CHAPTER18
CONRAD
Conrad already feltthe soreness in his muscles by the time Keelan left the horses with the stablemaster and strode back to the house.Conrad glanced at Sage, who was irritably brushing horse hair off of his trousers.
“That was really very kind of you,” he said, his tone soft.
Sage waved a hand dismissively.“As I said, I wished to repay the kindness you had shown me.”
Conrad smiled at him.“You might be surprised how rarely kindnesses are repaid.Besides, you’ve shown me a great deal of kindness since I entered the house.I’m not sure you were in my debt to begin with.”Sage led them back to the house without a word.Conrad continued, “I take it from what you’ve told me of your reputation, you are unaccustomed to people appreciating you for anything other than what pleasure you can provide them—and not even then, from the sounds of it—so I can understand why you are reluctant to accept my thanks.But you have it.You’re a good man, Sage Ravenwing.”
Sage made a face.“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that.”
Conrad laughed and Sage gave a small smile in return.
At dinner, Keelan was full of praise regarding Conrad’s lesson, and everyone else chimed in to compliment his speedy learning.Then the topic changed to where they would ride the following day and Roger and Wyndham both mused aloud the possible routes they could take.
They all retired early again, with the promise of a busy day ahead.As Conrad undressed in the bedroom, he stretched a little to ease some of the achiness.Sage paused in his nightly ritual of applying his fragrant oils to turn and look Conrad over.
“Are you all right?”
“Oh yes.A little sore.”
“We could order a bath for you.”
Conrad smiled.“That’s very kind of you.I think I’ll be fine.But it might not be a bad idea for me to take one tomorrow.”
Sage nodded as he returned to his task.“We shall be sure to order one before we leave so it’s ready for you upon our return.”
Conrad got into bed.“Thank you.”He heaved a sigh as he laid back against the pillow.“I must confess, I cannot decide which I like better—working on magic with Roger and Wyndham, or these little activities we’ve started doing as a group.”
Sage slipped out of his robe and into the bed.“Can it not be both?”
Conrad chuckled and then blew out his candle.“Yes, I suppose it can.This place really is spoiling me.”
The thought of what he would do after he left began to creep forward in his mind.He was always so busy now, he didn’t know when he’d work those details out.
Sage leaned closer and traced a fingertip across Conrad’s forehead.“It’s not quite a frown, but it’s the closest I’ve seen on your face since you arrived.You must be really upset about something.”
Conrad chuckled.“Just thinking about what happens when I leave.Nothing too upsetting.But I do need to figure it out.And soon.”
Sage hummed a little and then blew out his candle before curling up against Conrad’s chest.Conrad wrapped his arm around Sage’s shoulders.“Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll have a solution before you leave.”
“I’ll certainly have to.”
He felt Sage shift to look at his face.“You really are worried.”
Conrad shrugged.“Not yet.But the worries are beginning to sink inward.”
“Hm.I can hear a smile in your voice now.You almost hadmeworried there for a moment.”
He chuckled and rubbed a hand over Sage’s shoulder.“Can’t have that.”
He felt Sage fall asleep against him, his weight getting heavier as he drifted off.But Conrad stayed awake for a while after, thinking about what his options might be when he left, and consistently getting pulled back to the memory of Sage arranging a riding lesson for him so he wouldn’t be left behind.Perhaps he really did need to take Torquil’s advice and let others take care of him for a change.
* * *
The next morningdawned bright and clear.Sage groaned when he woke and nuzzled against Conrad’s chest.
