Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2023 22:45:05 +0100 (BST) From: blackscar01 Subject: Operation Pied Piper - Part 146c IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL READERS This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organisations, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales, organisations, or events is entirely coincidental. The author claims all copyrights to this story and no duplication or publication of this story is allowed, except by the websites to which it has been posted, without the consent of the author. ******* If you enjoy my story or any others on the Nifty site, please show your appreciation and donate what you can afford. ******* Finally, thank you again to my editor, Jim. ******* Forts smiled and beaming moved in front of the boys. "Boys, the taxis will be arriving soon to take us all to the station. Now I know that some of you are worried about leaving London and what awaits you all up in Scotland. But I don't want you to worry. Once we arrive at Pittodrie, you will all be joining what I can only describe as a warm and loving family." Forts paused and bent down to pick up Jimmy. "What that means is that from now on, you will be part of something wonderful and special. You will always be loved and cared for... for the rest of your lives... I promise you." Fort's voice faltered. His eyes were glassy. He hugged Jimmy and smiled, mumbling repeated the last three words once more. "I Promise you." ********************** Operation Pied Piper – Part 146c – Part 146c minor characters making an appearance or receiving a mention: Princess Alexandra Maloshia – (Alexandra) 25yrs old. Fort's 2nd Cousin. Dima and Theodora's cousin. Countess Maria Rostock – (Countess Rostock/Maria) 24yrs old. Single. Baroness Alina Gagarin – (Baroness Gagarin/Alina) 25yrs old. Single. Countess the Lady Mary Formoye – (Countess Formoye/Mary) 25yrs American heiress. Widow of the English noble, the Earl of Strathurn who was killed during the war, and daughter of an American oil baron. ** Davy takes up the story I was excited to see Forts again. With Edik looking on, I gave each of the boys a hug and told them I would see them all later. Two other sad faces looked up at me, they both knew they would be remaining behind as well. I got down to give each of them a stroke, "Don't worry, Daddy will be home soon." At the mention of the word Daddy, they both rushed to the door. God, this was as bad as saying the word 'walk'. Edik chuckled and called Radost and Nadya back to him. I headed out in to the corridor and was joined by my shadow for today David Tait. He gave a little head bow. "Your Grace." I nodded, "David." I walked towards the staircase. Who was that standing with Alexandra on the landing? I was about to find out. As David and I approached, I saw the young ladies giggling and looking over my shoulder at David. As I came to a halt in front of the three young ladies standing with Alexandra, I heard her telling them, "No, that's not Forts, he is much hunkier than him." Alexandra was beaming, she gave a little curtsey which her friends copied. "Oh, Davy... Is Forts back yet?" "Hello Alexandra. No, I am just going to meet him at the station." Alexandra looked positively disappointed, come to think of it, so did the other three. Smiling, I glanced at the three ladies and then back at Alexandra. She hesitated and then blushed. "Oh, Davy, sorry." She turned to her friends, "This is His Grace, the Duke of Pittodrie, but everyone calls him Davy." She smiled demurely at me, "Davy, please let me introduce the Countess Rostock, the Baroness Gagarin and Countess the Lady Mary Formoye, widow of the Earl of Strathurn and daughter of an American oil baron." "Ladies." I turned back to Alexandra, "And to what do we owe this honour?" Alexandra was always dizzy, today was no exception. "Oh, I should have said these are my bridesmaids... for my wedding... Forts said it would be okay if they came to stay to get to know everyone." I smiled, "Did he! ... Well, welcome ladies, I hope you enjoy your stay with us." I was about to turn away when the one introduced as the Lady Mary Formoye stepped forward. "Would it be possible for us all to meet His Imperial Highness this evening? We have all heard so much about him." God, she had an American accent. "Mary, don't be so forward." Alexandra was giggling. I was sure the Lady Fermoye licked her lips as she finished. Her friends all joined her giggling, somehow I managed to keep my smile. "Well, let's see how tired he is after his trip to London." I started to turn away, "Lady Formoye, you sound American?" She smiled as Alexandra butted in. "She is Davy. She married an English aristocrat, but sadly, he was killed. So, she is looking for a new husband." I was flabbergasted. "Yes, she doesn't seem too upset," I said, probably a bit too cattily. I paused and then addressed the three of them again. "Forgive me ladies, I must get going." I glanced at David and headed down the stairs to more titters from the four young ladies and a mumbled American drawl, "Is he really a dreamboat?" I could feel the hackles on my neck rising. I snapped at David my security, "Did you know they were coming?" He looked shocked at my sharp tone. "No, Davy." I shook my head, annoyed with myself, why would he know? * I descended the stairs and headed down to the entrance lobby, my anger growing with each step I took. That sickly American voice kept repeating in my head, "Is he really a dreamboat?" BITCH! Dima, Robert, McPhee, and Marcus were all waiting for me. I barely smiled as I greeted them. "Dima, how long are those harpies here for?" I glanced back over my shoulder. Dima looked confused, "Sorry, Davy?" "The brides of Dracula, upstairs, with Alexandra. How long are they here for?" "Davy?" Dima glanced at Robert and Chris, then at me. Robert stepped forward, "Davy, do you mean the Countess Rostock, the Baroness Gagarin and the Lady Mary Formoye?" "Yes! Who else! Why wasn't I told they would be coming?" It was Robert's turn to glance at Dima. Dima spluttered, "Davy, we thought Forts would have told you." "Well, he didn't!" Robert fixed eye contact with me. "Davy, Forts invited them to be with Alexandra to prepare for her wedding." I am sure there was smoke starting to appear from my ears. "How long are they staying here?" I barked back. It was rapidly turning into a double act between Robert and Dima. "Davy, I don't think anyone said how long they could stay for," Dima mumbled, taking a step backwards. I had to calm down, this wasn't their fault. I nodded and turned to Marcus, snarling. "Marcus, it appears they all want to have dinner with his Imperial bloody Highness this evening so they can all meet him and no doubt kiss his bloody royal arse... Arrange it please." Dima practically choked, "Davy! They are all eligible young ladies of the highest breeding." "Well, apart from the American." I hissed. "Davy." "Dima, that's what bothers me!" Chris stepped forward. "Davy, it's time we were leaving." He leant into my ear, "Davy, calm down." I nodded curtly. He was right, this wasn't achieving anything. Mark came in through the main door and whispered something to Dima. He nodded, "Your Grace, Andrei has arrived with the school bus. Tobias is remaining here with Mark and Prince Draco... and the others." I raised my eyebrows. "Dima, all the boys are our family,... not just Draco. You will not refer to them as 'the others', they all have names!" Dima nodded, "Davy. Sorry, I meant no offence." He bowed towards me. Chris took my arm, directing me towards the door. "Davy, why does Forts want me to come to the station? I was hoping to do a last check round at Downe House." I shrugged my shoulders, "Sorry Chris, something else he never told me... But he seemed pretty adamant that you should come." Chris grinned and winked. "Well, I don't want to upset his Imperial bloody Highness, so I had better come so I can kiss his bloody royal arse first... If there is going to be a queue." I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Chris could always bring me down from my lofty platform. I hugged him. "Come on, let's get on the bus." I sat looking out of the bus window as we drove to Inverurie. Chris had sat down next to me, I could feel his eyes on me. I turned to face him, "Go on." "Davy, you were really rude to Dima and Robert earlier, they obviously have no idea what you were talking about... You know Forts will never cheat on you, don't you? ... You have to learn to trust him... Alexandra is just a dippy girl and her friends, too." Chris changed his voice to mimic an American gangster, "Including the broad." He winked. I nodded wearily. "Yes, I know, but I hate the way they throw themselves at him..." "Davy," Chris chuckled, "Forts is seen as probably the most eligible bachelor in the country, handsome and rich." "Yes, but he is not available!" "Davy, you know that. I know that, alas, the rest of the country doesn't... And can't unless you both want a lot more grief. You just have to trust him... Davy... Forts worships you... You must know that." Chris was, as always, right. I knew that. It was just the green-eyed monster in my head that always tortured me, filling my head with doubt. ** Duke takes up the story I took a deep breath and began. "I am the music man and I come from far away. Well, I can play." The boys all screamed back, "What can you play?" How I had gotten involved in this? I have no idea. Ah, yes I do. It was Forts fault. We had been on the train for a few hours and the initial excitement and wonder at staring out the windows seemed to have passed and the boys were starting to become restless. Forts had been sitting with James, talking, but soon became aware of the growing grumbling of the boys around him. He said something to James, who shook his head and laughed. Forts then turned and winked at me. He grabbed up his flat cap and slapped it on his head, then mouthed, "Remember the bus to the zoo?" He jumped up and began singing a daft song, complete with all with hand movements. At first, the boys all just stared at him, but gradually they all began to join in, just as they had on that trip to the zoo. Soon, they were all joining in, loving it as he clowned about, making exaggerated hand and arm movements. His flat cap swapped about between the boys as they all took a turn leading the singing, Darius, James, Albert, and I just sitting laughing at His Imperial Highness's antics. Forts had already sung about three verses of 'I'm a Music Man', when he whispered something to Jimmy, who came over to me grinning. He was now wearing Forts' flat cap. He tugged on my collar and then whispered in my ear. It was my turn and apparently I was to play a buffoon. Jimmy put Forts' cap on my head, I glanced up at Forts and mouthed, "Buffoon?" He was already into his chorus of, "Pia pia piano, piano piano..." He stopped and burst out laughing, "Bassoon!" He then began to mime playing the woodwind instrument. Maybe Buffoon was actually more accurate. As Forts' verse came to an end, I laughed and jumped up. I tapped the brim of the flat cap while the boys looked at me expectantly, then taking a deep breath. "I am the music man and I come from far away. Well, I can play." The boys all grinned at me and shouted back, "What can you play?" "I can play the Bassoon... Bassa, bassa, bassoon, bassoon." I did my best jazz player impression of playing a bassoon. Forts came over to my side and joined me, playing his imaginary bassoon to more shrieked laughter from the boys, many of whom were now standing and joining in. The carriage was in total chaos. "It's your turn Albert." Forts cried out. At first, Albert shook his head and looked at Darius and James, hoping they would save him. James buried his face in a book and Darius stood and excused himself, he needed the loo. Albert sighed as the boys all turned to him and loudly sung, "What can you play?" Like a deer in the headlights Albert thought for a moment and then began, "I can play the big bass drum, the big bass drum, the big bass drum." The boys, Forts and I, all joined in, "Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..." Forts, ever the Pied Piper, lead myself and the boys in a column up and down the carriage, all of us laughing and loudly banging our big bass drums. I doubted this carriage had ever seen such frivolity. * Forts reached across and patted my arm, "Thank you Duke." The carriage was now quiet, the boys all now having a nap where they sat after the earlier excitement. Oh, it hadn't just been, 'I Am a Music Man', we had renditions of 'Ten Green Bottles' and yes, even an adapted version of the 'Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round'. Forts now looked shattered. I smiled back at him, "Hey it was fun. Well done, you. The boys loved it." "Tea?" It was Albert, he placed down two steaming mugs of tea next to us. "Forts, when they all start to wake up, I was going to hand out the pack lunches, is that okay?" Forts nodded, "That's a great idea. It will keep them quiet for a bit longer. Is the train on time?" Albert nodded. "Yes, we should arrive at one o'clock on time." Forts glanced at his watch. "Good. I am looking forward to seeing Davy and the boys." Forts waited until Albert was out of earshot before he quickly glanced round, then leant forward. "Duke, I trust you totally, you know that, don't you?" I nodded, "Of course, Forts." "Something is going on. I don't know what. But there has to be a reason for James to be assigned to me as my equerry... You know he is armed, don't you?" "I suspected as much. But, Forts, I know no more than you." Forts glanced round again and then took hold of my hand, his eyes locked on mine. "Promise me you will protect Davy and Draco... Should..." I shook my head. "Forts stop! I promised you on my life, I will never allow anything to happen to ANY of you, while there is a breath left in my body." "Thank you. I can't ask more than that..." Forts sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. ** Alexandra takes up the story Mary seemed the most excited about meeting Forts. We had only recently been introduced by Alina. Alina and Maria had both met Davy and Forts before, at the Russian weekend they had hosted. Mary's comments became more and more suggestive, especially as I showed her the picture of Forts that Theodora had left me. "He really is a dish... and available, too." Mary winked at me. "Well, no, not available, he is with Davy." "But you said he has a son, Draco?" "He does." "With Theodora, so..." Mary licked her lips, "He can be swayed then." "Mary, please no. Davy has only just started treating me as a friend... Davy worships Forts." Mary walked to bed and opened her vanity case, taking out her lipstick. "I am sure he does." ** Chris McPhee takes up the story My attempts at keeping Davy upbeat on the way to the station were only marginally successful. Oh, he was excited to be seeing Forts and the boys again... But he couldn't get Alexandra's bridesmaids out of his head, nor the fact Forts had forgotten to tell him they were coming. Poor Davy had never thought he was good enough for Forts and he was terrified of losing him. No amount of reassurance seemed to work. The truth was that Forts needed Davy as much as Davy needed him, their relationship was one of true symbiosis. I decided to try to warn Forts about what was coming, before Davy potentially lost it and exploded at him. * The Express train pulled into the station early. I hurried onto the platform, leaving Davy talking to Mr Mountfield, the station manager, with Dima and Robert. Davy and Dimas' plan was to save Forts from any unnecessary embarrassment on the platform. See, just like I said, Davy was always thinking about Forts and his feelings. Darius was the first off Forts' carriage. He stood intently, looking around on the platform. He then nodded towards the open door. JAMES! I thought I was seeing things as my James exited the carriage. He stood by the door as Forts stepped down from the carriage after him. I broke into a run down the platform towards them. Boys of all sizes then came piling out of the carriage, followed by Duke, who was doing his best to marshal them all on the platform. Albert must be staying with the carriage to shut it all down while it was disconnected from the main train. Forts spotted me as I approached. He grinned and turned to James. James looked round and broke into a beaming smile. I wanted to hug him, but could tell from his look, he wasn't happy for that to happen in public. "My God, what are you doing here? No one told me you were coming back with Forts!" Forts flashed me one of his legendary smiles. "Chris, meet my new equerry. James is going to be moving up here permanently." "Oh, that's fantastic!" James and I moved to the side while Forts joined Duke in getting the boys all into a rough crocodile formation. "James, I am so pleased to see you. I have missed you." He winked, "I have missed you too. Err, where's Davy? Forts was excited and looking forward to seeing him." "He is diverting Mr Mountfield in the carpark, with Dima and Robert." James laughed. "Probably a good idea." "James, you had better warn Forts, Davy is pissed off that he forgot to tell him that he had invited Alexandra's bridesmaids to stay." James looked surprised. "Why is that a problem?" "Davy heard one of them taking about Forts being a dish and she couldn't wait to meet him. She even managed to get them all invited for a formal dinner this evening... Davy's not happy." "The green monster again?" He whispered, looking towards a beaming Forts. I nodded. "I had better warn him then. You can see he hasn't a care in the world at the moment. We don't want him walking straight into an ambush." ** Forts takes up the story I felt my stomach flip as James had whispered in my ear. I glanced at an apprehensive-looking Chris. I turned back to James. "Oh, God no. They are here already? I didn't think they were coming for another week yet. I thought I had plenty of time... Oh well, thank you for warning me." I glanced down the platform and could see the love of my life standing, barely smiling, by the station entrance. He wasn't even walking up the platform to meet us like Dima, Robert, and Mr Mountfield. I raised my arm and waved. He nodded and seemed to smile, just a bit. "Your Imperial Highness, welcome back to Inverurie." A couple of the boys sniggered and nudged each other as Mr Mountfield gave a low bow. I took his hand. "Thank you Mr Mountfield, it is good to see you again too. Allow me to introduce you to Captain Brandt, my new equerry." Mountfield nodded his head, "Captain Brandt." As the two of them shook hands, I saw Robert nudge Dima, who nodded. "Dima, can we talk on the bus, please?" He nodded, "Certainly, Forts." Timing was not proving to be my strong point today. With Darius moving towards my side, Duke marched the boys down the platform and past Davy. Thankfully, Davy was smiling and having little chats with the boys. Darius and I were the last walking down the platform. Davy stood waiting for me. "Hi Davy, darling. It is so good to see you." Davy smiled, "And you. You are very much in demand." I flashed him one of my smiles. "I hear Alexandra's bridesmaids have arrived already. They are a week early, I was going to tell you they were coming today once I got back." "Yes, they are here... And can't wait to meet you." I hadn't missed the barbs. "That's great... So shall we get the boys to Downe House so they can get settled in?" * On the journey back on the bus, with Davy, James, and Robert listening in I explained to Dima that, although James was now my official equerry, I still viewed him as my closest friend and confidant and that he would perform the double role of my personal secretary and also that of my equerry when needed. I told him I had been left with no choice in the matter. He had expressed alarm and concern about what he perceived to be an implied threat to Davy and my security, and then told me I should speak to Davy about a couple of incidents since I had been away. Davy glanced at Dima, a hint of annoyance in his eyes, but then went on to explain about being shot at in the garden with Draco. I felt physically sick. Then, also about Dima being nearly shot by the new footman. Davy sighed as he related that both times, it appeared that Mark had been involved. Finally, I couldn't keep my cool any longer. "Where was Tobias? He was supposed to be bloody protecting you all!" "He did..." Davy sighed. I glanced at James, his face also showed concern. I still wasn't happy that I hadn't been told everything at that meeting with Gethin and Torcall. I stood and looked down the bus. "Darius! Over here, please." My heart was racing. Darius and Duke exchanged looks, and both of them came over. Thankfully the boys were all far too interested in viewing the passing countryside than what we were doing. Darius and Duke both looked horrified as Davy and Dima relayed to them what they had told me. "Your Imperial Highness..." "Darius, stop, I don't blame you." Darius nodded, "Thank you Forts. I will get to the bottom of this as soon as we are back at Pittodrie." * How quickly the shine and fun can vanish from a day, and I still hadn't had the chance to speak to Davy privately, and could sense he was still a bit prickly. Once we arrived at Downe House, the boys excitedly piled off the coach and stood opened mouthed, looking at what would be their new home. I stood back and let Davy and Chris take the lead, introducing the boys to the three new employees, who would initially be looking after them at the home. I had followed on, Jimmy in my arms as Davy showed the boys their rooms and the rest of the house, their new home. I was so proud of him. He had achieved so much in such a short time. The tour over and with the boys settling in, we all left and began walking back to Pittodrie. I was desperate to speak to Davy alone, see the boys and even Radost and Nadya. ********************** Folks, there is nothing more rewarding than hearing from you that you are enjoying the story. Please take the time to email me to let me know. Blackscar. Other Nifty stories by Blackscar. 'NightCam Fun' – Gay/Encounters 'Exploring my brother' – Gay/Incest 'Josh's Adventures series' - Gay/Adult Youth 'An Army life for me' - Gay/Adult Youth/Military 'Grandmas Bedroom' – Bisexual/Incest 'Dominic Online' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Vampyre' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Operation Pied Piper' – Gay/Adult Youth 'Scream if you want to go faster' - Bisexual/Adult Youth 'Red and Nick' – Bisexual/Military 'The Extraordinary Christmas Party' – Bisexual/Incest 'A Brother Used' - Gay/Incest 'A very English Trailer Park' - Gay/Adult Youth 'Special lube Oil' - Gay/Adult Youth