CHAPTER20
CONRAD
Conrad had spenta marvelous afternoon with some of the other guests of the house.He found Wyndham in a sitting room, reading a book.Torquil and Emrys were sitting nearby, sharing a plate of biscuits.
Roger and Sage had disappeared into the study for an unexplained project.Conrad hoped Sage would say what needed to be said, and sent encouraging thoughts his way.He had a feeling Wyndham was hoping the same, as the gentleman seemed remarkably relaxed, considering his beloved husband and his former lover were spending hours together in private.
Emrys even commented on it at one point, making a teasing joke meant to get a rise out of Wyndham or Conrad, or both.
Wyndham arched an eyebrow at his brother over the book he was reading.“I trust Roger,” he said simply.
Emrys glanced at Conrad, who shrugged.“Even if I didn’t trust Sage, I don’t have any sort of hold on him.”
“You aren’t jealous?”Emrys asked incredulously.
“Why should I be?”
Torquil stole a ginger biscuit from the plate.“Emrys has a tendency toward jealousy.You should have seen him the one time in my life I danced with anyone other than him.”
“I do not!And that was one time!”
Wyndham snorted.
Before Emrys could say anything else, a small ginger kitten darted into the room and onto Torquil’s lap.Emrys inched his chair away, looking wary.
“Is this the famous Peony?”Conrad asked, putting his own book down.
“More like infamous,” Wyndham muttered.
Torquil murmured sweetly and scratched behind her ears, which was clearly what she had chosen their lap for.
“Emrys is afraid of her,” Wyndham added.
“I am not!”
“Do you like cats, Conrad?”Torquil asked, ignoring him.
Conrad grinned and moved forward slowly.“I do.”He reached a hand up for the kitten to sniff.She did so and then bumped his hand with her nose, an unmistakable command.He rubbed under her chin accommodatingly.“There were a number out by the docks that knew which of us would take pity and feed them part of our lunches.”
She tucked her paws under her body and settled onto Torquil’s lap, content to accept the offerings of chin strokes and head scritches.
“So what will we be doing tomorrow?”Torquil asked into the quiet.“I’m sure an activity will be expected.”
Wyndham heaved a sigh and placed his open book onto his chest.“I’m sure I don’t know.”
“What would you do if we weren’t here?”Conrad asked.
Wyndham gave a wicked grin.
“Do not answer that question,” Emrys warned.
Wyndham laughed.“I often like to go to the lake, especially if Roger is focused on a project.”
“Do you swim or simply enjoy the view?”Conrad asked.
“Both, depending on the day.”
“A swim might be nice,” Torquil said.
