Twenty Two Part Two

Alfred awakened quickly as a smile crept upon his face. He rolled over onto his back, stretching out his arms above his head, he lay across the bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment, experiencing pure, honest joy for the first time in his life.

With the dawn of the bright new morn, Alfred was experiencing an excited, expectant, giddy feeling. An entirely new feeling for him, one that he had never; in his entire life; felt before. This new feeling consumed his entire being. It came from deep within, and had come with the thought that in a few hours he would be courting Terese. The wonderful feeling had already been vividly present before he first opened his eyes.

He could not remember ever wanting to rise and greet the day so excitedly before.

He rose and gathered his things. He then bathed, shaved, and took a bit more care with his appearance than usual this fine morn.

He left the apartments, retrieving his horse, before Merry even rose from her slumber.

He rode to The Boar's Head, where he broke his fast with eggs, ham, toast and coffee. He read the papers, looking up every five moments to check the time.

It was difficult to be patient when he knew he would be seeing Terese before the morn had passed. He did have to still wait quite a while, before he could arrive at an acceptable hour.

He decided to visit a bookstore down the cobbled street, to mayhap buy Terese a volume of poetry.

Yet, once there, he could find not one thing that inspired him during his perusal of the shelves. He left the store empty handed, then strolled the lane of shops, leaving his horse tied in front of the Boar's Head.

He came to the flower shop, where he was inspired by a bouquet of hothouse lilies he saw on display in the window, he went inside and asked for them to be delivered to Terese immediately.

He then went back to the bookstore, having thought to purchase a small volume on the sights of London, hoping Terese would find it interesting, and mayhap even be interested in visiting some of the lesser known exhibits.

He hoped she would want to visit a few of the museums, parks, gardens or famous landmarks, preferably with him.

He arrived mid morning at the grand manor Terese's father had rented for their stay in London. It was a completely enclosed, gated estate, fully staffed, with every amenity one could want or wish for.

Alfred was suitably impressed, and yet also, quite a bit intimidated at the same time.

A groomsman met him at the top of the drive, "A fine day it be for a ride teday, may I take your mount to be cared for, Sir, or should I be 'oldin 'im 'ere?" The small, dark haired groom stood wide eyed, and expectant, his brown eyes shining, as he awaited Alfred's decision.

"I hope to be here a while, I suppose you could take him." Alfred hoped he would not be leaving too soon.

The groom then led the mount away to be watered, fed and stabled.

An extremely large butler answered the bell on the oversized, double doored entrance, allowing Alfred to step inside to the foyer, while he closed the door behind him.

The man was wide as an ox, and much taller than Alfred, though Alfred was a respectable height. Alfred had to look up, to see that the man was topped off with extremely short, bright, red hair. The butler had piercing, dark blue eyes that left no detail uncovered as he looked Alfred up and down slowly, blatantly sizing him up, before he then took Alfred's card.

Alfred was led to, then announced at, the door to the family's drawing room.

Alfred peeked over the butler's shoulder. He could see Terese's mother. She was sitting upon a comfortable looking, red wine colored settee, that was positioned towards the middle of the room. It was angled precisely in his direction.

Terese's mother saw Alfred peeking over Patrick's shoulder, and gave a small satisfied chuckle, at his impatience to set eyes on her daughter. "Please allow him entrance, Patrick, before the good man climbs right over you, to get a glimpse of Terese."

Her voice was smooth, and sweet as honey, as she showed her pleasure at Alfred's arrival, while encouraging him to join them.

Patrick moved aside, allowing Alfred a full view of the room.

Alfred grinned at Terese's mother, then his eyes immediately lit upon Terese. Sitting across from her mother, she had been obscured from his view by Patrick's wide shoulders.

She was, if it were even possible, more lovely than his mind had recalled. He knew he must look a dolt, as he gazed at Terese in admiration, yet, she blushed prettily, and looked down to her lap.

That was encouraging, Alfred thought, as he stood there grinning. He could not help himself, he was so happy to finally see her.

He then noted his lilies gracing the low table in front of her. That was also very encouraging. It additionally did not help his grin to lessen in the least.

He looked back from the flowers to Terese, and he did not realize that a soft, caring look overcame his visage.

Therese's mother, Ruthe, thought it was so adorable, the way this scholarly looking fellow, was smitten with her lovely daughter. She had liked his face the eve before, the way it changed to soften considerably whenever his eyes fell on Terese.

His eyes became, how could she put it?........ They reminded her of an adoring puppy.

That was it, he was an adoring, puppy eyed, scholarly, looking young man. All he needed were a pair of spectacles and she could see him buried in books. His hazel eyes were squinty, as if he needed said specs, yet he seemed to see just fine when gazing upon Terese.

When Ruthe met Alfred the eve before, she had thought that he seemed very nice and quite intelligent, he had behaved with genteel manners, he also held a title in the English aristocracy.

Ruthe Furguson was an American. Her family had immigrated from Norway years before, but her own birth had occurred in America. She had attended a school for young ladies in England on scholarship, and had met her husband in her last year at school. She had attended a spring soirée with a friend one evening, and had felt an immediate attraction to the magnetic, brawny, extremely self confident man.

Her husband was of Scottish decent. He had been blessed with a brilliant mind for business. He owned many textile factories, and his other partial holdings, were vast. He retained partial ownership of two shipping companies and a railroad. However, most of his wealth came from buying failing factories and turning them into efficient, productive, suppliers, that he personally took control of, until they turned a tidy profit. He somehow had a knack for recognizing a business when it was slowly declining. He would then have his solicitor make a fair offer, and upon it's acquisition, he would bring the company back to fruition, in some instances with the same product, other times not. If it were simply an improvement in design, marketing, or shipping, James made quick work of righting the wrong. A Midas touch was what he had. It kept him very busy, yet, he was never too busy to spend some time with his wife and daughter. They were, after all, the reason he worked so hard.

Ruthe stood, holding out her hands to Alfred, as Terese's father approached his wife's side. "Do come and join us Baron Nimford, you haven't met Terese's father yet, Laird James Ferguson." She looked up at her husband admirably, "James, this is Lord Alfred Mederios, whom Terese mentioned would be coming to call."

Terese's father was a very large man. His face somewhat resembled a grumpy bulldog, and this made Alfred just a bit nervous. James had bushy brows that grew in one thick line across his forehead, and they gave the impression he was continually frowning. They, and his hair, were a coppery red, which explained Terese's burgundy tresses. He was also pale skinned, except he had bright red patches on both of his cheeks. Terese mirrored her mother's lovely features, yet she definitely had her father's coloring.

Except for her eyes, her mother's eyes were a pale, grass green and her father's were a light, baby blue. Terese's eyes swirled with a mixture of the two.

Terese's high, prominent cheekbones, and her heart shaped face, supported those eyes; which, when they looked upon him, they melted something deep in Alfred's chest.

James Furguson had been standing at the window listening to his wife and daughter's conversation, when he saw the young man arrive. He was not an overly attractive young man, yet not a distasteful one either. He seemed a better choice to pay court to his daughter, than the other older gentleman that had been calling recently. James had not cared for Jude Kensington, he had not cared for him to court his daughter, that is. Good God, the man was a decade older than he, himself was.

There was just something wrong with that notion, to James' mind, but Kensington refused to be put off kindly.

James knew that Terese did not have an unkind bone in her body, and she would not simply tell Kensington he was too old, and to please go away.

James also knew, Terese was ultimately counting on him to rid herself of the man's attentions, and he had no problem doing so, once she gave the word.

James could definitely hope this young man's attentions may thwart the older, stubborn Baron, who, in his mind, refused to be ousted.

James softened his features with a smile that crinkled his eyes, making him look more a happy bulldog, instead of an angry one.

Alfred nodded to James, while bowing forward slightly, as James returned the gesture. Ruth indicated the chair next to Terese for Alfred, as James joined Ruth on the settee.

James sat on the edge of the seat, resting his elbows on his knees. He then slid the vase of lilies over so he could see Alfred clearly.

He then proceeded to rake this young man over the coals.

James gave Alfred no time to become comfortable, "So, Lord Nimford. Do you know anything about business, young man?" James usually got right to the point.

It did no good to dilly dally around, when there was money to be made out there. "I, for one, do not agree with the notion of a Lord not providing his own income for his family. Have you any revenue coming in, young man?" James eyed Alfred shrewdly from under those heavy brows, as Alfred gulped, and shook his head in the negative.

Alfred took a deep breath and fortified himself by looking at Terese. She smiled reassuringly at him, giving him the confidence he needed to answer. She was worth the uncomfortableness he was feeling for the moment, as he took a deep breath and then forged ahead, "I have not. I have been well provided for all of my life. I have been raised of the old school, that a gentleman does not dirty his hands at labor, he simply hires one where needed. I would be most eager to learn the world of commerce however, given a chance." Alfred answered honestly, as it would do no good to lie to this man.

Alfred could tell James was an extremely shrewd man, one who could smell a lie, just as easily as he could sniff out a skunk cabbage.

James respected Alfred's answer. James was more than familiar with the titled man's popular way of thinking, James just did not agree with it.

The fact that Alfred was willing to learn, was fine, he could forgive him his past, if Alfred showed a willingness to achieve some knowledge of the business world.

A man had to take care of his own, and that meant gaining the knowledge of how to do so. Unless you were a highly titled man with vast holdings, which actually, was usually in and of a business itself, one must know how to grow one's own coffers.

Alfred realized, that if he wanted Terese, he may have to get his hands dirty. He may have to deal with people, and gain some know how, of how to make and manage money.

His mother had always provided him with an allowance, which he usually managed to make last as long as he needed it to, yet, that was why Merry lived in the poor area of town, and also why Alfred usually did not wager much at the gaming hell. His mother provided his clothing, paying the tailor as the bills were received.

Thinking on all this, Alfred realized, his mother had not only controlled his funds, but also his life. He needed to break free of her control, not just her influence.

Alfred looked to James with interest, "I would be very interested in learning anything you may think helpful, Sir."

James liked that, he would not mind a hungry, young man that he could tutor and shape to take over his empire one day.

That was, providing this was the man his daughter chose. Time would be the deciding factor as far as that went.

"Would you like to see the gardens, Lord Nimford?" Terese finally got a word in, after deciding Alfred needed a breath of fresh air, once her father's intimidation had been applied.

"It would be my pleasure, Terese, if it is not displeasing to your parents." Alfred looked to each for approval, receiving a positive response from both.

"We will have a small refreshment when you return, dear." Ruth turned to converse with James, as the younger couple quit the room.

Terese lead Alfred to the hall, then through another room, where doors lead to outside.

"I hope my father was not overly aggressive in your eyes, Alfred." Terese put a hand through Alfred's arm, and let him fall into step beside her.

"Not at all, beauty. He is only trying to care for you, and I have no complaints on that point. I am actually encouraged he showed an interest in my prospects at all."

Alfred was finally where he wanted to be, and that was alone with her. He had not thought he would get the chance so soon, and was very grateful he had.

"Let us hope you still feel that way after more of the same today." Terese chuckled softly, "He can be just as relentless as a train coming at you full steam, you shall see soon enough."

Alfred chuckled also, "Let us hope I do not get run down then. He has his work cut out for him, I do not know the first thing of commerce, though I am willing to learn."

Alfred slowed and held her back, as she would have proceeded down the pathway. He turned to her and lifted his hand to her face. He drew the back of his fingers softly down her cheek, "For you, my beauty, I would do anything."

Terese felt a tingle race through her body at his attentions. She smiled slightly, as she leaned a bit upward and towards him.

Reading the invitation correctly, he touched his lips softly to hers.

A mere moment later, he pulled back, and they smiled at one another. She put her hand back into his arm.

They strolled slowly, meandering down the pathways as they discussed the gardens, and those places Terese had visited, or had not visited in London yet.

Alfred pulled the small book from his pocket and gave it to her, receiving her thanks in response.

Alfred offered to escort her to the sights she had not seen to date, and asked her to note those places in the book. They then began to make future plans together.

So far, they both felt the thrill of a new attraction, and they were willing to see where it may go from here.

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Ruthe and James stood at the window and watched the young couple.

When their daughter kissed Alfred, they raised their brows at one another. James put his arm around his wife, as he watched Alfred give Terese a small book.

The young man was comporting himself respectfully, not taking advantage of her willingness, and that made James glad.

Ruthe stood on her toes and kissed James' cheek. "Come, my love, let us decide what entertainments there are to be had this eve."

James had finished an important deal the evening before and would now have time to escort his wife and daughter out and about town.

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Jude was forced to endure a picnic with Gwendolyn, after tromping around the grounds all morn.

He had seen deer and pheasant, even managing to get off a round or two, yet had missed.

It had made Gwen happy to have him return to the manse and announce that he may have seen poachers in the woods.

She was so excited her plan was under way, he then had to deal with her amorous attentions the afternoon long at the hunting lodge.

Jude lay on his back as Gwen cuddled up beside him.

He closed his eyes in an effort to pretend it was the lovely Terese laying nude next to him, but Gwen kept speaking to him, ruining his efforts.

He sighed, then rose, moving away from her, feigning hunger as a way to escape her amorous bent for a few hours.

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:) More to come!