Sage pushed back the covers, placing his feet flat on the rug.“I had not given it any thought yet.”
“What about this one?”Conrad asked, lifting his burgundy waistcoat with two rows of proud gold buttons down the front into the air.Not exactly a summer choice, but it would not matter if they were to spend the afternoon in the study.
“Do you prefer it?”Sage asked, coming to stand beside him.
“I’ve no idea,” Conrad said with a little laugh.“I own three waistcoats and one jacket.Do you really think I have an opinion on fashion?”
Sage grinned and took the waistcoat from him.“Very well.What else am I wearing today?”
* * *
As they enteredthe breakfast room together, Conrad leading the way, it was an effort for Sage to train his expression into something more neutral.He’d never had such fun getting dressed before.After rejecting three of the cravats Conrad found—mossy green, pale blue, and bold coral stripes—they’d settled on white.It was enough that he was going to be seen at the morning meal, he did not care to draw more attention to himself than necessary.
Whatever quiet conversation had been happening around the table stopped entirely as Conrad handed Sage a plate at the sideboard before he began filling his own.The air grew progressively thicker with curiosity until Torquil spoke.
“You two look well this morning.”
“Roger told us what happened!”Keelan added excitedly.
“Keelan,” Roger scolded under his breath.
Sage took a steadying breath as he added a pastry to his plate.Conrad had taken two of them, so he decided they must be good.He lifted his chin as he turned to face the table, but nearly dropped his plate when he discovered that Conrad had set his own breakfast down and was waiting for Sage to take the chair next to his, which he’d pulled out for him.He sat lithely in the proffered chair and glanced at Conrad as he settled beside him.
“We decided it was time to provide some fodder for the morning gossip,” Conrad told them all with a smile.This earned him a round of mild laughter from the rest of the table.“Respectfully, I do not think I could’ve sat through one more story of what Emrys prefers in bed—or out of it.”
“Hear, hear,” Roger said into his cup of tea before taking a sip.Sage reached for his own cup the moment it was finished being poured.After a single, soft blow against the steam rising from the surface, he took a long pull and closed his eyes blissfully as he felt the heat of it traveling all the way to his belly.
“Well, someone has to provide a little entertainment,” Torquil challenged with a smirk as they leaned into their chair, hooking their arm over the back of it.“What is a house party for, aside from giving in to our greatest indulgences?”
Roger huffed, affronted.“I didnotinvite all of you here to facilitate any such thing.”
“Yes, Roger, we know why you invited us,” Torquil said reassuringly.They exchanged a knowing look with Keelan.Sage arched a brow.“Unfortunately, when your estate is as idyllic as this, a little cavaulting can only be expected.”Their attention shifted to Conrad and Sage.“To varying degrees of success, I suppose.”
“Emrys is a poor influence on you.”Roger shook his head disapprovingly.
There was laughter from the hallway.
“What’ve I done now?”Emrys asked as he strolled into the room.
“It seems everyone in residence is eager to splash a bucket of cold water on us,” Torquil told him.“Our host is scandalized.”
Emrys clicked his tongue in disapproval.“When is he not?”After setting his plate on the table, he lifted Torquil’s chin with a curled finger and kissed them.“Am I to be blamed for seeking a young, virile spouse?”
Keelan laughed.“Is that how you tell people you met?”He turned pointedly to Conrad.“Now that’s arealstory worth hearing.”
Keelan and Emrys proceeded to take turns telling Conrad how the other met their partner—surprisingly similar in that both narratives began with a drunken night together, though Emrys and Torquil’s romance spanned half a decade longer.By the time they were done, even Wyndham had joined the room, and the Ladies Fitzhugh had returned from their walk.Harriet, Fern, and Cyril were rather active listeners, but added little to the conversation.It seemed their dynamic would continue on as a mystery.
“But I daresay there is no greater modern romance than that of our hosts,” Keelan said finally with a wistful sigh.There were various nods and sounds of agreement around the table.“The bookish yet reserved visionary swept up by his charming, handsome prince.”
Roger blushed as he and Wyndham shared a soft grin.
“Charming,” Emrys echoed.“I beg to differ.”
“But I am handsome,” Wyndham offered coquettishly.
Emrys rolled his eyes and took a bite of toast.
“Sage and Conrad make a handsome couple, as well, do they not?”This was Harriet’s contribution.“Two very winsome gentlemen, indeed!Such luck that they have found one another by chance here at your home, Roger.”
