The Christmas Wager (24 page)

standing by the stove at the far end. The dogs were in the

kennels, but they set off the alarm at the intruder, until the

duke snarled, ―Be quiet!‖

That mollified them somewhat, though they still eyed

Thomas warily as he ventured into their domain.

―You summoned me, Father?‖

The silver-haired man wearily ran his hand through

unkempt hair, and Thomas realized that he was feeling hung

over. The thought amused him, but he managed not to smile.

―Come in, Thomas,‖ the duke said in an oddly quiet voice,

―have a seat.‖

The overstuffed chair he indicated was rather worn and

covered with dog hair, so Thomas wasn‘t entirely delighted to

sit on it in his best riding clothes. But he did so nonetheless,

perching as far forward as possible. It was the only chair in the

room, so his father was forced to remain standing.

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―My behavior last night,‖ the duke began, moving from his

place near the stove to pick up a large envelope from the table

beside the chair, ―was deplorable. Please forgive me. I was…

not myself.‖

―Of course, Father.‖

The envelope was tied shut with a red ribbon and sealed

with the duke‘s wax seal, as well. The man handed it to his son

unopened. ―I don‘t intend to see you off. I‘m not presentable

and seeing your Mr. Nash so soon would be awkward, to say

the least.‖

―As you wish, Father,‖ Thomas replied diplomatically,

―though I daresay Andrew is quite blind to such things.‖

The duke smiled. ―I like Mr. Nash. He‘s a good man. I

heartily approve of him.‖

This, Thomas realized, was as much of a blessing on their

relationship as would ever be stated out loud—at least when

his father was sober—and Thomas was quite pleased to hear it.

―What‘s in the envelope? Should I open it?‖

―No, not until you‘re away. I shall discuss it with Edward

later, but currently he knows nothing of it.‖

This puzzled Thomas, but he merely tucked the envelope

inside his jacket. It was an awkward fit, but he managed to

conceal it. Then he stood and offered the tyrant who had

dominated so much of his life his hand. ―I shall take my leave,

then. I imagine the carriage has been brought ‘round for us.‖

His father took the proffered hand and shook it, his grip

still powerful, despite the apparent frail state he was in. He

hesitated, unable to look his son in the eye after so many years

of bad blood between them. Then he said, ―I hope you can join

us for the Easter holiday this year.‖

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Thomas was touched more than he could have imagined

by this simple invitation. Though things still felt tentative, he

seemed to have become part of his family again—something he

never dreamt would happen. And, he realized, it was largely

due to Andrew. Wonderful, interfering Andrew.

As he walked back to the hall, Susan came running up to

him, her mittens and most of her outer things caked in snow.

―Uncle Thomas! Uncle Thomas! Will you come play with us?‖

―I‘m afraid I can‘t this morning, poppet. Uncle Andrew and

I are heading back to London.‖

―Must you go?‖ Edward asked, coming up behind his

daughter and scooping her up in his arms. His cheeks were red

with cold, but he looked more joyful than Thomas could

remember seeing him since childhood.

―It‘s been a wonderful holiday,‖ Thomas said, more or less

truthfully, ―but we have things to attend to.‖

Rebecca approached, looking lovelier than ever in her jade-

colored outer garments and muffler, her cheeks rosy to match

Edward‘s. ―It‘s been so good to see you, Thomas. And it was

lovely to meet Mr. Nash. We hope you can return very soon.‖

It didn‘t escape Thomas‘s notice that she was now

speaking as someone who was part of the household now.

Which was as it should be. He gave her a warm smile and

bowed over her proffered hand.

Andrew was already at the carriage when they came

around to the front of the manor, overseeing Hew and Duncan

as they wrestled with his baggage.

―If‘n you ever need servants in London,‖ Duncan was

telling the blond, ―you be sure to look us up, sir.‖

Though Thomas appreciated the boys‘ loyalty, he was far

from convinced that they understood the nature of his

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relationship with Andrew. And although that relationship was

based upon love, in his view, he knew society considered it to

be something filthy. Certainly not something sixteen-year-olds

should have knowledge of. So, it was perhaps for the best that

Andrew told the young man, ―I very much appreciate the offer,

Duncan. But I doubt the duke would be happy if I lured you

away from the estate. Besides, who would look after Susan?‖

Thomas led his friend back inside to say goodbye to

Duchess Barrington. It was, of course, not to be expected that

she would come down to the carriage to see them off. Then they

left Barrington Hall behind them. At least, for the present.

Andrew watched through the window of the carriage as the

hall receded into the distance. Thomas had seen the sight too

many times to pay it much heed, but he enjoyed the wistful

look on his lover‘s angelic face.

―We‘ve been invited back,‖ he said at last, ―for Easter.‖

―Really?‖

―By Father, no less.‖

Andrew turned to him with a delighted expression. ―Oh,

Thomas! That‘s wonderful.‖

―
You’re
wonderful,‖ Thomas replied, looking into the clear

blue eyes with tenderness, as he reached into his jacket for the

envelope. He could no longer contain his curiosity about it.

―What is that?‖

He broke the wax seal and unwrapped the ribbon. ―I‘m not

certain. Father gave it to me, before I left him.‖

The envelope contained several documents. The first

appeared to be a letter from Duke Barrington‘s attorney.

Thomas read it, growing more and more puzzled, until Andrew

could no longer remain silent.

―Well?‖

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Thomas looked up at him, somewhat stunned. ―The house

in London, where Edward stays when he conducts business

there….‖

―What about it?‖

―It‘s ours now. Father gave it to me.‖

The startled expression on Andrew‘s face was comical.

Neither man said anything for a few moments as the carriage

bumped along the country road.

At last, Thomas sighed and said, ―Even in reconciling, he

feels the need to manipulate me.‖

―How do you mean?‖

―Obviously, he thinks we need looking after. As though we

might get caught in a compromising position if we remain in

our rooms at the Club.‖

The corner of Andrew‘s beautiful mouth quirked up, as he

said, ―I don‘t suppose I have any say in the matter?‖

―Of course you do.‖

―Then don‘t be a fool, Thomas. We shall be far more

comfortable in a house—and have much more privacy, I

daresay—than at the Club.‖

Thomas couldn‘t deny the truth of that. ―But I thought you

liked the Club,‖ he said, his objection sounding feeble, even to

his ears.

―What I like, my love, is you. Buckingham Palace itself

would seem a meager, desolate shack without you in it. But so

long as we‘re together, I hardly see the need to turn our noses

up at a manor house.‖

―In truth, it‘s a very small manor house.‖

This caused Andrew to laugh aloud. They were riding past

empty, snow-covered fields now, so he risked crossing the

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carriage to slip into the seat beside him. The blond took one of

Thomas‘s gloved hands in both of his own.

―It will be
our
house,‖ he said softly, his sparkling blue

eyes locked with Thomas‘s own, ―That‘s all that matters.‖

Thomas looked into those eyes and knew that he would

never be able to deny this man anything he desired.

―Yes,‖ he replied, smiling at last. ―So long as we‘re

together.‖

He leaned forward and their lips met.

About the Author

JAMIE FESSENDEN set out to be a writer in junior high school.

He published a couple short pieces in his high school‘s literary

magazine and had another story place in the top 100 in a

national contest, but it wasn‘t until he met his partner, Erich,

almost twenty years later, that he began writing again in

earnest. With Erich alternately inspiring and goading him,

Jamie wrote several screenplays and directed a few of them as

micro-budget independent films. His latest completed work

premiered at the Indie Fest 2009 in Los Angeles and also

played at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film

Festival two weeks later.

After nine years together, Jamie and Erich have married and

purchased a house together in the wilds of Raymond, New

Hampshire, where there are no street lights, turkeys and deer

wander through their yard, and coyotes serenade them on a

nightly basis. Jamie currently works as technical support for a

computer company in Portsmouth, NH, but fantasizes about

someday quitting his day job to be a full-time writer.

Visit Jamie at http://jamiefessenden.wordpress.com/.