The look on his face fills my soul with a joy I’ve not experienced before.
“You dispatch your letter to your uncle, and we’ll take each day as it comes. And I’ll work out how to keep you a secret.”
He flings his arms around me and nuzzles into my neck.
“Thank you, Father,” he whispers. His words travel straight to my dick and it swells, hardening enough for him to be able to feel it. He shifts and rubs the coarse fabric of my tunic against my naked length. I grab the nape of his neck and connect my lips with his. I don’t intend to stop kissing him for a long time.
On my waythrough the gardens, I pause for a minute and watch Emmett who is helping Brother Tomas with his beehives. It’s only been a few days since he dispatched the letter to his uncle, and we’re waiting for his response. It’s like we’re all holding a collective breath, but also trying to prepare as best we can. I hope he’s been convincing enough, because if not and his uncle thinks we don’t need more time, he could come himself and we could have the bailiffs on our doorstep within a matter of days. The Brookes brothers are already halfway through dismantling and moving one of the outbuildings, mostly at night. Emmett has been helping there too, determined to make a difference.
I laugh as a bee lands on his wrist and he lifts his hand as if he’s about to have a conversation with it. His fascination with them surprises me, but he says it’s because they’re always busy and work hard. He has a Benedictine spirit even if there are elements he couldn’t commit to. It seems I no longer can either, but I would rather have Emmett in my bed every night than denyeither of us the comfort and enjoyment that brings. I told him I couldn’t know what the future holds, so we’re enjoying what time we have together for now.
“Father Abbot.” A familiar voice breaks through my reverie and I have a ready smile on my face when I turn towards Brother Sean.
“Brother Francis and I wanted a word with you if you have time?” he asks, looking a little nervous, which is highly unusual, as is the request. We meet and talk often.
“Yes of course,” I reply, and he quickly nods before walking towards the brewhouse. Francis is sweeping the floor as we enter. Normally there’d always be several batches of beer and mead in various states of fermentation, but we’ve agreed that it seems pointless to brew more when we won’t be around to drink it, so there are only the barrels that are in storage or those nearly finished fermenting.
“Please sit, Father.” Brother Sean indicates towards the table and low bench, before casting a look at Brother Francis. There’s a tension in the air I’ve not felt before, but I take a seat and they both join me.
“Is there a problem with the beer? Has a batch soured and we don’t have enough to last us a week?” I ask. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“No, nothing like that,” says Francis. “We were wondering if there was space for us in this new village of yours.”
“Firstly, it’s notmyvillage. And secondly, it’s not a village at all, really. We’ve just found a way to create a small infirmary building near where the Brookes family live. There will be a cottage for Brother Matthew so he can still attend them, but more than that we don’t know yet.”
I shouldn’t be surprised that news of what’s happening has spread. Monks can be some of the biggest gossips I know. But calling it a village is pushing it.
“What about you, Father? Will you have a cottage there too, with Emmett?” Sean says.
I look sharply at him while fear grips my heart and squeezes it hard. What does he know? Have rumours been spread about us? Have I been indiscreet? Has he? A thousand questions crowd my head but Sean doesn’t seem to notice. He glances again at Francis.
“You see, we don’t have any family or anywhere else to go. There won’t be any other monasteries for us, and well, we’d like to stay together.”
“Together?”
“We thought you might understand.”
“Understand?” I can’t help feeling there’s something I’m missing here.
“We see the way you look at Emmett. . .”
I sit back a little and fix both of them with my sternest gaze. I’ve always thought of Francis and Sean as the closest I have to friends here at the abbey, but clearly I’ve not noticed how close they are to each other. I can’t see any point in denying what they’re implying about me. It wouldn’t help in this situation. Instead I stay silent, glare at them, and wait. It only takes a few seconds before I see the fear enter Sean’s eyes that I might not take their news well and they might have got it wrong. He turns to Francis looking for strength and comfort, and I see it reflected back with love. They’ve confirmed it for me.
“How long has this been going on under my nose?” I ask quietly.
“Five,” says Sean.
“Six,” adds Francis. “Do you remember Michaelmas? The year when we were snowed in for days.”
“Oh yes, that’s correct.” Sean gives him a look full of tenderness.
I groan and briefly cover my eyes. I guess I hadn’t wanted to see.
“Six years! Well, it seems you two are far better at being discreet than I am,” I say ruefully.
“I don’t think anyone else knows. If they did, I’m sure they would’ve told us,” Sean says, but I don’t find it very reassuring. “And we won’t say anything.”
“No, you won’t,” I say in my most authoritarian voice, hoping it still carries some weight. It seems to have the desired effect as they nod emphatically. I trust them, I have to. They’re both the biggest gossips at the abbey, but it seems they are capable of keeping some secrets, even from me.
