Eban pats my back as I try to stop choking and compose myself. I can’t help noticing he didn’t offer his own boyfriend. And the thought of being intimate with Bastion makes me start coughing all over again.
I spent years of my life being a frustrated horn dog but now it seems I only want Harry. The idea of anyone else is beyond disgusting.
“Well, there is no point worrying about it now,” says Eban brightly, but he is fooling no one. “You are not ripe yet, we can cross that bridge when we come to it.”
A timid tap on the door seems to perk Eban up. Looks like he is glad for reinforcements.
“Come in!” he calls.
A young man slips in. He flashes me a quick glance before his gaze drops submissively to the floor. He really looks like he doesn’t want to be here at all. I huff. Well, that makes two of us.
“Colby, this is Charlie Lidford, Archie’s boyfriend.”
Wait a minute. Is this Charles Lidford? The vessel that used to belong to Earl Rathbone before Earl Hathbury won him in a duel? And now he is in a relationship with Hathbury and not just his vessel? I hadn’t heard that part.
I quickly assess the unassuming young man. He seems nice enough. Not particularly powerful. He doesn’t seem the sort to inspire mages to duel over him.
“A pleasure to meet you, your Grace,” he says softly.
“Likewise,” I reply automatically.
“Come, take a seat!” says Eban, gesturing at an empty chair.
Charlie shuffles forward and tentatively sits, as if he thinks the furniture might rear up and bite him at any moment. Eban pours him a cup of tea and Charlie takes it with shaking hands. Is he always like this? Is it me? Do I scare him?
He used to belong to Earl Rathbone, the man I suspect traumatized Harry when he was a teenager. Is this what Rathbone does to people? I swallow over my dry throat.
“You used to belong to Earl Rathbone, didn’t you?” I ask.
Charlie flinches as if someone struck him, and he hunches over. “Y… yes, that’s right,” he stammers. Eban glares at me.
“I find his alchemy work fascinating,” I say. I need to know more about Rathbone, without giving away any of Harry’s secrets. Especially as I only have suspicions at the moment. I have no idea how uncovering anything is going to get me out of this current mess, but it’s worth a try.
Charlie somehow makes himself even smaller. He doesn’t look at me as he speaks softly, but clearly.
“I’m afraid it was all far above my understanding, your Grace.”
“I can relate to that!” I say cheerily. “What was he like to work with?” I ask, quickly followed by crying out “Ow!” as Eban kicks my ankle.
Charlie’s gaze flies up to mine in alarm at my sudden exclamation. His deep brown eyes are beautiful. And the most haunted I have ever seen.
“Sorry, never mind me, I’m always one for making the conversation dull. Let’s talk about something else,” I babble as I try to backpedal.
Eban jumps in and starts talking about some crazy drama that recently happened in the wolf shifter pack he is living with. And I’m grateful for his save. I sip my tea and pretend to be paying attention.
I watch Charlie out of the corner of my eye and I’m relieved when he seems to relax. It’s only a little, but he at least doesn’t look as terrified as he did when I was talking about Rathbone. I feel like an ass for upsetting him, but at least now I know. Earl Rathbone is evil.
How I am going to use this information to my advantage, is another question entirely. But I’ll think of something. I’m getting Harry out of here if it’s the last thing I do.
Chapter twenty-four
Thesoundofsoupspoons clanging against bowls fills the dining room. It makes me want to scream. I’m being held prisoner, but everyone is pretending I’m a guest. I don’t even know Earl Hathbury and I have no idea how he was roped into hosting all of this. I glare at the young earl sitting at the head of the table, as if it is all his fault.
Eban and Bastion are sitting on the right-hand side of the table and Garrington and his fake-brother-turned-vessel on the left. But Charlie is nowhere to be seen. I thought he was the earl’s boyfriend?
“Is Charlie well?” I ask.
Eban looks up at me. “He is fine, he just finds company difficult.”
