Accompany Sir Edward during the hunt, of course (>95 Duty)

The hunting party departed shortly after breakfast.

Lord Ashcombe led the procession from the front, accompanied by several of his oldest friends, while the remaining guests followed in smaller groups along the winding track that disappeared into the estate's woodland.

As Sir Edward's valet, your place was naturally close behind your master.

The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and pine as the horses settled into an easy pace. The excitement of the hounds had gradually given way to disciplined silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of hooves against the soft ground.

For a time, neither of you spoke.

Sir Edward seemed content simply to enjoy the morning.

"It is a fine estate," he remarked at last, his gaze sweeping across the rolling hills.

"It is, sir."

"I can understand why Lord Ashcombe is so proud of it."

You nodded in agreement.

The silence returned for another minute before Sir Edward spoke again, his tone more thoughtful than before.

"I imagine Lord Ashcombe receives no shortage of gentlemen hoping to gain his favour."

"You are referring to the hunt, sir?"

A faint smile crossed his face.

"Not entirely."

He glanced ahead, where Lady Charlotte rode alongside her father several lengths in front of the party.

"I rather suspect many of this week's guests have taken as much interest in his daughter as they have in his game."

You followed his gaze.

Lady Charlotte sat her horse with quiet confidence, speaking animatedly to an elderly gentleman riding beside her.

"She seems a pleasant young lady," you observed.

"She does."

Sir Edward adjusted his gloves.

"Intelligent, well-mannered, and by all appearances genuinely kind."

He paused briefly.

"Qualities less common than one might hope."

You had served Sir Edward long enough to recognise when he was choosing his words carefully.

"Have you given much thought to marriage, sir?"

He let out a quiet laugh.

"My mother would say I have given it far too little."

"And what would you say?"

"I've never considered marriage an ambition in itself."

His answer came without hesitation.

"One ought not marry merely because society expects it."

He looked ahead once more.

"But should the right lady present herself..."

He left the sentence unfinished for a moment.

"...it would be foolish not to recognise the opportunity."

There was no trace of doubt in his voice.

Only calm practicality.

"I believe Lady Charlotte would make an admirable wife for whichever gentleman is fortunate enough to win her affection."

He glanced back towards you with the faintest hint of a smile.

"I daresay I should be lying if I claimed the thought had never crossed my mind."

Before you could reply, Lord Ashcombe called for the riders to close the gap as the woodland path narrowed.

The conversation came naturally to an end.

As you urged your horse forward, you found yourself reflecting on Sir Edward's words.

For a gentleman of his standing, marriage seemed less a matter of romance than of finding the right companion to share a life already built.

Whether Lady Charlotte Ashcombe might become that companion remained to be seen.

The procession slowed as it reached a narrow stone bridge crossing one of the estate's many streams.

Lord Ashcombe raised a hand, allowing those at the front to pause while the remainder of the hunting party caught up.

For a few moments, the riders gathered together beneath the shade of ancient oaks.

Sir Edward drew alongside Lord Ashcombe, the two gentlemen soon absorbed in a discussion concerning the route through the western woods.

Left a short distance behind, you rested a hand upon your horse's reins and waited patiently.

"Good morning, Mr. Thomas."

The familiar voice caught you by surprise.

Lady Charlotte had allowed her horse to fall back a few paces, offering you the same warm smile she always seemed to wear so effortlessly.

"Good morning, my lady."

"I trust you weren't persuaded to rise quite as early as the hounds."

"I'm afraid I had little choice."

She laughed softly.

Her mare tossed its head impatiently before settling once more.

"I've always admired the servants during hunting week," she continued. "The guests see only the excitement of the day. They seldom notice how much work begins long before sunrise."

"We do our best, my lady."

"I know."

There was a sincerity in those two simple words that made them linger.

"You've all helped make our guests feel at home."

Lord Ashcombe called to his daughter.

She turned her horse slightly.

"I'd best not keep Father waiting."

She inclined her head towards you, seeing you off with a smile.

With a gentle touch of the reins, she guided her horse back alongside her father.

You watched the blue of her riding dress disappear into the line of riders ahead before quietly urging your own horse forward.

The exchange had lasted scarcely a minute.

Yet you found yourself smiling all the same.

The hunting party continued deeper into the estate, leaving the grand lawns of Kingsmere Hall behind as woodland gradually closed in around the narrow track.

Sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, casting shifting patterns across the ground as birdsong echoed between the ancient oaks.

Eventually Lord Ashcombe raised a hand, bringing the procession to a halt at the edge of a broad clearing.

Several huntsmen were already waiting, maps spread across a table at a small carriage while gamekeepers exchanged quiet words with Lord Ashcombe.

"It appears the game has been favouring the northern woods," one of them explained. "We've seen fresh tracks there since dawn."

The gentlemen gathered around to study the maps and discuss the route.

Sir Edward dismounted, handing his reins to a waiting stable lad before turning to you.

"We shall spend a little while surveying the ground before the hunt begins in earnest."

He glanced towards the cluster of gentlemen already deep in conversation.

"I suspect there will be more discussion than decision. You needn't stand here listening to old men argue over maps."

He reached into his pocket and produced his watch.

"You have an hour."

You looked at him, slightly surprised.

"An hour, sir?"

"Indeed."

"We shall not be moving until Lord Ashcombe has settled upon the route. I imagine the gamekeepers will have their opinions, Mr. Blackwood will have stronger ones, and everyone else will believe themselves an expert."

You couldn't help smiling.

"I'll remain nearby, sir."

His expression softened slightly.

"Be back before the hour is up."

"Of course, sir."

With that, Sir Edward joined the gathering of gentlemen, where Lord Ashcombe was already pointing towards a distant stretch of woodland.

Left to your own devices for the first time that morning, you took a slow look around.

The clearing sat at the meeting point of several narrow paths.

One disappeared deeper into the forest beneath towering oaks.

Your attention wandered across the clearing.

Most of the guests remained exactly where one would expect, listening to the gamekeepers or exchanging opinions on the morning's route.

One gentleman, however, appeared to have little interest in the discussion.

Nathaniel Blackwood stood at the edge of the trees, his attention fixed elsewhere.

He seemed to be watching something beyond the clearing.

After a brief glance over his shoulder to ensure no one was paying him any particular notice, he quietly slipped between the trees and disappeared from sight.

It was an odd thing to do.

Perhaps he had merely gone in search of a quieter place. Or perhaps curiosity had led him elsewhere.

Whatever his reason, the image lingered in your mind.

Sir Edward and the others remained engrossed in conversation.

For the next hour, your time was your own.