ismenin | regency

Hello there! Here is the last part of Regency. I am so grateful to all you loyal readers, who have stuck by it through thick and thin. Hugs flist - and hugs also to Lady Sunrope whose input as always, has been invaluable. Watch this space for Inca Two and maybe, maybe a new secret story!

This wonderful picture, so evocative of the green fields of the Emerald Isle was created for me by the delightful Trianne, Snoogles her tight.

Part 31 - The Telling

Sitting in a comfortable parlour, the officer suitable refreshed by food and ale, Dom, together with Bert, told the story they had concocted between them, and watched the constable's brow contract with disapproval.

"Now, that's what I don't approve of, me Lord, you-all letting him escape like that." Turning, in righteous indignation to Bert, he asked, "and where was your men when this escape took place? I expected more of a Bow Street Runner, Mr Slugger, make no mistake. Your Patrol sound like a feeble lot to me. Six of them should have been able to hold him here to suffer the full process of the Law, they should have, and that's a fact. And you have no idea who he really was, me Lord?"

Dom smiled grimly. "No idea whatsoever - he was a perfect stranger to us until about two weeks ago. As he said, he was travelling in this direction and he came before us to book the rooms at this inn. Beyond that we know nothing of him."

"We thought he would be held safe in the barn, but he must have had an accomplice, because this morning we found one of Bert's men, as you have seen, with a dint on his head the size of a hen's egg, and the villain long gone."

The man assented to this with reluctance. "You have no idea what happened to the real landlord, then? No? Pity, it would have cleared up another mystery. Well, I must be pleased we have apprehended the false landlord he set on to poison the duke. The prisoner says the buck told him his name was Wootton or something like it - Lord Henry Wootton! As if any Lord would behave in such a fashion.

I see you did what you thought was best, but, sir, didn't it occur to you to lock him in the cellar?"

*****

Half an hour later the man left, promising to return the next day to speak with the duke.

Bert and Dom, together with Barney and Ceddie, sat in the parlour, with the door firmly closed, discussing the matter.

"Dead, you say? Good God, Dom, what will Lij say to that?" Ceddie expostulated, almost spilling his beer at the revelation.

Dom cast a wary look at Barney, for if anyone was likely to tell Lij of this, it was he. Dom was extremely surprised and gratified when it was he who came to Dom's defence.

"Best thing that could happen to him, if you ask me - the bastard. Where did you bury him, for I must suppose that you disposed of his body, all right and tight?"

"In the cellar,"said Dom, repressively, carefully swallowing his much-needed brandy.

"An' we found summink most int'restin' when we did, Morlock an' me. Most Int'restin'.” Bert looked around the group to make sure he had every man’s attention. “We found the fust landlord's body. Warbois must've put him there. We left it where it was, 'e 'avin' no close kith or kin as anyone knows of round 'ere - an' before yer says anythin', I did ask. 'E 'as a nephew in Scotland, that's all."

Bert eyed Ceddie who was looking shocked. "Least said soonest mended, I says. For, apart from diggin' up rottin' corpses is not my fav'rite pastime, folks would want to know why we was a-diggin' up of the cellar floor if we reported it - and that wouldn't do. I'll report 'im as bein' found dead on the road, so 'is nephew will know of it. I'll write to the constable 'ere when I gets back 'ome, sayin' we found 'im, and buried 'im."

"The man Warbois brought in to poison the duke has gone to his just reward, in any case," said Barney, grinding his teeth savagely. "I wish you had let me at him, Bert, before the constable and your men took him. I'd have pasted him to the bloody wall!"

"No need for that, now, sir. There's been enough vi'lence in this 'ere ken for ten lifetimes! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go an' make anuvver poultice for Jim's 'ead. A fair blow that was, an' no mistake."

Ceddie grinned. "And that from the man that gave it him. You are outside of enough, Bert, and that’s the truth of it.”

Bert grinned back as he rose to his feet. "Well it wos in a good cause, an' I gave 'im a guinea out of Warbois's money. The rest of it is in 'ere," said Bert, handing Dom a purse. "Togevver wiv 'is signet ring. You'll need that, if only ter convince 'is mam 'es dead later on, like. Even a bastard like 'im 'as a muvver, after all."

As the door closed behind Bert, Barney was seen to be thinking, hard. "Lij's Aunt Honoria! By God, I had forgotten about her. Doted on Harry, too. What shall we do about her?"

Ceddie rubbed his chin. "Give it some thought. We'll stay here for a few days yet, Dom - to see Lij on his feet again? We'll think about it, that's it!"

Dom ate a light luncheon with his friends, and requested a tray for Elijah from a serving girl. He judged the food to be safe, now. No one had suffered any ill effects and all the servants ate freely of the same food offered to the guests, so it seemed that was an end to that.

But before he did anything else he asked what the pot-boy - delegated to burial detail after the constable had given permission - had done with Achilles, and when the boy, with a shy, anxious look, showed Dom the spot where he had interred the unfortunate dog, under a chestnut tree in the kitchen garden, he smiled sadly and gave the boy a half crown piece.

****

He returned to their room, and was taking the tray from the girl when, behind him, he heard Elijah stir.

"I have brought you a little food, my love, to keep up your strength. A little ham and roast beef, and a morsel of pigeon pie," he remarked, putting the tray on a small table next to the bed.

"Thank you, Dom," Elijah said in a sleepy voice, sitting up in the bed. "I must own I am not very hungry, but I will try to eat a little."

The thought that both men had missed dinner on the previous night was not mentioned.

Elijah shook his head as Dom proffered him a plate. "In a moment, dearest. First you must tell me something. I must know before I can feel comfortable again."

Elijah folded his hands together, but Dom, eagle-eyed where Elijah was concerned, noticed with alarm that they were not quite steady. He also realised that the moment had come, for his lover, meeting his eye squarely, asked the question he had been dreading.

"Dom - what have you done with Harry?"

Oh, God! What shall I say?

Dom sat on the edge of the bed and took Elijah's hand in his. "Do not concern yourself, my love, you are safe, now. As I said, I sent him off to Jamaica..."

Elijah interrupted him. "But did he say anything before he left, Dom? It worries me that he might return and...try again. I cannot feel safe - I cannot."

Elijah's face was pale with shock and grief. Dom kissed the hand he held, turning the nerveless palm into his cheek.

He smiled inwardly. "You need have no fear, Lij - he will not come back to trouble you further, I promise you."

Elijah stared at Dom in incomprehension. Why is he so sure? I see it in his face. He knows of a surety that Harry will not come back...

The truth descended on him like a cloak of blackness. He knew, he knewwhat Dom had done.

His voice was quiet, but firm. He put all the love that he felt for this man into his face and voice as he spoke, knowing that this was essential - knowing Dom needed to see it. He took a deep breath before he spoke.

"What did you do with his body? For I know you killed him."

Dom's eyes grew wide with dismay and any colour he had had in his face fled before the knell of those few words.

"I...I...do not know what you mean..."

"Ah, Dom! Do not lie to me, I beg you. Let us never deceive one another again. I know you killed him - I see it clearly, now, for it shows as a shadow in your eyes. Tell me..."

...And Dom fell on the floor beside Elijah's bed, and with his face buried in Elijah's lap, and with Lij's small hand resting on the softness of Dom's fine, blond hair.

"I killed him, yes - and now you will turn from me, and I will lose everything I ever wished for in this life - everything I have come to love. How can you bear to be near me?" Dom cried, as Elijah's hands moved soothingly over his back.

"Shush, my love. I am here - I will always be here. I love you, my soul. Please..."

Dom heard the words, though the meaning of them took a few moments to penetrate his pain-fogged mind. He raised his face and looked at his lover and saw only compassion in his countenance - compassion and...love.

"You still love me?"

Elijah kissed Dom's mouth, which was damp with tears. "I love you, I do. I am glad - glad - that he is gone."

He looked down for a moment and then said, without constraint. "If I could have brought myself to do it, I would have killed him myself, Dom. I am no fighter as well you know, and would have been no match for Harry. He would have killed me, so I did not think of it as a solution to my problems. You must know that I am not ashamed to say it to you, although no-one else will ever hear it from my lips. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, though grieve, I must for being happy in the death of another human being. Now, tell me exactly how it was, Dom - leave nothing out."

Dom, with hope blooming in his face, told him, simply and without guile what had happened in the cellar, and Elijah kissed him again, and that kiss became a cleansing fire within them both, excising the ghosts of Harry's evil intent and his untimely death, which could have lain between them, if they had allowed it.

Elijah wiped Dom's face with his handkerchief and said, mistily. "I shall try to remember only the cousin who played cricket with me on the south lawn, and who picked me out of the mire when I fell into the river during fishing trips. The other is best forgotten."

Dom, mindful of the doctor's words, persuaded Elijah back into bed, and the doctor, when he came, was gratified to see that the duke had followed his orders.

"I am glad to see that you are resting, sir. I hope you have managed to partake of a little nourish..."

However, the doctor's questions were interrupted by a loud, commanding voice on the stairs, and Dom, grinning, said "I should know that voice!" and hurried to open the door.

Sir Victor, booted and spurred, with the dust of the road covering his countenance and apparel, stalked up to the door. "Hola, Dom - may I come in?" said this apparition, waving away the servant who was hovering behind him, anxious to divest him of his outer clothing.

Dom grasped his friend's hand in a firm grip. "Bert wasted no time sending my message to you, Victor. I am glad you've come." Indeed, with Victor's arrival, much of the tension previously apparent in Dom's face melted away.

Victor bowed towards Elijah, who returned the courtesy as far as a man could bow whilst lying in bed.

"Good God, duke! You look as sick as a horse!" pronounced this vision, tearing off his riding coat and approaching the bed to clasp Elijah's free hand. He carefully surveyed his new friend and said, with a nod to the doctor, "Victor Morgan, doctor, at your service. I have seen him look far worse than this, I must tell you. No doubt he will soon be in a fair way to feeling better."

The doctor released Elijah's wrist and sketched a slight bow in Victors direction. "I trust, sir, that if the duke will do as I suggest, he will very soon be feeling very much more the thing. What he chiefly needs at this present is rest" Dr Allan emphasised politely.

There was a noise of two inn servants chatting loudly as they clattered down the uncarpeted stairs, and Victor winced. "So I see. Do you think his Grace would fare better away from this place, doctor? I think it might be wise if we immediately remove him from this noisome hovel. The Ship at Dover, I apprehend, has quiet accommodation if people so desire it. A most superior hostelry, in every way, if I recall aright."

Dom's relief at this question was almost palpable, for he wished to leave the inn - with all its associations - far behind him, and Elijah was looking at the doctor with a patent expression of expectant joy on his features.

"Most certainly I concur with this arrangement," the doctor replied with a reassuring smile at his patient. "I would be able to accompany you on the journey, if you wish it. I can send a message to my uncle informing him of the circumstances."

Elijah, protesting vehemently that he was no invalid to need a doctor in constant attendance, was over-ruled by Dom and Victor, and, when they entered to greet the new arrival, by Ceddie and Barney.

He submitted with some grace, and allowed Dom to assist him with his clothing, saying quietly, but firmly that he would refuse to leave at all if he was forced to travel in his nightshirt.

Dom sent Morlock to pay their shot, and Bert promised to follow as soon as he had sent his patrol back to London with his very mendacious report. "For Sir Victor 'ired me - an' paid me - to see yer safe to the port of Dover, an' I will, too."

*****

Thus it was that the party set off, and, although they took the journey in easy stages, at the end of it Elijah was to be found lying exhausted in bed, the doctor declaring that his pulse was far in excess of what might be considered normal under any circumstances.

He swallowed the medicine the doctor offered him with a shy smile. "I do think I may sleep, after all," he said, his voice hoarse with weariness, and a few minutes later he was deep in dreamless slumber.

Dr Allan stood by the window in one of the inn's many excellent parlours looking out over a fine rose garden situated at the back of the building.

It was nearly eight in the evening and Dom was indicating that he should retire to be within call should Elijah desire anything.

The doctor glanced thoughtfully at him. "I do not think that he will wake, my lord. I have given him as much laudanum as was wise. I must tell you that his Grace is still far from being completely well. I do think, apart from the poison, that he has been worn down by all the sad events of the past months - the whole tale of which Sir Barney has been good enough to relate to Sir Victor and myself during the journey - and by the loss of his cousin and friend. The duke needs rest - rest and care."

He smiled at Dom who was looking very anxious at this pronouncement. "Do not fear - his mind has not been affected, for I find the duke is a hardly plant, not to be uprooted by these reverses. However, he is an ardent spirit, and needs nurturing. The sea air will do him good - but do not take him to Paris, my lord. Take him somewhere quiet - somewhere he will feel safe."

Ireland Dom thought, happily. I will write to Matty immediately. We shall go to my estates in County Clare. He will like it there excessively - and there will be no fear he will meet anyone there who will remind him of this fetch!

****

Next morning a letter was delivered to the inn by means of the twopenny post. It was addressed to Dom and was from Billy Boyd. Dom was happy to discover that Billy had found Jack and they were at present at Falmouth fitting out the yacht, and would be in Dover in three days. The letter was dated two days previously, so Dom was happy to tell Elijah that they would be sailing as soon as the wind was fair.

The look sparkling in Elijah's eyes, when Dom informed him of this, was all that Dom had hoped it would be.

"I am so glad, Dom - and to go to Ireland again is what I would most wish to do. I trust the clothing we have brought with us will be sufficient to see us through the rest of the summer?"

Dom smiled at his love, and ruffled his hair, brushing the back of his long fingers down the side of Elijah's face as he did so.

"Do not fear, Lij. I have, this morning, arranged for more to be sent here for us, now that we are no longer visiting Paris. I have written to your man, Slade, requesting him to put up all that would be needful for a prolonged sojourn in the summer heat, besides clothing more suitable for formal gatherings. I ordered my butler to send it to us in two carriages, so there will be plenty of room for it all. Should I have told him to come with it - Slade I mean? No? Then do not trouble yourself further upon the matter."

He thought for a moment, then continued, "I know how anxious you are to see your sister, Hannah. Perhaps you would care to write to your Mama, inviting her to Ireland? I could get up a nice, tight little party - invite a few of my particular married friends, and my cousin Connaught and his wife, for m'mother is visiting with her sister in Scotland at this present, and you must know no lady would visit a gentleman's home without a hostess present to see to her comfort. Aurelia is very good at that sort of thing. They have three very amiable, lively daughters, also, whom I am sure Hannah will like."

Elijah grinned happily. "What a capital idea, Dom! And, as Connaught, I know, is a mere earl, Mama will be first in consequence amongst the women of the gathering, which she will like of all things. I gather it is a house of some...er, size?"

Dom laughed. "It is an enormous pile, Lij. Lord knows how many rooms are in it, for I don't. It is the chief of my ancestral homes, m'father was born there, so I have a particular fondness for it, besides the gardens being most impressive, and there is a trout stream, and...oh, you will see!" he laughed, warming to his theme.

"The best thing I know of it is there are connecting doors through the master bedroom, to the one next door, which we will find most useful. For though we will have to behave circumspectly in public, for a while, the night is another thing altogether, my love!"

They were sitting in the rose garden; the sun, warm and comforting was shining down on them, and the bees were ravishing the flowers, their comforting buzz a happy accompaniment to the afternoon's tranquility.

Their friends had gone on an expedition to see the boats in the harbour being loaded, and to discover what the weather was likely to do within the next few days, so Dom, taking advantage of their secluded position in the garden, ventured to kiss his love, which action proved very satisfactory for them both.

"I love you so much, Dom - you are a light to me where I thought to find only an eternity of greyness stretching before me. I cannot say I looked forward to my life with any degree of joy - before I met you, there was merely resignation - but now..."

...and they kissed each other again.

****

The next morning, Billy and Jack appeared at the inn, and when Jack, still slightly hollow-eyed from fear, was told that Harry was dead, he blurted out, "Oh, I am glad!" before blushing deeply, and apologising to Elijah, who patted his arm and told him not to be such a goose.

Billy was anxious to see that all was prepared for Dom and Elijah's journey and wasted no time in returning to his boat, dressed in the captain's uniform of which he was inordinately, and justifiably proud.

Dom saw the doctor off in his own well-appointed carriage, telling the man to keep it, and the horses, as he had dozens more at his disposal. "It will add to your consequence to have it, and there is no crest on the panel so that people will not charge you with putting yourself above them. Perhaps it may bring you a class of client more able to pay you with coin, for I know, in the country, you are more likely to be paid with hens and cabbages! Off with you, now - and thank you again."

The gratified doctor could hardly believe his good fortune at this unexpected gift, but was even more astonished when Dom pressed into his hand a purse containing a hundred golden guineas. In vain did he protest that the fee was far in excess of the normal fee, but Dom waved the words away.

"I must tell you, doctor, that I count it cheap, for there is nothing, as you must surely know by now, that is as precious to me as is my duke. Thank you for staying until he was in better pin."

The night before they were to embark upon their journey, Elijah announced that he had bespoken a special dinner for his friends in one of the private dining rooms, and, with a shy smile, begged them all to be present.

Thus Barney and Ceddie, together with Victor, Dom and Elijah, with Bert guarding the door against officious servants, gathered at eight o'clock that evening to partake of the excellent meal Elijah had ordered for them.

It seemed to them, that although he still seemed tired, there was a calmness about him that had not existed in previous days, and they were grateful for it.

After the port had been passed around, Elijah stood, and tapped his glass for silence.

"I thank you, my dear friends, for attending this small dinner party. It is my greatest pleasure to dine here with you, because, as you must know, if it were not for all of you, I should not be here to enjoy it."

The smile faded, as he continued, with a slight tremor in his voice. "Only I can know what this means to me - to be in possession of such friends - for except for Barney, and Gil and Ferdy, and...and...my life has been curiously lacking in the sort of friends who would imperil their lives in the execution of saving mine. For I have no doubt that there hasbeen danger for you all."

"Knowing what I now know of...Harry...I cannot believe he would have left any of you alive to tell the tale. Dom, he wished to dispatch when he attempted to administered the poison to me. I am only grateful - to the bottom of my soul, I am grateful - that it was Achilles, and not Dom who had taken the first morsel..."

He stopped here, and Dom would have spoken, but Elijah indicated that he wished to finish what he had to say.

"I just wished to say how much I owe to you good men, and that if there is any way I may ever be of service to you, I will do my possible to do so. I can never forget your kindness to me, Ceddie and Victor, for although you barely know me, you helped me for Dom's sake."

Here Victor and Ceddie shook their heads. "No, bantling - it may have started as that, indeed," said Sir Victor, smiling in a kindly manner at the young man standing before him, "but it is quite a period, now, since I have been liking you for yourself, you know."

Ceddie murmured "hear, hear!" in a gentle tone which brought a lump to Dom's throat.

"And Barney," Elijah continued bravely. "Barney, who has risked his reputation as well as his life in tracking down the perpetrator of those evils attempted upon me. For it is known - amongst this small circle, and to Bert, now assiduously guarding this door - that Barney's life is not one of boring respectability..."

Barney erupted in a loud refutation of this slur upon his character. "It is now, Lij, no, really, Lij..." he said, to general laughter. "I have given up all that, I promise you. I have passed on my mantle to another of the Gentlemen - and, no, I ain't going to tell you which one. It was getting...stale. Besides, my heart was no longer in it, after Ned died. I shall have to discover some other - some lawful way of supplementing my income."

Ceddie dug his new friend in the shoulder with a sharp finger. "Or you may merely attempt to live within your means, Barney, old chap. I know that it will be a novel experience for you, but it can be done. Besides I understand from you that your income is in excess of two thousand a year - any man could manage a sizeable household or two, and a string of hunting hounds on that, man! Good lor'! Look at me - I do it!"

"And Dom will tell you," continued Ceddie, in a spirit of candour, "despite the fact he is so odiously wealthy he cannot possibly spend as much as a tithe of his income, I have never touched him for so much as a shilling - except, once, in Spain to purchase a dozen eggs for our dinner!"

There was a burst of laughter from Dom at this sally, and Elijah was able to continue what he was saying with a little less constraint than he had before felt.

"And at last I come to Dom," Elijah said, the warmth in his tone unmistakable. "What can I say of him, except he is the most dear, dear man, and grows more dear to me with every passing day. I cannot say more or I shall reveal my inner self to you in an excess of sensibility that can do nothing but diminish your good opinion of me. So, my friends, I thank you, once more, from the bottom of my heart, and pray the good God for a more peaceful and less dangerous future for all of us!"

Here he sat down to generous applause from his companions, but it was seen that Barney was frowning.

"I hate to bring the question up, but it must be said - what of Giles Monaghan? He was, after all, Warbois' lover..."

Dom smiled reassuringly at Elijah. "We need have no fear concerning Giles, my friends. I have written to him in no uncertain terms, informing him - in the most discreetly worded of missives, I assure you - that if he did not keep mum on a certain subject, his father would be informed of the exact nature of his relationship with a certain deceased person - and yes, I told him I had reliable witnesses to this affair.

I do not think he will disregard the warning - he is an expensive young buck, and will not like being cut off without a shilling, which is what my uncle would most assuredly do if he got wind of the matter."

Barney was seen to nod in Ceddie's direction. "However, Dom, I think Ceddie and I will visit young Giles and give him a gentle, er... prod... in the direction we wishes him to go - which is back to Ireland, where he will never more be seen in polite society, what?"

*****

Later, in bed, Dom, lying happily in his lover's arms, thought that now, they might have peace together. He felt Elijah stir, hard against his thigh and smiled to himself - Lij was definitely feeling more the thing.

"Do you think?..."he managed before Elijah captured his mouth in a sweet embrace, and ran his tongue along his bottom lip in a way that made Dom gasp with pleasure.

"I would take you, and do to you all manner of luscious and lewd things, my Dom, if it pleases you," murmured Elijah into a most receptive ear. "For I find I cannot delay making love to you for a moment longer. Feel..." he breathed, guiding Dom's hand to the hot evidence of his ardour, "...how hard I am for you."

Dom shifted on to his back and pulled Elijah on top of him with one fluid movement. "No harder than am I for you, as you can so plainly feel."

Then, as their feelings mounted, and Elijah moved swiftly to breach Dom as they had both so much desired, he knew - knew beyond doubt - that there was no-one, no-one in the world who could bring him so much joy in completion as could his Dom.

Dom, closing his eyes, allowed the feeling of his mounting pleasure to take him, the sight and sounds of Elijah's ecstasy being almost too much for his heart to bear.

Elijah, lay, replete within the circle of Dom's arms, and in the light of the moon shining in upon them, Dom gazed at his love, who seemed almost ethereal in his beauty. Dom thought he might...would...find words to describe this look, these feelings, if he put his mind to it.

But not tonight. No, not tonight. Tonight was for thankfulness, quiet, and the full and grateful knowledge of joy in requited love.

****

EPILOGUE

Two months later...

It was a beautiful day in mid September. The new yacht, Sirona, - named by the well-read Elijah for the Celtic goddess of health - was lying in the harbour of a small Greek fishing village, and work aboard her had slowed to almost nothing as was usual - the heat of the midday sun preventing much physical effort.

The several denizens of the vessel were to be found doing what they desired, as always at this time of day, during their time of rest.

Bert, who surprisingly had chosen to accompany them, saying he was tired of city life and would welcome a change, was busy in the galley with Morlock, Dom having discovered that Bert was an excellent cook.

Two other crewmen sat under an awning on the aft deck, eating peaches, and playing a leisurely game of cards, whilst Billy supervised Jack - who was clumsily pulling up a loaded fishing net from the sea - his arm carefully resting on the lad's shoulder. Billy's look was loving and almost proprietary, and Dom had no doubt, from the shy glances shared between them, that their relationship was ripening into something far more intimate.

Dom sat on a bench set against the wooden wall near the door to the cabins, the inkwell, and the paper on which he was writing, resting on a small barrel in front of him.

He had drawn a line at the bottom of the paper with a flourish, and was now staring at something which was totally absorbing his interest.

Elijah.

Elijah was lying on the deck in his shirtsleeves. Rolled-up shirtsleeves, Dom was pleased to note, and the lawn shirt was also open almost to the waist, displaying far more than was seemly of his lover's smooth chest. There was no sign, at all, of the formal duke Dom had first encountered in his salon all those months ago. He smiled at the thought.

The sun shone down upon Elijah, and prolonged exposure to it during the summer months had turned the usually pale-skinned man into a creature all burnished gold.

Dom put down his pen, and stared critically at the words he had just written. Then he put the paper down and crossed the deck to his love. He would read it to Elijah tonight. Tonight, after love...or before it. Dom shivered at the thought.

Dom's shadow darkened the sun, and Elijah opened his eyes. Even with his eyes closed he had known it was Dom, although Billy stood nearby, securing the anchor for the night's berth in the small harbour where they were about to spend a few nights.

"What, my love - what is it?" Elijah asked, as Dom settled beside him on the rug on which he was lying.

"I have written you a poem. I hope you will like it. It says all that I wish to say about you, my lovely man."

Elijah turned to face Dom. "May I not hear it, now, love?"

Dom shook his head. "Tonight, in bed, you shall hear it, I promise. But not until then."

A bird wheeled overhead, its raucous cry splitting the silence. Billy finished coiling the rope he was holding, and called over to them. "Luncheon is nearly ready, Bert has just shouted up, if you've a mind to it."

Dom raised himself on his elbow. "Ask Morlock to serve ours in our cabin, in half an hour or so, if you will. I have a mind to rest in the cool for a short while."

Elijah, eyeing Dom's condition, smothered a laugh. "It is rest that you need? You are a very bad liar, Monaghan, make no mistake. Rest, indeed!"

Dom spoke in a low voice meant for Elijah alone. "So, come with me, and make a liar of me. I would read you my poem - but it must be read in bed - and we must be naked."

Elijah kissed Dom, hard, and leapt to his feet. He put his mouth next to Dom's ear and whispered in provocative tones, "Come! A wager! We will see who is first to strip naked!”

And entering their cabin, they closed the door tight on the world, and gave themselves up to love, and Dom, Elijah's head resting upon his breast, read to his love the poem...

Put your head, darling, darling, darling,
Your darling black head my heart above;
Oh, mouth of honey, with the thyme for fragrance
Who, with heart in breast, could deny you love?

Oh, many and many a young girl for me is pining,
Letting her locks of gold to the cold wind free;
And me, the foremost of our gay young fellows,
But I leave a hundred, pure love, for thee!

Then put your head, darling, darling, darling,
Your darling black head my heart above.
Oh, mouth of honey, with the thyme for fragrance
Who, with heart in breast, could deny you love?

The End

The poem is Ceann Dubh Dilis - Black Haired Dearing, by Sir Samuel Ferguson but I’m sure he won’t mind that it was borrowed for a most excellent cause.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: DasLied von der Erde Mahler

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

lireeli.livejournal.com

Well, where to begin?
I'm glad for this journey with you and glad they found their peace...
I'm also relieved that if it's the end of this story it's not the end of your story...I'm craving now for Inca II!!
Thank you for this journey!
Your faithful reader.
*hugs*

From:

regency

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags