Summary: When Archie met Freddy
Category: Gen, friendship, kidfic
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Spoilers/Warnings: none. This story is so clean it squeaks.
Notes
Disclaimer

“Don´t slouch!"

Frederick responded instantly to that imperative, hissed command. He jerked up sharply, his back straightening, shoulders and chin lifting. He could feel a flush of embarrassment spread across his cheeks as his eyes flicked to his mother´s face. She appeared as placid as ever, her face as pale and flawless as the porcelain teacup poised daintily in her hand. When her eyes met his, however, they were as cool and unyielding as granite. A smile traced her lips; it was gracious as always, but there was just a hint of warning there as well. It would not do to embarrass mama. He gave the barest of nods in understanding and her expression softened fractionally in response. She returned her full attention to her hostess, chattering on blithely as if nothing had transpired. And indeed, the entire exchange had been so discreet it was unlikely that anyone had noted it at all.

Frederick lifted his own cup and sipped his tea, wondering how much longer he would be obliged to endure this interminable visit. He had not wanted to come, but mama had been most adamant about where his obligations lay.

“You are the future Earl of Edrington," she had said in that implacable voice of hers that brooked no dissent, not even raising her eyes from her embroidery. “And as such, it is incumbent upon you to behave in a manner in keeping with your position. Our lives are bound by duty, Frederick. We have many obligations and we do not have the luxury of honouring only those that we find most pleasing or convenient."

Frederick had cast a hopeful look in his father´s direction. The fifth Earl of Edrington was comfortably ensconced in a chair by the fire in the blue saloon, his favourite hunting dog curled at his feet. He knew that his father disliked such social calls as much as he did; unfortunately, his father always ceded to mama in matters of protocol and courtesy. His father gave him a pained smile then returned his attention to the newspaper he had been reading.

“Mama. . . ." Frederick got no further before he was brought up short by his mother´s steely gaze.

“Frederick, the matter is settled. You might only be fifteen, but it is never too soon to learn one´s responsibilities. Our rank brings us certain privileges, as you well know. This is the price that must be paid for them."

With that, she had returned to her embroidery, closing the subject with all the finality of dungeon door swinging shut. Frederick gave a heavy, rather theatrical sigh that was ignored entirely by the room´s two occupants. He said his goodnights to his parents, perhaps more churlishly than was seemly, but neither of them remarked upon it. He kissed his mother´s cheek then stalked to his bedroom and flung himself upon his bed, thinking that there were times that he truly despised being an earl´s son.

And so it was that the following morning, Frederick, along with his parents, had mounted the family coach for the trip Ainsley Hall. Both his sisters had been spared the trip, as had his younger brother Cecil who had made faces at him through the window as mama gave last minute instructions to their butler, Howard. Frederick studiously ignored his brother´s antics while he silently plotted appropriate retribution.

The journey from Edrington Castle to Ainsley Hall was relatively short, no more than three hours. Frederick had made the trip on two previous occasions; the last time had been the previous autumn when he and father had gone for the fox hunting. The Viscount of Ainsley had been an avid sportsman and his hunting parties were famous throughout the county. Frederick had to remind himself that the old viscount was now dead and that his son had inherited the title, hence the purpose of their visit. He wondered if the son enjoyed hunting as much as his father did. He hadn´t been able to recall.

Upon their arrival, they had been greeted with considerable pomp and led to the drawing room where Ainsley and his wife were seated. They seemed to be a study in contrasts. Ainsley, Frederick had noted, was a rather stern looking man of middle years, with serious brown eyes and a full head of dark hair yet untouched by grey. His wife was fair, her pretty face framed by reddish-gold hair. She was dressed in deepest mourning; the black crape, however, rather than making her appear pallid as it so often did with women of her colouring, suited her remarkably well, setting off her pale skin like a pearl laid against a bit of black velvet. She took Frederick´s hand and when she smiled, her blue eyes seemed to light from within. She was, Frederick decided, an exceedingly handsome woman.

“Our deepest condolences upon the death of your father," Frederick´s father had intoned, his manner appropriately somber as he addressed Ainsley as one peer to another. “He was a fine man. He shall be missed." Ainsley had accepted his words with a gracious nod of his head while his wife looked on demurely. Mama added her words of sympathy. Frederick did the same, though the traditional formulas sounded stilted coming from his lips.

The requisite condolences tendered, they had settled themselves comfortably and the viscountess had rung for tea, which had arrived accompanied by a platter of cakes. Frederick´s parents had chatted with the Ainsley and his wife, speaking largely of matters inconsequential. Frederick, not surprisingly, had been bored senseless. Lady Ainsley had smiled kindly and had apologized that her two eldest sons were absent, having gone to visit an uncle in Devon. Frederick, who remembered Reginald, the eldest, as a dour and uninteresting chap, was not disappointed in the slightest. He had, however, enough grace not to give voice to that opinion. He had smiled at Lady Ainsley and if she suspected his less than charitable estimation of her first-born, she gave no sign of it.

The afternoon seemed to drag on endlessly. Frederick felt an acute sense of relief when the butler announced the arrival of Sir Hugh Eliot and his wife who had also come to pay their respects to the newly minted viscount. Recognizing his opportunity, Frederick made his escape. He knew that upon their return to Edrington Castle his mother would soundly chastise him, but at that moment, a stern lecture seemed a small price to pay for a brief bit of liberty.

Frederick made his way outside and headed to the park behind the house. The sky was overcast but there was no rain as yet. After nearly a week of solid rain, even a grey day such as this one provided a welcome respite. The ground was dank and muddy and there was a damp chill in the air all too common to Scotland in the early spring. They would be traveling to London soon and although London offered a number of diversions, Frederick would miss riding through the countryside. After the wilds of Scotland, Hyde Park seemed dull and overcrowded by comparison

Frederick leaned down and picked up a fallen tree branch that he used as an impromptu walking stick. If he had been at home, he could have been out riding even now. Instead, he was walking along muddy paths and wishing he were anywhere but here. He looked down at his shoes and sighed. He wished he´d worn his boots; they were more comfortable and certainly more practical. Of course, mama would not have considered them appropriate attire for a gentleman paying a social call. Appearances, she had told him time and again, must always be maintained. It was yet another obligation of rank. As his heel sunk into the mud, Fredrick decided that decorous attire was vastly overrated.

Frederick passed through a copse of trees and found himself at the edge of a small clearing dominated by a pool of water. And at the water´s edge was a boy of perhaps five or six years of age pushing a toy boat along the water´s surface with a stick. Frederick moved closer to watch the boy´s efforts. He was not having much luck; the boat listed badly to one side, its mast bent at an unfortunate angle. Still, the boy persevered. He looked up at Frederick´s approach, all wide blue eyes beneath an unruly mop of blond hair, a streak of mud across one round cheek.

“Who are you?" the boy asked, his head tilted to the side.

“Frederick Chelton. And you are?"

“I´m Archie," he replied with a faint lisp and a sweet, guileless smile.

So, this was the youngest of the Kennedy children, then. Mama had said that Ainsley had five children, three sons and two daughters. Frederick had never met the younger ones, of course; they had been tucked away out of sight in the schoolroom or the nursery when guests came to call. Archie, Frederick noted, did not favour either his father or his brother, Reginald. The resemblance to his mother, however, was evident in his features as well as his manner. Frederick rather thought that Archie had the better part of the bargain.

“Are you here to see Papa?" Archie asked.

Frederick nodded. “And your mama. Our parents are acquainted."

“Oh," was all the boy said before he turned his attention back to his boat that appeared in imminent danger of sinking.

“Your boat seems to be having a bit of difficulty."

Archie nodded. “Robert broke it."

“Your brother?" Frederick guessed.

Archie nodded again, poked at his boat, and continued to frown at its unsatisfactory progress.

“That wasn´t a very kind thing to do."

Archie shrugged, remarkably philosophical over that unfortunate turn of events. Frederick looked down at the boy, noticing that his knees of his breeches were muddied from kneeling on the damp earth.

“Your mother will not be pleased when she sees your breeches," Frederick observed wryly.

Archie looked down and shrugged again. “Mama won´t mind. Nurse will be cross though," he added with a thoughtful frown.

At that, Frederick looked around with a frown of his own. There was no sign of a nurse or anyone else for that matter. It would seem that Master Archie had escaped the nursery out from under the watchful eyes of his keepers. Frederick felt a sudden unexpected kinship for the young boy.

Frederick squatted down at the boy´s side and watched as the ship tilted and threatened to sink. “Perhaps if we fixed the mast the ship wouldn´t lean so."

Archie frowned. “How?"

“Well, bring it ashore and let us see what can be done."

Archie used his stick to pull the toy boat ashore. He tipped it upside down and water poured out.

“It would appear the ship is taking on water, sir."

Archie giggled at the grave pronouncement and Frederick found himself smiling in spite of himself. Archie handed him the boat and Frederick cast a critical eye over it. He righted the broken mast gently with the tip of his finger and watched as it drooped again. He looked at Archie, aware of the boy watching him hopefully.

“We will need something to lash the mast to and hold it steady," Frederick said, more to himself than to his companion. He looked around him; there was precious little at his disposal. Then a thought occurred to him. Holding the mast straight with his left hand, he dipped the index finger of his right into the mud at the water´s edge. Frederick dabbed the mud around the broken mast and then he scanned the nearby grass, looking for a blade that was suitable in length and width. Finding one, he snapped it free then carefully wound it around the mud to bind the two pieces of the mast together. Then, with the greatest of care, he removed his left hand. The mast held.

“There," Frederick said. “That should hold for now. You´ll need to have one of the servants do a proper job of it when you get home."

Frederick tried to appear nonchalant, but secretly he was quite pleased with the result. Archie carefully set the boat in the water and they both watched to see what would happen. The boat wobbled for a moment and then righted itself, afloat once more. Frederick released the breath that he had not even been aware he had been holding.

He turned to look at Archie, who gazed up at Frederick with naked adoration in his eyes, his chubby face the very picture of wonderment. “Thank you," Archie said in a hushed, almost reverent voice.

“My pleasure."

They watched as the toy boat floated along the pond´s surface. It still titled and bobbed a bit, but it remained largely upright. Archie prodded it a bit with his stick, but more to direct the boat than to keep it afloat.

“Can you keep a secret?"

Frederick looked over at Archie who gazed up at him with all the solemnity a small boy could muster.

“I believe so, yes," Frederick replied, curious as to what secrets a child of his age could possibly be keeping,

“I´m going to go to sea when I´m grown."

“Oh?"

Archie nodded excitedly, his eyes wide and bright. “My uncle Henry was in the navy and he tells the most wonderful stories. And he has a patch over his eye that makes him look just like a pirate!" Archie added, clearly enthralled by that particular trait.

Frederick could not help but smile at the boy´s innocent enthusiasm. “And what shall you do at sea, Archie?"

“I´ll sail around the world and go all the way to the Cape. And I´ll capture lots of prize ships and bring back the Pasha´s treasure! And I´ll fight pirates!" This last Archie underscored by swinging his stick about like a cutlass as he sent imaginary pirates to their just desserts.

“And will you rescue fair damsels?" Frederick asked in a faintly amused voice.

Archie frowned. “Will I have to?"

“Well, it is rather the expected thing. I mean, if you do stumble upon a damsel in distress, you would be under a certain obligation to rescue her."

“Oh," Archie looked down thoughtfully and chewed on his lower lip for a bit before he replied. “I suppose you´re right. I´d have to rescue her then. But only because I have to," he added pugnaciously.

“Of course," Frederick agreed his lips twitching upwards into a smile. Archie looked chagrined for a moment before he too smiled. “Your mama must be very proud," Frederick ventured.

Archie´s smile vanished, replaced by an expression of genuine regret. “Mama doesn´t want me to join the navy."

“Oh?"

“She thinks it´s frightfully dangerous. She´d rather I entered the church." Archie´s grimace left no doubt as to his sentiments on that topic. “Papa says I´ll have to make my way in the world somehow and since Robert is for the army, that´s already one commission they must buy. They have to think of my sisters´ dowries as well, so if I have my heart set on the navy, he shan´t say nay."

“And they told you this?" Frederick asked, stunned. Surely, they would not have shared such confidences with a child his age.

Archie looked abashed. “Well. . . ."

“Archie?" Frederick prodded.

Archie sighed heavily. “I overheard them. They didn´t know I was there."

Frederick gave him a reproachful look. “That was most shabbily done. Gentlemen do not eavesdrop." At Archie´s blank, look he clarified. “Gentlemen don´t sneak about and listen to other people´s private conversations’

“I didn´t mean to!" Archie protested with the utmost sincerity. “I had only come downstairs to look for Mr. Budge and. . .and I overheard them talking. I didn´t mean to," he repeated in a small quavering voice. Archie looked down, a frown creasing his round features. “Mama sounded so sad."

“I´m sure she did," Frederick soothed, oddly touched. “It´s the nature of mothers to fret over their children."

Archie gave him an uncanny look. “Does your mama fret over you?"

Frederick resisted the urge to snort in amusement. “I suppose she does, in her own fashion. My situation is somewhat different from yours, though, as I´m my father´s heir."

“Like Reginald."

“Yes, exactly."

Archie´s expression turned thoughtful. “So. . .you shan´t join the navy?"

Frederick shook his head. “No. In a few years I plan to join the army."

“My brother Robert´s going to join the army."

“So you said."

“I don´t think I should like the army," Archie pronounced. “I´d much rather fight pirates."

Frederick smiled fondly. “Well, not everyone can join the navy. After all, there are only so many men you can fit on a ship. If you tried to put too many on them, they would sink. You can´t fight pirates from the bottom of the ocean, now can you?"

Archie shook his head, his expression grave.

“Besides, someone needs to fight the king´s enemies on land."

“I suppose so."

“I tell you what; I shall keep an eye on the land, and you shall keep watch over the sea. Then between the two of us, England will always be safe, all right?" He stuck out his hand.

Archie gave him a dazzling smile and shook Frederick´s hand most earnestly.

“Master Archie!"

They both shot to their feet at that sound. It was a woman´s voice, high pitched and edged with a hint of hysteria. Frederick looked down at Archie who appeared quite abashed.

“Your nurse?" Frederick hazarded. Archie nodded, his face wrinkled in an almost comical grimace.

“Master Archie! Oh where have you gotten yourself to?" the voice wailed more loudly. She was clearly heading in their direction.

“Perhaps we should put the old girl out of her misery, eh?"

Archie sighed heavily, but nodded his agreement. Frederick picked up the abandoned stick and prodded Archie´s boat shore. He shook it out gently then returned the toy to its owner who clutched it carefully to his chest. Frederick placed his hand on Archie´s back and gave the boy a gentle prod in the direction of his by now frantic nurse.

They had only walked a few minutes before they were greeted with the sight of a thin woman of middle years stumbling through the words, her skirts hitched up about her ankles to keep them out of the mud, and a ruddy faced man that Frederick would have guessed to be the family ghillie. When the woman caught sight of them, she gave a small cry and dashed towards them, heedless of her skirts and the bonnet that looked about to slip off the top of her head.

“Master Archie! There you are! We´ve been looking everywhere for you!"

“I was sailing my boat," Archie explained in a perfectly reasonable tone of voice.

The nurse surveyed her charge, her expression of relief giving way to one of chagrin. “Oh, Master Archie! Look at you! You´re a right mess!" She took his chin between her fingers and vigorously rubbed at his cheek with her apron. Archie squirmed and muttered protests, but she held him fast until she was done.

She studied him critically once more. She heaved an exasperated sigh. “And look at your breeches! They´re covered with mud! Every time I so much as turn my head for even a minute, off you go! Never in my life have I seen a little boy who spent so much time covered in mud!" she chastised, both her voice and expression quite stern.

Archie dipped his head then gazed up at her from beneath lowered lashes, the very picture of contrition, his pudgy lower lip stuck out in a boyish pout. He looked so angelic that Frederick wondered how anyone could remain cross with him at all.

Apparently, his nurse wasn´t one of them for her stern expression melted entirely beneath that winsome gaze. “Oh Master Archie," she sighed, more with fond resignation than annoyance, “whatever shall I do with you?"

Archie smiled sweetly up at his nurse who smiled ruefully back at her wayward charge. It was only then, after reassuring herself of the boy´s safety that the nurse even noticed that her ward was not alone. She looked at Frederick and gaped. “Oh!"

Frederick nodded his head graciously. “Frederick Chelton. Your servant, ma´am."

The nurse blinked, flustered, then her expression cleared. “Oh! I beg your pardon, sir."

“Quite all right."

“I believe the countess was looking for you, sir."

Fredrick groaned inwardly. He had all but forgotten about his precipitous escape. Mama would not be pleased and unfortunately, she would not be likely to be swayed by endearing boyish smiles. He looked down at Archie who returned his gaze with surprisingly sympathetic eyes. His toy boat still cradled to his chest with his right hand, Archie reached out with his left and wrapped it around Frederick´s. Frederick gave the boy a conspiratorial wink and Archie responded with a bright, genuine smile.

“Well, then, we should probably return to the house," Frederick proclaimed. He set off in the direction of the house, knowing that nurse and ghillie would dutifully follow.

The trip back to the house was brief. The nurse, Mrs. Bingham, as Frederick learned she was called, brought them in through the servant´s entrance in the hope of escaping notice. It was a masterful plan; unfortunately, it was completely undone by poor timing. Ainsley and his wife were standing in the foyer, having just seen off Sir Hugh and his wife and turned to be greeted by the sight of their youngest child splattered with mud and flanked by a mortified nurse and a visiting earl´s son.

“Oh Archie!" the viscountess proclaimed as she caught sight of her son.

“Mama!" he called out and ran forward, only remembering his manners at the last moment. He came to a dead halt a few feet from his parents and gave a passable bow. Lady Ainsley´s expression was one of fond indulgence as she gazed down at her youngest. Archie smiled up at her beatifically.

“I apologize, My Lord. He got away from me," the nurse explained sheepishly as she came to stand behind Archie and rested her hands upon his shoulders.

Ainsley raised one cultured brow and peered down as his son. “He seems to do that quite often," he observed in a stern voice.

“Yes, My Lord," she replied meekly.

Archie shifted his gaze back and forth between his nurse and his father, obviously aware of the tension between them. He looked up at his father and smiled sweetly. “Look, Papa! Frederick fixed my boat!" he proclaimed holding the boat in question up for his father´s inspection.

Ainsley gazed down at his son, his severe expression softening. “So I see," he replied in a gentle voice. “He did a fine job of it. Now, run along upstairs with Mrs. Bingham. It´s almost time for your dinner."

Archie smiled. “Yes, Papa," he replied dutifully. Before the nurse could prod him up the stairs, Archie turned back towards Frederick. “Goodbye, Frederick. Thank you for fixing my boat."

Fredrick flashed him a small smile. “It was my pleasure, Archie."

He watched as Archie was trundled upstairs by the determined nurse. Archie paused halfway up the staircase to wave a final farewell before racing up the remainder of the stairs, the nurse´s wail of “Master Archie!" following in his wake.

Lady Ainsley turned to Frederick and gave him a serene smile. “You mother was wondering where you had taken yourself off to. Perhaps we should return to the drawing room?"

Frederick gave her a tight smile. “Of course." Lady Ainsley threaded her arm through his and led him back to the drawing room where his parents were seated. As expected, mama´s appraising look was decidedly cool. She was not pleased. Before Frederick could open his mouth to apologize, however, the viscountess began to speak.

“Oh, Your Ladyship, I owe your son a debt of thanks. My youngest son wandered off, leaving poor nurse in a terrible state. Frederick was a great help."

Frederick cast a sharp glance at Lady Ainsley, surprised by, but immensely grateful for her small falsehood. She smiled at him, her expression every inch that of a grateful mother, before she winked at him and turned back towards his mother.

Mama watched him closely, her lips turned down with a hint of a frown. “I trust your son is well now?" This was addressed to Lady Ainsley.

She nodded. “Perfectly well, apart from being very dirty. His brothers engaged in similar antics at that age, though Archie is even more adventuresome than they were. Boys that age are utterly fearless. They have no sense of danger and no idea when they are being reckless," she added with a mournful sigh.

Mama looked at Frederick again, her gaze thoughtful. “It is not only small boys who can be reckless at times. But, I suppose, as long as no harm is done, we should indulge their high spirits from time to time. Provided, of course, it does not become an unfortunate habit."

“I quite agree," Lady Ainsley added as she returned to her seat facing the Countess of Edrington. “More tea?"

They left Ainsley Hall not long after that. The rain that had been threatening to fall all day, thankfully, had not done so as yet. Still, the roads were inferior in this part of the county and as a consequence mama disliked traveling after dark in bad weather. All in all, it was a perfectly practical decision. They said their farewells and the Ainsleys, who would be heading to London for the season in a few weeks´ time, promised to call upon the Edringtons in Park Lane. Lady Ainsley took Frederick´s hands in both of hers, kissed him on the cheek and thanked him again for bringing Archie home to her. Frederick was mortified to realize he was blushing, but the viscountess, gracious to the last, did not remark upon it and only bid him farewell.

Frederick mounted the coach with a sense of dread, anticipating the inevitable chastisement. Mama, however, did not refer to Frederick´s earlier disappearance; instead, she limited her remarks to the tasteful decor of Ainsley Hall, the quality of the servants, the elegance of the viscountess. Frederick remained on tenterhooks the entire journey as he waited for the rebuke that never came.

Howard greeted them at the door and informed them that dinner would be served in half an hour. Frederick fled to his room claiming a desire to wash before the meal. His mother called to him as he reached the foot of the staircase.

“If any small boys decide to wander off while you´re dressing for dinner, be so good as to inform Howard before you strike out to find them. He´ll see that cook keeps your dinner warm for you."

With the curious remark, the Countess of Edrington headed to the saloon with a serene smile on her lips and a bemused son left standing floundering in her wake.

Finis

Notes:  Many thanks to sjkasabi for the very thoughtful beta.