4

"My Lady, another caller for Lady Victoria." One of the guards informed the Countess. She had just woken up and was making her way down to the kitchen to start her normal patrols.

"So early...?" she questioned, checking the two-hand watch on the wall above the Lancaster living room. "It has barely touched eight..." she continued, as the guard in respect nodded in agreement.

"Would you help Victoria dress, please..." she pointed out to one of the maids. And to another who was in charge of the kitchen dishes, "Make them prepare biscuits for the guests."

With that, she hastily walked towards the living room front window, which showcased the whole front lodge of the Lancaster mansion compound.

On observation, there were – not one, not two, not three but far from ten gentlemen standing in line, each waiting for their time of attendance. This made the Countess's heart jump in delight. She indeed needed not force her daughter into the dance floor and onto a gentleman; they, undeniably, brought themselves to her. And incredibly, other bachelors were still arriving.

Each gentleman carried within himself a gift to either his left or right, and flowers of different varieties depending on one's taste on their other side.

"Let each in one at a time...," she commanded the guard who had previously told her of the callers. He, being the man who had taken over Knight for the day watch.

"The ..." paused, "Lord Lancaster has requested none be let in until he arrives."

"The Earl?" The Countess questioned with a scowl, knowing so well her husband would have little to no interest in his daughter's admirers.

"Lord Andrew, your ladyship," he added, slightly looking down, waiting for a command otherwise.

The Countess sighed a bit, her fingers slightly brushing through her forehead and chin as if easing the tension within her. She lingered by the window for a while, observing the distant bachelors still coming in, before turning away with resolute air.

"Oh, Andrew..." she murmured absently, her voice trailing as she moved to the library where the Earl mostly lingered.

"Dear..." she called out after entering. "Do you see the line of our Victoria's suitors? Our girl has the opportunity of choosing..."

"Choosing?" The Earl questioned, closing his book and removing his small pince-nez perched precariously on the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, they stand outside, many of them. Each carrying a token of a gift for our girl. I sure bet none surpasses a lower income other than ten thousand and five per year." She cried in happiness and satisfaction.

"I see," Lord Lancaster added, his face calm, quite not getting the reason behind his wife's amusement over the many admirers.

"You fail to get it, dear!" She desperately whimpered out.

"The Princes seeking a wife for childbearing is what you call chance? But I understand you, my dear," Lord Lancaster paused and softly whispered that his countess couldn't hear, "Woman of low mind and high misjudgment. Ten thousand and five per year! Indeed…" and shook his head after emphasizing on the latter.

On the outside, Victoria was sitting on the large white armchair in the parlour, positioned to the left. Her brother, Andrew, was well positioned and seated a bit farther away on the same side, pretending to be reading a newspaper.

"Lord Henry FitzWilliam," the Viscountess Firstborn son introduced himself.

"I believe you like roses best," he added, handing Victoria a red rose, but Andrew grabbed it with a smile, and then smelled them.

"It sure smells healthy, Lord Henry," he flattered, his smile not reaching his eyes. He then echoed one of the guards standing between the parlour and the ballroom to take the flower.

After, three more lads acquainted themselves with Lady Victoria, and now, it was Prince Edward Mcvourse's turn to familiarize himself again. With him was a troll full of over fifty lone-standing white rose flowers, perfectly enclosed by beautiful white and blue ribbon.

"Prince Edward Mcvourse; from Wales," he politely introduced himself, slightly making a respectful bow.

"Lord Andrew...," Andrew rose, pushing his hand forward to meet Prince Edward. An informal greeting, but Edward did greet him back.

"Lord Andrew, Lady Victoria...," he now added looking at each one after stating their name, as Andrew showed him the place to sit and offered him biscuits that were already ready.

"You come from Wales?" Andrew questioned, as Prince Edward nodded.

"Rumors state that the Princes are in desperation for a wife to bear them a son as hastily as possible!" Andrew shamelessly specified, making Victoria side-eye him a little. Nonetheless, he seemed not intimidated by the side eye.

"I hope you seek not, sister's chance of socialization with the aim and belief of winning this race of childbearing," this directly made Victoria face eye Andrew, turning slightly pale, showcasing desperate plea for him to stop but...,

"She shall get married out of love. Not out of desperation!"

"Brother!" Lady Victoria boldly outburst.

"It's alright, sister, a gentleman should have his own savings before acquainting himself with a lady, or societal demands. He should get married by choice, not by force."

With that bombshell humiliation, Prince Edward lacked words of statement and defense. However, though hurt, he rose and in a respectful bow to Lady Victoria, he simply said,

"I hope you love the flowers! I shall excuse myself."

After Prince Edward, came in Lord Beming, the renowned merchant whom Andrew detested in the ball stating him as 'old'. And Before even beginning, his overly unstopping cough started, making Andrew call on the guards and simply tell all other suitors to leave, lying that Lady Victoria had gotten slightly ill.

The admirers were slightly hurt by Andrew, but they knew all together, Victoria's brother was one hard nut to crack when it came to getting the hand of his sister.

Throughout the day of wait, it was already almost three in the evening when all the men finally gave up waiting for Lady Victoria's chance of acquaintance, despite claiming ill, and they all left except Lord Hordy of Wales, who went to talk to one of the mansion guards.

"I am looking for Knight," he stated, and added, "My name is Lord Hordy, his friend. He is to be a new guard. He supposedly just started work probably yesterday," he emphasized, as the guard eyed him from head to toe.

Lord Hordy was an average height, skinny pale white man with expressive blue eyes and slick, shaved hair. He was known to wearing thick velvet waistcoats, ruffled shirts with well-embroidered bow ties, in addition to a flat cap that tilted slightly to the left.

"The guard's rooms are on this way," he said pointing to the left side of the mansion. "His room –sixth on the second floor. Keep left!"

Lord Hordy shyly walked off his legs feebly trembling, as if they would break from how fast he was walking. 'Left, room six,' he constantly reminded himself as he entered the mansion's workers' quarters on the left side.

On the first floor, at the sixth door –as directed, which was well-furnished brown, with a quite expensive-looking golden lock, he knocked and then opened it.

"Mcvourse," he said, upon seeing Knight who was wearing a cheap tailored shirt.

"Hordy, expected you not!" Knight added, as he shoved one of the wooden chairs for Hordy to sit. "How do you expect to find a suitor when ingrained in this chamber?" Hordy questioned, his eyes making a quick scan of the small house.

It had one bed on the front corner, and on his left, a large table, with all sorts of food and drink.

"I see they treat you well!" he complimented.

"Give me a brief," Knight stated, lying on the pillow of his bed, his shirt still open, exposing his well-parked book-like abs, and his lower slim waist. This made Lord Hordy slightly gallop, an act that Knight didn't notice. He believed they both were on the same page.

"There is Lady Victoria, but she is already conversant with many. A large line of suitors from morning have been waiting for her. Only the lucky front men. And your brother, Prince Edward has already gotten the ladies' attention," this made Knight focus a little, "he brought her a troll of flowers," he added, as Knight now looked up to the ceiling of the little room, in deep thought.

"Is there another?" Knight questioned.

"Lady Hardington's daughter...,"

"No…, I saw them yesterday. Another?" Knight exposed.

"I think they are quite charming." Lord Hord dragged

In deep thought, Knight emphasised, "The last, the small one, who wore extravagant pink gown is quite a catch..., but I found her standing posture, rather –forced."

"You stayed no less than five minutes yesterday. How did you read the room?" Lord Hordy questioned, as he poured himself a drink. "Grape wine…, nice."

"I read the room before leaving! Be brighter, Hordy," Knight emphasised, standing to also pour himself some wine.

"You can try the Lord Winchester's sister_,"

"The Winchester family has a scandal. A bad course!"

"Lord York's daughter…she looked exquisite…,"

"Indeed," Knight agreed, "But, her father carries a land mile of debts even from his shipment business in Wales. I'll marry her knowing I am in debt of helping the father clear his stupid debts."

"Lady Hardington, third daughter?"

"The one introduced with the purple dressed?" Knight confused questioned, as Hordy nodded, making Knight laugh. A quite melodious laugh that which only few got to hear. "She's quite a catch, but she appeased me not!"

"Is there none who appeases you?" Lord Hordy questioned, getting frustrated with Knight's rejection of his listed names of probable new introduced girls who looked great.

"It was a ball, a party! A first introduction. How bad can they look if they appeased me not on their first day?"

"Lady Victoria?" Lord Hordy interrogated, and Knight was quiet to that, as the happenings of the previous night, where he was unable to light the fire flashed back on him.

"How does someone light a fire?" He suddenly asked out of nowhere.

"I believe that's not the topic we are discussing." Lord Hordy shruggishly dismissed.

"I was quite unimpressed with myself yesterday. Find me an article which at least explains the latter; in a more detailed manner step by step!" Knight emphasized, as Hordy took in the wine slightly shaking his head, in disbelief. However, Knight knew he would not disappoint.