CHAPTER12
CONRAD
Conrad turned to Mr.Ravenwing.“Indeed?”
Mr.Ravenwing paused for a long moment.“You said earlier that it was pleasant to be surrounded by so many contented people.Does it not bother you that we cannot count ourselves amongst them?”
Conrad frowned a little in the dark.“I do not consider myself discontented.”
“We are the only people in this house who are unattached,” Mr.Ravenwing clarified.
“Oh!Yes, I suppose you’re right.”He glanced to the side of the bed where his companion laid.“This bothers you?”
“Naturally.Moreover, I believe the solution may be simple.”
“Go on,” Conrad said, smiling at Mr.Ravenwing’s tone.
“You are concerned by your status presenting obstacles to your ambitions.I am concerned by the disparity in our circumstances with the rest of the household.I propose that we…alter those circumstances for the duration of our stay.”
Conrad considered this.“You are referring to our unattached state?”
“Yes.”
Conrad sat up a little.“You mean, you wish to…form an attachment between the two of us?”
“Only temporarily.Just while we are here.Being with me will demonstrate that you can be amicable with fae and that your class would not be an issue for you.And being with you would…it would make us both less isolated from these blissful couples.”
“And trios,” Conrad added.
Mr.Ravenwing grunted.“What do you think?”Without the benefit of the lamps, Conrad had only the gentleman’s voice to go by, and he caught a note of worry in the question.
He sat up fully.“I like it.I think it’s a brilliant strategy.Although I rather think it’s more for my own sake than yours.I don’t wish you to?—”
“It is decidedly of mutual benefit.I assure you.”
Conrad grinned in the dark.He didn’t know his companion very well, but he had wondered at the way the man held himself so aloof from the rest of the group.But there had been moments—his participation in the riddles, his conversation with Conrad in the mornings, and, frankly, his presence in the house—which suggested that this self-imposed isolation was resulting in some amount of loneliness.Conrad liked the idea of helping the gentleman, if only temporarily.And if it helped him out as well, so much the better.“So, what will our strategy be?”
“I’m not sure we need much of a strategy.I shall sit beside you when we’re in a group and we shall make it clear that we are anitem.”
“Simple strategies are often the best ones,” Conrad said.“And since most everyone is already convinced that we’re an item, I don’t think it’ll take much effort.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Well, in that case, you ought to call me Conrad.Even better, you should call me Con.My family does, you know, and it would only make sense if my beau did, as well.”
“Conrad will do.I cannot abide nicknames.You may call me Sage.”
Conrad chuckled.“Very good.And I suppose we can set aside your concerns about waking up next to me each morning?”
“Yes,” Sage said slowly.“However, that does bring up a rather important point.Are you…attracted to men?”
Conrad was surprised by the question.“No, I’m not.”
Sage muttered something under his breath.“Women, then?”
“No.Not any gender.”
“Oh.”Sage was quiet for another long moment.“Then I suppose you do not partake of…you don’t fuck anyone, I suppose?”
