***
Jason was relaxing on the patio of his villa when the Prince’s open carriage arrived. It was escorted by eight royal guards on horseback, four of whom rode side by side in twos in front of the carriage. The remainder of the guards rode behind the carriage in similar formation. Ruan alighted from the carriage as it stopped. A young page boy alighted after him carrying a wrapped package.
Jason’s servant, Claymore, received Jason and his page and he escorted them up the stairs to the elevated patio. Jason rose to meet them.
‘Your royal highness,’ Jason bowed. ‘It is indeed an honour to welcome you to my humble abode.
‘Lord Cavendish,’ Ruan acknowledged. ‘I have come bearing a wedding gift.’ The crown prince gestured to the page who presented the package he was carrying to Jason.
‘Leave us!’ Ruan ordered after Jason took the package. Ruan sat down and made himself comfortable.
‘Thank you, your highness. This is most unexpected. In England the wedding present is presented at the wedding!’
‘It is so in Montuga too. However, this is a gift from me to you. There will be another for both of you as a couple at the wedding,’ Ruan explained. He was dressed in a white outfit with large black buttons and thick navy blue braiding along the outer seams of the jacket and the trousers. The accompanying black and white hat was in the style of that of a naval officer, save for the large red feather which protruded from it. The outfit was tailor made to fit him and no expense had been spared to ensure he looked splendid in it.
‘Open it now!’ As usual, Ruan could not contain his boyish enthusiasm.
Jason opened it to find that it was the Watchtower masterpiece by Van der Kant.
‘Ruan, this is too much. You love this painting. I am not sure I ought to accept it.’
‘To refuse a gift from a crown prince is a serious transgression,’ Ruan declared. His expression turned deadly serious. ‘But to refuse a gift from your future brother in law hugely compounds this transgression.’ The effort to preserve a serious deportment rapidly became too onerous and Ruan’s expression gave way to his usual playful grin.
‘In that instance, and in order to banish any suggestion of transgression against my future sovereign, I hereby graciously accept your most generous gift.’ Jason then invited Ruan to join him for drinks on the patio and Claymore was summoned to attend to the necessary.
‘Have you given any thought to the best man for your wedding?’
‘I thought I would ask my good friend Oliver Pemberton.’ Jason thought he detected a shade of disappointment crossing Ruan’s face, but whatever he had seen vanished so instantly that he convinced himself he had imagined it.
‘I have never met him, but I have heard good things about him.’ Ruan paused and smiled. ‘He seems an excellent choice.’ As Jason studied Ruan’s face more circumspectly, however, he realised that something was missing. Ruan’s eyes were not smiling.
‘You seem disappointed,’ Jason remarked whilst continuing to observe Ruan closely. Ruan looked away, got up and walked to the end of the patio.
‘Of course I’m not,’ Ruan replied curtly. ‘You have a great view of the harbour from here.’
Jason was more than a little shocked to realise that the thought of doing anything to disappoint the prince bothered him profoundly. He knew that the prince had taken a liking to him on the first occasion they had met. The feeling had become mutual. Ruan was decidedly likeable. He realised that in the brief time since they had become acquainted, Ruan had assumed a far greater importance to him than he could have imagined. He felt decidedly protective over the prince. It was as though the prince had become the younger brother Jason had never had - or the son he knew he would someday want. The latter thought made little sense given that he was only eleven years older than the nineteen year old prince. Jason also realised that Ruan sometimes exhibited the enthusiasm and the innocence of a twelve year old. It was this aspect of Ruan’s nature which evoked paternal instincts in Jason which had hitherto remained dormant. It also occurred to Jason that his mention of Oliver as his best man took no account of the fact that he was marrying into a royal family. He felt a little foolish as he reminded himself that the event in question was a state occasion and not a private ball.
‘On second thoughts, it occurs to me that you should be the best man and Oliver should be the master of ceremonies.’ As Jason said it, he realised that it made sense. Renate would be delighted with his choice. Despite the differences between the king and Ruan, the king would also no doubt approve of his son as best man. Ruan gracefully accepted the appointment.