Chapter 7

Moore's Manor

Bently and I had stayed in my London apartment last night since the initiation had taken far longer than I had anticipated. But now we were coming up on the last bend in the road to my home. It did indeed feel strange after essentially four years away. Of course I had spent two weeks at Christmas here every year. The first year I did that, the Dean's family had shown up for one week of that. And for the next two years it was repeated.

That first summer after starting school I had wondered what I was going to do to fill the time. After the first week at home, letters started arriving from the girls telling me how much they missed me and the classes. I got at least two letters from each of them. Finally, Diane had written asking me to return. The girls were moping around the house and making her life miserable. I did return to the Dean's house for the rest of that first summer. The next two summers I just spent two weeks at home and then returned to Deswait Academy and the Dean's house. Wherever they went on trips during the summers, I had been with them. Everyone was comfortable with the arrangement. Maybe my career in life would be as a tutor. It was a thought I didn't take seriously.

But, my mind kept coming back to the question, 'What are you going to do for the rest of your life?' I had belabored it the whole school year and still didn't know the answer. Bently opened the carriage door at the entrance to the manor. He would see to the bags. The door opened and Carolyn gave me a big hug.

"Hi, Brother. Are you finally home for good?"

"Hi, Sister." It was a ritual we had gone through on meeting ever since her father and brother had married my mother and sister in a double ceremony. She was still as pretty as ever and now fourteen. "Care for a little incest? I've always had a little fascination about that."

"Well, Brother Dear, I'm certainly glad you didn't act on your feelings before we met. The only proof of what little discretion or honor you may have is that Adam, my brother, told me after the wedding that Mildred was, indeed, a virgin."

"I would certainly hope so. By now you must know what an upright family we really are. Where is everyone?"

"My father and Adam are in Westminister doing something or other for a client. Elizabeth and Mildred are still in morning clothes waiting for you in the parlor. So, come on in and make yourself at home," she said giggling.

"A shilling says they are standing together when I come in."

"No takers on that, Donald, you know them too well."

Buckingham Palace

After a month of careful screening and investigation, the solicitors had given Her Highness 20 prospective files on possible husbands for Ann. Among all the other things she had to think about as a symbol of the government, it had been pushed aside. It had been assigned a high priority however. Of course, the twenty hadn't been asked if they wanted to get married, it was just assumed they would jump at the chance to marry into the royal family. And, the investigations had been carried out discretely.

She had just finished going through them briefly with the help of her head solicitor.

"Several of them I can recognize by their overall careers, but many come across as dry sticks. You say they are all upper class?"

"Well, no, Your Highness, I didn't say that. What we did was go through the list we were given. Your instructions were to evaluate them without regard to titles or anything else, I believe. These are the ones we felt met the minimal requirements. I can tell you who they are if you like."

"No, not yet. I want you to sift through these twenty and pick the best three. Then I want a thorough look at their lifes and their personal characteristics. Again, no names, ages or dates. But I do want to know who recommended the best three."

"Yes, Your Highness, as soon as possible."

Moore's Manor

"I didn't think it was possible, Son, but you're even better at doing that than you were before. But, I don't want to know who else you've been with."

"You're right, Mother, you don't want to know. I am really pleased though, that you are still happy with your husband. Married almost four years now. Mildred said she was pleased with Adam, too. Everything has worked out well for the two of you."

"Yes, both of us are happy and content. Except for the weeks that they are away on business. But I shouldn't complain, they are doing well. They make more than enough to support us. And, that reminds me. You need to get out into society more. Go to London more often. My husband says that you've practically spent nothing in the last four years. The Dean couldn't have paid you that much, could he?"