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Lord Tobias Hurst, Duke of Devon (lord_hurst) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-10-12 09:55:00

Entry tags:

character_development, nathaniel_piper, tobias_hurst

Grouse Season
Subject: An Afternoon Hunt
Who: Lord Tobias Hurst
Where: Bailston Abbey, The Hurst's Country Estate
Warnings:None
Open to: Everyone you would like to come along to the hunt, the Hurst family and friends, including friends of the Hurst children.

Hurst glanced back over at the moor, hushing the two dogs at his feet. The beaters and groundsmen had not long gone up, stalking through the heather-covered scrub. It was a fine day for it, one of them had said, touching his cap to Hurst as he'd passed earlier, with the sun behind them and the sky clear. True, the air was crisp, and no doubt it would get dark before he and his guests were tired of the sport, but the kitchens were prepared and ready to receive whatever was brought back to them.

Truth be told, Hurst was looking forwards to the afternoon. With most hunting seasons over and done with now, Grouse and Fox was the only available sport left at Bailston, and soon Rebecca would want to return to London, where the season of masquerades and parties was only just beginning. They needed to find suitable matches for the children, she would say, and they were unlikely to be hiding in the moors and gorse bushes of Devon.

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piperisalord
2008-10-12 05:21 am UTC (link)

When the Piper family had received the invitation to go Grouse hunting with the Hurst's Nathaniel had been thrilled, even more so when his father said that he would not be attending, and nor would any of his sisters. Tobias was a close friend of his, and now that he would be traveling alone to see him he could express his true distaste for the arrangement that his father had set up for him, which he couldn't have done if any family had been present of course. He had always been taught that he was to respect the family elders, so expressing his chagrin would have been immediately frowned upon.

Nathaniel had set out early, while it was still dark and ridden swiftly, his hound at his side as he took a treacherous route through the woods just for the thrill of it. There was something so exciting about never knowing just what one would encounter that Nathaniel adored and tried to experience whenever possible. He'd seen a stag, though nothing more, but that was enough to have his heart racing with pleasure, and it lead him to looking even more forward to the afternoon with his friend.

When he arrived there was as always someone there to take his horse, and he thanked them with a smile after being told where Tobias was. He had of course been invited in for something to eat and a rest, but Nathaniel didn't feel the need for it, and really just wanted to get out. He did however take five minutes to let his dog have a drink of water and a quick bite as it would be important for it to have all the energy it could. After much pushing he finally did except a small food parcel, and deep down he was thankful for it as he slipped it into his satchel.

Finally on his way Nathaniel had his gun over his shoulder as he trudge across the grass, glancing around at the sun and feeling the wind, it truly was a perfect day for a hunt, and the crisp air did nothing but add a slight rose colour to his cheeks. He was far fonder of winter than summer anyway, and being able to feel that the season would soon be upon the country just made him smile. Really, today there wasn't much that could bring him down. And who knew? Perhaps Tobias had invited other families that would bring in a few females that would be to his liking, a woman who could enjoy a hunt was his type of woman after all, and of course if Tobias had invited them they would be the type of woman his father wanted to see him marrying.

The smile on Nathaniel's face only spread when he saw Tobias and he motioned for his dog to stay where he was, then slowly moved up behind the other man, careful to be quiet as he leaned in as close as he could get.

"BOO!"

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lord_hurst
2008-10-12 07:28 am UTC (link)

In truth, Hurst had not been expecting anyone to creep up behind them. It was hardly the wisest thing to do with loaded guns and with the dogs tense and excitable. He jumped, of course, and cursed, turning on his heel. "Nathaniel!" He exclaimed, smiling slightly, "I should have known it was you. Not an ounce of your father's good sense." He added, teasingly, turning back to watch the beaters and groundsmen disappear over the crest of the hill. "Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"Meet any eligable young ladies lately?" He asked, gesturing for his latest arrival to climb up towards the moors with him, the calls of the frightened grouse growing louder. "Your father tells me he has one or two in mind for you already."

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