The birds flurried out of the box as soon as the gamekeeper opened the hatch and winged over the mist-covered moors. William raised his Henry gun and fired. Two birds landed with a thud and the setters gave out a howl as they raced to retrieve them.
“I’ve always admired how well trained your dogs are.” William cocked his gun and loaded it again.
“Richards knows his dogs,” Bill Napier said as he aimed his gun in the air and shot at the next batch of birds that flew from their cages. “We pay him handsomely for the knowledge.” He smiled at William. “Had enough yet?”
“Never.” William lifted his gun and took aim. The dogs were barking in the distance at the plethora of birds.
“What’s the game hunting like in… how do you pronounce it again? Add her Ron Dax?” Napier asked as he loaded his gun.
William shrugged. “From what I’ve read there’s plenty. Deer, fowl, wolf, bear. Even catamounts.”
“Wild cats and wolves? Still? How about Indians? Are there Indians in this wilderness?”
“Doubtful,” William said. “It’s not like the wild west. The colonists killed off any tribes that got in their way. The wars and Revolution did the rest. Haven’t you ever read The Last of the Mohicans?”
Napier laughed. “As I recall, you loved that story and made a game of playing Magua while I played Uncas.”
“Yes, hiding a forbidden love for Cora Munro, I remember.” William said glumly.
“I always preferred Hawkeye,” Napier said.
William silently admired the view of the river Yarrow meandering through the vale. He would miss this place. “I always thought I would have an estate like this one. Delusional I know.”
“Not really old boy,” Napier said. “It’s still plausible. Your father’s fortunes could take another turn. And besides, from what you’ve told me your father owns large tracts of land in the Adirondack forests. Maybe you could develop your country home there.”
“Hmmm.” William walked to where his horse was resting by a small fire they had built to keep them warm and took a flask out of the saddle holster. He took a swig of Scotch.
“Not exactly as I imagined though, an estate on the downs of the Isle of Wight. I thought I would be able to stay in London and act as father’s liaison for the railroad. If he’d only let me in on his business dealings instead of closing me out when he was speaking with the London investors. I can’t imagine what he’ll have me doing in America. I hardly know the man.”
Napier followed William to the fire, took the flask out of his hand and helped himself to the Scotch. “You’ll win him over soon enough with that famous charm of yours.”
“Then maybe I can win over your cousin again,” William said.
“I would advise you against trying to win back Florence. She’s a charmer, I know, but she’s also in a most precarious position at court. Her brother Henry has had a few questionable business dealings of late too. It’s not just your family’s scandal that has thrown her off your scent. She’s been instructed by my uncle to watch her back. Besides, I understand that Charlie Arkwright is now courting her.” Napier moved to put his gun in its holster on his horse’s back and did not register the momentary anger in William’s eyes.
“Let’s go in and dine, shall we?” he turned back to William. “It may be the last time for quite a while.”
“I’ll follow along after you. I’d like a few moments to enjoy the scenery one last time,” William said.
“Of course, you know the way. Don’t take too long with your musings, we have quite the dinner planned and cards afterwards. My mother is anxious to see you.”
William watched him gallop away and then pulled a letter out of his breast pocket. It was addressed to Florence. He had planned to ask Napier to give it secretly to her. William scanned the words he had written one night while ruminating on his plight.
Dear Florence,
After your abrupt departure from the tearoom I feel it necessary to explain my situation. I expect that my prospects in America will improve my family’s finances considerably and your father will not object to our union. I promise that if you would wait for me I will return to England in the hopes that you might consider a proposal of marriage.
Please don’t cast me off just yet. I know this is not of your choosing and that your feelings for me are as strong and steadfast as mine for you. We still have a future together if you would allow it.
Yours affectionately, William
William crumpled the letter into a ball.
“Yes, I will be back,” he said to the wind that was coursing over the moors, “and when I do Florence, it will be to prove your father wrong.” He pitched the letter into the burning logs, mounted his horse and rode back to Napier’s manor home.