Warning: sexual references in this chapter

Pip's new routine at the palace was completely different to his old one. Before, his day had started by getting up at first light, hurrying into his uniform, and rushing down to the kitchens to begin work. Now his day began about half past seven in the morning, with Mr Lundy opening the curtains to waken him, and bringing him a cup of tea in bed.

"Your morning beverage, sir," Mr Lundy said as he put the tea down, "and a copy of today's Court Circular you may care to peruse."

"Good morning, Mr Lundy," Pip said sleepily. "Thank you for the tea. What's a circle thingy?"

"It provides information on the royal court. You are mentioned in this morning's issue, and I have marked the relevant passage in pencil, sir."

Pip looked with great interest, but was rather chagrined, as his name was incorrect, and so was almost everything else in the brief statement. Mr Lundy explained that he had thought it prudent to give a slightly edited version of how Pip came to be living at court.

"You didn't tell any untruths, did you Mr Lundy?" Pip asked, rather troubled.

"I may have mumbled somewhat, sir," Mr Lundy replied with a discreet cough. "A man my age can be forgiven if his diction is not as clear as it once was."

Apart from this unsatisfactory introduction, Pip took part in the daily life at the palace, learning how young nobles spent their time. There were tennis parties, cricket matches, games of croquet on the lawn, boating on the river. There was a tea party every afternoon where Pip could eat as much cake as he liked, although strangely, he no longer wanted it very much. In the evenings, there were formal dinners, followed by entertainments such as concerts, amateur theatrics, and dances.

Pip enjoyed most of it. He was skilled at games once he knew what to do, and found it easy to talk to people. He liked music, and dancing, and taking part in little plays, which he was told he had a natural talent for.

He spent hours every day with Mr Lundy, choosing new clothes and being pampered, and he had to admit that he revelled in having someone fuss over him. Pip would soak in a scented bubble bath for ages, then Mr Lundy would rub lotions into his skin, do his hair, and help him dress, so that he arrived at the dinner table looking perfectly turned out.

Bernard took Pip riding every morning. This should have been good exercise for them and their horses, but I'm afraid Bernard and Pip usually rode straight to the woods to find pleasure in each other's arms.

This morning, the ride was over even faster, because Mr Lundy had found a pair of tight yet soft black leather riding trousers for Pip, and given him a sky blue shirt to wear with it; Pip wore the shirt loose over the trousers, and rolled the sleeves up. Mr Lundy had given his hair a tousled look with a piquant little fringe, and smudged the tiniest bit of kohl on his long lashes to darken them further, while his generous lips had a warm pink tinge to them.

Bernard had eaten Pip up with his eyes, and Pip made sure to ride ahead of Bernard, doing a lot of trotting so that Bernard could see how the leather trousers outlined his buttocks as he rose in the saddle. Every once in a while, he would turn his head and give Bernard a grin, as if knowing exactly where Bernard was looking.

It was all driving Bernard predictably wild, and he suggested they go for a ride deep into the woods before they'd done any real riding at all. Afterwards, Pip lay in Bernard's strong arms, his head pillowed on Bernard's surprisingly smooth and hairless chest.

"What did you think, the first time you saw Raven?" Pip asked lazily.

"Some people had told me that one day I would meet a woman I desired," Bernard said. "When I saw you, I thought, This is it. I have found her."

"And when you discovered I was a boy?"

"It confirmed my suspicions and all made perfect sense," Bernard said, dabbing a little kiss on Pip's cheek. "What was the magic potion your godfather gave you, anyway?"

"It was supposed to turn me into your ideal fantasy," Pip said demurely. "I thought there'd been a mistake when it was just me with dyed hair in a dress."

"I do like black hair," admitted Bernard. "There's something so romantic about it, especially matched with blue eyes. Fair hair is lovely too, of course. Yours is like honey." He took a moment to nuzzle a kiss into it.

"And the little dress?" asked Pip slyly. "Do you usually go for men in pretty dresses?"

"I like ones who are well dressed," said Bernard, flushing slightly. "You look beautiful in a dress, and you look beautiful in riding clothes, and you look even more beautiful wearing nothing." A long, fervent kiss.

"Have you ... have you had many men before me, Bernard?" asked Pip.

"Was I a playboy prince?" said Bernard drily. "No, I was a man of action. Trekking through the Arctic for years. Not too many romantic opportunities there."

"But after that?"

"I was in Russia, where I could have been imprisoned or executed for being with one of my own sex," Bernard reminded him. "I encouraged the rumours that I was courting Dorothea, to protect both of us."

"Before that, then?"

"There were one or two in my youth," said Bernard tiredly. "But I quickly learned not to trust them, or my own feelings. There are many men, good-looking and very clever, who will do anything to get close to a prince, in order to further their own ambitions."

An expression of pain crossed Bernard's face, and Pip wondered who it was who had given Bernard his first heartbreak. He put his arms tightly around Bernard, and tucked his head into his shoulder.

"Your sister told me once that you had a shell around your heart to protect it," he said quietly into Bernard's ear. "Is that when it began to develop, so that nobody else could hurt you again?"

"Did Alice say that?" Bernard said, without much surprise. "No, I think it was probably after Mother died. The kingdom went into official mourning for her, and Father, Alice, and I seemed to be the only ones who couldn't cry or break down. We followed her coffin, and there were no tears. Couldn't allow any sign of undignified weakness to the public, you see." He sounded bitter.

"Oh Bernard, I'm so sorry," Pip whispered. "And you were only, how old?"

"Twelve, going on thirteen."

"Alice said that she became your closest confidant after your mother died."

"I suppose that sounds pretty pathetic," Bernard said, "having a seven year old girl as the person you cry your heart out to in private. But there was nobody else who understood."

"I only had my pony to talk to, after Mama died," Pip said softly. "I would have loved a sister to cry with."

They held each other for a while, two men who had once been boys, badly in need of comforting after losing their mothers.

"Was it Alice you told about ... you know, the men you couldn't trust?" Pip asked hesitantly.

Bernard huffed out an unwilling laugh. "Girls don't know as much about their brothers as they think they do," he said. "No, I never said anything to her, although she's always been one for noticing."

"She seemed to think that I might hurt you," Pip said. "Like those others did."

"You're different, Pip," Bernard assured him. "You fell in love with me before you knew I was heir to the throne."

"I was unhappy when I found out you were a prince," Pip confessed. "Because I thought that meant I would never talk to you again."

Bernard traced his finger down Pip's cheekbone. "I've never kissed anyone except you," he told Pip. "The first time was at the ball. Sorry if I made a mess of it."

"Raven enjoyed the kiss very much," said Pip with a little smile.

"How about you?"

"I enjoy kissing you very much as well," Pip giggled.

"No, I meant ... I know you kept yourself for your true love because of your granny, but weren't you ever tempted?"

"A few times," Pip said slowly. "By both boys and girls, but I knew they weren't my true love. I didn't feel about them the way I felt about you."

"I think you deserve someone better," Bernard said sombrely. "Everything's so much more complicated because I'm royal. It's ... much harder for us to marry the people we love."

"Would you have married Raven?"

"I would have done everything I could for her."

"And me?"

"I'll do everything I can, Pip," Bernard promised, his lips on those of his lover.

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LINDENSEA LORE

The Royal Court of Lindensea welcomes Mr Pippin Leigh-Noir Esq., a young gentleman who is heir to a great fortune. Mr Leigh-Noir has come up to Camden from his landed estates to visit his childhood friend, Crown Prince Bernard. Camden Palace hopes that Mr Leigh-Noir enjoys all the pleasures our great capital has to offer.

From The Royal Lindensea Court Circular, 9th of May, 1436 of the Saxon Era