The hounds caught a scent and were soon chasing a majestic stag through the woods of the park.
"Yah! Yah! Yah!" King Edward cried, whipping his horse hard with his riding crop to go faster and faster. Tarzan couldn't help but wince as the horse seemed to whinny in pain but the King kept whipping his horse, so determined to catch the stag as it fled for its life.
Suddenly King Edward's horse finally had enough of this rough treatment and started to buck and kick violently, trying to throw the King off of its back!
"Oh my goodness the King!" Francesca cried out in horror as King Edward fell off the horse but his foot was still caught up in the stirrup!
Cecilia and some of the other ladies screamed as the horse started to gallop off, dragging the King of England along with it!
"Come on!" Tarzan called to Jane and she got Hazel to gallop after the runaway horse. The Master of the Hunt and some of the other men also went after the runaway stallion but Jane was faster and managed to swerve Hazel in front of the King's horse, making it stop in its tracks. The stallion reared up, neighing loudly in fear as the King laid on the ground, close to the horse's back legs.
"Tarzan!" Jane called out as Tarzan jumped off Hazel and stood in front of the spooked horse.
"Woah! Woah! Easy there," he said in a calm voice as the horse continued to rear, "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you, no one is going to hurt you. You are safe, you are safe now. I promise you are safe. No one is going to hurt you." Tarzan edged slowly towards the black stallion and the horse stopped rearing. He inched closer, always in the stallion's sight and started to gently stroke its shoulder. After a few seconds of stroking, the stallion was calm again and neighed in appreciation at the gesture.
"Your Grace!" the Master of the Hunt rushed over and helped the King to his feet, away from the stallion's back legs. Luckily the King was not badly injured, but he was certainly bruised and grazed and his face was purple with rage!
"Shoot it!" he demanded and one of the huntsman quickly came over with a shotgun.
"What are you doing?" Tarzan demanded as the huntsman started to load it.
"That damn horse almost bloody killed me!" King Edward barked, his eyes glittering with rage. "That horse is a menace and needs to be put down this instant!"
"It only reared and dragged you because you were hurting him! If you were not whipping him then he wouldn't have kicked you off!" Tarzan snapped back. Everyone gasped in horror at the audacity and lack of decorum that this wildman had towards their sovereign!
"I will ignore your outburst Mr Porter," King Edward seethed quietly, "as you are not used to our customs. Now please step aside."
The huntsman pointed the shotgun at the horse's head and Tarzan immediately stood in front of the gun, staring down its barrel.
"Tarzan!" Jane cried and tried to get off Hazel but was stopped by another huntsman.
"Mr Porter, please step aside," the huntsman with the gun called out but Tarzan would not budge and the stallion whinnied nervously.
"You are not going to shoot this horse," he replied, his voice calm but steely, "I will not allow it." The huntsman continued pointing the shotgun but eventually put it down once he realised that Tarzan was not going to budge.
"Oh for goodness sake! I will do it myself!" King Edward snapped, grabbing the gun off the huntsman and pointed it at the horse. "Get out of the way Lord Tarzan of the Apes!"
"If you shoot this horse, then you will have to shoot through me!" Tarzan replied sternly as the King huffed and puffed with anger at this act of complete disobedience!
The horse neighed loudly and trotted around and stood in front of Tarzan, shielding him from the gun! The hunting party gasped at the animal's act of protection of the human trying to protect him. Even the King was dumfounded and lowered the shotgun in disbelief.
"I have never seen anything like it," he muttered as the stallion affectionately nuzzled Tarzan's face. "Why do my horses not do that with me?"
"Because you hurt them," Tarzan replied as he patted the horse's muzzle. "If you do not whip then they will like you. Your horse is sorry for dragging you but you need to apologise to him for whipping him."
"I'm not apologising to a horse!" King Edward spluttered at this ridiculous notion. But a stern look from Tarzan made him clear his throat. "Allegro… I apologise for hurting you today."
"Promise him that you will not whip him again," Tarzan added and King Edward looked a little stunned.
"I promise Allegro that I will not whip you from this day forth." The horse whinnied and came over to the King, allowing him to rub his shoulder.
"You're forgiven Your Grace," Tarzan said as the huntsman helped the King back in the saddle.
"I say that the hunt is called off," the King announced to the hunting party. "Let's go back to the hunting lodge."
"I hope the King is alright," Francesca said as they all quietly headed back into the stable yard.
"I'm sure that he is just dandy! Maybe he will let you tend to his wounds!" Cecilia replied somewhat sharply to her friend and Charlie gave Francesca a kind smile.
"I'm sure that his pride is hurting a lot more than his bruises," he said as his wife and Francesca dismounted from their horses. Cecilia threw the reins to a groom and stormed off towards the hunting lodge. Francesca quickly made an apologetic smile to the group before dashing after her.
"Do you not want to check on your wife?" Jane asked Charlie as the grooms took Hazel and Topthorne back to the stables for rest, water and fresh hay.
"Oh I'm sure it's nothing that two women cannot sort out between themselves," Charlie seemed surprisingly carefree about his wife storming off, "Now let's get inside and have some mulled wine."
Later on as the hunting party conversed, ate and drank merrily, Jane excused herself and went to the powder room. Just about as she was to enter she heard Cecilia and Francesca's voices through the door. Curiosity got the better of her and she pressed her ear to the door.
"I didn't mean what I said," she heard Francesca pleading to Cecilia, "what I said to the King. What else was I supposed to say?"
"Just be cordial!" Cecilia snapped back, "You didn't have to flirt with him in front of the whole court. Flashing your ankles like some strumpet!"
"I'm just trying to fit in!" Francesca cried, "Tesora, I am trying to be normale, like you are trying to act normale. All these rules and etiquette, it's so hard not to slip up."
"I know but we cannot slip up Cesca, not even for a moment."
"I know Tesora, I know. I just wish we can be ourselves."
"I know. Me too."
Another lady walked past Jane and entered the powder room and Jane followed, hoping that the woman didn't see that she was eavesdropping.
"Oh Jane," Francesca smiled brightly, "We were just powdering our noses."
"Are you two alright?" Jane asked them. "Have you two made up?"
"Oh we are fine!" Cecilia laughed merrily, "Just a silly spat between friends, nothing more. Come on, let's back before our husbands send out a search party!"
"I hope the King isn't too displeased with us," Jane worried as she eyed King Edward who was across the room, drinking with the host and some other high-ranking aristocrats.
"Probably," Charlie remarked and then grinned, "I mean that was some show you did Tarzan my friend! Don't worry, I'm sure it will be forgotten soon enough."
Jane and Tarzan were not at all convinced but a few days later to their complete surprise King Edward and Queen Alexandra appointed them as Lady-in-Waiting and Groom-in-Waiting! Jane and Tarzan agreed to the appointments so long as they were allowed to not attend any more hunting or shooting parties which the Royal family were more than happy to oblige!