Hiring a bodyguard

[Leyna de Somerville]

Fourth week of winter, Year two of Sabrina’s reign

I had tried to venture out of the house by myself, but I felt so unsafe I never got past the end of the drive. I knew that whatever had happened to Nic was not likely to spill over into Terre d’Ange and the city itself, but I couldn’t help it. I had grown so used to having his strength nearby that I felt vulnerable for the first time in my life.

It didn’t help that Mother and Father were sending constant letters trying to get me to come home. They didn’t want me here alone anymore and that added to my fear, even while I refused to go. In the last letter father had said that either I hire some real protection or he was going to send his own guard to take me home.

That did it and I resolved to hire someone. The first few men I had met with were either far too bloodthirsty for my liking, or were so formal I knew I would never feel comfortable. O was beginning to wonder if this was a bad idea after all. Sitting behind the desk in my office, I sighed to myself when Torren told me another applicant had arrived. I told him to show the man in s I smoothed my hands over my dark grey gown instinctively and readied myself for more disappointment.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

There had been an advert requesting a body guard. Being out of work, now, and without Marie, and anythign else to occupy my time, and certainly unsure fo where my affairs were settled, I thought that perhaps I would be right for the job. I had been serving in the army, had been a soldier, and had been a favourite. Had I stayed I would have no doubt made general early in my tenure. I did not stop my exercises, even though I had slackened in them a bit with the melancholy, but I was getting better, back into the groove of life, and I needed this.

With all this in mind, and a light bounce in my step, I visited the townhome of the person requiring aid. Leyna de Somerville. I knew her to be a princess, though I had never actually set eyes on her before.

I was greeted at the door and shown to a room whose door stood agape. There was a woman inside, blonde hair, lovely sparkling eyes, but a weariness about her that made her seem a little unsettled. Or perhaps very unamused. I smiled, regardless. I had nothing to lose, and so could only gain from the experience, even if she thought me not right for the job.

"Good day, my lady, I am here about the advert," I said, bowing at the waist only to stand fully again, the same unpresuming smile on my face. I walked closer to her desk and extended my hand. "Maurice de Bouchard," I offered in greeting.

[Leyna de Somerville]

The man who entered next was a surprise just by the fact of his youth. All the other who had applied had been closer to my father's age and had the grizzled feel to them.

"Good day, messier de Bouchard," I replied, taking his offered hand before motioning to the empty chair in front of the desk. "Please, have a seat. Have you a letter of qualifications?"

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I smiled as she shook my hand and told me to sit. I did sit, then, the smile never leaving my face. Luckily, I did have what she required, having sent away for one from the General I had worked under. Luckily, he had held me very high in his esteem.

"I do, my lady," I said as I pulled the letter from within the breast of my overcoat. It was not wrinkled or weathered, but the seal had been broken from when I had opened it to read it myself.

"It is from General Descartes. He is a revered military mind, and was my general when I was in service for the Crown," I explained as I placed it on the table before her, setting it down rather carefully. I had read his words and a warm smile came to my face as I remembered the man, with bent whiskers a slight off white and a round bellied laugh, even though he was svelte. "I hope that you will find it suitable."

[Leyna de Somerville]

“General Descartes,” I said with a nod. “My father served with him when they were both much younger.”

I took the letter and read over it quickly. “He speaks very highly of you,” I said without looking up from the page.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

"He is a great military man and a very noble man, and I learned all that I know from him," I ai with a sile as she scanned the letter. "When he speaks highly of me, I know that it is a reflection of the work he put into tempering me into the skilled man I am now."

[Leyna de Somerville]

Modest, I liked that.

Setting down the letter, I looked up at him again. “How long have you been out of the service?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

"I have been out of the service for about six months, due to my father's death," I explained. "My father had once been a military man, before settling down to a wife and children. When he died, they had released me from my duties to take care fo the estate," I explained. Perhaps it was more information than I was used to giving, but in the circumstances it seemed appropriate to let her know I did not walk away from my duties from lack of gumption.

[Leyna de Somerville]

The mention of his estate made me tilt my head slightly.

“I am looking for someone who will be able to stay with me for awhile,” I told him. “With an estate to look after, were you perhaps looking for something more temporary?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I nodded, understanding her concern as I leaned forward just a bit, my elbows on my knees, and hands clasped. I looked down. "Well you see," I explained, "my ... step mother currently has possession of the title and is the Duchess. As it stands I haven't any claim to the title. Also, An estate can be easily run by someone else. Should matters change, I would not leave my post." I shifted and looked up at her.

"I am a dedicated man, my lady, and would much prefer to work for my living than to rely on any sort of inheritance. I also have a younger sister who I have to support, and so there is no other way to do it than to work," I explained. I did not generally tell people about my life, I was more closed off than that, but I could not leave any shaded areas. Trust would have to be earned, and it would not be earned by half truths or veiled lies. "You can be assured that neither the promise of title nor the promise of estate will deter me from my work. Were my father not a military man himself, I am quite sure I would have been called back once all things were settled, but I believe the General's heart was soft when it came to him." I explained. I hoped that she saw the sincerity, and understood where I was coming from.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I nodded a little as I listened to his situation. “Have you a romantic relationship with anyone?” I asked. “Forgive me if it seems intrusive, I just feel like I need to know as much about the person I will be hiring to protect me as possible.”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I nodded with complete understanding. "No no, not intrusive. I suppose I have just gotten used to not talking about my personal life," I said with a sfot smile. "I ... did have a love interest. The same step mother I spoke of," I explained. It was hard to talk about, because even in Terre d'Ange such a relationship would be looked upon awkwardly. "To make a long story short, my father remarried young. Very young. And when he died, well my step mother and I... we hated each other, could barely stand one another until after we moved to the City. We realised that there might be something there, but right now we are apart, she is trying to work things out in her mind and I am here. Honestly," I said with a sigh, "I have very little hope of it turning out... romantically, at least. So no, I am not attached in any way shape or form. My only responsibility, right now, is my sister, if I could call her that, seeing as she generally takes care of herself well enough as it is."

[Leyna de Somerville]

A love affair with his step-mother? Well, at least he was honest and up front about it. I approved of him for that.

“Is the sword your primary weapon?” I asked. “How are you with a bow?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

She did not comment on my relationship, and I silently thanked her for that.

"The sword is my primary weapon, my weapon of choice, but I fare better than well with the bow and I am fare with daggers," I explained with a soft smile. "Of course, I am also skilled with the mace, but I do not think that is the proper weapon when in the capacity of a body guard," I said wtih a soft chuckle, the mental image it conjured was rather comical. "I have very quick reflexes, as well, which is something I think would be very important in this line of work."

[Leyna de Somerville]

“Yes, I would think so,” I said with a smile. “I do a lot of riding, how are you on horseback?”

As I spoke, I reached as if to take a drink from my glass, but instead, I snatched a glass paperweight from my desk and hurled it hard and fast at him with a flick of my wrist. Let’s see just how fast his reflexes really were.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I had taken stock of the things in the room when I had entered, and those on the desk when I had sat down. I knew that some sort of test would have to come in this way, and so I was expecting it. Needless to say, without batting a lash, my hand came up, grasping the paperweight without fumbling, inches from my face. Meanwhile, while her attention was busy watching that, my other hand moved along the table and took her drink and, raising it, offered it to her while I put the paperweight down back in its place. "Very good on horseback, though admittedly my bow work could use some more practice on horseback."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I couldn’t help but allow my amused smile to show. I inclined my head in thanks and then took the offered glass. After a sip, I set the glass down and leaned back in my chair.

I let my eyes move over him, assessing him silently for a moment.

“Well,” I said finally. “If I was to hire you, I would want a one month contract until I was certain about the arrangements. After that, the contracts would be for six months at a time. At the end of any contract, either of us would be able to walk away with nothing further owed. You would have a room here, all your meals provided of course. For the first month, your salary would be twice that of your last salary in the army. After that, I will increase your pay by fifty percent for the first six-month contract and each subsequent contract will come with a five-percent raise. You will be provided a clothing allowance and while you need not dress in Somerville colors, you must maintain an appearance that is appropriate with your station. You will attend all functions with me and all outings unless I tell you otherwise. This is a full-time position, and you will be answerable to me and only me. Would that be agreeable?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

She smiled and I smiled a little wider. I was hoping that my playful display would not offend her in any way. Her eyes wandered over me, calculatively, not in any other way, not the way most women would let their eyes wander over me. She was thinking, counting, wondering if I was a good gamble to take. When she finally spoke, I listened carefully.

"Those terms sound more than perfect," I said with a nod of agreement, "so long as you do not wish me to dress in pink," I chuckled, "then yes, that is very agreeable, more than agreeable. But I do have a few questions. Would I be able to check in with my sister, every now and then? Not often, as she is older now and does not require me at her side all the time, but just to see her? And also, on a more serious note," I murmured leanig forward. My brows knit together out of genuine concern. Whether she hired me or not or someone else, I still wondered and did worry. "You are hiring a bodyguard.... is there a reason why? Do you sense any iminent danger, or has someone already made an attempt to strike at you?" I asked, trying to put it mildly. If such was the case, it probably would not be the easiest thing to discuss, but if I were to be her future body guard, it would be something I would need to know, perhaps there was even a specific person who I should keep my eye out for.

[Leyna de Somerville]

“Of course you will be able to see your sister, forgive me if I gave the impression otherwise,” I replied. “When you need time for personal matters, just speak to me and we will arrange it.”

As for his next question, I had to steel myself against the grief that rose again. “I was engaged to Principe Nicanor de las Aragonia until very recently. He’d returned to Aragonia for military duties and was killed. Since I was not his wife, I have not been informed of exactly how he was killed, but the implication was that it was for reasons out of the normal. I no longer feel safe without him and am having trouble leaving the house,” I explained, then looked down at my hands.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I smiled as she explained that I would be alloted some personal time, but then my smile faded, my brows knit and I breathed a heavy sigh as she explained what brought about her need for a bodyguard.

"That... is a very painful loss," I whispered softly. "I am sorry to hear of it, my lady. Truly." It was obvious her love for him was true, and still very deeply felt, even after he had gone from this world. "I promise that I would do my best to help you feel safe again," I vowed. I did not have the job as yet, but my word was good. "May I ask... when was the last time you stepped outside of your home?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

“I’ve been out of the house,” I told him, my eyes still down. “Just not off the property.”

I took a deep breath and then looked up at him. “Can you start tomorrow?”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

She had kept her eyes downcast for a while before raising them to meet mine. I smiled warmly at her, not pityingly, and I could not ever fully understand her pain, but more a smile that showed warmth, and that she could trust me. I nodded at her question, the smile I had now extending from warmth to gratitude and mirth.

"Tomorrow, today, whenever you wish. It shant take me long to have my most important possessions packed and brought over," I nigh beamed now. "Does... this mean I am hired?" I asked, albeit a little stupidly, but I did not want to jump the gun. It could have been perhaps that she just wanted to know when I would be available to start.

[Leyna de Somerville]

“It does,” I said, smiling genuinely. “Tomorrow morning will be soon enough. I will have a contract drawn up and you can sign it in the morning.

Rising, I offered him my hand. “Welcome to House Somerville.”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I beamed, chuckling lightheartedly. If it were not totally out of social decorum, I'd have given her a grand hug, but instead, I took the hand she offered and shook it, not so hard to dislodge her arm from her shoulder, but still with vigor.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, chuckling happily. "I consider this a great honour. I promise, I will not let you down," I said, genuinely. "I will return on the morrow with my things." I could not wait to get home and tell Louise. She would be happy, more so now that she would get the house to herself. Of course, I would have to tell her my visits would be random and unexpected, and so she better not get carried away, but she always was a responsible girl.

[Leyna de Somerville]

My smile widened at his enthusiasm. “I shall see you then, Maurice,” I replied.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I rose to my feet, happy to see that she was smiling, and pleased with her choice. I chuckled again, bowed to her and whispered another thank you before leaving her. I was headed straight home to share the good news and to pack my things. Tomorrow was a new day to start the new life I had been trying to begin for myself, and it felt like this was the perfct step in the right direction.

[Leyna de Somerville]

The next day

I’d had everything prepared for Maurice’s arrival. I found myself looking forward to it more than I had thought I would. Already I felt as if I was taking control of my life again. It was a small step, but such an important one.

I was dressed in the blue gown Nic had given me, somehow when I was dressing it had just seemed right. I still hadn’t been able to contemplate removing my engagement ring. It weighed less today though, somehow more a reminder than an anchor.

I stood in the doorway to Maurice’s room, on the second floor but far enough away from my rooms to afford us each some privacy. Close enough however to remind us both of why he was here. The room was simply decorated, but not cheap or sparse. I would let him tell me if there was anything else he needed. He had his own bathing quarters and a balcony overlooking the side garden. I hoped he liked it. I glanced at the sun coming through the windows and knew it was time for him to arrive soon.

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I had had the carriage brought around, and for the occassion, a wheeled cart attached to the back to carry my few chests. My possessions were not many, and there was not much furniture I could bring that I thought would not be provided there already. I just brouhg tmy belongings, most of my clothing, the little things I held dear that made a room more than just a room, and more like a home. With them strapped onto the cart, I told the driver where I was headed and embraced my little sister, messing her hair with a jolly hand before I jumped into the carriage and went to the Somerville home.

The ride seemed shorter than it was just the previous day, but then again, I was heavier that day, thinking only of hoping not to fail. And I had not. The thought made me smile. My spirits were up and a smile was on my lips that could not be shed. My weapons I kept inside the carriage with me. My sword was in its scabbard at my hip, a dagger in the back of my breeches, sheathed. My long bow stayed on the cart, it being rather large and cumbersome to bring in here, and my crossbow was on the cart with it. They were well used, but not dull, and I wondered if I would have to purchase new ones. With this thought we rolled into the drive, and I hopped out of the carriage, almost before it stopped. It stayed out front while I ran up to the front door and knocked. I cleared my throat and tried to dull my enthusiasm just a bit. I did not want to seem an overexcited boy. The door opened and a very congenial servant admitted me, asking me to wait there. And there I waited, the smile creeping back to my lips with exuberance as I looked around. This would be my new home, for as long as she needed me to be her body guard, and I could hardly complain.

[Leyna de Somerville]

Nell came to me and told me Maurice had arrived. Smiling, I came down the stairs to where he was waiting.

“Good morning,” I said. “Please, this is your home now. There is no need for you to knock or wait on servants.”

[Maurice de Bouchard]

I smiled as she walked towards me, and nodded at her words, bowing to her a bit before addressing her. "Good morning, my lady," I returned, grinning before standing straight again. "New habits will be learned," I said, "but luckily I am a very fast learner." I chuckled lightly then. "I hope this morning finds you well?" I asked, my smile and eyes twinkling merrily.