"You? Going to France? My, but this is a surprise! A wonderful surprise! Things will be like they were before: all of us together again. What a time of it we'll have!" Andrew was truly pleased at the thought. Hastings always had a way of making the world seem a little less gloomy.
"Oh, and stay away from my sister!" he added with a wink and an accusatory finger. Edward was a nice guy, and Andrew didn't really think he'd ever act badly toward Michelle, but boys will be boys, and his sister was growing into womanhood quite nicely. He'd be a poor excuse for a brother if he didn't watch out for her.
"So," Andrew continued, "I'll make you a deal. Help me get the last of these books off this shelf and into the trunk, and I'll go riding with you the rest of the day. Heaven knows I could use the diversion. And who knows, we may even find a lady or two to charm along the way."
Hastings laughed at his friend's threat good naturedly, "Lud sir! and bring down the wrath of one of the "Three Devils" of Harrows, I think your sister is safe from my charms. As to aiding the refugee in his flight, I am your most humble servant, but only on the condition that if we do encounter a pair of lovely ladies I get first choice." Hastings winked and grinned, then began helping Andrew with the numerous tomes.
Just then, Michelle came into the room. "Andrew, Mother wants to know how your packing is coming." She then noticed Hastings and blushed slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here."
Hastings set down the volumes that he had had in hand and bowed elaborately to Michelle, "Tis an honor, my lovely lady, to be graced by your presence. I just came to see my dear comrade, Andrew, and find the Ffoulkes' migrating to warmer climes. Well you are in tremendous luck, for as I've just told Andrew, I am migrating to the same shores."
Michelle laughed a little at Hastings�s eloquent manner and curtsied in response to his bow. "Won't that be fun, Andrew? I'm sure Father will be pleased, too!" She turned to Hastings, and told him, as if letting him know a secret, "Father approves of you, as he believes you to be a good example to my troublesome older brother."
Hastings grabbed his heart, "'A good example'? Dear lady you wound me to the quick! Shall my reputation suffer the blow?"
Michelle laughed. "Don't worry, I shan't inform Father of your true nature. After all, you do still want to associate with my brother, don't you?" She smiled and sat on the edge of Andrew's bed, watching him put books in his trunk--and Hastings be the joker he was.
"For that, my dear lady Michelle, I am eternally in your debt," Hastings said taking her hand and bending to kiss it lightly.
Michelle laughed again. "You're always teasing me, Timothy Hastings! Oh, what fun we'll have in France! In the lovely weather, out of this constant rain! Docteur Jacquot is certain to let Tony go with us, and I do believe that the Blakeney's are already there.
"That's right, old Percy over there as we speak! Once he and Andrew get to it none of us will be safe!" Hastings laughed. "Perhaps I'll have a chance to visit the St. Cyrs', you really must meet them. Charming family!"
"That's right, old Percy over there as we speak! Once he and Andrew get to it none of us will be safe!" Hastings laughed. Michelle smiled, knowing how much trouble the boys could get in... and hoping she could join in on the fun, of course!
"Perhaps I'll have a chance to visit the St. Cyrs', you really must meet them. Charming family!"
"Who are the St. Cyrs? What are they like?" Michelle asked, curious.
"My family is very close to the St. Cyrs, in fact my aunt is a member of their family, they are an extraordinarily charming and gracious family. My family used to spend summers with them," Hastings replied.
Andrew was listening quietly as he continued to pack the last of the books away. "Troublesome older brother, indeed!" he thought. He could think of more than one occasion when he had a troublesome little sister! Still, Michelle only meant it with lighthearted affection. Right?
"That's the last of them, for now," he said out loud, turning to Hastings and Michelle. "And I'm finished a whole two books sooner, thanks to all of your `help,' Timothy!" Hastings just laughed.
"At any rate," Andrew continued, leaning against the now closed trunk, "perhaps you will regale us with more stories of France as we ride through the countryside?" Turning to Michelle, "I'm sure mother will let you go with us, dear sister, and, when we're out of sight, you can even stop riding side-saddle if you wish. Timothy and I will look the other way, as we always do."
Then, after a thoughtful pause, Andrew added, "Actually, Timothy never looks away when you're not riding side-saddle, the cad!"
"Hooray!" Michelle cried and laughed. "I've been wanting to get out of the house all day! It seems that Mother is especially picky today. She wants me to do needlepoint again," she explained, making a face. "How annoying."
"Dear me, dear me!" Hastings laughed. "You mean you don't want to become a proper lady?"
"Of course not!" Michelle replied. "Who wants to just sit at home all day doing needlepoint? And have you ever tried riding sidesaddle? It's terribly uncomfortable!"
Hastings laughed, "Thankfully, no. Lud love ya, it's terribly adorable of you to admit it!" With this he pinched her cheek. "Most women I know won't. More fool them. I won't marry anyone who can't appreciate riding a good horse." He mused.
Michelle rubbed her cheek lightly and smiled. "That seems just like you, and I wouldn't be surprised if my brother felt the same way." She stood and said "Andrew, I'll go tell mother that you've finished packing your books, and 'ask' her if I can go with you both riding." She smiled and slipped out and down the stairs, where she was going to convince her mother to let her go riding and not force her to work on her needlepoint anymore. She'd been working on the same piece of needlepoint for two years, only working on it when forced, and it still wasn't anywhere near completion--something she had no intention of changing in the near future.
Hastings watched Michelle leave, when he noticed the scowl on Andrew's face he turned his eyes away and laughed heartily. "That's some sister you have, Andrew! But I fear our chances with the ladies will be greatly diminished with her about." He elbowed him playfully in the ribs.
Ffoulkes shoved Hastings lightly away, the stern _expression still on his face. "I don't mind kidding around," he said, "but there comes a point when it's enough. Michelle is my sister. I know she's done her fair share of adventuring with you, me, and Percy, but she's still a girl. If she knew half of the trouble us men have gotten ourselves into over the years, she'd faint!"
Then, softening slightly, Andrew continued, "She's a strong person, but she's not very worldly. I'm afraid that one day her spirit will take her places her mind and body just can't handle." Andrew paused and looked away, wondering if he was being overprotective, then wondering if there was such a thing as "overprotective."
Smiling again, he turned back to Hastings saying, "I know you can't help yourself, you incorrigible lover-boy! Just try not to tease Michelle too much; she may not realize you're still teasing."
"Now, as far as any ladies we meet along the way are concerned, save those sweet words and bedroom eyes for them. Besides, unlike you, I'm not so concerned with spying fair maidens. I just need to get some fresh air in the peace and quite of nature." Stepping to the door, Andrew gestured to Hastings, "Shall we?"
Hastings laughed and bowed Andrew to proceed him in a flourished manner, "Your servant, sir... who is grateful to walk away from a chastisement from Andrew Ffoulkes with all of his limbs attached." He followed Andrew out thinking, "Don't concerned with ladies?! We need to get his priorities straight."
Michelle met them at the top of the stairs. "Mother agreed. If it weren't for the generous invitation of the ever kind Lord Hastings, however, I would most likely be sitting in a stiff chair making minute stitches on a seat cushion." She held her gloves in her hand, and already had a hat tidily placed on top of her strawberry-blonde curls. "Andrew, our horses are being saddled as we speak, and will most likely be ready by the time we reach the stables."
"Excellent," Hastings said, place one hand on Andrew's shoulder and the other on Michelle's, once they were down the stairs. "A ride with two good friend! And the promise of adventure in lovely France. What could be better?" A ride with a bevy of beautiful women would rank right up there, he thought.
Michelle laughed a little as she pulled on her riding gloves. They soon reached the stables, where the horses were being held just outside. She patted her mare on the neck and fed her a couple lumps of sugar she'd secretly taken during tea. One of the servants gave her a leg up, and she mounted the gentle bay.
With the three adventuresome youths mounted, off they went into the countryside. True to their word, Andrew and Timothy didn't say a thing as Michelle, true to form, stopped riding side-saddle.
The sun had broken through the gray clouds, and the moisture from the recent rain glistened on everything. Andrew was happy to be out in the fresh air, green hills, and warm sunshine. Michelle was happy to be away from the constricting drudgery of being a proper lady. Timothy was happy to be on a horse.
Hastings let out a tremendous sigh and leaned back to let the sunlight fall gently on his face. "Lud, it feels wonderful to be outside without a care in the world, and no Harrows looming over me. So, when do you leave? I'm going in two days, I can't wait."
"Ah," sighed Ffoulkes, "two days? We're due to leave in eight days. Blast those six days' difference! We might have been able to take the same boat over. I would have liked someone like you there to keep me distracted on the sea. I'm happier with solid ground beneath my feet."
Glancing over to Michelle, then back to Hastings, Andrew continued, "Perhaps, though, it's better this way. You would have spent your time chasing my sister the whole way across the Channel anyhow!" The three laughed and continued their ride.
After crossing through a wooded glen, Andrew spoke up again. "To think," he said, "the next time we meet, we'll all be in sunny France: you, me, Percy, Tony, and Emily and Michelle, of course. Imagine the fun we'll all have!
"I wonder if Percy's made any new friends there? I hope he and his family are doing well." At this, the three almost unconsciously bowed their heads in unison. They all knew that something was terribly wrong with Percy's mother, that she was only getting worse, that the strain had been something awful on all of the Blakeneys, and especially on the relationship between the poor father and poor son.
But, there was little the three of them could do about it. So, on they rode in solemn silence, a silence which, as time passed, grew more and more awkward.
Leave it to Hastings, though, to break the gloom. "Tut, tut! We'll all be by Percy's side again in no time. Nothing to fear! I can't wait for us all to go riding through France! My, what sight we'll be!"
Michelle smiled. She enjoyed France, but, like her brother, didn't care for the boat ride over. She always got seasick, which she hated more than anything. "I'll be glad to see Emilie again. I haven't heard from her lately. I wonder how she's doing?" she thought aloud.
"Hope she hasn't lost her heart to one of those deemed frog! What a scandal that would be!" Hastings said. "Good English women shouldn't be wasted on the likes of them... BUT we may find some pretty little French philly to break Andrew's monk's mentality!" Hastings laughed and winked at Michelle.
Michelle smiled. "So who do you think would be an appropriate person for Emilie to lose her heart to?" she asked, mischievously.
"A good proper Englishman, my dear lady," Hastings replied with a smile. "Beautiful English flower shouldn't be wasted to the likes of them froggies!"
The three youths bantered on through the afternoon, talking about France, England, old and new friends, and life in general. As the sun drew low in the sky, Hastings and the Ffoulkes children parted ways, knowing that they would not see each other again until they stood on the shores of a distant land.
"I am right here, mon petit."
(This thread is still in progress.)
