Thanks again Rory...a natural story teller you are...
7 years ago
Aiden joined us for breakfast, he had the blueprint with him and after our repast, we sat down to discuss the building further. 'There is just one thing Rory, what about the waterproof membrane at the base of the Atrium?' I smiled, 'some late night reading Aiden? he smiled back, 'I couldn't!' sleep for the noise,' and he gave me a wry smile, even James, who was in earshot, had the decency to blush. 'The wind in the trees Aiden, and, about the membrane, it's in the garage, as you know, all the drainpipes are inside the walls, rain and snow melt we use, when purified, for the house and the caravan, just run a 6 inch pipe from the base into the nearest one.' Aiden added, 'It's a large pipe Rory, ' I know Aiden but we don't want to be dismantling the structure in the future because the pipe diameter is inadequate.!'Aiden nodded and smiled, 'You have thought of everything.' I grinned, and we parted.
James and I packed, and with him sitting behind me on the buggy, holding me tight around the waist, and with Aiden sitting in the small trailer behind, we set off towards the train tracks where we would flag down the train. I had given Aiden a satellite phone for emergency's, and we had gone over everything, He wasn't self-conscious at all, he hugged me and shook hands with James and left. James piped up, 'I think he likes you Rory.' I smiled, 'he's not gay James, 'I know!' was all he said. We enjoyed the ride into town and took the long haul train to Toronto, i was dreading leaving James at the seminar hotel, it would be the first time we had been separated since Tuscany, James sensed my anxiety and squeezed my hand, 'It's only for a few days Rory, and then you can join me.' I nodded but remained uneasy.,
We took a Taxi from the station to the Hotel, I picked James up so he was at my head level, and embraced him, 'Any problems and i will be here like a shot,' James smiled, 'My White Knight.' I put him down and slapped his backside as he passed me. I took the Taxi to Uncle Charles House, 'Put it on my tab Rory,' was all he said, so i did, and walked up the large colonial style house and pressed the bell. The door opened and a lady in her thirties answered the door, 'Ah Lord Rory, your expected,' I asked her how she knew who i was,.'You have the same looks as master Tristan My Lord.' I followed her into the drawing-room where Aunt Cecelia was waiting, 'Darling Rory, how are you, she held out her arms, i went to her and hugged her, ' All healed now i see, she smiled, i nodded, 'come sit down, so i did and the maid brought tea and we chatted until 4 pm. She was in her early 40's and very beautiful, unlike my other Aunts and Uncles they only had one child, their beloved Tristan, she almost died giving birth, and they were unable to have more. because of that we all treated them with the same deference we treated our own parents, after all, Uncle Charles and Aunt Cecelia had nursed my James back to health.
Aunt Cecelia showed me round the beautifully manicured gardens, it was as i remembered ten years before, a car pulled into the drive and Aunt Cecelia turned, 'Here is your Uncle Charles.' we walked back into the house through the french doors and Uncle Charles strode in, he looked like a young version of my father, almost 12 years younger.'Rory dear boy!' i ran to him and he hugged me tight, he pushed me at arms length, 'I am surprised your here without your shadow!' i grinned, 'he sends his love to you both Uncle, He smiled, 'That boy is a genius, you do know that Rory,?' i nodded. 'Good, well let's go to the library for a snifter.' Aunt Cecelia excused herself with a kiss on my cheek and we walked into the substantial library, 'We're in strange times, my boy.' he didn't elaborate, he was a Queens Council Barrister, and had moved to Canada to practice, i had once asked him why not the U.S, he would be a sensation, No,' he had replied,' at this moment they have lost their soul!',. he didn't elaborate, which mystified me, later on i realized he had meant the upcoming Presidential Election, and many Americans were fleeing across the border into Canada, which i thought extraordinary, at the time.
We talked about home and family, I urged myself not to mention Tristan, The last time i met him i was 11, he 12 years old, and he was certainly a "golden boy" full of confidence, willowy with white blond hair like my own, and we looked like we were brothers, he seemed very carefree, and was very popular amongst his fellow boys at boarding school. I knew that his parents doted on him, but he wasn't spoilt, he had a very peaceful persona, nothing phased him, i couldn't wait to see him again, but dinner was fast approaching and no Tristan, i knew he was home from boarding school, so where the hell was he.? Was he not interested in the least about my visit, i felt crushed, at least my ego did, but i was surprised, we had got on so well as children, i looked up to him, emulated him, still, perhaps the passage of time had blurred his memory of me, i was slightly deflated.
Unlike my father, Uncle Charles being younger was a Baronet, a Hereditary Knight, and was referred to as Sir Charles, and Tristan, being his only son was The Honourable Tristan. So Uncle Charles had invited some of his friends to dinner to meet me, i was slightly taken aback, they want to meet me?' i had asked surprised, 'You must remember Rory, our Queen is their Queen, and as a direct descendant of 14 kings and Queens of England and Scotland, they are fascinated by us, you are the only true Hereditary Lord they have ever met, do you understand?' i must have looked disappointed Rory, you're not on show, just be your self, these guests are eminent Lawyers and Barristers from my chambers, not prodding tourists, i have told them not to use your title just your first name, do you mind?' I smiled, 'Of course not Uncle, it's the very least i can do after you saved James.' Now it was his turn to be surprised, 'You don't think you owe me a favor Rory, do you,? James, as far as we are concerned, is a member of this family, we all love him, without exception, especially as he now has our name, No you completely misunderstand, these people coming tonight are very handy to have as friends, one is the Attorney General, you can never have too many friends in this business, they were the one's who approved the lease of the Forrest to you and James, I am proud of you, is it bad of me to want to show you off?' he looked hurt, 'No Uncle, I am sorry, i didn't know who they were, i would be more than happy to meet them.', He looked relieved, 'Good boy, you will like them', and one thing you don't know is that they or going to award you a grant of a quarter of a million pounds, to properly police the reserve, you and James have the say on how you spend it, just supply the receipts, I was speechless. Uncle Charles carried on, I was slightly numb.
Like you and me, we all love nature, and it was this society that set up the experiment in your two thousand acres over a hundred and fifty years ago, sustainable forests, sustainable wildlife, the experiment continues, and you are part of it, the natural Rangers, preserve the endangered wildlife, any hunters caught within the reserve will be prosecuted depending on their crime, this is where these men are useful, you will have a free hand, make up your own rules within the reserve, whatever you and James decide, these men will back you to the hilt, now do you understand.?' Yes, now i understood, i was the new Sheriff, hunters had killed Wolves and Lynx within the reserve, my inclination was to shoot and ask questions later, Trespass with a rifle in my reserve could, literally, get you killed, i felt embolden. now we could protect the dwindling rare wildlife without fear of reprisal or prosecution-, and any hunter who kills an endangered animal in a reserve, just for their pelts, was fair game as far as i was concerned.
I know many of you reading this think my attitude bizarre, to say the least, but any civilised nation, that hunts endangered wildlife for their fur or to put a head on the wall, leaves my cold, yes i shoot deer, but one shot one kill, i have to feed myself and my crew, James can exist as a vegetarian, but i can't i am a hard wired carnivore. Aiden had told me that the previous "owner" had taken money for hunters to roam the estate and kill animals, many were from the States, but no more, we had seen Timber wolves and Lynx caught in snares who had bitten off their own feet to escape only to die through loss of blood or the cold, but that was now ended, i had carte blanche to defend my land and its wildlife, The same applied to any organised religion that cut animals throats, it is unnecessary and cruel, i would end the practice in the western world.
Everyone left and, after a few nightcaps, we set to bed, i had just showered and spoke to James on Skype when a light knock on my door got my attention, i opened it and there stood the golden boy himself, 'Tristan,!' he shushed me with a finger to his lips and slipped inside my bedroom, 'I thought meeting me had put you off,' Tristan smiled, 'are you kidding, i have been waiting for this moment since father told me you were coming.' I was puzzled, but why not join the dinner,?' He smiled again, 'because everyone would have noticed that i couldn't take my eyes off you.' I just stood there with my mouth open, 'Your kidding Tristan?' that smile again, Harry sent some video of you and James in Tuscany, to show Mum and Dad you and James were fine, i had forgotten how beautiful you were,' i still stood there with my mouth open, 'Tristan, if you think this is funny it's not, be serious!' this stunning boy started to take off his clothes, i stopped him, 'What the hell do you think your doing Tristan, please leave,' Tristan looked stunned, don't you want me?' i had to be firm, 'Tristan, i haven't seen you since i was eleven, not hide nor hair, and now you spring this on me, it's obvious you know i am gay but i didn't know you were.'He still looked stunned, 'I am sorry Rory,' he buttoned up his shirt, gave me a glance, and was gone.
I couldn't think straight, had that just happened? was i dreaming, i got into bed, my mind racing, i wanted to go after him and apologise for my harsh words, but i had no idea, where his bedroom was in this rambling old house, i slept fitfully, dreading the morning. It duly arrived, i rose early and showered and dressed and made my way down the long staircase to the dining room, Mary, (the Housemaid) was transferring covered platters onto a long heated plate on an oak sideboard, she welcomed me, 'Morning Lord Rory, Sir Charles asked me to tell you not to wait, they will be down shortly,' I thanked her but decided to wait anyway, i was hoping Tristan would be with them. They sauntered in 10 minutes later, we greeted each other as usual with kisses all round, but no Tristan, Uncle Charles,' notice anything missing Rory?' I grinned, 'No Kedgeree Uncle,' He laughed, 'We never acquired the tase here,' i loved kedgeree, flacked haddock with rice and baby peas, a very Indian Army dish. ' I am quite fond of it Uncle,' he smiled, did Hamish have anything to do with it?' I nodded,'
At home, we serve it every day, better than all these surgery puffs of wheat everyone eats nowadays, they might as well eat sugar from the packet,!' He laughed, 'Quite so Rory, we serve good old Scottish breakfasts here, help yourself.' I laded my plate with bacon, eggs sliced Haggis, and toast and butter and decided i just had to ask, 'Is Tristan joining us this morning.?' It was Aunt Cecelia who answered, ' He left for the Airport very early Rory, he is picking up his girlfriend Abby, or should say Abigail Montefiore, you met her father last night.' To say i was confused would be an understatement, 'And then they are meeting friends at the skater park, Tristan loves it, and he is pretty good,' I must have looked vacant, Uncle Charles said, 'Are you alright Rory?' i nodded, 'I am a bit of a whizz myself, perhaps i might join them, before i miss him completely,!' They both laughed, 'There's no chance of that Rory, he hasn't stopped talking about you since we told him you were visiting,' I think i blushed, i could feel the heat. 'Well, the sooner i meet him the better,' They told me where the skater park was and Uncle Charles said he would drop me off on the way to his office, i jumped at the chance, i kissed my Aunt goodby and we left.
Thanks again Rory...a natural story teller you are...
Aiden joined us for breakfast, he had the blueprint with him and after our repast, we sat down to discuss the building further. 'There is just one thing Rory, what about the waterproof membrane at the base of the Atrium?' I smiled, 'some late night reading Aiden? he smiled back, 'I couldn't!' sleep for the noise,' and he gave me a wry smile, even James, who was in earshot, had the decency to blush. 'The wind in the trees Aiden, and, about the membrane, it's in the garage, as you know, all the drainpipes are inside the walls, rain and snow melt we use, when purified, for the house and the caravan, just run a 6 inch pipe from the base into the nearest one.' Aiden added, 'It's a large pipe Rory, ' I know Aiden but we don't want to be dismantling the structure in the future because the pipe diameter is inadequate.!'Aiden nodded and smiled, 'You have thought of everything.' I grinned, and we parted.
James and I packed, and with him sitting behind me on the buggy, holding me tight around the waist, and with Aiden sitting in the small trailer behind, we set off towards the train tracks where we would flag down the train. I had given Aiden a satellite phone for emergency's, and we had gone over everything, He wasn't self-conscious at all, he hugged me and shook hands with James and left. James piped up, 'I think he likes you Rory.' I smiled, 'he's not gay James, 'I know!' was all he said. We enjoyed the ride into town and took the long haul train to Toronto, i was dreading leaving James at the seminar hotel, it would be the first time we had been separated since Tuscany, James sensed my anxiety and squeezed my hand, 'It's only for a few days Rory, and then you can join me.' I nodded but remained uneasy.,
We took a Taxi from the station to the Hotel, I picked James up so he was at my head level, and embraced him, 'Any problems and i will be here like a shot,' James smiled, 'My White Knight.' I put him down and slapped his backside as he passed me. I took the Taxi to Uncle Charles House, 'Put it on my tab Rory,' was all he said, so i did, and walked up the large colonial style house and pressed the bell. The door opened and a lady in her thirties answered the door, 'Ah Lord Rory, your expected,' I asked her how she knew who i was,.'You have the same looks as master Tristan My Lord.' I followed her into the drawing-room where Aunt Cecelia was waiting, 'Darling Rory, how are you, she held out her arms, i went to her and hugged her, ' All healed now i see, she smiled, i nodded, 'come sit down, so i did and the maid brought tea and we chatted until 4 pm. She was in her early 40's and very beautiful, unlike my other Aunts and Uncles they only had one child, their beloved Tristan, she almost died giving birth, and they were unable to have more. because of that we all treated them with the same deference we treated our own parents, after all, Uncle Charles and Aunt Cecelia had nursed my James back to health.
Aunt Cecelia showed me round the beautifully manicured gardens, it was as i remembered ten years before, a car pulled into the drive and Aunt Cecelia turned, 'Here is your Uncle Charles.' we walked back into the house through the french doors and Uncle Charles strode in, he looked like a young version of my father, almost 12 years younger.'Rory dear boy!' i ran to him and he hugged me tight, he pushed me at arms length, 'I am surprised your here without your shadow!' i grinned, 'he sends his love to you both Uncle, He smiled, 'That boy is a genius, you do know that Rory,?' i nodded. 'Good, well let's go to the library for a snifter.' Aunt Cecelia excused herself with a kiss on my cheek and we walked into the substantial library, 'We're in strange times, my boy.' he didn't elaborate, he was a Queens Council Barrister, and had moved to Canada to practice, i had once asked him why not the U.S, he would be a sensation, No,' he had replied,' at this moment they have lost their soul!',. he didn't elaborate, which mystified me, later on i realized he had meant the upcoming Presidential Election, and many Americans were fleeing across the border into Canada, which i thought extraordinary, at the time.
We talked about home and family, I urged myself not to mention Tristan, The last time i met him i was 11, he 12 years old, and he was certainly a "golden boy" full of confidence, willowy with white blond hair like my own, and we looked like we were brothers, he seemed very carefree, and was very popular amongst his fellow boys at boarding school. I knew that his parents doted on him, but he wasn't spoilt, he had a very peaceful persona, nothing phased him, i couldn't wait to see him again, but dinner was fast approaching and no Tristan, i knew he was home from boarding school, so where the hell was he.? Was he not interested in the least about my visit, i felt crushed, at least my ego did, but i was surprised, we had got on so well as children, i looked up to him, emulated him, still, perhaps the passage of time had blurred his memory of me, i was slightly deflated.
Unlike my father, Uncle Charles being younger was a Baronet, a Hereditary Knight, and was referred to as Sir Charles, and Tristan, being his only son was The Honourable Tristan. So Uncle Charles had invited some of his friends to dinner to meet me, i was slightly taken aback, they want to meet me?' i had asked surprised, 'You must remember Rory, our Queen is their Queen, and as a direct descendant of 14 kings and Queens of England and Scotland, they are fascinated by us, you are the only true Hereditary Lord they have ever met, do you understand?' i must have looked disappointed Rory, you're not on show, just be your self, these guests are eminent Lawyers and Barristers from my chambers, not prodding tourists, i have told them not to use your title just your first name, do you mind?' I smiled, 'Of course not Uncle, it's the very least i can do after you saved James.' Now it was his turn to be surprised, 'You don't think you owe me a favor Rory, do you,? James, as far as we are concerned, is a member of this family, we all love him, without exception, especially as he now has our name, No you completely misunderstand, these people coming tonight are very handy to have as friends, one is the Attorney General, you can never have too many friends in this business, they were the one's who approved the lease of the Forrest to you and James, I am proud of you, is it bad of me to want to show you off?' he looked hurt, 'No Uncle, I am sorry, i didn't know who they were, i would be more than happy to meet them.', He looked relieved, 'Good boy, you will like them', and one thing you don't know is that they or going to award you a grant of a quarter of a million pounds, to properly police the reserve, you and James have the say on how you spend it, just supply the receipts, I was speechless. Uncle Charles carried on, I was slightly numb.
Like you and me, we all love nature, and it was this society that set up the experiment in your two thousand acres over a hundred and fifty years ago, sustainable forests, sustainable wildlife, the experiment continues, and you are part of it, the natural Rangers, preserve the endangered wildlife, any hunters caught within the reserve will be prosecuted depending on their crime, this is where these men are useful, you will have a free hand, make up your own rules within the reserve, whatever you and James decide, these men will back you to the hilt, now do you understand.?' Yes, now i understood, i was the new Sheriff, hunters had killed Wolves and Lynx within the reserve, my inclination was to shoot and ask questions later, Trespass with a rifle in my reserve could, literally, get you killed, i felt embolden. now we could protect the dwindling rare wildlife without fear of reprisal or prosecution-, and any hunter who kills an endangered animal in a reserve, just for their pelts, was fair game as far as i was concerned.
I know many of you reading this think my attitude bizarre, to say the least, but any civilised nation, that hunts endangered wildlife for their fur or to put a head on the wall, leaves my cold, yes i shoot deer, but one shot one kill, i have to feed myself and my crew, James can exist as a vegetarian, but i can't i am a hard wired carnivore. Aiden had told me that the previous "owner" had taken money for hunters to roam the estate and kill animals, many were from the States, but no more, we had seen Timber wolves and Lynx caught in snares who had bitten off their own feet to escape only to die through loss of blood or the cold, but that was now ended, i had carte blanche to defend my land and its wildlife, The same applied to any organised religion that cut animals throats, it is unnecessary and cruel, i would end the practice in the western world.
Everyone left and, after a few nightcaps, we set to bed, i had just showered and spoke to James on Skype when a light knock on my door got my attention, i opened it and there stood the golden boy himself, 'Tristan,!' he shushed me with a finger to his lips and slipped inside my bedroom, 'I thought meeting me had put you off,' Tristan smiled, 'are you kidding, i have been waiting for this moment since father told me you were coming.' I was puzzled, but why not join the dinner,?' He smiled again, 'because everyone would have noticed that i couldn't take my eyes off you.' I just stood there with my mouth open, 'Your kidding Tristan?' that smile again, Harry sent some video of you and James in Tuscany, to show Mum and Dad you and James were fine, i had forgotten how beautiful you were,' i still stood there with my mouth open, 'Tristan, if you think this is funny it's not, be serious!' this stunning boy started to take off his clothes, i stopped him, 'What the hell do you think your doing Tristan, please leave,' Tristan looked stunned, don't you want me?' i had to be firm, 'Tristan, i haven't seen you since i was eleven, not hide nor hair, and now you spring this on me, it's obvious you know i am gay but i didn't know you were.'He still looked stunned, 'I am sorry Rory,' he buttoned up his shirt, gave me a glance, and was gone.
I couldn't think straight, had that just happened? was i dreaming, i got into bed, my mind racing, i wanted to go after him and apologise for my harsh words, but i had no idea, where his bedroom was in this rambling old house, i slept fitfully, dreading the morning. It duly arrived, i rose early and showered and dressed and made my way down the long staircase to the dining room, Mary, (the Housemaid) was transferring covered platters onto a long heated plate on an oak sideboard, she welcomed me, 'Morning Lord Rory, Sir Charles asked me to tell you not to wait, they will be down shortly,' I thanked her but decided to wait anyway, i was hoping Tristan would be with them. They sauntered in 10 minutes later, we greeted each other as usual with kisses all round, but no Tristan, Uncle Charles,' notice anything missing Rory?' I grinned, 'No Kedgeree Uncle,' He laughed, 'We never acquired the tase here,' i loved kedgeree, flacked haddock with rice and baby peas, a very Indian Army dish. ' I am quite fond of it Uncle,' he smiled, did Hamish have anything to do with it?' I nodded,'
At home, we serve it every day, better than all these surgery puffs of wheat everyone eats nowadays, they might as well eat sugar from the packet,!' He laughed, 'Quite so Rory, we serve good old Scottish breakfasts here, help yourself.' I laded my plate with bacon, eggs sliced Haggis, and toast and butter and decided i just had to ask, 'Is Tristan joining us this morning.?' It was Aunt Cecelia who answered, ' He left for the Airport very early Rory, he is picking up his girlfriend Abby, or should say Abigail Montefiore, you met her father last night.' To say i was confused would be an understatement, 'And then they are meeting friends at the skater park, Tristan loves it, and he is pretty good,' I must have looked vacant, Uncle Charles said, 'Are you alright Rory?' i nodded, 'I am a bit of a whizz myself, perhaps i might join them, before i miss him completely,!' They both laughed, 'There's no chance of that Rory, he hasn't stopped talking about you since we told him you were visiting,' I think i blushed, i could feel the heat. 'Well, the sooner i meet him the better,' They told me where the skater park was and Uncle Charles said he would drop me off on the way to his office, i jumped at the chance, i kissed my Aunt goodby and we left.
'