A Regency Tale Seven
Dec. 10th, 2006 01:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ismeninHello, on this dull and dreary Sabbath morning! I hope you will like this - I have so much fun doing it, I can tell you!
Only four more parts and the FUN begins!! YaY!!
Many thanks as always to Lady Sunrope for her beta.
Part 7 - Feelings
Elijah sat by the fire in the small library, brooding over the information he had gleaned that day. He was, by now, very angry indeed. It was as if everything concerning the insufferable Lord Monaghan was tinged with very deep feelings. They certainly aroused such feelings in Elijah's breast, but why this could be - why Elijah felt so very strongly about what Monaghan did or thought - eluded him.
He was sitting in the dark staring into the fire when Ben came into the room to light the candles, and to tell him dinner would be served for him in the dining room, when he was ready for it.
Elijah realised with a start that he was very hungry indeed, having eaten nothing since an early breakfast.
Ben ventured to tell him that his Lordship was still fast asleep, so there was no need for his honour to go upstairs to check on him, but he should go straight in to his dinner.
The Duke felt slightly ashamed that he had sat there all afternoon without a thought for the man upstairs in bed. This was not strictly true, as Lord Monaghan had encompassed all his thoughts that day, but Elijah was not going to admit this, not even to himself.
After a very satisfying meal, he climbed the stairs to Dom's room. He stood by the bedside, looking down on the sleeping man, and was conscious of the tightness in his chest as he observed that the black circles under Dom's eyes had deepened.
Elijah had known that it was too soon after his injury for Dominic to mount a horse, but he was powerless to stop the man once he had made up his mind. They were, after all, supposed to be friends, and there was certainly no point in coming to cuffs over it. Friends, after all, did not behave like that.
Elijah wondered, not for the first time, whether any of the men back at the safe house had thought it odd that Barney, Elijah's best friend, was not acquainted with Monaghan. Surely a man's best friend would be acquainted with his other friends?
Still, that was all over, now, and needn't concern him. Elijah shifted his attention to the man in the bed, and, looking at the clock, realised that it was time for the second dose of medicine.
He put it into a small glass, and poured a drop of water in it to make it go down more easily. "Dom," he said quietly, but there was no answer, except a slight turning of the head in his direction.
Elijah sat on the edge of the bed, and put his arm around Dom's shoulders, lifting him.
"Come on, now, there's a good man - drink it down." Dom did so, turning his head into Elijah's shoulder with a contented sigh.
"I am glad that you are here with me," came the exhausted voice on the edge of a whisper, and once again, Elijah was not sure whether Dom was speaking to him, or to the absent long-dead Arthur.
Elijah sat there for a few moments holding the man closely to him before he placed him gently back on the pillows. He blew out the candle next to the bed, leaving the oil lamp on the table burning low, and left to find his own chamber.
*****
He was woken late the next morning by Ben, first carrying a tray with a cup of tea on it, and later a jug of hot water, who offered him the pleasing intelligence that it was nearing half-past ten, and that the doctor would be there in half an hour.
"Good God!" the Duke muttered, scrambling out of bed. "I had better hurry, then."
Ben grinned at him, and said that breakfast was laid in the breakfast room, when his honour should condescend to visit it.
Elijah was touched to notice that one of the men must have crept into his room in the night and removed his shirt and cravat, for they were hanging, freshly laundered, over the back of a chair in front of the fire.
Although his buckskin riding breeches were sadly stained, it was no more than would be expected when a man had been in such a case as they had been these past days, so Elijah rushed downstairs to make a hasty breakfast before the doctor arrived.
Fortunately he was just coming out of the parlour as the front door was being opened, and met the doctor stamping his feet on the step to rid them of the snow. He nodded his head at Elijah.
"How does our patient do this morning?" he asked Elijah as they climbed the stairs, and Elijah was grateful that Ben answered him saying that his Lordship was awake and as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances.
"Clodpole! I wasn't asking you, but never mind," he barked, as he entered the bedroom to find Dom sitting up against the pillows, and regarding them with sleepy eyes.
After a swift examination of his patient, he changed the bandages, and pronounced that all his Lordship needed now was several days of rest to regain his strength, and that he was sure he would be well looked-after once his man arrived. This would not be long, he commented, for he had sent his lad with the letter as soon as it was light.
Dominic stared at him. "You have sent for my man? I would not have wished it, Dr Mayal. You should have consulted with me first before doing such a thing."
His Lordship looked disturbed at the revelation and Elijah had no idea why he should.
The doctor drew his brows together in a deep frown. "I think Mr Retford needs to rest almost as much as you do, my Lord. He, too, is looking tired, and must be anxious, after all, to get off and conduct his own business."
Dominic blushed a deep red, and glanced at Elijah. "I am sorry, Retford, I did not think... Of course you will wish to leave. Please feel free to take whichever of my horses is most suitable to you. I am most sensible of the debt I owe you, and I will be pleased if you will grant me the honour of a short interview before you leave."
Elijah bowed slightly, as he left to escort the doctor downstairs. "It shall be as you say, my Lord."
Two hours later his Lordship's valet arrived at the house accompanied by two other servants carrying a mountain of baggage between them. It was obvious that they had walked up from the lower road at the rear of the house, as the snow was still pretty deep. Elijah was thankful for this as he knew he could follow their tracks in the snow all the way back to Bath, if necessary.
He waited a while until he saw Dom's man coming down the stairs, shaking his head as he made for the kitchen. Elijah had hidden from him in the library, not wishing the man to see him, because he was sure that he would be recognised if the man was ever to catch sight of him again.
Running quietly up the stairs, he entered Dom's room.
"I am leaving now, your Lordship," Elijah said in a moderate tone, not wishing to reveal to Dom that he was still angry - or why he was angry.
"I see you are already dressed for it, Elij...your Grace. I am glad you came - I need to say something to you that I did not wish the others to overhear. As I have said, I am most sensible of the care that you took of me when I was injured. You could so easily have left me to die in the road, and - as Barney Corsham so succinctly pointed out - relieved yourself of your obligation to me. That you did not do so, I shall be eternally grateful."
"Therefore, I wish to tell you that I am foregoing the balance of the amount that you owe to me, in payment of the service you rendered me, for there is no amount that I can set as a price against my life."
If Dominic expected his Grace to be pleased, he was far wide of the mark. His Grace stared down his nose at Dom. "It is very kind in you to think that you would like to do so, my Lord, but I cannot accept it. This debt is a debt of honour, and must be repaid, whether you wish it or not. Shall I find you in Bath when next month's payment becomes due?"
Dom closed his eyes, and nodded. "I should be there, your Grace. If I am not, I will certainly apprise you of it. Thank you, once again, for your kind attentions to me."
Elijah bowed. "Think nothing of it, my Lord. If you had been a common ruffian lying in the gutters I would have done the same. I hold human life to be sacred, to whomever it belongs. I wish you well, and hope that you will recover soon."
He bowed again, and left the room without another glance at the bed, or the man in it.
*****
As Elijah came out onto the lower road, he regretted his impulsive remarks. He realised he would have to get back to Bath that day, for he had no money on his person. In his haste to leave the house before being seen by the valet, he had left the few guineas which Billy had returned to him, rather shamefacedly, after the incident, reposing, together with his fobs, and his ring, on the wash-stand in Lord Monaghan's second-best bedroom.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, he rode on as fast as the snow would allow, and was glad to find that the Bath Road, when he reached it, was almost clear.
Consequently, it was a very tired and muddy Duke who turned up on his mother's doorstep at nine o'clock that night. The butler who opened the door did not recognize him at first, and was just about to order the travel-stained man off his Grace's doorstep, when the cool blue eyes rose to his face, and he realised who it was standing before him.
Several servants, who had no business to be in the hallway, clustered around to get a glimpse of the Duke, who immediately thought to assure his mother that he was well.
He found, on enquiry, that she was entertaining Lord and Lady Pennard in one of the drawing rooms, and, not wishing to appear in front of them in all his dirt, as he put it, retired to his bedchamber, leaving a message to be given to his mother when the guests should have left. As he was just about to mount the stairs, he called the butler back and added that the man should tell her Grace that he was quite well, and would see her in the morning.
He had had quite enough drama for one day.
*******
Elijah sat in the bath in front of the fire, and revelled in its heat. He was not dirty, for he had washed thoroughly, if hastily, in the basin that morning. But, he thought comfortably, there was nothing more relaxing than to sit in a hot bath perfumed lightly with Steek's lavender water, and partake of a glass of wine before retiring.
His valet had been dismissed, his Grace commenting rather drily that he was perfectly capable of climbing out of a bath and putting on his night robe without assistance.
"I am tired, man. You may leave the bath until tomorrow, I do not wish to be disturbed further tonight, except, stay! I will be glad if you would bring me some food on a tray. Some chicken if there is any to be had, or a slice or two of ham. Bring it yourself - I do not wish to start the maid screaming if she finds me naked. And... if you should see her Grace, inform her that I am already asleep, if you please. That is all. Thank you, Slade."
When his man returned with the tray, Elijah fell into paroxysms of laughter, which Slade immediately realised was caused by his Grace's exhausted state. He had rarely heard his master laugh so freely. He placed the tray on a small table next to the Duke's chair and retired with a bow.
Elijah stared at the tray as he dried his hair, amusement still apparent on his features. For the tray was of solid silver gilt, quite three feet long, besides being embellished with his Grace's coat of arms, and contained five silver dishes and two plates of the finest porcelain from which the Duke would eat his supper.
He remembered fondly the brightly painted tin tray from which he had eaten on the night Dom had been shot, and the happiness that he had felt at the lack of ceremony concerning his food, and the pleasure he had had in the simple meal.
Here he was presented with cold roast partridge, besides chicken, beef, and ham. The potatoes had been hastily fried, but by an expert hand, and Elijah could smell the herbs in them. There was soup also, in a small dish - highly spiced and hot.
Elijah drew on his nightrobe, and fastened his dressing gown around his waist. He longed, oh, how he longed for a simple chicken roasted in beef dripping, with some plain roast and boiled potatoes, and a few carrots, such as Ned had cooked!
He sat, and ate what he could, and retired to bed, dousing every candle in case his mother should see the light under the door, and come to disturb him.
He did not wish to be disturbed, he wished to think.
As he lay there with his eyes closed, Elijah began to ponder why Lord Dominic Monaghan would wish to teach him a lesson. The answer eluded him. He could not see that he had behaved any differently towards Lord Monaghan than he did to any man. He would be glad when Barney came back from his... expedition. He always got the truth from Barney - he would ask him.
And with that thought, he fell asleep.
*****
Dominic was still awake. He had refused the medicine. "Damn you to hell, Chard! I said take it away, man! If I need it during the night, I'll call you. Now please, leave me in peace."
Chard stared at his master. He had not been looking well when he had arrived, but now he looked infinitely worse to Chard's experienced eye. He had been with Dominic since his Lordship had been fifteen, and could read him like a book. There was something very wrong with him, and it seems to have happened after Mr Retford - whoever he had been - had left the house.
Chard knew his master; he had been like this after Lord Arthur Langland had died. If it was as Matty said, and Mr Retford had merely met accidentally with his Lordship on the road, it could not be him who would have caused his master such distress by his leaving.
Matty had described the man as meticulously polite but standing on very high form, indeed - besides being extremely good-looking. Chard, searching amongst his Lordship's friends and acquaintance, could find none fitting this description. There were good-looking ones amongst the small, but select group he had gathered about him since his return from France, but none of them thought themselves above their company, as this man plainly had.
Lord Victor Murton, for example, had not been above blowing a cloud in the kitchens and annoying the artist in charge there by eating all the strawberry tartlets being prepared for dinner. Indeed, he, Chard, had seen him do so, once.
So his Lordship's present low condition was a mystery, indeed.
*****
Dominic, left alone at last, brought his hand to his shoulder. It was still causing him some distress, but he would not for the world let Chard see it. He was more honest with himself than the Duke had been, and realised immediately that the loneliness and the emptiness he felt was caused by the Duke... Elijah.... not being there. He had not brought Dom his cup of tea that night, nor had he climbed into bed next to him, and slept like a baby, his bright blue eyes still shining through half-open lids.
Dom had watched him by the light of the guttering candle on the last night they had spent with Ned. Nothing could have been more beautiful than the candlelight on his skin, or the slight sheen of sweat on his upper lip. Dom had longed to kiss that mouth - the urge was so strong that he had to muster all his self command to remain on his side of the bed.
And now he had offended the Duke once more. He should have said nothing about the money - it would always be a thing between them, never to be forgotten, or forgiven. Unless he could think of a way to remove it.
But he could not think of it tonight. His head was aching from the effects of the medicine he had taken the day before, and although he tried to rest, his sleep was disturbed by dreams of a blue-eyed man standing naked before him, and smiling at him across the room.
When he awoke the next morning, he determined that he would not spend many days in this place, but would go, as soon as he was able, somewhere quiet to recover, somewhere where there were no memories of him to disturb his fragile peace.
Only four more parts and the FUN begins!! YaY!!
Many thanks as always to Lady Sunrope for her beta.
Part 7 - Feelings
Elijah sat by the fire in the small library, brooding over the information he had gleaned that day. He was, by now, very angry indeed. It was as if everything concerning the insufferable Lord Monaghan was tinged with very deep feelings. They certainly aroused such feelings in Elijah's breast, but why this could be - why Elijah felt so very strongly about what Monaghan did or thought - eluded him.
He was sitting in the dark staring into the fire when Ben came into the room to light the candles, and to tell him dinner would be served for him in the dining room, when he was ready for it.
Elijah realised with a start that he was very hungry indeed, having eaten nothing since an early breakfast.
Ben ventured to tell him that his Lordship was still fast asleep, so there was no need for his honour to go upstairs to check on him, but he should go straight in to his dinner.
The Duke felt slightly ashamed that he had sat there all afternoon without a thought for the man upstairs in bed. This was not strictly true, as Lord Monaghan had encompassed all his thoughts that day, but Elijah was not going to admit this, not even to himself.
After a very satisfying meal, he climbed the stairs to Dom's room. He stood by the bedside, looking down on the sleeping man, and was conscious of the tightness in his chest as he observed that the black circles under Dom's eyes had deepened.
Elijah had known that it was too soon after his injury for Dominic to mount a horse, but he was powerless to stop the man once he had made up his mind. They were, after all, supposed to be friends, and there was certainly no point in coming to cuffs over it. Friends, after all, did not behave like that.
Elijah wondered, not for the first time, whether any of the men back at the safe house had thought it odd that Barney, Elijah's best friend, was not acquainted with Monaghan. Surely a man's best friend would be acquainted with his other friends?
Still, that was all over, now, and needn't concern him. Elijah shifted his attention to the man in the bed, and, looking at the clock, realised that it was time for the second dose of medicine.
He put it into a small glass, and poured a drop of water in it to make it go down more easily. "Dom," he said quietly, but there was no answer, except a slight turning of the head in his direction.
Elijah sat on the edge of the bed, and put his arm around Dom's shoulders, lifting him.
"Come on, now, there's a good man - drink it down." Dom did so, turning his head into Elijah's shoulder with a contented sigh.
"I am glad that you are here with me," came the exhausted voice on the edge of a whisper, and once again, Elijah was not sure whether Dom was speaking to him, or to the absent long-dead Arthur.
Elijah sat there for a few moments holding the man closely to him before he placed him gently back on the pillows. He blew out the candle next to the bed, leaving the oil lamp on the table burning low, and left to find his own chamber.
*****
He was woken late the next morning by Ben, first carrying a tray with a cup of tea on it, and later a jug of hot water, who offered him the pleasing intelligence that it was nearing half-past ten, and that the doctor would be there in half an hour.
"Good God!" the Duke muttered, scrambling out of bed. "I had better hurry, then."
Ben grinned at him, and said that breakfast was laid in the breakfast room, when his honour should condescend to visit it.
Elijah was touched to notice that one of the men must have crept into his room in the night and removed his shirt and cravat, for they were hanging, freshly laundered, over the back of a chair in front of the fire.
Although his buckskin riding breeches were sadly stained, it was no more than would be expected when a man had been in such a case as they had been these past days, so Elijah rushed downstairs to make a hasty breakfast before the doctor arrived.
Fortunately he was just coming out of the parlour as the front door was being opened, and met the doctor stamping his feet on the step to rid them of the snow. He nodded his head at Elijah.
"How does our patient do this morning?" he asked Elijah as they climbed the stairs, and Elijah was grateful that Ben answered him saying that his Lordship was awake and as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances.
"Clodpole! I wasn't asking you, but never mind," he barked, as he entered the bedroom to find Dom sitting up against the pillows, and regarding them with sleepy eyes.
After a swift examination of his patient, he changed the bandages, and pronounced that all his Lordship needed now was several days of rest to regain his strength, and that he was sure he would be well looked-after once his man arrived. This would not be long, he commented, for he had sent his lad with the letter as soon as it was light.
Dominic stared at him. "You have sent for my man? I would not have wished it, Dr Mayal. You should have consulted with me first before doing such a thing."
His Lordship looked disturbed at the revelation and Elijah had no idea why he should.
The doctor drew his brows together in a deep frown. "I think Mr Retford needs to rest almost as much as you do, my Lord. He, too, is looking tired, and must be anxious, after all, to get off and conduct his own business."
Dominic blushed a deep red, and glanced at Elijah. "I am sorry, Retford, I did not think... Of course you will wish to leave. Please feel free to take whichever of my horses is most suitable to you. I am most sensible of the debt I owe you, and I will be pleased if you will grant me the honour of a short interview before you leave."
Elijah bowed slightly, as he left to escort the doctor downstairs. "It shall be as you say, my Lord."
Two hours later his Lordship's valet arrived at the house accompanied by two other servants carrying a mountain of baggage between them. It was obvious that they had walked up from the lower road at the rear of the house, as the snow was still pretty deep. Elijah was thankful for this as he knew he could follow their tracks in the snow all the way back to Bath, if necessary.
He waited a while until he saw Dom's man coming down the stairs, shaking his head as he made for the kitchen. Elijah had hidden from him in the library, not wishing the man to see him, because he was sure that he would be recognised if the man was ever to catch sight of him again.
Running quietly up the stairs, he entered Dom's room.
"I am leaving now, your Lordship," Elijah said in a moderate tone, not wishing to reveal to Dom that he was still angry - or why he was angry.
"I see you are already dressed for it, Elij...your Grace. I am glad you came - I need to say something to you that I did not wish the others to overhear. As I have said, I am most sensible of the care that you took of me when I was injured. You could so easily have left me to die in the road, and - as Barney Corsham so succinctly pointed out - relieved yourself of your obligation to me. That you did not do so, I shall be eternally grateful."
"Therefore, I wish to tell you that I am foregoing the balance of the amount that you owe to me, in payment of the service you rendered me, for there is no amount that I can set as a price against my life."
If Dominic expected his Grace to be pleased, he was far wide of the mark. His Grace stared down his nose at Dom. "It is very kind in you to think that you would like to do so, my Lord, but I cannot accept it. This debt is a debt of honour, and must be repaid, whether you wish it or not. Shall I find you in Bath when next month's payment becomes due?"
Dom closed his eyes, and nodded. "I should be there, your Grace. If I am not, I will certainly apprise you of it. Thank you, once again, for your kind attentions to me."
Elijah bowed. "Think nothing of it, my Lord. If you had been a common ruffian lying in the gutters I would have done the same. I hold human life to be sacred, to whomever it belongs. I wish you well, and hope that you will recover soon."
He bowed again, and left the room without another glance at the bed, or the man in it.
*****
As Elijah came out onto the lower road, he regretted his impulsive remarks. He realised he would have to get back to Bath that day, for he had no money on his person. In his haste to leave the house before being seen by the valet, he had left the few guineas which Billy had returned to him, rather shamefacedly, after the incident, reposing, together with his fobs, and his ring, on the wash-stand in Lord Monaghan's second-best bedroom.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, he rode on as fast as the snow would allow, and was glad to find that the Bath Road, when he reached it, was almost clear.
Consequently, it was a very tired and muddy Duke who turned up on his mother's doorstep at nine o'clock that night. The butler who opened the door did not recognize him at first, and was just about to order the travel-stained man off his Grace's doorstep, when the cool blue eyes rose to his face, and he realised who it was standing before him.
Several servants, who had no business to be in the hallway, clustered around to get a glimpse of the Duke, who immediately thought to assure his mother that he was well.
He found, on enquiry, that she was entertaining Lord and Lady Pennard in one of the drawing rooms, and, not wishing to appear in front of them in all his dirt, as he put it, retired to his bedchamber, leaving a message to be given to his mother when the guests should have left. As he was just about to mount the stairs, he called the butler back and added that the man should tell her Grace that he was quite well, and would see her in the morning.
He had had quite enough drama for one day.
*******
Elijah sat in the bath in front of the fire, and revelled in its heat. He was not dirty, for he had washed thoroughly, if hastily, in the basin that morning. But, he thought comfortably, there was nothing more relaxing than to sit in a hot bath perfumed lightly with Steek's lavender water, and partake of a glass of wine before retiring.
His valet had been dismissed, his Grace commenting rather drily that he was perfectly capable of climbing out of a bath and putting on his night robe without assistance.
"I am tired, man. You may leave the bath until tomorrow, I do not wish to be disturbed further tonight, except, stay! I will be glad if you would bring me some food on a tray. Some chicken if there is any to be had, or a slice or two of ham. Bring it yourself - I do not wish to start the maid screaming if she finds me naked. And... if you should see her Grace, inform her that I am already asleep, if you please. That is all. Thank you, Slade."
When his man returned with the tray, Elijah fell into paroxysms of laughter, which Slade immediately realised was caused by his Grace's exhausted state. He had rarely heard his master laugh so freely. He placed the tray on a small table next to the Duke's chair and retired with a bow.
Elijah stared at the tray as he dried his hair, amusement still apparent on his features. For the tray was of solid silver gilt, quite three feet long, besides being embellished with his Grace's coat of arms, and contained five silver dishes and two plates of the finest porcelain from which the Duke would eat his supper.
He remembered fondly the brightly painted tin tray from which he had eaten on the night Dom had been shot, and the happiness that he had felt at the lack of ceremony concerning his food, and the pleasure he had had in the simple meal.
Here he was presented with cold roast partridge, besides chicken, beef, and ham. The potatoes had been hastily fried, but by an expert hand, and Elijah could smell the herbs in them. There was soup also, in a small dish - highly spiced and hot.
Elijah drew on his nightrobe, and fastened his dressing gown around his waist. He longed, oh, how he longed for a simple chicken roasted in beef dripping, with some plain roast and boiled potatoes, and a few carrots, such as Ned had cooked!
He sat, and ate what he could, and retired to bed, dousing every candle in case his mother should see the light under the door, and come to disturb him.
He did not wish to be disturbed, he wished to think.
As he lay there with his eyes closed, Elijah began to ponder why Lord Dominic Monaghan would wish to teach him a lesson. The answer eluded him. He could not see that he had behaved any differently towards Lord Monaghan than he did to any man. He would be glad when Barney came back from his... expedition. He always got the truth from Barney - he would ask him.
And with that thought, he fell asleep.
*****
Dominic was still awake. He had refused the medicine. "Damn you to hell, Chard! I said take it away, man! If I need it during the night, I'll call you. Now please, leave me in peace."
Chard stared at his master. He had not been looking well when he had arrived, but now he looked infinitely worse to Chard's experienced eye. He had been with Dominic since his Lordship had been fifteen, and could read him like a book. There was something very wrong with him, and it seems to have happened after Mr Retford - whoever he had been - had left the house.
Chard knew his master; he had been like this after Lord Arthur Langland had died. If it was as Matty said, and Mr Retford had merely met accidentally with his Lordship on the road, it could not be him who would have caused his master such distress by his leaving.
Matty had described the man as meticulously polite but standing on very high form, indeed - besides being extremely good-looking. Chard, searching amongst his Lordship's friends and acquaintance, could find none fitting this description. There were good-looking ones amongst the small, but select group he had gathered about him since his return from France, but none of them thought themselves above their company, as this man plainly had.
Lord Victor Murton, for example, had not been above blowing a cloud in the kitchens and annoying the artist in charge there by eating all the strawberry tartlets being prepared for dinner. Indeed, he, Chard, had seen him do so, once.
So his Lordship's present low condition was a mystery, indeed.
*****
Dominic, left alone at last, brought his hand to his shoulder. It was still causing him some distress, but he would not for the world let Chard see it. He was more honest with himself than the Duke had been, and realised immediately that the loneliness and the emptiness he felt was caused by the Duke... Elijah.... not being there. He had not brought Dom his cup of tea that night, nor had he climbed into bed next to him, and slept like a baby, his bright blue eyes still shining through half-open lids.
Dom had watched him by the light of the guttering candle on the last night they had spent with Ned. Nothing could have been more beautiful than the candlelight on his skin, or the slight sheen of sweat on his upper lip. Dom had longed to kiss that mouth - the urge was so strong that he had to muster all his self command to remain on his side of the bed.
And now he had offended the Duke once more. He should have said nothing about the money - it would always be a thing between them, never to be forgotten, or forgiven. Unless he could think of a way to remove it.
But he could not think of it tonight. His head was aching from the effects of the medicine he had taken the day before, and although he tried to rest, his sleep was disturbed by dreams of a blue-eyed man standing naked before him, and smiling at him across the room.
When he awoke the next morning, he determined that he would not spend many days in this place, but would go, as soon as he was able, somewhere quiet to recover, somewhere where there were no memories of him to disturb his fragile peace.
