Fic: Troubled Times chapter 30 Part 3

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Mr. Wooster was frowning, and I suspected that I knew what was troubling him. I was not surprised when, in a quiet voice, my employer asked, “They shot a medic? By Jove, that's awful!”

 

Inwardly, I sighed. Before the war, Mr. Wooster would have felt horrified surprise at the very idea. Now a year into the war, all that was in his tone was sad resignation and displeasure for the facts.

 

Mr. Heflner answered, “Maybe not on purpose, Bertie. During battle... well, it's loud and one doesn't always even see the enemy that well. Danny used to yell, 'Medic!' but you can't always hear over the noise of the conflict. He'd go to help someone that was not all that close and run out into the battlefield. But, yes, they sometimes targeted medics and even chaplains. Nothing is sacred during war.”

 

We were all silent for a second then Wright said,“His death was not your fault, sir. You did not want the war and it was not you that sent men out to fight.”

 

Mr. Heflner replied, “I know. You've told me that, and I know you're correct. Yet I remember hearing the messenger calling my name. I was with a group of men, and he was yelling, 'James Matthew Heflner! Has anyone seen Heflner from Cumbria?'”

 

He looked down at the table. I was grateful that he had already eaten his cake as I doubted that he would partake of anything after telling us about this time.

 

He continued, “My first thought was that I'd just stay quiet and let him call. Because I knew that anything that caused them to look for me couldn't be good. And I didn't want to leave my troop, and I thought... I thought, 'If I push off, Danny will get killed. He takes too many chances, and the other men don't watch out for him.' But one of the other chaps shoved me and said, 'Are you deaf, Heffie? He's calling for you,' so I ankled over to see what he wanted and got myself bunged home.”

 

I said, “It was not your fault or your choice to return to England. You are in no way responsible for the death of your friend.”

 

Mr. Wooster said, “If you'd stayed, you'd have seen his death. That's all. You don't decide these things, Heffie. And if you hadn't gone home, your mother would have died without ever seeing you again. Then you would have felt responsible for that. You had no choice but to go home.”

 

I watched as Mr. Heflner considered our statements and slowly nodded. Whether he accepted our words or not, I could not tell.

 

The conversation drifted to our Home Guard duties. When there was a pause in the conversation, I said to Wright, “I imagine it is far more expensive to feed horses now than before the war.”

 

He replied, “Not overly so. We have three pastures available to us should Mr. Heflner's land not provide enough food. I buy hay directly from Mr. Cornish, who grows it.”

 

“Would taking in another horse be a great difficulty?”

 

I knew Mr. Heflner loved horses and that he liked the idea as I saw him visibly restrain himself from replying before Wright could answer. I was positive that Mr. Wooster could discern that his friend would be glad to purchase the horse.

 

A brief flash of amusement on Wright's face told me that he was aware of his employer's desire in the matter. He answered, “Another horse would not cause difficulty.”

 

Mr. Heflner asked, “I was considering buying another horse when the war broke out. Have you seen a horse that interested you, Jeeves?”

 

I glanced at Mr. Wooster who said, “Do you remember me telling you about my Aunt Agatha?”

 

Mr. Heflner must have recalled my employer's words about his relative as he suddenly looked very serious and slightly anxious. He said, “Rather. She's the one that eats glass, what?”

 

“That's the one. She's decided that I'm to marry Cora Powell. The man that manages Cora's father's stables has been called up. So her father is threatening to sell her horse to the highest bidder or have the animal put down unless she agrees to marry me.”

 

Mr. Heflner looked to Wright. Upon receiving a nod from his gentleman's personal gentleman, he said, “I'll gladly buy the horse.”

 

I said, “This is what I feel should be done. This Tuesday, Mr. Wooster will outline our plan to Miss Powell. Judging from what her butler told me, she is quite capable of acting upset, if need be, so as not to betray our plans. Wednesday, if that would be acceptable to you, you would call Mr. Powell and express interest in Fleetfeather. Mr. Wooster will arrange to meet with Miss Powell in town on Sunday. If you could join them, you could speak to Miss Powell about the horse and assure her that you will take good care of Fleetfeather. I know you and Wright are leaving after the ceremony. I understand you are returning on Tuesday. Is this correct?”

 

Wright answered, “That is correct.”

 

“Would Thursday be acceptable as the actual day to purchase the horse?”

 

Mr. Heflner answered, “Absolutely. I can get my solicitor to stall the process, if necessary, until then.”

 

“That would be ideal. I want Mr. Powell to feel free to continue to threaten Miss Powell until she and Mr. Wooster have spent some time in each other's company. That way, Mr. Wooster can appease his aunt by appearing to have tried to court Miss Powell. If the horse is sold too soon, Mr. Powell might find something else to threaten his daughter with. The day the horse is given into Mr. Heflner's hands, Miss Powell should go to her father and declare her refusal to cooperate with his desires before he has told her about the sell.”

 

“Right-ho,” Mr. Heflner replied. “Powell will believe I'm interested in Fleet. She beat my Zenith in the Cumberland Plate twice before my horse won the third competition by a nose. Powell paid for my stallion's services once for Fleet. He'll probably make me bargain hard to get her for a reasonable price, but I've dealt with him before.”

 

Mr. Wooster asked, “Do you know Powell then?”

 

“Not well. Besides for the negotiations touching old Zeus, we've spoken maybe a handful of times. I've never met his wife or Cora.”

 

I knew there was one matter that Miss Powell might be worried about, and I questioned Mr. Heflner concerning it. “You will need to explain to Miss Powell your plans for the horses in the event of an invasion or if the two of you are called up.”

 

Wright answered, “The man who manages our stables will not be called up. He is in his fifties. He will continue to care for the horses while we are gone.”

 

Mr. Heflner said, “As for an invasion, she can decide what she would like to be done as far as Fleetfeather. Wright and I chatted about our horses when we were in the city. If there is an invasion, I'm going to let him loan them to members of his family that are in the Guard and could use the horses instead of having them put down.”

 

They had obviously spent a great deal of time talking while in London.

We spoke for a little longer about future plans before separating; Mr. Heflner and Mr. Wooster went to the drawing room, and Wright and I began clearing the table.

 

****************

 

Tuesday afternoon, as Mr. Wooster stood at the door ready to depart for his dinner with the Powell family, I held him close and analysed my feelings. When our relationship was new, I would have felt anxious about sending him out to meet a young lady. Now I was experiencing some sadness and reluctance to let him go.

 

He said, “Jeeves, love, I know I belong to you. I won't forget that. My heart will always be yours.”

 

“I trust you, sir.” Indeed I did trust him, but I still did not release him.

 

Mr. Wooster's hand slid under my chin and when my eyes met his, my employer said, “I love you, old chap. You're everything to the old master. You're what makes my life good. Once the war is over, we'll push off somewhere and escape from all this for a while.”

 

I replied, “I love you, too, sir.”

 

His lips settled over mine, firm and warm. He demanded nothing from me and as I claimed his mouth, my tongue being granted entry into his warmth, I thought, 'No one knows me as well as he does and yet he accepts me as I am.'

 

Mr. Wooster nestled into me, making a soft sound of happiness in his throat. His tongue met mine in a lazy, slow motion, and I understood. He was allowing me to declare my rights to him.

 

I broke from him and gazed into his eyes. He said, “Heart, mind, body, and soul, I'm yours.”

 

“I love you,” I answered as I took possession of his mouth once more. Hungry and almost rough I declared my right to him. And then the thought came to me that I wanted to send him out not with a feeling of being claimed but with the knowledge that he was loved. I softened my kiss, slowing stroking his tongue with my own, and while my hand rubbed his back, I poured all my love into our joining.

 

When I released him, Mr. Wooster sighed and said, “I love you, too, old chap.”

 

Seconds later the door shut behind him, and he was gone into the warm afternoon sunshine, taking my heart with him.

 

 

 

Tbc

Comments

[pipariperho.livejournal.com]

Just as lovely to find another chapter of this as always, but especially when the day has been quite topping already.

Now I cannot think more than how sweet it is when Bertie reads Jeeves' mind and love form everything Jeeves does. Like in the ending of this chapter. Charming.

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the reply! I'm glad you are having a good day!

I imagine that Bertie knows Jeeves very well by now. I like writing them as an established couple.

[georgeodowd.livejournal.com]

What a sweet ending. As I said, so glad to see more from you! A decidedly nice antidote to a retarded day at work. Thanks ever so much! :)

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I treasure each of your comments which have made a stressful day a happy one.

[chaoticchaos13.livejournal.com]

Em, I don't know if I can fully express how much pleasure reading this chapter has given me. It is always a delight to see an post from you.

I always find myself feeling quite content after reading your story updates.

Thank you for writing!

&hearts

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Your comments make me happy! I'm especially glad that my updates leave you with a feeling of content, considering the nature of my stories. Hugs.

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

Yay, the horse is going to be saved! *curses Mr Powell*

I sympathize with Jeeves. Regardless of his confidence that Bertie loves him, it makes sense that he'd still worry about Bertie meeting up with single women who are being thrown at him.

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

I'm not much for writing bad characters, but Mr. Powell is a very selfish man with an unreasonable resentment of his daughter.

I felt for Jeeves, too. He has to let Bertie go and pretend to court someone and no matter how much trust there is in a relationship that would be a very difficult thing to do.

[mxdp.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh gotta love your updates! Absolute bliss :) I was unable to comment each chap, as I was too eager to get to the next part... Loved the dinner and stories(but not that blasted bell when Jeeves kissed Bertie after reflecting over the dinner table), the holding hands, that blasted Powell, but loved how our chaps solve all. poor Jeeves at the end though, must agree. :c

Again, very touching, and so many yummy details! ♥

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the reply and letting me know what you liked! It took me some time with this chapter as I read through two books about London during the Blitz before posting. It was difficult to know what details to put in and what to leave out. It's great to know that it worked as is!

I feel for Jeeves, too. Such a difficult thing to send Bertie off to do.

Thanks and hugs!

[storyfan.livejournal.com]

Em, I just want to say that it's a pleasure to read these updates. I'm also looking forward to another installment of Wright and Heffie's life together. Keep up the wonderful work.

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

It's very kind of you to reply at each part. Thank you! I'm going to be writing Heffie and Wright's ceremony soon. Hugs.