Born to Run

Chapter 12: Fools and Temptation

Mrs Manning placed her cup of tea down on the table with a loud clink. “Mr Manning, dear?” she looked at her

husband, who was sitting just opposite her, nose in a newspaper.

He grunted in reply.

“You must take Fitz out hunting or something. That silly boy has been in a dark mood for a fortnight now, and will not speak to anyone! Maybe it is best you take him on one of your aggression-releasing activities!” She eyed Mr Manning hopefully. “‘Twould cheer him up, you know.” Mrs Manning added.

Mr Manning grunted again. “If there was anyone who has tried everything to release aggression, it’s him, ma’am,” he grumbled. It was true. Fitz had been stomping all around the house finding things to do in attempt to lighten his own mood, but nothing seemed to help. “I can do nothing.”

She frowned. “Nothing for your son?”

“He is my son, ma’am, and that is why I can do nothing! Had he been my student or footman, I would drill him until he begged for mercy, but Fitz is my son, and needs to learn how to handle his own self.”

Mrs Manning supposed her husband was right. While she was pondering her dilemma about Fitz, Peter stormed into the room. “Peter, dear! Whatever’s the matter?”

“That ill-tempered brother of mine is exactly the matter!” Peter growled. He was usually the cheeriest of the three. “With Thomas being away today, the only company I have is him, and believe me, he is quite tiresome!” He snatched up a scone and seemed to swallow it whole. “I wish I knew what irked him so.”

Mrs Manning turned to her son. “Where might he have gone to make him so vexed?”

A light of realisation passed through her son’s eyes. “He must’ve gone back to the palace, Mother, to see Miss Esme.” Peter stood. “He was quite besotted with her when we left.”

The head of the household looked at his son in surprise. “Fitz? With Miss Esme?” he asked.

Peter nodded. “You did not realise, Father? Mother will agree with me in saying that it was very hard not

to miss!”

His mother gave her son a nod of agreement. “I am surprised, dearest. I thought you knew!”

“Evidently, I did not!” Now it was Mr Manning’s turn to stand. “Miss Goldworth? Married to my son?”

Peter and Mrs Manning exchanged glances. “You do not approve, sir?” Peter asked.

“Approve?” he roared. “Who in the world would bless a marriage of his son to a farmer’s daughter, I ask you? WHO?” Mr Manning was shouting now. “If my son thinks that he can marry such a girl than he is completely wrong! I would never approve of such a marriage!” He looked at his wife, and then his son, and then his wife again, as if they were the ones at fault. “Maybe Miss Esme knew her place and rejected him! He is probably in a foul mood because he thinks; somehow, it would be acceptable!” Mr Manning gave a mirthless laugh. “Crazy; deluded fool!”

(#)

Fitz listened to his father rant and rave from the doorway. They could not see him, but Fitz supposed the truth was what he needed to hear. He could not take any more, and so he climbed the steps to his library. The door had been left open, and it reminded Fitz of when he had really seen Esme for the first time. If he walked over to her corner and closed his eyes, he could almost still hear her murmuring as she read. He could still picture her long, unbound hair covering her shoulders, her soft lips moving as they formed whispered words. Mesmerized, he had done nothing but watch her.