A Promise of Tomorrow (11 page)

Allen took his not-so-subtle hint and cupped his tongue around James’s shaft, sliding back up to the crown before pursing those sweet lips and pullinghiminside that deliciouslywet haven.

James groaned again as he felt himself slide all the way in and brush the back ofAllen’s throat before being pulled back to edge of those lips. As he watched, Allen set a steady rhythm with his hand and mouth, the occasional jostling of the carriage over ruts and bumps in the road creating a not-unpleasant counterpoint, but James still wanted more. Bracing one arm against the side of the carriage and threading the other into Allen’s hair, he angled his hips further forward.

“Harder,” he growled, hand clenching in Allen’s damp black curls and knees braced oneither side ofhis slimhips to steadyhim.

The suction and rhythm increased as Allen’s eyes closed and his head dipped lower. James felt the pressure building in his bollocks, and his hand clenched tighter as he felt Allen brace himself against James’s thighs and move his other hand lower to cup James’s sac.

Oh God, yes!
was all the thought he could manage as he teetered onthe brink ofrelease.

He was only a moment away from surrendering to that joyous end when a sharp horn blast split the air and he was startled awake. As he watched another carriage pass by, James shook himself fully awake, looked blearily around him, and realized several very depressing things at once:he was alone on his side of the carriage, he was still fully clothed, Allen was asleep across fromhim, and he was painfullyerect and unsatisfied.

A dream.
He scowled, then shifted uncomfortably in his seat, making sure the drape of his coat kept his condition hidden should Allen wake.
And I have hours ahead of me before I’ll be able to find some privacy to take care of myself.

He gritted his teeth.
Looks like a nap was not the best means of improving my temper.
James sighed and straightened in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. It was going to be a long day.

When Allen awoke a short time later, James hoped no evidence of his dream remained on his face or his person. The last thing he wanted was for the young man to be afraid he’d escaped the clutches ofone scoundrelonly to fallinto those ofanother. James had knownbefore he evenproposed his planthat this was not goingto be easy on him. But he’d be damned if his inability to control himself would make things any more difficult for Allen. Weir had done enoughdamage to the lad.

At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something on that score
, he thought, recalling how he’d spent the day before their departure.

WhileAllen and his nephew had gone to the tailor’s, James had taken the opportunity to pay a call on an old friend, Lord Robert Morton, sixth Earl of Harrow, a man of some influence and unimpeachable character who just happened to share some of the same interest in companions as he, though no one outside of a very small circle of friends knew of it. The earl’s own wife and four childrenwere no smallproofagainst that.

He and Harrow had shared a brief liaison many years ago, when James had come to London, only a few short months after receiving that goodbye letter from Jonathan. He had been vulnerable and lonely and had come to town seeking distraction. The older man had taught him a great deal about discretion, as well as many other things, before the end of their affair. They had remained friends, and James always knew he would receive good counsel fromthe man, as wellas help, ifhe needed it. So, unsure about what to do about Weir, James had sent a small note to his old friend and had been invited to call.

In short order, James had apprised his friend of the situation, though he’d left Allen’s name and whereabouts out of it. And though Harrow had seemed surprised, he had assured James that he would keep his eyes and ears open regarding Weir. He had even gone so far as to promise he would discreetly hire a few runners to quietly check into the man’s affairs.

When James had protested that that was going above and beyond, his friend had assured him that it was in all of their best interests that Weir be contained before he did or said anything that could not be hushed up. Weir had too many connections, skirting their own smallcircle a little too closely, to be allowed to be involved in a scandal of that magnitude. And, though their respective ranks would prevent any lasting harm from coming to either James or himself, they had other friends who might not be so fortunate. Harrow’s philosophy had always been that you could never be too careful, and James couldn’t fault his friend’s reasoning.

After expressinghis gratitude and spendingthe eveningcatching up over dinner, James had said his farewells and called for his hat and gloves.

“I will keep you apprised of anything the runners dig up,” Harrow had assured himwhen the servant had gone to get his things. “And
do
let me know how things turnout withyour youngman.”

“He is not
my
young man,” he had replied, chuckling at the knowingsmile onhis friend’s lips.

“Oh?” the earl had replied, smiling wider, then sobered. “You can’t foolme, old friend. We’ve known each other a long time, and I have never seen the look on your face that I witnessed when you were speaking of this mystery man. It was good to see it. Whether you’re fooling
yourself
inthe matter or not, youcannot foolme.”

“The lad has just been through hell, old friend. I will not take advantage of his vulnerability. And, as you well know, I never dally outside the confines of Madam Renard’s. I will see him safe to his aunt’s, and that willbe an end on it, I assure you,” James replied, still smilingat his friend’s doubtfullook.

“As you say, Warren, as you say,” he had said, shaking James’s hand and accompanyinghimto the door. “Untilnext time.”
Bowing his farewell, James had headed home to see to the final preparations for their departure witha muchlighter step.

He’ll find something we can use against Weir if anyone can
.

Now, with the object of their discourse sitting awake and silent across from him, James decided he needed to say something before things became uncomfortable.

“We should arrive at Chelmsford within the hour. We’ll stop at an inn there for the night to rest the horses and resume the second leg our journey tomorrow morning. Ordinarily there would be a change of horses waiting for us but, as my return is a little earlier than expected, I didn’t have time to have them sent. There’s no harm in stayingthe night, though, and havinga leisurelyjourney,”James said.

Allen smiled and looked relieved enough that James thought he must be sufferingfromthe same twinges inhis bladder that James was beginning to feel, especially now that another part of his anatomy had stopped screamingat him.

“I’m glad, my lord. I’m afraid I’m not used to this much traveling. Before coming to London, the farthest I had been from home was to schoolinShrewsbury,”Allenadmitted.

“And how did you like it?” James asked, wanting to keep the young man engaged and distracted from whatever thoughts brought that sad look to his eyes.

“The school? Oh, well enough, my lord, I suppose. It was situated near the river Severn, and when we weren’t at our studies, most of the boys would spend time on the banks or in the boats. It’s lovelycountry,”Kyle said fondly.

“I’msure, like most young men, you spent more time with your friends thanat your studies,”James prompted.

Kyle’s face turned a little sad then, and James was sorry he’d said it. “I fear I didn’t have many friends at school, my lord. I suppose I was never very good at making friends. Perhaps it comes from growing up without any brothers or sisters, I don’t know. My elder brother George died when I was very young, and I was my parents’ onlyother child.”

“I’msorryfor your loss,”James said for lack ofanythingelse. “Thank you, my lord. But as I said, I was very young, and I barelyremember him. Myfather gave me his name after his passing.” “George?”James asked, confused.

“My given name is actually George Frederick Kyle Allen. My father is George. ‘Kyle’ was my mother’s family name, and I believe my father only allowed it because I was the second son and to avoid a row withher. It was the name she had for me.”

“I like it. It suits you,”James admitted.

Allen smiled and blushed. “You may use it ifyou wish, my lord. Truthfully, I prefer it to Allen, though I suppose it is ungrateful of me to say so. ‘Allen’ reminds me of my father, and I look for him in the roomeverytime someone calls me byit.”

“Then, if you prefer it, that is what I will call you,” he said, charmed at the hint of wit Kyle was displaying now that he’d relaxed a little. “Your mother’s familyis inIreland?”

“I believe so, though I know little of them. I think perhaps my father felt my mother’s family beneath him somehow. My mother never spoke of them. But I’msure you don’t want to hear about any ofthat,”Kyle continued shyly.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I hadn’t, Kyle,” James replied, smiling to soften the words. “We have another long carriage ride ahead of us tomorrow and a couple of days at Kentwood Hall after that before myniece and nephew arrive. IfI amto do allthe talking, I can promise you it will feel even longer.” James was rewarded with a quiet chuckle and a sparkle inKyle’s eyes.

“Wellthen, mylord, as I cannot allow that to happen, how amI to entertainyou?”Kyle asked, a teasingnote enteringhis voice again.

Kyle’s playful side surprised him and encouraged him to answer in kind, but he was most certainly
not
going to answer that questiontruthfully, so instead he said, “I would not be the one inneed of entertainment, Kyle. I assure you. But tell me more about this school of yours. Did they teach you anything other than playing on riverbanks and the rowingofboats?”

And so their journey continued while they chatted companionably, lapsing into comfortable silences from time to time. Kyle spoke of his studies and time in Shrewsbury, and James answered questions about the lands they passed through as well as his estate and Kentwood Hall. The time passed quickly, and he found he understood howAndrew could have developed so deep a regard for Kyle in so short a time. He was bright and articulate, with a playful sense of humor that was most endearing. James couldn’t help but come to like the young man more and more as their trip continued.

And if, once or twice, he was more fascinated with Kyle’s mouth and hands than the words and gestures they produced, well, that couldn’t be helped, really.

There was no realharmin
looking
, after all.

The night in Chelmsford passed without incident. They ate in the inn’s dining hall and retired early to their rooms. James was still tired, and after sitting across from Kyle for most of the day, he needed to find some privacy to take care of a few personal matters. They left the following morning after a fine breakfast, and late in the afternoon, theyreached his estate.

James watched Kyle’s face as they came up the long drive to Kentwood Halland was rewarded withthe awe and pleasure he read inthe youngman’s widened eyes and slightlyopenmouth.

James had always loved his home, a sprawling three-story redbrick Tudor surrounded by manicured lawns, gardens, and a revetted moat. When he was a child, the corner turrets and murky moat had formed the perfect stage for his mock battles and daring rescues. He had been the bane of the gardeners’ existence with his joustingtournaments against the carefullytrimmed bushes, to the point where they had given up on trying to shape them into animals of any kind.

“Do you approve, Kyle?” James asked, smiling as the carriage crossed the west bridge into the maincourtyard.

“Oh yes, of course, my lord. It’s magnificent!” Kyle said, with an artlessness that James had come to covet in their short time together, for it meant that Kyle was moved enough to forget proper reserve for a time and simplybe himself.

“I’mglad. I amrather fond of it myself,” James responded, his voice warming with pleasure. “Perhaps now you can see why I don’t choose to leave it often, even with the siren song of London’s many delights.”

“Oh yes, my lord,” he said again. “If I lived in such a place, I should think I would never want to leave it.”

Nor would I want you to
, James thought, then chided himself. Such thoughts were not going to do either of them any good. But it pleased him more than he wanted to admit that Kyle admired his home.

“Let’s get you settled and rested, and afterwards I willgive you a tour ofthe house and grounds. How does that sound?”

“That would be wonderful, my lord, thank you. But you don’t need to entertain me if you have affairs to attend to. I wouldn’t want to keep you,”Kyle said, his reserve returning.

“As to that, I believe you will learn in time that, when I am at home, I rarely offer to do that which I do not wish to. I was not expected home for some few days yet, so I think my household can manage a few more hours without my interference. And I promise you, it will give me great pleasure to show you my home,” James assured himwitha smile.

Kyle relaxed a little and returned his smile, saying, “Then thank you, mylord, I would like that verymuch.”

 

“Excellent,”James said.

By then they had stopped in the large square courtyard, and several liveried footmen descended on the carriage. James stepped out once the door was opened for him, mounted the stairs to the main doors, and greeted Ellis, his butler, who stood at the head of a small crowd ofservants.

“Good afternoon, Ellis. This is Mr. Allen; he willbe stayingwith us for some few days. Will you show him to the green room and order baths drawnfor himand myself?”

Ellis had been with his family for longer than James had been alive. When he had been left alone to manage the estate after his parents’funeral, Ellis had beena strongshoulder to leanonas wellas a trusted advisor. He’d felt so unprepared for enormity of his responsibilities that he had depended on the man day and night for those first horrible months. Since that time, the distinction of rank had always been preserved between them, but he still thought of the man as a good friend and the best butler a mancould ask for.

“Yes, my lord. Welcome home, my lord,” Ellis said, a warm smile on his face. Any tension that James might still have felt fromhis time in London always seemed to fade whenever he was in the presence of that smile. Though Ellis was graying a bit at the temples and his face had more wrinkles every year, there always seemed to be some secret delight twinkling behind his eyes that never failed to lightenJames’s mood. He’d missed the old man.