The Christmas Wager (21 page)

concerned. Had Andrew‘s talk with Percy gone so badly, then?

But the blond shook his head. ―No, I‘m not leaving—yet.

But I think it would be very wise for us both to leave as soon as

the roads are clear.‖

―Did Percy threaten you?‖

Andrew laughed, but there was little humor in his voice.

―Of course not. He has nothing to threaten me with. You and I

are far bigger and more frightening than a sixteen-year-old

from a small country village.‖ It puzzled Thomas that Andrew

was saying this sarcastically, as if he were contemptuous of it.

―Percy agreed that it would be in his best interest to keep this

morning‘s… incident… to himself from now on. But of course,

it will have spread throughout the household by now. The

sooner we return to London, the better, I think.‖

―Why should I run off with my tail between my legs? This

is my home, Andrew,‖ Thomas said, irritated, though he wasn‘t

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certain himself how passionately he was committed to that

statement. He released Andrew‘s shoulders, as his friend

obviously was not in an affectionate frame of mind, and walked

toward the fireplace.

―Do you intend to move back here, then?‖ Andrew asked.

―Well, no,‖ Thomas said, taking a seat near the fire, ―I‘m

quite happy in London. I
am
glad you talked me into returning

for the holiday. I suspect Edward and I will be on better terms

for it. But I still don‘t get on well with Father. I probably never

will.‖

―I have to confess, I‘m missing the somewhat simpler life

we had in London.‖

This touched a nerve. ―Before I realized how much I love

you, you mean?‖

Andrew stopped what he was doing and turned to smile at

him. ―I don‘t mean that. I‘m looking forward to continuing

our… relationship. Just not here. I think the longer we stay

here, the more it will gall Percy.‖

―Percy be damned. I should have let Hew pummel him.‖

―He was pummeled quite enough, I think,‖ Andrew said,

shooting him a disapproving look. ―He‘s just a boy, and he

doesn‘t understand men like us. I daresay he isn‘t alone in

that. No doubt the other servants would share his feelings, if

they saw what he saw. The longer we remain here, the more

likely we are to slip up and provide someone with real

evidence.‖

Thomas turned away to stare contemplatively at the

burning fireplace. ―I suppose you may be right.‖ He was still

annoyed at the brat, though. If Percy expected to remain at

Barrington Hall—or indeed, at any noble house—he would have

to learn some discretion.

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―People are always opening doors on you here,‖ Andrew

said, returning to his packing. ―I much prefer the club, where

you can count on just one maid coming in to clean, at a

specific time of day—and
not
, I might add, first thing in the

morning.‖

Thomas laughed and loosened his cravat as the warmth of

the fire seeped into him. ―So I suppose that means you aren‘t in

the mood for a quick tumble, then?‖

The mere fact that he and Andrew were alone together was

beginning to affect him, making it difficult to think of anything

but how smooth his friend‘s skin would be to the touch, and

how warm. But Andrew appeared to be unenthusiastic about

the idea.

―You‘re a pig,‖ the blond replied, laughing as well, but

making no attempt to move closer. ―And you‘ll have to wait

until everyone has gone to sleep tonight. Percy may be lurking

about, during the day.‖

―I could have him reassigned downstairs.‖

―Don‘t. We don‘t need to make him any more suspicious

than he already is. And demoting him will just add to his

dislike of us and make him more of a problem in the future.‖

Thomas groaned. ―Really, Andrew, this is pathetic. I‘m

hiding from one of my own servants. And a boy, at that.‖

―If you intend to be with me,‖ Andrew replied, finally

coming over to stand behind Thomas‘s chair and run a hand

gently through his thick hair, ―then I‘m afraid this is the way

we must carry on our relationship.‖

Thomas grabbed his friend‘s hand and pulled it to his lips

to kiss it, longing to kiss other parts of him, and put the man‘s

hand in more interesting places. ―Of course I intend to be with

you. Stop assuming I‘ll abandon you at the first sign of

inconvenience. I just wish it could be easier.‖

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―As do I,‖ Andrew said, giving his hand a squeeze.

PERCY must want to avoid me as much as I want to avoid him
,

Andrew mused as he finished dressing for dinner. There had

been no sight of the boy since their talk that afternoon. And for

that, Andrew had been glad.

Thomas had told him of his conversation with Hew and

Duncan. Thank goodness the two of them had reacted sensibly.

Even though he‘d only known them a few days, Andrew would

have been terribly hurt had they defected. He wasn‘t certain

that they really understood the situation, but their determined

loyalty touched him. The world needed more men such as they.

The connecting door to Thomas‘s room opened softly, and

Andrew jumped. But of course it was Thomas, looking stunning

in a gold brocade dinner jacket. Andrew smiled at him and

permitted himself a moment of affection, taking the man into

his arms and kissing him briefly. If only, he reflected, such acts

as a simple kiss didn‘t have to feel so perilous.

They walked down to dinner together, but were surprised

to discover that the dinning room was empty.

―Are we early?‖ Andrew asked.

―Never!‖ Thomas said with a smile. ―I wouldn‘t hear of it.‖

Obviously having overheard them, Duchess Barrington

appeared at the doorway to the sitting room and beckoned to

them. As they approached, she said to them in a low voice,

―Dinner will be delayed a bit this evening. Edward and your

father are having a discussion with Lord Hudson.‖

―A discussion?‖ Thomas asked, as they entered the sitting

room. ―Concerning what?‖

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Lady Hudson was there, sitting on the settee beside

Rebecca, who was looking rather pale. Miss Hudson did no

more than glance up when the men entered the room.

Duchess Barrington returned to her chair near the fire,

looking rather agitated herself. ―That, I can‘t say, although….‖

She gave Rebecca a suspicious glance. ―I have my suspicions.‖

―As do I,‖ Lady Hudson added, looking at Rebecca sternly.

―But my daughter seems disinclined to confirm or deny them.‖

Miss Hudson blushed and refused to meet either woman‘s

gaze. ―I‘m sure I don‘t have the faintest idea, Mother.‖

So, that’s it
, Andrew thought.
Edward has finally shown a

bit of backbone.

Thomas opened his mouth, but before he could utter a

word, the door to the study could be heard opening, followed by

the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor of the entrance hall.

Duchess Barrington jumped up and rushed to the door,

followed by Lady Hudson, forcing Andrew and Thomas to step

back into the hall in order to prevent a collision. Edward was

approaching, looking quite pleased with himself. Behind him,

Lord Hudson seemed quite happy as well, but the look on Duke

Barrington‘s face was dark and ominous. He saw Thomas and

positively glared at his youngest son.

―I have wonderful news,‖ Edward told all those gathered.

―Miss Hudson and I are to be married!‖

Duchess Barrington and Rebecca‘s mother gasped in

delight, though Andrew was quite certain neither was

surprised. Rebecca herself had emerged from the sitting room,

and gazed in adoration at Edward. Andrew conceded that it

was a touching scene. After their love had been cast aside six

years ago by the duke‘s machinations and Edward‘s

foolishness, Rebecca would finally have the husband she had

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always longed for, and Edward had been given a chance to

redeem himself.

Romantic, Andrew supposed, though he privately hoped

Rebecca would give Edward a swift kick in the shin the next

time she found herself possessed of riding boots.

Simcox approached from the dining room and asked

Duchess Barrington, ―Shall we serve dinner now, Your Grace?‖

―Yes, Simcox,‖ the duchess replied with a gracious smile.

But Andrew had noticed that the duke did not appear to

be sharing in everyone else‘s joy at the engagement. As Simcox

turned back to the dining room, Barrington swiftly marched up

to Thomas and grabbed him by the elbow.

―You,‖ he said, his voice low and menacing, ―are coming

with me for a little chat.‖

There was hardly time for Thomas to protest as he was

dragged off toward the library.

Duchess Barrington opened her mouth to protest, but the

duke called back over his shoulder, ―You may start dinner

without us!‖

―SURELY this can wait until after dinner, Father!‖ Thomas

protested, as he was practically thrown into the library, the

duke releasing him at last to close the large wooden doors

behind them. The man then turned the key in the lock, which

Thomas found unsettling.

―No,‖ the duke snarled, ―it cannot wait.‖

He strode over to the liquor cabinet and grabbed a bottle of

the whiskey he and Edward were so fond of. Thomas could

barely stomach the stuff, so he wasn‘t disappointed when his

father chose not to offer him any of it.

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―I suppose you think you‘ve been very clever!‖ the duke

said, uncorking the bottle and taking a swig from it.

Thomas knew perfectly well what his father meant, but he

would be damned if he‘d cooperate with this little bit of theater.

―I haven‘t the faintest idea—‖

―I suppose I should have seen this coming,‖ his father

went on, ignoring him. ―But Lord Hudson assured me that the

young chit was interested in
you
. I thought she and Edward

had gotten over their childish infatuation by now.‖

―They‘re in love with each other, Father,‖ Thomas said.

The duke snorted derisively. ―Love!‖ He managed to put

more contempt into that word than Thomas had thought

possible. ―If Edward had
loved
her, he would have fought for

her.‖

Thomas had a sudden realization. Was it possible that the

duke would have allowed Edward to marry Rebecca all those

years ago, if only Edward had shown a little backbone at the

time? ―If he had,‖ Thomas pointed out, ―he—Barrington itself—

would not have acquired Anne‘s landholdings.‖

The duke went over to the fireplace, resting an elbow on

the mantel and staring into the flames. He took another drink

before responding. ―Love always fails, in the face of financial

gain.‖ Another drink. ―Or political gain. Or adversity. Or social

status. Or another pretty young face….‖

―If,‖ Thomas said, growing irritated with this meandering

conversation, ―you brought me in here to confess that you don‘t

love Mother, I daresay this comes as a surprise to no one.‖

The duke shot him a sharp look. ―Your mother is a fine

woman,‖ he snapped. ―I respect her immensely, and I have

provided her with everything she could ever wish. And I have

never done anything to dishonor her!‖

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―Yet you cannot be bothered to
talk
to her. You spend all of

your time with your dogs.‖

The duke took a step toward him, his face turning red with

fury, and for a moment Thomas thought the man might

attempt to strike him. ―My life is none of your concern! And you

are the last person to claim moral superiority over anyone!‖

This caught Thomas unawares. What was his father

accusing him of? Did he know about Thomas‘s relationship

with Andrew?

―Oh yes,‖ Barrington said, reading his expression. ―I‘ve

heard the servants‘ gossip. Less than a week under my roof,

and you‘ve already caused a minor scandal. Not that I was

surprised. I‘ve always known what you were.‖

―What I…?‖ Thomas said, unable to think very clearly.