Cassian hummed. “He does.”
Cassian ran a hand through James’s hair, and James smiled sweetly.
“Have you figured out where I’ll live? Or work?” James asked.
“You really want to work?”
“Only so that I have money of my own to spend,” James said. “I’d like to contribute to the fund forTitanicsurvivors. And, of course, I want to spoil you, too, when I can.”
“But what ifIam the one who hires you, hm?”
“Then I suppose you’ll only be spoiling yourself,” James said. He huffed a light laugh. “But that sounds pretty much perfect, too.”
Cassian laughed with him.
“I’m thinking of purchasing a second home for myself. Somewhere secluded. Quiet. Peaceful. Outside of the city. And I’m wondering if you could work there.”
James sat up a bit, propping his head up with his elbow.
“So, I’d be your . . . household steward then?”
“Exactly. Except that I think you’d only be overseeing yourself. Or perhaps your friend Maggie as well if she wants to come live with us in the States.”
“You’d hire her?”
Cassian shrugged. “Why not? Havingtwoservants living there would look a bit less suspicious than only the one, especially for someone of my stature.”
“Won’t people still talk? Because of your so-called bachelorhood?”
“Probably,” Cassian said, shrugging again.
James exhaled a sorrowful sigh. “Dammit, Cassian, I’m sorry.”
Cassian reached up and pushed a hand through James’s hair once more.
“It’ll be well worth it to be with you, James. We’ll have to be careful, is all.”
Smiling, James leaned forward, and they shared a soft kiss.
“We will be,” he promised.
Cassian’s heart swelled as he looked into James’s beautiful blues.
“I know it isn’t perfect,” he said, “but it’s the best I could come up with for now.”
“It is perfect,” James said. “Because it means we’ll be together.”
“I’ll have to live in the city some of the time too, closer to my businesses.”
“Still perfect.”
“And you’ll have to workextremelyhard to manage anentirehousehold. Remember, I’m not an easy man to please.”
“Still perfect.”
“And you’ll have to make yourself available to me for my pleasure. Every single visit. Whenever I want.”
“Bloody hell, Cassian, that’s evenmoreperfect.”
