CHAPTER6
CONRAD
Conrad thoroughly enjoyedhis first full day at the Wrenwhistles’ home.True, there was an expected awkwardness to being a stranger in a house full of friends.Inside jokes were bandied about, references to past shared experiences were dropped casually.But for the most part, Conrad could tell there was an effort to make him feel included.Breakfast stretched on for a couple of hours, as no one seemed in a hurry to leave the table—although Conrad did notice that Mr.Ravenwing’s presence in the room was short.Then Roger and Wyndham took Conrad on a tour of the house.Roger took great pride in showing off the study his husband had designed for his use.Conrad was fairly sure his own enthusiastic praise of the room improved Wyndham’s opinion of him, but it was hard to tell.
The gentleman had reclined on the chaise lounge in the center of the room to watch Roger explain how his specially-designed desk worked.Then Roger and Conrad began comparing favorite magical theory books.Roger had a far more impressive collection than Conrad could ever claim; he felt a small pang at the few titles he had owned previously that he’d sold to help pay for his journey.He ran a hand over some of the spines.
“It is truly impressive,” he murmured.
“You’re welcome to borrow any of them while you are here,” Roger said.
Conrad felt warmth burst within him.“Thank you,” he said earnestly.
“Well, don’t thank me too much yet,” Roger went on.“I’ll probably ask you to cast some spells while you’re here, too.And then Wyn will likely want to see how your magic blends with others’.And if we have time, I’d be curious about your thoughts on the rubric we put together.”
“I would be delighted!”
“Better to wait a bit though,” Wyndham said.“Give you time to rest from your journey.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Conrad assured him.“I’m eager to show you whatever you’d like, or to help in any way I can.Even if I don’t get the position, it would be marvelous to assist you.”
Roger beamed—and then promptly ignored what his husband had just said, encouraging Conrad to cast an assortment of spells for several hours.
Lunch was another unhurried affair, after which Conrad found himself in deep discussion with Torquil and Silas, learning all about how fae-human magic worked.
By dinner, he was feeling prodigiously pleased with himself, having managed to speak to all of the councilmembers for at least some period of time.He was seated next to Wyndham, who was curious about the different spells Conrad used in his work, and whether he had ever performed magic with a fae before.Conrad had a feeling that Wyndham was only moderately interested in what he had to say, but he noticed the gentleman exchange a few smiles with Roger across the table.If he received Wyndham’s approval merely because of his budding friendship with Roger, that was enough for him.
After dinner, time passed similarly to how it had the evening before.A handful of people started a card game, but Conrad was unfamiliar with the game in question, so he sat to the side and chatted with Silas and Torquil.Wyndham joined them after some time, as well.
As much as he wanted to stay up with the rest of the group, Conrad was unaccustomed to such late hours, so he regretfully bid everyone good evening when his eyes started to itch with fatigue.Mr.Ravenwing was already inside the room, just as he had been the previous night, dressed only in a silk robe and applying oil fastidiously about his person.
This time, however, he seemed to be in a different sort of mood.No sooner had Conrad taken off his jacket, the gentleman whirled around on his ottoman and glared at him.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, Mr.Moore, but I assure you, you can leave me out of your games.”
Conrad blinked at him.“I’m sorry?”
Mr.Ravenwing scoffed.“It’s bad enough to have to be here.It’s even worse to have everyone teasing me for pleasure I didn’t even experience.”
Conrad frowned, his confusion growing.“I’m afraid I don’t?—”
“Why did you tell everyone that we slept together?”
“Wedidsleep together.”
Mr.Ravenwing made a frustrated sound at the back of his throat.“Why did you tell everyone that we fucked last night?”
Conrad was fully taken aback.“What?I never said that.”
He rolled his eyes.“You must have said something.I’ve had no end of teasing from Emrys, Torquil, Keelan…”
Conrad thought back to all of his conversations throughout the day.
“You told Torquil I wassweet,” the gentleman spat.“Does that help jog your memory?”
“Oh!”Conrad laughed.“Roger and Torquil asked how last night went and I told them it was fine.”He paused, trying to remember.“One of them asked if anything untoward had happened.I assumed they were referring to the way we woke up together, so I said I found it rather pleasant.Which was true,” he added.
Mr.Ravenwing gave him a long and irritable look.“That wasnotwhat they were referring to, you…half-wit human.”
