Kurt reshouldered his gun as the walked through the grounds. Noah and Michael were on either side of him. Lord Anderson and his friends were walking ahead. They were following the dogs who had found nothing in the last ten minutes.
Kurt shot Noah a look. “You were the one who told me that these were the best lands in the county. I’ve shot at one bird and it was no bigger than Mike’s hand.”
Noah shrugged. “I’ve never been on these lands before today, but they looked like the type to house lots of game. This is pitiful. We would have done better down by the abandoned smithy. Is there any way we can leave?”
Michael shook his head. “It would be incredibly rude of us to leave besides there’s probably lots of birds here. The rest of our party is just loud as fuck.” Michael had lowered his voice on the last sentence.
Kurt and Noah snorted with laughter. Michael hardly ever cussed, but even he was getting aggravated with the lack of actual hunting.
“It could be worse, Mike. Rachel tried to convince me to let her to come this morning. It would have been even louder if she had come.”
Noah laughed. “Unless she and that tall fool just stood and stared into each other’s eyes all day. We might still be at the house.”
Kurt couldn’t keep back a laugh. “I’m not sure how much different that would be compared to what we’re doing now. Perhaps my feet would have been less tired. Regardless I could have probably shot at more birds if we decided to stand still.”
Michael muttered something under his breath. Kurt and Noah looked over. “Do you have something you wish to share?”
Michael looked up at the sky where a flock of birds was flying. “Those fucking idiots just sent that entire swarm up and none of us were ready to shoot.”
All three mournfully watched the birds fly off as the dogs barked at them. The gentlemen in front of them stopped and looked backwards.
“Why are you hanging so far behind us?” Finn bellowed as he lumbered back to meet them. Kurt stifled a laugh as he heard Michael mutter, “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Kurt smiled up at Finn. “We’re just slow walkers when we hunt. We don’t want to disturb the birds.”
“Oh shit!” Finn turned around wildly. “Do you think we’re disturbing the birds?”
Noah worked to keep a straight face, “Maybe just a little bit. Perhaps we should let the dogs run around to find the birds while we stand still.”
Finn smiled broadly, “That’s a fantastic idea. I’ll go tell my friends.” Finn ran back to his group who most likely, had heard the entire thing. Finn had one volume and it was loud.
Kurt, Michael and Noah all looked at each other confusedly. That was how they hunted all the time. How did the gentlemen usually hunt?
“You’re taking me hunting next week, Kurt, at our old spot.” Michael ground out. He had seen another flock of birds fly up.
“I’d like to remind all of us that we all agreed to come here. It is not my fault, but I’m up for a hunting trip for the three of us next week. Hunting season is only so long. Oh, he’s coming back. Smile.” Kurt looked up, smiling broadly. He had to make a good impression on Finn. Well, he didn’t actually. He was pretty sure he could get Finn to marry Rachel with minimal effort, but you didn’t want to leave things like this to chance.
“They said that it’s a great idea, and that we’ll stop here.” They began to walk toward the party. “I’m glad you came with us. It’s so great to meet new people. May I call you all by your first names? Last names sound so formal and stuffy and I feel as if we are all going to be great friends.”
His happy mood was infectious and left Michael, Noah, and Kurt smiling.
“Of course, you can call me Mike.”
“Noah or Puck if you’re feeling daring.”
Michael and Kurt looked at Noah. That was oddly flirtatious. Noah shrugged. It had come out unintentionally. That was his number one pick-up line with girls.
Finn didn’t seem to notice and looked at Kurt hopefully. Kurt’s brain whirled. He should say yes. It would imply a closeness that he could use to his advantage for Rachel, but they had reached the rest of the party. Lord Anderson was looking at him, and Kurt’s mind flashed back to their conversation at the ball. He should say no, but Rachel. Fuck it!
“I’m Kurt. May I call you Finn?”
Finn wrapped him up in a bone-crushing hug. “Of course you can. All of you can. I’m glad you said I could, I was afraid you wouldn’t.”
Finn let Kurt down and Kurt stayed decidedly focused on Finn. It felt like Lord Anderson’s eyes were boring into his face. Kurt just needed to stay focused on Finn. He just needed to ignore Lord Anderson.
Michael nodded at Sebastian’s gun. “Can I take a look at your gun? I don’t think I’ve seen such a fine carbine.”
Sebastian’s chest puffed up with pride. He nodded and handed his rifle to Michael, who instantly started a conversation about the pros and cons of such a gun. Noah moved to go talk to the few men who were watching the dogs with rapt attention. It seemed like some people wanted to hunt. Kurt stayed with Finn. He needed to strengthen their relationship.
“To be honest, I really just wanted to be able to call you by your first name, but I thought it’d be weird if I didn’t ask all of you.” Finn admitted shyly. Would you look at that, the boy had some brains after all.
“I understand. I think Mike and Noah understand as well. My sister is quite beautiful.” Kurt cringed on the inside. He was being awfully forward, but that was best for this type of situation.
Finn blushed. “I am that obvious, am I?”
Kurt shrugged. “I believe it is best to show your emotions so that your intentions are not mistaken.”
Finn smiled. “I have never thought of it like that, but that makes good sense. May I call on you and your family sometime?”
Kurt smiled broadly. Excellent. “Of course, I would be delighted to have you. I believe my father would like you.”
This was the most thinly veiled conversation Kurt had ever had, but it seemed necessary. Kurt thought that he could get Finn to propose before hunting season was over.
Finn returned his smile and looked over to the dogs before looking back at Kurt. “My dog Drizzle is one of the hunting dogs. If I call him over, would you mind accompanying me to a different part of the grounds? Perhaps we hunt together?”
Kurt didn’t have the heart to tell Finn that it was his loud voice and lumbering steps that landed on every crunchy leaf and stick that was most likely making this a dud of a hunting trip, but he nodded. “I would quite like that.”
“Fantastic. Blaine would you like to come with us?”
Oh, Kurt did not like that idea. But Lord Anderson did. He had been standing close to the pair and blatantly eavesdropping on their conversation. He was also stewing silently and had spent the last couple of minutes glaring at Kurt, but Kurt had not looked at him once. Kurt knew. Lord Anderson knew that he knew.
Kurt stayed focused on Finn as he called Drizzle over. Now would be the worst time to look over at Lord Anderson. Oh shit, Lord Anderson was coming up next to him.
“Mr. Hummel,” Lord Anderson said smoothly, but Kurt could detect the bitterness lying underneath. Well, he guessed he slightly deserved that.
“Lord Anderson,” Kurt replied smoothly. If he acted like nothing had happened, he could get through this. He just had to keep his eyes focused on Finn. Yes, stay focused on Finn, Kurt. That’s all you have to do.
Fin called for Drizzle again before smiling sheepishly at Kurt. “I apologize. Usually Drizzle is much more behaved.”
Behind them, Lord Anderson scoffed. “Do not listen to him, Mr. Hummel. That dog has never obeyed a direct order in his life. Finn is too kind to him.”
Lord Anderson whistled high and sharp, immediately catching Drizzle’s attention. The dog ran over and barreled into Finn, who almost fell backwards. Kurt put his hands out to stop him from falling over. Fortunately, Finn didn’t but he gave Kurt an apologetic smile.
“Blaine’s always been better at handling Drizzle. He’s probably right, but I can’t help it. Look at this face. It demands to be pampered.” Finn held out Drizzle’s face for Kurt to look out. Drizzle was a black-and-white-mutt with big dopey brown eyes. Kurt wasn’t much for dogs, but Finn’s earnestness combined with those big brown eyes had Kurt crinkling his nose and laughing.
“He’s adorable, Finn. I am sure he will find us many pheasants.” Kurt turned back in the direction of Lord Anderson’s house. “Shall we go this way? I believe that the pheasants will have returned to their feeding ground by now.”
Finn nodded. “That sounds fine. Do you have a preference, Blaine?”
Lord Anderson shook his head. “Not at all. Mr. Hummel’s plan sounds no better than any other.”
Kurt knew he wasn’t imagining the increasing bitter tone of Lord Anderson, but he chose to ignore it. He had made a baron angry, but what did that matter now? He had met Finn. He had met the other men in the party, one of which would probably marry Quinn. He honestly did not need Lord Anderson anymore. But his own words and what Quinn had said at the ball flickered through his mind.
He reshouldered his gun and set off in the direction they had come from. Drizzle ran ahead. Finn strode up next to him while Lord Anderson walked behind. That was fine with Kurt. The less he had to see Lord Anderson’s face, the better.
“I seem to recall that you are engaged to a Miss Jones. I do not believe that I have met her,” Finn started cautiously. When he had heard the initial rumor, he had asked Blaine. Blaine had promptly laughed and then left muttering darkly to himself. Finn hadn’t known how to respond, but he was rather curious about the situation.
Kurt smiled. “I am afraid that you have misheard. I have made my intentions known, but we are not engaged.” The yet was left unsaid but heavily implied.
Finn nodded and smiled teasingly. “Come Kurt,” (Lord Anderson snorted), “we are friends.”
Kurt nodded reluctantly. There was less decorum required with friends, but Lord Anderson was still behind them and that made him uncomfortable. “I do plan to propose in the spring. An engagement over a month will bring unnecessary rumors and Miss Jones and I agree that a spring wedding is the most beautiful.”
Finn nodded and shot a look back at Blaine as Kurt looked down at Drizzle to smile at the dopey dog. Blaine was staring intently at Kurt, his brow furrowed quizzically. Now Fin would be the first to admit that he wasn’t the smartest man. But Finn had known Blaine since they were eight. He began to suspect that Blaine liked Kurt at the ball when Blaine had only made an effort to introduce them to Kurt and no one else. His suspicion had grown when Blaine had told all of them that Kurt and his friends were coming hunting with them with a besotted smile. He was in no doubt now that he had never seen Blaine look at anyone the way he looked at Kurt. His gaze was full of intention and longing, and on occasion, lust. Like right now, his gaze was a little low. Finn cleared his throat.
Blaine moved his gaze up guiltily as Kurt looked at Finn questioningly. “Are you okay, Finn?”
Finn nodded. “It’s my, er, sinuses. I do think Drizzle’s found something.”
Indeed, Drizzle was sniffing around a group of bushes. All three men let down their guns and loaded them. Drizzle’s circle around the bushes got smaller and smaller until he was literally in the bushes themselves. Still the pheasants wouldn’t come out.
Finn lowered his carbine. “Damn dog. Never finds anything good. Drizzle! Come over here. Put down the stick! Drizzle.”
Drizzle decided that he didn’t want to be a hunting dog that day. With stick in mouth, he ran off with Finn close behind.
“Finn! Just let Drizzle tire himself out! Don’t chase him.” Kurt shouted, half out of worry for Finn, half out of worry for himself. He didn’t want to be left alone with Lord Anderson. Bad things happen when he’s left alone with Lord Anderson.
“Do not try and stop the fool, Mr. Hummel. He always ties to fix things physically if he can. It never occurs to him to use his brain.” Lord Anderson strode up next him.
This was much too close for Kurt to be comfortable. He should have gone after Finn, but he was too far now. Also Kurt wasn’t much of a runner.
“I do hope that he does not get lost.”
Lord Anderson shook his head. “He will not. Finn has been running around these grounds since he was eight. He knows it like the back of his hand.”
Kurt nodded. Maybe he could keep this conversation neutral until Finn returned. If he kept his answers short and concise, he could control the conversation.
“I am curious about something, Mr. Hummel,” Lord Anderson started off. Well, fuck. He couldn’t control the conversation if Lord Anderson did that. “Why did you allow Finn to call you Kurt so soon? I was under the impression that it was an impossibility.”
Kurt thought for a minute. Honesty might be the best answer because Lord Anderson would understand and then he would bear Kurt no ill will. “Rachel and Finn have shown a strong inclination to each other. The best way to foster their relationship is to foster my relationship with him.”
Lord Anderson nodded. “I understand. You wish to marry above your class for money.”
Kurt would swear that he could see red at that moment. He glared at Lord Anderson taking satisfaction in the couple of inches he had over him. “With all due respect, Lord Anderson. I am perfectly pure in my intentions. I do not befriend Finn because he is richer than me. Rachel has shown herself to be interested in Finn and I will do anything to make sure my sisters have as happy a marriage as possible.”
Lord Anderson tilted his head slightly, maintaining eye contact. “And yourself?”
Kurt smiled serenely. “I am as happy as I can be, Lord Anderson. I will keep my house, have a male heir and increase my income. What more could I want?”
Lord Anderson didn’t say anything, but he gave an acquiescing nod. Kurt Hummel turned around. He was rather happy with his response. To think that Lord Anderson thought his family to be gold diggers! The arrogance of the man!
“If I were to call you by your first name, what would you do?”
Kurt sniffed. They had already covered this at the ball. “Lord Anderson, our social classes are so different that people would talk and I can’t have that. I have worked hard for my reputation and I will not let it be tarnished because of certain rumors. I would refuse to meet you if you called me by my first name.”
“I see,” Lord Anderson said. He moved until he was directly behind Kurt and whispered into his ear, “You don’t like the rumors that I’m fucking you, do you, Kurt?”
Kurt couldn’t repress the shiver that ran through him. He felt a hot surge of arousal swoop through his stomach. Lord Anderson had practically purred on the ‘r’ of his name. A blush was creeping up his face and Kurt was sure that Lord Anderson could see his red ears. He blushed harder at the fact that Lord Anderson had this type of control over him. He was stronger than this. So he was attracted to Lord Anderson. So what? Everyone was. Lord Anderson had those amber eyes and broad shoulders and those few unruly black curls that always seemed to escape his pomade. Kurt was only human, but he would conquer his urges. He had done it once. He could do it again.
Kurt took a step forward so he could turn around. Lord Anderson looked so fucking smug. “Lord Anderson, I am Mr. Hummel. I have no idea what your objective is, and I have no wish to know. I am very sure that you everything you say is meant to vex me. I have no wish to be part of whatever game you are playing and I wish you would stop.”
Kurt was panting at the end of his rant. He focused every ounce of his rage into his glare at Lord Anderson. Lord Anderson held Kurt’s glare with his own cool stare.
That was how Finn found them. Blaine looking extremely pleased with himself and Kurt looking like he’d like nothing more than to strangle Blaine. Maybe Finn should play it dumb.
“Sorry about that. Drizzle gets overexcited sometimes. He should be fine. Are we ready to go on?”

…………..

Quinn sat Rachel down in her room. She had dismissed Miss James, so it was just the two of them.
“What do you know of Kurt and Lord Anderson?” Quinn asked. It was better to start off simple and work her way up.
Rachel tilted her head thoughtfully. “I believe that Lord Anderson likes Kurt. He stares at Kurt the way my romance novels describe. Sometimes his stares border on indecent. As for Kurt, I believe that he is very focused on marrying Mercedes to keep the house. I think if he does feel something, he is ignoring it.”
Quinn kept her face neutral, but was very surprised that Rachel had comprehended as much as she did. Quinn nodded. “Yes, I share very similar thoughts. Now what are we to do? I doubt very much that Kurt and Mercedes will be happy married. And I have reason to suspect that Lord Anderson will try and break their engagement.”
Rachel beamed. “That’s so romantic. Kurt is very lucky to have caught Lord Anderson’s attention. Imagine! Married to a baron!”
Quinn smiled pleasantly. Rachel was in a fantasy world, but they needed to stay focused. “Yes, but there may be some troubles.”
Rachel instantly frowned. “Troubles? What kind?”
“Kurt’s stubbornness is the main problem. But Lord Anderson has summoned another problem. In his group of friends, there was one gentleman in particular. A Sebastian Smythe. I’m not sure if you remember him. You were rather preoccupied.”
Rachel flushed. “I must confess that Mr. Hudson held my attention. He is so handsome, and to think that I might marry him.”
“Yes, he is quite…” Quinn cast her memory back to the night of the ball and thought over what Mr. Hudson looked like. She did not think him particularly handsome and he seemed stupid and uncoordinated. “Tall.”
Rachel beamed as if Quinn had paid Mr. Hudson the highest compliment.
Quinn continued. “Mr. Smythe seems to have an interest in Lord Anderson similar to Lord Anderson’s in Kurt.”
Rachel shook her head. “That cannot be allowed. Lord Anderson is to marry Kurt.”
Quinn debated in her head. Rachel got the problem for the most part but she was a little too focused on the end result. There would be a lot of groundwork to stop Mr. Smythe from getting in between Lord Anderson and Kurt. Quinn needed to be sure that Rachel would be willing to help.
“Mr. Smythe, from my brief conversation with him, seems to be very intent upon Lord Anderson. We may have to go to extreme measures to stop him.”
Rachel nodded eagerly and leaned forward to put her hands on Quinn’s lap. “I will do anything to keep that rat bastard from getting in the way of Kurt’s happiness.”
Quinn smiled pleasantly again. Rachel was a bit overeager for the wrong reason, but she meant well. Perhaps that would come in handy in the long run.
“Very well. I believe that I have a plan.”