* * *
It didn’t takemuch time for Conrad’s plan to come to fruition.He wound up approaching one of the servants privately later that evening and asking for a couple of fresh towels, a small book of matches, and a lantern.Then he waited until he and Sage were in their bedroom.As Sage prepared to undress, Conrad stopped him.
“I’d like to return the kindness you showed me the other day.”
Sage frowned.“What do you mean?”
“Do you trust me?”
Sage’s expression went decidedly wary.“Yes?”
Conrad grinned and kissed his cheek.“Good.”He draped the towels over his arm, tucked the matches into his pocket, and picked up the lantern by the handle.“Let’s go.”
“Now wait a moment.If you intend to get me into that blasted lake?—”
“We’ll hang your clothes on the tree.They’ll be safe there.I won’t let you drown.”
Sage ran a hand over his face.“I can’t see why you should bother.”
Conrad cupped his cheek.“Because the next time you sit to the side and watch everyone, I’d prefer it was due to preference, rather than lack of knowledge.And I suspect that you would actually prefer to not be as isolated as you often are.”
“What makes you think that?”Sage asked, his eyes averted.
Conrad rubbed his thumb over Sage’s cheekbone.“A feeling.Do you trust me?”
Sage sighed.“Oh, very well.”
The rest of the household had already retired, giving the building an air of quiet and secrecy.They crept down the stairs with more care than was truly necessary, and Sage shushed him when he laughed at how silly they must both look, sneaking around as they were.But Conrad’s heart felt light as he grabbed Sage’s hand with his free one and followed his lead in acting mysterious.
Once outside, Conrad struck a match and lit his lantern, guiding the way back to the lake.As before, Sage slid his hand around Conrad’s arm, his body closer than it had been during the day.Conrad found he liked the closeness.He liked the halo of light from the lantern in the darkness, making them feel as though they were the only two people in the world.He liked the fact that Sage was allowing him to do this at all, and that he’d fallen silent beside him, his presence as comfortable as it was when they were in bed.
When they reached the lake, Conrad set the lantern down on the dock and pointed to a low hanging branch on the tree.“That should suit our purposes.It’s high enough that nothing will get wet.”
Sage looked skeptical and he made a disgusted sound as his shoes got too close to the mud.But he didn’t argue as he stripped down and carefully set each item of clothing over the branch.He patted everything down when he was done, as if to assure himself of their safety.Conrad put his own clothes on the dock next to the lantern and the towels.Then he took Sage’s hand and guided him to the bank and slowly into the water.He felt Sage tense as the water lapped at his waist.He turned and slid one hand to the small of Sage’s back and the other to cup Sage’s cheek again.
“I won’t let you drown.I promise.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Was it ridiculous of me to not know how to ride?”
“Of course not.”
“Then relax.You can’t help what you don’t know any more than I can.”He rubbed small circles on Sage’s back.“We’ll stay in the shallow part of the lake to start until you get the feel of things.”
Sage gave a curt nod.Conrad stepped to his side and directed him onto his back, holding the man in his arms to keep him afloat.Sage was tense in every part of his body.
“The water will keep you up if you stay relaxed.”
“Every drowning in history begs to differ.”
Conrad chuckled.“I won’t let you drown.Try to relax your neck a little.Good.Now your legs.Let your arms float beside you.Isn’t that nice?”
Sage attempted to follow the directions, although it was clearly difficult for him to relax at all.His dark hair spilled out around him, making him look ethereal in the dark water.“It is novel to feel the effect of those muscles for once.”
Conrad laughed again.“So you know I’d be perfectly capable of scooping you up if anything happened.Close your eyes.Breathe in.Breathe out.”He pulled one arm away slightly, letting Sage’s legs float on their own.“Again.In and out,” he breathed noisily so Sage could follow suit, and then pulled his other arm away.
Sage floated for a moment and then seemed to register that his personal buoy had abandoned him and flailed.Conrad reached out and quickly scooped him back up again.“I’ve got you,” he said gently.
Sage breathed hard.“No one else was floating on their backs like this.”
“It’s a start.And besides, I don’t expect us to get to diving into the lake tonight.That’s an advanced lesson.”He waited for Sage to laugh, but he didn’t.“All you need is enough to feel comfortable in the water.Just as all I needed was enough to stay in the saddle.Enough to feel safe.”
Sage was silent as Conrad stood still and held him, the sound of water lapping against the bank the only sound.“I don’t like feeling helpless,” Sage admitted in a quiet voice.
Conrad dropped his arm from under Sage’s legs and placed that hand on his chest.“You aren’t helpless.You are brave, and you are clever, and you have everything you need to do this, I promise.And you have me.I would never let my friend get hurt.”
Sage turned his head to look at him.“Very well,” he said at last.“Let’s try it again.”
