The Christmas Wager (20 page)

Hew glanced quickly at Susan again, to make sure she

wouldn‘t overhear, then said, uncomfortably, ―Well, sir, he was

saying… he was saying that you and His Lordship were….‖

The young man had turned red with embarrassment.

―Just spit it out, Hew. I know the words aren‘t coming

from you directly.‖

Hew took a deep breath. ―He said that the two of you was

sleeping in the same bed, together—naked. And, well… you can

probably guess the rest, sir.‖

―I can,‖ Andrew replied, his face grim. ―Very well, Hew. I

thank you for defending our honor.‖

―Well, of course, sir!‖

―Please wait here a moment.‖

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Andrew went back to where Thomas was standing and

said in a low voice, ―I think we should send Susan inside.‖

―Is it really as bad as all that?‖ Thomas asked, raising his

eyebrows. ―Boys fight all the time.‖

―They‘re fighting about
us
, Thomas.‖

Thomas‘s eyes went wide as he realized what he meant.

―Percy has been spreading rumors about this morning?‖

―I think it‘s debatable whether or not they could be classed

as ‗rumors‘, but yes.‖

―I shall have him dismissed, at once.‖

Andrew frowned at him. ―Don‘t be a fool, Thomas.

Dismissing him will guarantee that he spreads those rumors all

over the village. We need to persuade him
not
to talk about us.‖

―How?‖

―I‘m not quite certain.‖ He glanced over at the young

servant and caught the hostile expression on his face just

before Percy quickly looked away. This was going to present a

challenge.

When, a few moments later, a scullery maid brought out a

warm, damp cloth for Percy‘s nose, Thomas asked her to please

take Susan up to the nursery for them. He and Andrew had

already decided that Thomas would have a talk with the twins,

though what he planned to tell them, Andrew could not

fathom.

However, it fell to him to talk to Percy. It wasn‘t a job he

relished, but he had asked Thomas to let him do it, fearing the

lord‘s volatile nature.

Andrew approached the boy, who gave him a cautious

look, still fearful, but also hinting at a dislike the boy wasn‘t

skillful enough to conceal. This was going to be very difficult.

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―Percy,‖ he began, giving the young man what he hoped

was a reassuring smile, ―I believe you and I should have a

talk.‖

―Sir?‖

―Oh, come now. You‘re smart enough to know what Hew

told me. And you‘re smart enough to know that this is a very

serious matter.‖ The question, Andrew thought, was whether

the boy was smart enough to understand what Andrew was

about to say to him.

He didn‘t want any of the other staff members to overhear,

so he gestured toward the garden. ―Is your nose still bleeding?‖

―No, sir. Though I‘ll probably look a mess by tonight,‖ the

boy replied, giving Hew a quick, angry look.

―You probably will,‖ Andrew said, smiling. ―But you‘ll

recover soon enough. Shall we?‖

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Chapter 25

THOMAS had taken the twins off in another direction but still

kept them outside. They followed the garden path around to

the west wing of the house, which was closed up for the winter

months.

―Are you angry with me, Your Lordship?‖ Hew asked

eventually, when Thomas hadn‘t yet spoken.

Thomas laughed and shook his head. ―No, Hew. Of course

not. Andrew and I are very grateful.‖

―No need for that, Your Lordship,‖ Duncan insisted. ―Hew

and I know who our friends are, if you‘ll pardon me being so

familiar.‖

―Certainly.‖

―And we don‘t let nobody talk like that about our friends.‖

Thomas gave him a faint, sad smile, then sighed. ―It‘s

because of your loyalty that Andrew has asked me to talk to

you.‖

They were both watching him intently now, making him

feel incredibly self-conscious—and guilty. The twins were as

loyal to him and Andrew—and as innocent—as hunting dogs,

trusting absolutely that their loyalty was not misplaced. But it

was
misplaced. Percy had merely been telling the truth.

Had it been merely his own safety at stake, Thomas might

have confessed all. It seemed indecent to him that he should

take advantage of their good-hearted nature, hiding behind

their misguided protection. But if he told the boys the truth,

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and they reacted badly, they might go to the authorities. In that

case, Andrew would be in even more jeopardy than Thomas,

not having a title to protect him.

He would have to avoid the truth, if possible. But his sense

of honor made it impossible for him to lie to them completely.

―We do really appreciate you defending our honor like

this,‖ he began, at last, ―but you see… well, Percy did in fact

see something odd this morning, which he no doubt

misinterpreted, and which I feel I should explain to you.‖

The twins looked at him expectantly, waiting without

comment.

Taking another breath to steady himself, he pressed on.

―Andrew did indeed come out of my room naked this morning.‖

Rather than reacting with shock or horror, Hew laughed.

―Naked?‖

―Yes,‖ Thomas replied, uncomfortably, ―you see, he was

dressing, and he had to ask me something. We‘re very good

friends, and we aren‘t terribly shy around one another. It‘s very

improper, of course, and I can quite understand how Percy

might have thought something… untoward was going on.‖

―Well, Your Lordship,‖ Duncan said firmly, ―that ain‘t none

of his business, now, is it?‖

―And it ain‘t none of ours, neither,‖ Hew added. ―Anything

Your Lordship and Mr. Nash do together is between the two of

you, and nobody else. We‘re honored you explained it to us, sir,

but you sure don‘t have to.‖

―No, Your Lordship,‖ Duncan said, ―never.‖

Thomas smiled at the two of them. ―Well, that‘s good to

hear.‖

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AS ANDREW walked through the garden, Percy walking

alongside, he weighed several options in his head—none of

them particularly good. He could offer the boy money. But that

rarely worked well. Either Percy would spend the money then

tell everyone anyway, or more likely, he would keep coming

back for more.

Andrew could try to win the boy‘s trust then persuade him

to keep Andrew‘s relationship with Thomas a secret. This idea,

he discarded immediately. He hadn‘t the time to win Percy over

and confessing to him at this point would no doubt seal his

and Thomas‘s fate.

That left intimidation. He disliked the idea of threatening

the boy but he needn‘t threaten actual physical harm. And it

was really the only way.

―Percy,‖ he began, speaking conversationally, ―let‘s talk for

a moment about what you saw this morning.‖

―Yes, sir.‖

―You saw me emerge from Lord Barrington‘s room. And I

wasn‘t wearing any clothes.‖

―Yes, sir.‖ The young man‘s tone was bordering on

insolent, but Andrew was attempting to avoid an out-and-out

confrontation, so he let it slip past.

―I provided you with an explanation, which I daresay you

did not believe.‖

When Percy remained silent, Andrew added, ―Come, Percy.

We both know what you were thinking. You have my

permission to speak honestly.‖

Percy looked at him suspiciously. ―Do I, sir? Do you really

want me to say exactly what I was thinking? I don‘t think you‘ll

like it… sir.‖

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―No, I probably won‘t,‖ Andrew replied, continuing to smile

at him, ―but I give you my word as a gentleman that no harm

will come to you if you tell me the honest truth. I‘m fairly

certain I know what you‘re going to say already. But I want it

out in the open.‖

Percy took a breath. His face looked grim, but both hands

were shaking. ―I thought you and His Lordship had shared a

bed last night—the way a man shares his bed with a woman, if

you get my meaning, sir.‖

―I do, of course.‖

―And I thought it was disgusting and unnatural.‖

Andrew nodded. ―There, now. All out in the open, where we

can talk about it like civilized men. Now, of course, I‘m still

going to maintain that what you saw was me being far too

casual—inappropriately so, perhaps—in the presence of a very

good friend. Nothing more. And you, I suspect, will continue to

believe that Lord Barrington and I have had improper relations

with one another.‖

Percy couldn‘t look at him anymore. Having it all put so

baldly was clearly disturbing him.

―I won‘t change my position, and you won‘t change your

position,‖ Andrew continued, ―so there seems little point in us

arguing about it.‖

He steered them to the small duck pond, where they

stopped, looking at the powdery snowflakes being blown across

its icy surface.

―How long have you worked at Barrington Hall, Percy?‖

―A little over a year, sir,‖ the young man replied. ―Are you

going to dismiss me, sir?‖ His expression looked sullen, but he

had managed to keep his voice polite.

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―No, Percy. I don‘t have that authority. Lord Barrington

does, of course, though I don‘t think he will dismiss you, either.

But I would like you to consider this. You have no real proof

that what you saw was anything more than what I said it was.

Just your word against mine—and the word of a lord, I might

add. Also, Lord Barrington and I will be returning to London in

a day or two, so even if we are as degenerate as you believe us

to be, neither you nor anyone else in this house will have to

look at us for very much longer. You have an excellent job here,

and you may yet keep your position for a very long time—

possibly even the rest of your life, if that‘s what you desire. Or

you may transfer to another noble household—as long as your

references from Barrington Hall are good.‖

―Are you telling me I should keep quiet about it, sir?‖ Percy

asked, clearly finding the idea repugnant.

Andrew nodded. ―If you are wise. It will accomplish little

for you to continue spreading these rumors. Some people might

believe you, of course. But Lord Barrington would hardly be the

first lord whose tenants considered him to be of dubious

character. And with no proof, many will consider what you say

to be slander. You may lose your position and find yourself

unable to secure another one that pays as well. You could even

expose yourself to possible legal entanglements. And all for

nothing, really.‖

He didn‘t actually believe it would be for nothing. To

Andrew, moral principles were important, and adhering to

them did mean something. But to keep Thomas safe, he was

willing to play the role of bully, even though it repelled him.

Percy was clearly frustrated, but he said nothing, so

Andrew continued, ―These are not meant to be threats, Percy—

though I admit that they are somewhat threatening. For that, I

apologize. But more importantly, they are practical

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considerations. If I were you, I would think very carefully about

which course of action benefits me—Percy, that is—the most.‖

He began to walk back to the house, and Percy fell into

step beside him. The lad was silent for a long time, until at last

he said quietly, ―I won‘t say any more about it, sir.‖

―A wise decision, Percy.‖

But deep inside, Andrew felt sick to his stomach.

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Chapter 26

ANDREW was no longer in the garden when Thomas went to

search for him. He eventually found him upstairs in his room,

packing his toilet articles into his valise. The blond looked up,

startled, as Thomas opened his door without knocking. But he

seemed to relax when he saw who it was.

Thomas noticed a distinct tightening of Andrew‘s

shoulders, however, when he grabbed them from behind and

kissed the blond on the back of the neck.

―Are you leaving?‖ Thomas asked, beginning to grow