“Like Barbey d'Aurevilly said, the most elegant clothing is a battle between respectability and boredom.”Stennett read too many fashion plates.Maurice preferred the understated fashions that Brummell had made famous, glad to be away from the frills of his youth.
“Perhaps a plain waistcoat and a black tailed jacket?”
Maurice nodded.“Simple is best for tonight.”Less to remove too.
“Understood, your Grace.Now please stop pacing and allow me to dress you.”Stennett reminded of Sebastian’s jest about whether Dukes could dress themselves, and he wanted to prove it, but without Sebastian to observe, it would merely confuse Stennett.A flush of heat bolted up his spine at the image of Sebastian watching him dress.He took a new pair of buckskin breeches from Stennett and proceeded to put them on himself, not wanting Stennett anywhere near his nether regions while his thoughts were filled with Sebastian, since his cock had, rather unhelpfully, responded with eagerness to the prospect of kissing Sebastian again.He then stood still, breathing slowly and trying to think about anything else—the dull drone of his history tutor’s voice at Eton, the number of roses on the plasterwork ceiling, the necessity for installing drainage in the northern fields, the Corn Laws—as Stennett fussed with a fresh linen shirt, collar, cravat, and waistcoat.Finally, he eased his arms into his jacket and sat down so Stennett could do his hair.He wanted to look perfect for Wildgoose.For Sebastian.
Because he didn’t want to spend any more time in his dressing room fussing about, Maurice went down early for dinner.He could always fuss with the breakfast room instead.But when he pushed the door open, Sebastian was already there, staring out the window as the sun edged its way to the horizon.Mid-summer meant long days and soft light during the evening, and that light shone around Sebastian’s black hair like a shimmering glow.Maurice walked over and placed his hand on Sebastian’s lower back.The fabric of his jacket was a coarse woollen weave, cheap but warm and durable, and then none of that mattered as Sebastian turned around.Suddenly they were standing much too close for propriety, and not close enough for Maurice’s liking.
“You are early.”
“This is when I eat dinner.”
“So early?”Maurice had no idea that Sebastian might operate on a different schedule to him.
“I like to keep the routine for the horses the same all year around, and by this time in the winter it is becoming too dark for the stable lads to work safely.”
Maurice frowned.“Use candles.”
Sebastian took a step backwards.“Taking aside the cost, candles are not safe in a stable with all the hay and other easily flammable items around.We—”
Maurice knew that.God.He cut Sebastian off with a kiss because it was easier than admitting he’d said something daft.All his doubts over his clothing had been because he wanted Sebastian to be comfortable with him; he cared about Sebastian’s wellbeing.They might be Duke and stable master but over the years they’d become friends.More than that, Maurice respected Sebastian.Maurice had plenty of power and yet it couldn’t give him the one thing he wanted.This man.This man was the one he’d been waiting for, yearning for, and he couldn’t make him be here.He had to wait and yet he couldn’t wait any more.The benefit of coming down to dinner early was that he had time now and he wasn’t going to waste it with waiting.
“Come to bed with me.”
Sebastian slid his hands down Maurice’s biceps.“I thought we were having dinner.”
“Dinner won’t be served for at least an hour.I’d rather spend that hour in bed than standing here.”
“An hour.”Sebastian swallowed.
“Are you hungry?I can ring for some bread and cheese.”
Sebastian shook his head.“The world is upside down.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are a Duke.You shouldn’t be offering to serve me.”
He could and he would.“The best part of being a Duke is that I can do whatever I want.If I want to get on my knees for you, I can.If I want to take you to bed and fed you cheese, I will.”
“Oh.”
“Come with me.”Maurice would’ve taken Sebastian by the hand and dragged him to his bed, but he wasn’t going to shock Hardwicke with such a lack of decorum in the main halls of the house.In the privacy of his room, however, was another story.A passing footman was sent to the kitchen to fetch some bread and cheese and with a message that he would need two hours for this meeting prior to dinner.
“Meeting?”Sebastian asked.“In your bedroom?It’s hardly subtle.”
“How else would you like me to phrase it?”The house staff would already be in an uproar over him inviting Sebastian for dinner, let alone the kitchen knowing that he’d requested bread and cheese in his bedroom.Like Sebastian said, his intent wasn’t subtle.He’d never done this before, and there were literally no secrets downstairs.The sodomite laws didn’t apply to him—technically they did—but in practice most laws didn’t apply to him.He could literally do anything and not be tried in court, and in the worst cases, all he needed to do was take a long ship ride somewhere until it was all forgotten, whatever it may be.A little sodomy wasn’t going to affect him and he had no other family to be embarrassed by any potential rumours.He pushed open the door to his bedroom suite and it suddenly hit him.He was being selfish.Sebastian didn’t have the same protections as he did.This was much more risky for Sebastian.
“Are you certain about this?”
“Yes.”Sebastian raked him with his gaze, and damned if Maurice didn’t nearly catch fire like a forbidden candle in a haystack.
“The law is not favourable to this, and there is only so much I can do to protect you.”
“What are you saying?”
“There are no secrets in a big house like this.I can’t guarantee your safety.”
