Victorian Boy || l.s. ✔︎

BONUS: H&L F&R

"Quod licet ingratum est. Quod non licet acrius urit."

"We take no pleasure in permitted joys. But what's forbidden is more keenly sought."

-Ovid, Amores  

Pembroke was made up of rocky cliffs, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills.

When they arrived at the Earl's manor, the two Dukes were greeted by the butler who informed them that his master was spending the afternoon on the cliffs with the Viscount Greindl.

Before joining them, they oversaw the footman remove their luggage from the carriage, when Louis came face-to-face with three of Roy's hounds. Unlike Louis' dogs, his were companion animals. The Earl did not kennel them. Louis still hunted with hounds, but since the attack he feared them and preferred not to get too close.

Though it was summer, the temperature was a good deal cooler in Pembroke than Yorkshire. Louis stepped in front of Harry to shield him from the wind.

Roy was stretched out unafraid beside the steep cliff, the heel of his boot resting on a rock, while Frederick stood observing the view, his short navy cape sailing behind him.

Louis always forgot how much he missed his friends until they were reunited and then he wondered how they could ever be apart. He was about to approach and greet them but Harry ran ahead of him. The young Duke tipped his hat shyly to Roy and kissed Frederick on the cheek.

After the hunt in the fall, Frederick and Harry stopped in London for a few days, where Frederick took him to the opera, then Brook's a gentleman's club in St. James, and presented him at Court. They struck up an unlikely friendship and corresponded regularly.

Louis extended his hand to Roy. He clasped it and jumped to his feet. They embraced warmly.

"I thought you'd never arrive!"

"We stopped in Cresselly for a day. I was procuring a rare mintage—1343 Edward III florin—for Harry."

"You do indulge him," he scolded.

"I see Frederick has a new broach," Louis countered, gesturing to the jewel that fastened the Viscount's cape.

The Earl rubbed the back of his neck. "Touché."

They decided to go for a walk along the cliffs to build up an appetite before supper.

Harry and Frederick held hands as they stepped precariously over the rocky cliffs. Louis remembered that Harry never went to school. He had developed a sort of schoolboy affection for Frederick, and the Viscount who had tormented his schoolmates at Harrow was getting a second chance at a similar friendship with Harry.

Roy was discussing crop yield and livestock when he fell silent suddenly and said, "They are sweet together, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are," Louis agreed, avoiding his gaze.

At that moment the Viscount turned his blonde head and flashed them a winning smile.

♞♘♞♘

After supper, they were presented with a cornucopia of pastries for dessert and an array of heady wines. Harry found it impossible to choose.

They retired to the drawing room for a game of cards.

The young Duke had a smidge of powdered sugar at the corner of his lips that Roy wiped away with his thumb.

"You enjoyed the custard. You should have tried the blancmange and the trifle."