Playing around with the timeline here. I don't really know when Pemuk came to visit, I just remember the foxhunt, and for some reason, fox hunting struck me as an "autumn sport", so therefore I am setting this chapter in the autumn. If I'm wrong, ah well, it's AU anyway!
This chapter was interesting because there is a *brief* moment where Larry almost shows some decency, where it looks like he might do "the right thing" for once (even if it is for possessive convoluted reasons) however, I think his main problem is that if something doesn't serve a purpose for *himself* or *his* interests, it's not worth his time to meddle. You'll see what I mean. THANKS FOR READING AS ALWAYS!
The Hunt
October 1912
It's sometime in early October when he finally meets the new heir.
Matthew Crawley.
A middle class solicitor from Manchester! The fourth earl must be rolling in his grave.
Larry already despises him; he'll never be anything like Patrick. Really, it's an insult to Patrick that Matthew Crawley even exists, let alone has claim to the earldom.
After briefly meeting Mr. Crawley, Larry sees that history is repeating itself.
Just like Patrick, Lord and Lady Grantham are eager to wed him to their eldest. And just like Patrick, Mary doesn't care a fig for him while Edith is doing everything she can to sink her claws into him. She was out with him that very afternoon, apparently; touring churches or something equally as boring.
It's just as well; why ruin a perfectly good hunt with the likes of this "pretender" in their company?
While Lord Grantham's heir was looking at churches, he was enjoying a perfectly good hunt, along with the Crawley's special guests: a Mr. Napier who is an old friend of the family's, and some Turkish fellow that he is hosting.
It was clear from the second the foreigner showed up that Lady Mary's keen hunting senses changed from fox to another sort of prey.
But she isn't the only hunter. It becomes quite obvious during dinner that there are others who have extended the hunt. He watches as all the men make fools of themselves, vying for Mary's attentions, including the lawyer from Manchester. He can't help but find the whole silly display amusing, especially as Mary rebuffs Mr. Napier and Mr. Crawley in favor of the Turk.
While she goes to speak with him about who knows what, Larry watches Sybil rise from her chair and move to where the other two men are, smiling prettily and asking Mr. Crawley what he thought of the churches he toured.
What does she think of the new heir?
Good Lord, she's not…surely, she's not…?
He glances nervously at Edith, who is looking longingly at Mr. Crawley and Larry feels the pit of his stomach roll with dread. Is it really to be just like before? When all the women wanted Patrick? Not that Sybil wanted him, but this is different, she's sixteen now!
…And very, very lovely.
He's not the only one to have noticed either.
Larry watches with a clenched jaw as the Turk smiles at Sybil, his eyes wandering down and admiring her figure. He follows the foreigner when he gets up to leave the room, and when he's sure no one is looking, grabs the man's elbow and lays a threat on him, right there.
"She's mine!" he hisses. "You stay away."
The Turk jerks his arm free and glares back at him before leaving.
He stands guard that night, watching the Turk's door from his own. He follows the foreigner when he takes a late-night stroll to the lady's quarters. He's prepared to fight for Sybil's honor, but if he does, he wants Sybil to see him do it.
But it's not Sybil's room that the Turk invades.
Larry hears Mary's shocked gasp as the man locks the door behind him.
Well…at least that will keep the bastard occupied and away from Sybil.