Apollo

Chapter Thirteen

A/N The good news is, exams are over. The better news is, it's Friday and here's this week's update. Vote, comment, and share this story with your friends (it means a lot!)

"WELCOME BACK, LORD PORTSMOUTH," DAVID ARDEN GREETED MERRILY a few days later when Emmett had returned to the Arden estate on invitation from the duke. "My daughter is in the garden reading today. I hope that does not cause you any discomfort?"

    "Certainly not, Duke Westchester – why, I would be happy to see her," he answered immediately, then cleared his throat hurriedly as he realised that he may have come off too eagerly. "What I mean to say is...I do not hold whatever failed arrangement we might have against her. I respect her as I do any good lady. This is her home, I am but a guest in it, and she may read wherever she pleases."

    "A gracious young man indeed," David responded.

    Emmett chuckled. "I am undeserving of your praise, Your Grace."

    "Oh, enough with all these pleasantries. Simply call me Westchester like most of my friends do, or David if that pleases you better," the duke urged. "'Sir' sounds terribly stiff, do you not think so?"

    "You are my elder, Duke Westchester, I could not possibly simply address you by your given name."

    "Oh, come now, Portsmouth, I am hardly that old. Unless you insinuate otherwise?"

    "...I would dare to do no such thing."

    Both men burst out in roaring laughter. Despite his lack of regard for David's daughter, Emmett did quite like the man himself, and found the old duke an easy partner in conversation and an increasingly dear friend. There was no better way to explain it – Duke Westchester was simply a personable man in possession of great charisma, and Emmett liked him very much, as his father did. Having experienced David Arden for himself, Emmett was no longer surprised that the greying man with crow's feet and laugh lines was William's one dearest friend.

    "Say, would you like to go for a ride in my wood today?" David offered. "It is quite an adventure, and if you enjoy a hunt, there is game to kill. You must be tired of the shooting grounds by now."

    "I am never tired of archery, Sir, for your shooting grounds are wonderful – but I would never turn down a good hunt."

    "Marvellous!" the duke sounded pleased. "Shall we proceed to the stables? I will fetch my gelding, and you can ride your fine horse. Speaking of that beautiful mare – what is her name?"

    "Aurel," he replied. "I've had her since I was a young lad."

    "You are still plenty young, my boy," Westchester said.

    The earl laughed. "I suppose you are right."

    They walked in silence for a while until David spoke again. "We will pass the orchard now, Portsmouth. Would you like to say hello to my daughter?—If not, it should not be difficult to slip past her...we will have to be careful with our footsteps, but that lass can get rather engrossed in a book. It is unlikely that she might look up if we do not call out to her."

    "No, no, Sir, it would be a pleasure to see her. There is no need to hide from her on the grounds of her own home – that would, actually, be rather rude of me," Emmett was quick to respond. "I recall her telling us at dinner about how much she despises fictional literature. She must enjoy non-fiction, then. Does she find her mind engaged by that dry stuff?—I could never quite tolerate it for extended periods of time."