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palace_martonThe day after this
Sitting in the car was boring, Will decided. He might get out and stretch his legs, even though they shouldn’t be here too much longer. He looked down at himself, figured the dark trousers and plain t-shirt were just this side of acceptable and cracked open the door, Jess moving instantly, but casually, to his side from where he’d been standing near the car.
Will ignored him. Jess was discreet, he’d give him that, no-one would notice who he was guarding, leaving Will free to move about a little. It was a beautiful day and he couldn’t wait to get down to the harbor with Marton, not actually caring if they took the boat out or not. Marton’s little joke from last night came back to him and he hid a smile, the idea of ‘rocking the boat’ sounding very appealing.
The university buildings Marton was visiting or opening or whatever it was he was off doing, were at the top of the driveway, just out of Will’s sight behind a curve in the narrow driveway. There was a turning circle at the top where they’d dropped Marton, Will watching from inside the car as he was whisked away by a number of elderly . . . well, university people, he supposed.
The official car in which Will was a passenger was now parked in the spaces provided at the only wide spot on the road and Marton was scheduled to walk back down the hill to the car, greeting the people who’d assembled on either side of the road, students and locals was Will’s best guess, folk eager to see their king on one of his rare public outings.
It was a lovely campus with rolling green lawns and gentle rises, sprawling shade trees and a nice, relaxed atmosphere. At least, from what Will could see it was. The level of noise further up the hill rose suddenly and he figured that meant Marton was on his way back, but he couldn’t really tell. Looking around first, Will strolled across to the other side of the road, near the rope barrier on the grass verge a few hundred yards from the cars. He needed to stretch out the kinks in his long legs anyway and the spot he’d chosen to head for was in the shade.
Now that he was past the curve he could see the road better and he stopped beside the barrier, Jess hovering a foot or so behind him. It was indeed Marton, making a slow progress down the road and crossing from side to side, talking to people, smiling and waving, accepting small gifts which he passed off to Lucius as he moved, receiving far too many to carry.
Will smiled. His lover might not like doing it, but he was damned good at it and the sight of Marton deftly working the crowd bought back memory of an idle conversation a few nights ago. Marton had mentioned he was thinking about taking a few public duties back on, mainly to relieve the pressure on Christian until the initial interest settled. He’d mentioned it again last night. That’s what this was about, he thought. Wasn’t as if he couldn’t have got out of coming if he’d really wanted to. Promises aside, Marton could easily have sent Christian in his place and Will was sure the University wouldn’t have minded.
Taylor Woodford was an experienced old hack, one who could spot a famous face in a crowd of thousands, winkle out secrets no one else even suspected and spot a potential story a mile off. He half-turned when the young man on the other side of the fence bumped his camera hand, intending something rude, but the words died unspoken. His eyes narrowed as he took in the tall, slender frame, eyes sparkling with soft green light, the distinctive Palace bracelets and what was obviously an S.S. officer hovering protectively in the background.
“Nice day for it.”
Will looked to his right, surprised at being addressed. “Yeah. It’s gorgeous.”
The old man nodded in Marton’s direction. “Doesn’t come out enough, he doesn’t.” he said, playing the hand he’d been dealt. “People want to see him.”
Will glanced back at Marton, a tiny smile, suffused with feeling, tilted the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. Can understand that.”
Gotcha! Taylor checked to his left and right while his target was distracted. No other members of the press were paying any attention. It wouldn’t last and it was up to him to make the most of the opportunity before the bodyguard woke up to the fact that his charge had come to a halt beside the media area. Was a wonder he hadn’t already.
“So?” he said casually. “You’re Will, right?”
Will looked back at the elderly man, only now taking proper notice and looking past the faded tweed suit and food-stained tie to spot the press badge and the camera held down by his side. “Yes.” he said, intending to move away.
“Uh-uh.” Taylor shook his head and grinned. “Fair cop, young man.”
It was the cheeky smile that made Will abort the move and he couldn’t help but grin back, lifting his shoulders in a casual shrug. “Point taken. What can I do for you?”
“Just a pic.” Taylor lifted the camera and snapped off a shot in case of objections, but Will simply stood there looking at him.
“Happy now?” he asked.
But other members of the press corps had noticed Taylor’s subject of interest and were taking an interest themselves. Suddenly, Will had cameras clicking in his face and questions being asked and he took a step back, ignoring the old man’s rueful smile in favor of retreat.
His name was being called out and other people were taking it up. Will wondered if he’d look like an idiot if he scurried back to the car. Christ! So much for stretching his legs! Flashes were going off and as he backed up too far across the road, a young girl on the other side pressed a bunch of flowers into his hand and asked him to ‘Give them to His Highness.’
How the fuck did people catch on so fast?
Will could do nothing but smile an agreement. Wasn’t her fault he was an utter moron without enough sense to stay put!
Further up the road, Vin noticed the commotion and after consulting with his headset, he tapped Marton on the shoulder as he finished speaking with an old lady and bought it to his attention.
Surveying the scene through narrowed eyes, Marton leaned back toward Vin and spoke into his ear. Vin nodded and moved slightly to one side, letting the other security guards take up the slack for a minute while he passed the message on to Jess.
Somehow, Will had no idea how, he was in a conversation with a couple of young ladies and their boyfriends. One of the girls, wearing a ridiculous amount of eye shadow, had a firm grip on his hand and was intent on telling him just how ‘hunky’ his ‘boyfriend’ was. In detail!
Her friend, likewise over encumbered with beauty products, was expressing the view that she thought Will was ‘pretty damned sexy too’. It was a wonder the boys didn’t want to punch his lights out, Will thought, the idea making his formerly polite smile into something a lot more genuine.
Jess laid a hand on his arm and disentangled the teenager. “This way.” he said and led him clear.
Will followed, still highly amused by the girl’s antics and oblivious to their direction. Then a familiar arm slipped around his waist and a pair of tawny eyes, twinkling with amusement, bought him out of his reverie. Marton! What the?
Will looked around and found he was in the middle of the ‘King scrum’. He shot his lover a look of complete confusion and Marton grinned, stopping his forward progress to steal a quick, yet thorough kiss.
The crowd went nuts!
“What the hell are you doing?” Will hissed, completely perplexed.
“Relax.” Marton spoke into his ear. “You’re here now. Just smile and make nice.” He gave Will another kiss that made the volume of the assembly rise another couple of decibels and then gave Will a tiny push. “Go on.” he encouraged, turning his attention back to the job at hand.
Will was still blinking when Jess took his arm and steered him toward the crowd on the opposite side of the road.
“You heard the man.” Jess whispered. “Make with the nice.”
Continued here...
Sitting in the car was boring, Will decided. He might get out and stretch his legs, even though they shouldn’t be here too much longer. He looked down at himself, figured the dark trousers and plain t-shirt were just this side of acceptable and cracked open the door, Jess moving instantly, but casually, to his side from where he’d been standing near the car.
Will ignored him. Jess was discreet, he’d give him that, no-one would notice who he was guarding, leaving Will free to move about a little. It was a beautiful day and he couldn’t wait to get down to the harbor with Marton, not actually caring if they took the boat out or not. Marton’s little joke from last night came back to him and he hid a smile, the idea of ‘rocking the boat’ sounding very appealing.
The university buildings Marton was visiting or opening or whatever it was he was off doing, were at the top of the driveway, just out of Will’s sight behind a curve in the narrow driveway. There was a turning circle at the top where they’d dropped Marton, Will watching from inside the car as he was whisked away by a number of elderly . . . well, university people, he supposed.
The official car in which Will was a passenger was now parked in the spaces provided at the only wide spot on the road and Marton was scheduled to walk back down the hill to the car, greeting the people who’d assembled on either side of the road, students and locals was Will’s best guess, folk eager to see their king on one of his rare public outings.
It was a lovely campus with rolling green lawns and gentle rises, sprawling shade trees and a nice, relaxed atmosphere. At least, from what Will could see it was. The level of noise further up the hill rose suddenly and he figured that meant Marton was on his way back, but he couldn’t really tell. Looking around first, Will strolled across to the other side of the road, near the rope barrier on the grass verge a few hundred yards from the cars. He needed to stretch out the kinks in his long legs anyway and the spot he’d chosen to head for was in the shade.
Now that he was past the curve he could see the road better and he stopped beside the barrier, Jess hovering a foot or so behind him. It was indeed Marton, making a slow progress down the road and crossing from side to side, talking to people, smiling and waving, accepting small gifts which he passed off to Lucius as he moved, receiving far too many to carry.
Will smiled. His lover might not like doing it, but he was damned good at it and the sight of Marton deftly working the crowd bought back memory of an idle conversation a few nights ago. Marton had mentioned he was thinking about taking a few public duties back on, mainly to relieve the pressure on Christian until the initial interest settled. He’d mentioned it again last night. That’s what this was about, he thought. Wasn’t as if he couldn’t have got out of coming if he’d really wanted to. Promises aside, Marton could easily have sent Christian in his place and Will was sure the University wouldn’t have minded.
Taylor Woodford was an experienced old hack, one who could spot a famous face in a crowd of thousands, winkle out secrets no one else even suspected and spot a potential story a mile off. He half-turned when the young man on the other side of the fence bumped his camera hand, intending something rude, but the words died unspoken. His eyes narrowed as he took in the tall, slender frame, eyes sparkling with soft green light, the distinctive Palace bracelets and what was obviously an S.S. officer hovering protectively in the background.
“Nice day for it.”
Will looked to his right, surprised at being addressed. “Yeah. It’s gorgeous.”
The old man nodded in Marton’s direction. “Doesn’t come out enough, he doesn’t.” he said, playing the hand he’d been dealt. “People want to see him.”
Will glanced back at Marton, a tiny smile, suffused with feeling, tilted the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. Can understand that.”
Gotcha! Taylor checked to his left and right while his target was distracted. No other members of the press were paying any attention. It wouldn’t last and it was up to him to make the most of the opportunity before the bodyguard woke up to the fact that his charge had come to a halt beside the media area. Was a wonder he hadn’t already.
“So?” he said casually. “You’re Will, right?”
Will looked back at the elderly man, only now taking proper notice and looking past the faded tweed suit and food-stained tie to spot the press badge and the camera held down by his side. “Yes.” he said, intending to move away.
“Uh-uh.” Taylor shook his head and grinned. “Fair cop, young man.”
It was the cheeky smile that made Will abort the move and he couldn’t help but grin back, lifting his shoulders in a casual shrug. “Point taken. What can I do for you?”
“Just a pic.” Taylor lifted the camera and snapped off a shot in case of objections, but Will simply stood there looking at him.
“Happy now?” he asked.
But other members of the press corps had noticed Taylor’s subject of interest and were taking an interest themselves. Suddenly, Will had cameras clicking in his face and questions being asked and he took a step back, ignoring the old man’s rueful smile in favor of retreat.
His name was being called out and other people were taking it up. Will wondered if he’d look like an idiot if he scurried back to the car. Christ! So much for stretching his legs! Flashes were going off and as he backed up too far across the road, a young girl on the other side pressed a bunch of flowers into his hand and asked him to ‘Give them to His Highness.’
How the fuck did people catch on so fast?
Will could do nothing but smile an agreement. Wasn’t her fault he was an utter moron without enough sense to stay put!
Further up the road, Vin noticed the commotion and after consulting with his headset, he tapped Marton on the shoulder as he finished speaking with an old lady and bought it to his attention.
Surveying the scene through narrowed eyes, Marton leaned back toward Vin and spoke into his ear. Vin nodded and moved slightly to one side, letting the other security guards take up the slack for a minute while he passed the message on to Jess.
Somehow, Will had no idea how, he was in a conversation with a couple of young ladies and their boyfriends. One of the girls, wearing a ridiculous amount of eye shadow, had a firm grip on his hand and was intent on telling him just how ‘hunky’ his ‘boyfriend’ was. In detail!
Her friend, likewise over encumbered with beauty products, was expressing the view that she thought Will was ‘pretty damned sexy too’. It was a wonder the boys didn’t want to punch his lights out, Will thought, the idea making his formerly polite smile into something a lot more genuine.
Jess laid a hand on his arm and disentangled the teenager. “This way.” he said and led him clear.
Will followed, still highly amused by the girl’s antics and oblivious to their direction. Then a familiar arm slipped around his waist and a pair of tawny eyes, twinkling with amusement, bought him out of his reverie. Marton! What the?
Will looked around and found he was in the middle of the ‘King scrum’. He shot his lover a look of complete confusion and Marton grinned, stopping his forward progress to steal a quick, yet thorough kiss.
The crowd went nuts!
“What the hell are you doing?” Will hissed, completely perplexed.
“Relax.” Marton spoke into his ear. “You’re here now. Just smile and make nice.” He gave Will another kiss that made the volume of the assembly rise another couple of decibels and then gave Will a tiny push. “Go on.” he encouraged, turning his attention back to the job at hand.
Will was still blinking when Jess took his arm and steered him toward the crowd on the opposite side of the road.
“You heard the man.” Jess whispered. “Make with the nice.”
Continued here...
