Chapter Sixteen
Barnaby was in the yard at Chatham when his mobile vibrated in his jacket pocket, Meridian’s bridle looped over his arm.
He’d pulled it out expecting a message from Lex, who was due down from London on the four forty-two train, and found instead a Google Alert notice that he’d set up years ago to flag any press mentioning the Fitznorman-Bicesters.
The alert had three headlines stacked beneath it, all posted within twelve minutes of one another, all leading with the same Palace handout image of Barnaby and Lex sitting next to each other during their Olympic interview.
KING APPOINTS OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS AS JOINT KING’S TRUST AMBASSADORS
ROYAL ENDORSEMENT FOR FITZNORMAN-BICESTER AND MURPHY PAIRING
BLEX GOES OFFICIAL: PALACE NAMES OLYMPIANS TO CHARITY ROLE
He read all three headlines standing in the stable aisle while Meridian nudged his shoulder for a mint. The word pairing burned into his retina. The Palace press office didn’t use words carelessly. They had drafted this copy knowing exactly what the BLEX fandom would do with it.
Barnaby had agreed to the ambassadorship, but not to being announced as one half of a pairing. He hadn’t expected a relationship he was still trying to work out to be thrust into the public eye like this.
He put the phone away and finished Meridian’s tack. He walked his horse back to his box, and it was only then when he was alone in the tack room with the smell of saddle soap and winter hay, that he allowed himself to register the exact shape of what James had done.
He’d allowed his team to publicise a joint appointment, announced without running it past Barnaby.
To refuse it now would require him to issue a statement repudiating the King, which he would never do.
James had made it structurally impossible to object to being made to play up his tenuous relationship with Lex in public.
Barnaby straightened his jacket. He closed the tack room door behind him, and told himself that his fury would keep. For now, he had to go and meet Lex’s train.
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@samiraboxingstan · 2h
THE KING’S TRUST HAS APPOINTED LEX MURPHY AND BARNABY FITZNORMAN-BICESTER AS JOINT AMBASSADORS.
JOINT. AMBASSADORS. FOR. SPORTING. PROGRAMS. THE CROWN HAS LOOKED UPON BLEX AND SAID “YES, THESE TWO, TOGETHER, OFFICIALLY, ON PALACE LETTERHEAD.” I AM NOT OKAY.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN LESS OKAY. THE MONARCHY HAS A SHIP AND IT IS BLEX.
@samiraboxingstan · 2h
replying to self because i cannot be contained: the announcement photo has them STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER in the Buckingham Palace courtyard.
barnaby is doing the hands-behind-back thing.
lex is grinning like a man who has just gotten away with something.
they are wearing MATCHING NAVY SUITS. i am going to pass away.
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@eventing_alice · 1h
Not to be that person, but the King’s Trust ambassador programme is genuinely significant work with disadvantaged young people. Can we please talk about the actual initiative and not just whether two athletes are shagging.
@dariusmartinezz · 58m
respectfully alice no we cannot
@eventing_alice · 54m
Fair enough.
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@paborsky · 45m
my favourite detail from the King’s Trust press release is that barnaby’s ambassador focus is “equestrian access for state school students, outdoor leadership programmes, and therapeutic riding for disabled young people” and lex’s is “youth boxing and mentorship in underserved communities.” So one of them is trying to put working-class kids on horses and the other is teaching them to throw a punch.
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@marquess_cashworth · 30m
new BLEX evidence just dropped. in the official King’s Trust promo video, there’s a three-second clip of lex trying to get on a horse at barnaby’s family estate.
he’s holding the reins wrong. he’s on the wrong side.
barnaby is standing behind him with his arms folded and an expression that can only be described as “i have made a catastrophic error in agreeing to this.” the horse looks equally unimpressed. i have watched it forty-seven times.
@marquess_cashworth · 28m
ALSO in the same video barnaby visits lex’s gym in barking and you can see him holding boxing pads for a nine-year-old girl who is absolutely battering him.
his sleeves are rolled up. his hair is a mess.
lex is in the background beaming like a proud parent at a nativity play.
i am being fed and the meal is exquisite.
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@theroyalwatcher · 12m
Worth noting that joint King’s Trust ambassadorships are personally approved by the King.
James doesn’t delegate these. He selects them himself.
For those keeping score: the King of England has looked at Lex Murphy and Barnaby Fitznorman-Bicester and decided, with the full weight of the Crown, that they work best as a pair.
The Crown has spoken. BLEX is constitutionally endorsed.
God save the King, and God save these two idiots.