A Promise of Tomorrow (10 page)

I can control myself long enough to see this young man through his current trial
.
Then I’ll simply have to come back to town and find Elias or someone else willing to let me plow them through a wall for several nights running.

Keeping a rueful smile off his lips, he said, “I believe I have a solutionto our current situation, and I want youto hear me out before you say anything.” James raised his brows in question, and Allen nodded warily.

“We are agreed that you should send a letter to your aunt and await her reply. We are also agreed that your staying here could prove problematic. So my solution is for you to quit London and accompany me to my estate in Suffolk until you receive word from your aunt.” When Allen opened his mouth to interrupt, James raised his hand.

“You agreed to hear me out, remember.” Allen closed his mouthagain, and James continued, “I come to townlate inthe season for a reason, Mr. Allen, and any excuse to leave again for the quiet and comfort of my home is always welcome. Also, Kentwood Hallis perhaps fifteen miles from Bury St. Edmunds, so you would be a great deal nearer to your goal there than here. And last, but certainly not least, my niece and nephew often join me for a short holiday on myreturnto Kentwood, and I believe theywould be most gratefulfor your company there. So you see, there’s absolutely every reason for youto accept and no reasonfor youto refuse.”

Allen remained silent after James had finished, hope and concern warring in his eyes. It appeared that hope won, because his eyes got suspiciouslybright, and he chuckled weakly.

“I suppose I cannot refuse an offer like that, even if I should wishto,”he said.

 

“No, youcannot,”James answered, smilinginreturn.
But if you continue to smile at me like that, this is going to be a very long journey indeed.

 

Chapter 6

 

K
YLE
’
S
head was still reeling fromthe events of the last few days as
Lord Warren’s coach finally won clear of the London streets and set a steadypace onthe road to Suffolk.

After their rather unbelievable conversation in the study, Warren had gone to speak with Lord and LadyAshton regarding his plan, and Kyle had beenshownto the drawingroom.

He still felt uncomfortable with accepting such generosity, but the truth of the matter was that he didn’t have much choice. He couldn’t go back to Victor. He didn’t have enoughmoneyto travelto his aunt’s and buy clothing enough so that he would be fit to be seen when he got there. And even if he had, Warren was right. If his aunt refused him, he might be stranded penniless ina strange town.

The twins were waiting for him in the drawing room, and his entire conversationwiththeir uncle was dragged out ofhiminbarelya minute’s time. They seemed to think it was a brilliant plan and were, Kyle thought, genuinely pleased about the prospect of spending their holidaywithhim.

“I knew my uncle would fix everything. He is the best and most generous of men,” Anna had said, smiling warmly. “I knew he wouldn’t let anythingbad happento you.”

Kyle had to agree with her. He’d never met anyone quite like Lord Warren and was quite certain he never would again. He hadn’t known what to expect from the man when he’d entered the library that morning, but he certainly had never dared to hope that he would be met withsuchcompassionand understanding.

He asked to call me his friend!
he thought wonderingly.

Kyle knew he could be in prison right now with what Lord Warren knew ofhim, and the relief he felt at the man’s acceptance of himhad left himweak and on the verge of tears for nearly their entire interview. He never would have forgiven himself if he’d broken down infront ofthe managain, so he’d fought it witheverythinghe had.

When Lord Warren and the twins’ parents joined themshortly before dinner, Kyle had been relieved to find them as charming and unaffected as the rest of the family. Warren had promised to keep his secrets, so Kyle was fairly certain they knew nothing of his failings, but the mere fact that they could be so open and welcoming to a stranger in their home touched him deeply. In that moment, he felt he’d never met a better family and vowed silently that he would do everything in his power to pay them back for their kindness as soon as he could manage it.

Dinner had passed quickly, with the family making plans for their departure fromtown. He tried to say as little as possible, falling back on old habits to keep him from making himself look any more the bumpkininfront ofhis new friends.

During dinner he learned that Lord and LadyAshton would not be accompanying their children to Warren’s estate. They still had engagements in London. But he was assured that this was the case everyyear, so he need not feelresponsible.

Though he didn’t say why, Lord Warren had determined it best that they leave in two days’ time, and as the twins were already engaged for a ball that evening, it was decided that Kyle and Lord Warren would travel together in his carriage and the twins would follow the next morning, intheir own.

The next day, Ashton had accompanied him to Savile Row, where he’d been fitted for new clothes that would be sent on to Kentwood Hall for him. When Kyle had protested, he’d been assured that anaccountingwould be kept, and, when he was able, he could repay the viscount every penny, with interest, if he felt it necessary. Somewhat mollified, Kyle agreed, and upon returning to the townhouse, was given a few more of Andrew’s clothes to wear untilhis could arrive.

Afterward, he had had another pleasant eveningwiththe family, though, much to his disappointment, Lord Warren had not joined them, and the following morning, he and the small trunk he had been givenwere packed into the lord’s carriage, and offtheywent.

Everything had happened so fast, Kyle hadn’t even had a chance to think, but now, seated in the viscount’s comfortable carriage, withWarrennappinginthe seat across fromhim, there were no more distractions to keep his thoughts at bay. They came tumbling over one another in his head, making himalmost dizzy and a little sick as he gazed out the window at the passingcountryside.

I had a good home, a decent education, decent prospects, and parents who, while perhaps not particularly loving or affectionate, were at least willing to do their duty and see me properly situated. And what did I do with it?

The thought ofhis parents reminded himofthe warmand loving relationship he’d seen among the Ashtons, and he couldn’t help but compare it to his own family. His mother had sometimes been affectionate with him, at least as a young boy, he remembered, but as he had grown, and more markedly, after the death of his elder brother George, it had become harder and harder to earn her affection.

He’d learned to play the pianoforte and sing Irish folk songs specifically because he knew it pleased her, and it had been one of the few ways to keep her attention. His father had allowed it because it meant he could also play for church services. The time he’d spent sitting next to his mother while she’d taught himto play had been the happiest ofhis life.

He’d never been allowed to associate with the village children because his father, in his pride, had thought them beneath him, so music had been his only real joy in an otherwise rather lonely childhood. George had died whenKyle was veryyoung, so he hadn’t ever really known his elder brother, though his parents had never failed to tell himabout how wonderful George had been and how far Kyle was lackingincomparison.

Music was the only talent he had had that George hadn’t, and so he’d clung to it like a lifeline. Victor had loved to hear him play and sing. It was one of the few things he could do that Victor
hadn’t
found fault with.

Yes, pretty bird, you sang and sang without even knowing you’d been put in a cage.
Kyle flinched at the turnofhis thoughts.

The more Kyle thought about his months with Victor, the more disgusted he became withhimself.
How could I have been so blind? How could I not have seen what was happening until it was too late? He’d been chipping away at me, little by little, until there wasn’t anything left but the pretty shell he wanted on his arm. And I let him do it!

Kyle began to rub his temples, trying to ease the ache that had begun there. He had to think of something else or he’d go mad or start sobbing or pull his hair out, he didn’t know which. Turning his head from the window, he looked over at his traveling companion. While the lord slept, Kyle had the perfect opportunity to look his fill without the manknowinghe was doingit.

Much more pleasant to think about than Victor and my own folly
.

James
. He spoke the name in his mind, a thrill of guilt at the familiarity. The manexuded anair ofstrengthand certitude eveninhis sleep. His head and broad shoulders were relaxed against the back of the seat, with his large hands clasped across his chest. Kyle was struck again with the memory of what it felt like to lean against that chest and feelthose hands holdinghimclose.

Shaking his head, he tried to change the direction of his thoughts yet again before they ventured any further into where they shouldn’t. He stillcouldn’t believe he was traveling with a viscount, in his carriage, as an invited guest to his estate. It was almost too fantastic. This handsome, kind, powerful man had rescued him from Victor, given himsanctuary, then offered hima place as a guest in his home after knowing him only a few hours. Coming after the betrayal of the night before, it was almost too much. Part of himwas afraid to trust inhis good fortune.

Just then, the subject ofhis thoughts grunted in his sleep and his head fell on his shoulder, a small smile curling his lips. Kyle’s heart stuttered a little at the sweetness of it, and he longed to run his fingertips over that smile. The compulsion, and the tender feeling behind it, surprised him.

He’d never experienced this kind of feeling with Victor. Oh, he had bent like a reed under the stormofVictor’s passion. He’d longed to please him, to garner his attention and approval, but he never remembered feelinganytenderness for him, not like this.

Don’t be a fool
, he scolded himself.
The man is helping you out of pity and a fondness for his nephew, and you’re mooning over him like a lovesick girl. After you hear from your aunt, you’ll probably never see the man again, and he’ll be well rid of you.

But the man
was
a pleasure to look at. Kyle could at least admit that to himself without guilt. So look at himhe did. He just had to keep a tighter reinonhis errant thoughts, that was all.

In time, the pleasant view and the rhythmic bouncing of the carriage eased the ache in his head and allowed him to relax and simply enjoy his journey in the well-appointed carriage. The heat of the day made him drowsy, and it wasn’t long before his own head was nodding.

Somehow all will turn out right
, he thought hopefully.
And I
will
figure out some way to repay all the kindnesses I have received. I
will!

Those were his last thoughts before he fellasleep.

J
AMES
was a bit too warm but as comfortable as one could be in a carriage bouncing over rutted roads. He’d been drowsing nearly since they’d climbed into the carriage that morning, just allowing himself to drift in semi-consciousness as they had passed through the city and out onto the road. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and he knew he wasn’t going to be pleasant company, so he decided to take advantage ofthe longhours inthe carriage and relax, keepinghis mind purposelyblank.

He must have fallen asleep at some point, because it wasn’t until he felt slightly cooler air on areas that had been almost uncomfortably warm before that he realized his waistcoat had been opened and pushed aside. Looking down in surprise, he found green eyes flecked with gold staring back at him from beneath a mop of short black curls. On his knees on the floorboards of the carriage, between James’s spread thighs, Allen was busily unbuttoning his trousers.

“What…?” he said in confusion, trying to shake the cobwebs fromhis head.

 

“Shhhh,”Allensaid. “It’s allright. Let me.”

Stunned, James couldn’t think of anything to say, and as he felt Allen’s warm hand slide into his trousers and those long, elegant fingers wrap around his quickly hardening cock, any thought of speakingleft himentirely.

A gentle tug from that hand pulled him free of his clothes, and he could feel the slight breeze from the window kiss the tip of his shaft. Before he could become used to the sensation, however, another warm hand joined the first, higher up, pulling down gently to expose his crown, and a warmwet tongue circled and dipped into his slit. Eyes never leaving James’s, Kyle ran his tongue in an everwidening circle around the crown of his cock, then dipped to tease the lengthofhis shaft inlazycircles withthe pointed tip.

James groaned, aching to feel that warm mouth surround him even in the summer heat, and bucked his hips to show his impatience with the teasing. Another time, he would have gladly held still and let the man torment him as long as possible, but he wanted this too much. He’d been fantasizing about this particular mouth since the first moment he’d laid eyes onAllen, and, knowing he wasn’t going to last long, he wanted to be init before he spent.