Christopher groaned. “I suppose now is the time that I ask what in the name of all things are the two of you even doing here? And how did you find me?”
“Were you hiding?” Theodore grinned.
“That is not an answer.”
“An answer you will have.” Theodore shook his wet hair and then shrugged off his dripping wet coat. “But first, how about inviting us inside? As upset as you are to see your two dearest friends, surely you will afford us that small luxury?”
Christopher had no desire to invite his friends inside. Dammit, he had no desire to invite anyone inside. He wanted to be alone, to be given the chance to disappear and forget the world in the vain hope that it might make things better.
Alas, he knew it was not to be. That Theodore and Alistair had come all this way to see him suggested that whatever the reason, it was important. And even if it was not, they were not the types to be turned away.
“Fine,” Christopher sighed. “Let us be about it.” With that, he turned and walked inside, not bothering to wait for his two friends.
The farmhouse that Christopher was staying in was a single-story home. It opened into a small foyer, from which sprang several rooms and a hallway that wound deeper into the house. Most of these rooms were empty, as Christopher had not bothered with them. The drawing room, however, had a fire burning in its hearth, so he led his friends inside.
“Ah, that is more like it.” Alistair rushed to the fireplace and started to rub his hands before the open flames.
“Oh, it is not that cold,” Theodore chuckled, even as he too approached the fire.
Christopher made for the drinking cabinet. “I suppose I could at least offer you both a drink,” he said as he started to pour one for himself.
“It is a bit early for that, no?” Alistair said.
Christopher shrugged. “For you, maybe.”
He took note of the way that both men looked at one another; the concern they held for him was written clearly in their expressions.
Once, not so long ago, Christopher would never have allowed himself to act this way in front of anyone, including his friends. He had always been so careful to present himself properly, as a man of his station was expected to do. He was so concerned about gossip and public perception that he was never able to truly relax or be comfortable, lest questions get raised that he did not want to answer.
With how he felt right now, he did not care.
Christopher thus took a deep mouthful of his whiskey before refilling the glass. Then he trudged across the room and collapsed onto the couch; he spread his body across it, legs wide, his posture hunched. And as his two friends continued to eye him with worry, he had another mouthful of his drink, making sure to slurp it.
“That is quite the beard you are cultivating,” Theodore noted. “I did not know the caveman look was back in style.”
“Oh…” Christopher touched absently at his stubble. “I was going to shave, but then thought…” He shrugged. “Why bother?”
“Why bother indeed,” Theodore mused.
“So,” Christopher began. “Are you going to tell me what you are doing out here? Or do I need to guess?”
“I take it that you aren’t going to make it easy on us?” Alistair started as he turned from the fire. He was still wet and still shivering, but he didn’t look nearly as awful as he had when he arrived. “By telling us what you are doing all the way out here?”
“It is nothing exciting,” Christopher said. “I just felt the need to get away.” A beat passed as his friends looked upon him skeptically. “For work.”
“Ah, yes, work,” Theodore said.
“My home has been entirely too busy of late,” Christopher doubled down. “It makes it hard to think. So, I figured a few days in the country was what I needed.” He snorted and had another mouthful of whiskey. “I had no idea it would cause such worry amongst my friends.”
“Who said we were worried?” Theodore said.
“Are you not?”
“Not for you…” Theodore looked at Alistair, who nodded as if in confirmation. “The truth of it is that we visited your estate just yesterday, where we had the pleasure of seeing your dear wife.”
Christopher’s insides squirmed with both guilt and curiosity. He had tried so hard this past week not to think about his wife and how she might be holding up. Dammit, he did not want to care! And he wanted nothing more than to hear that she was doing well… or perhaps he wanted her to be doing poorly? Proof that this was not nearly as easy for her as it could be.
“Oh?” He tried to act as if he did not care. “And how is she? I suspect that she is thrilled to have the estate to herself for a few days…” He laughed awkwardly. “Give her a break from me.”
