Midwinter Manor 2 -Keeper's Pledge (5 page)

For answer, Philip sank to the floor and lay upon the rug in front of the fire. Danny darted a glance at the window to check he’d not left the curtains open, then he tore off his shirt and dropped to his knees, straddling the slender body laid out for him like a feast. Philip was still fully clothed, but that was soon seen to, as were the rest of Danny’s own clothes. Goose bumps rose on that pale flesh—Danny hadn’t realized how bad the draft under the door was until now—so he covered Philip’s body with his own, warming his lover with his own body heat.

Their mouths sought one another. Danny kissed greedily, smiling at what he tasted. “You smoked a cigar after dinner, didn’t you? With your brandy.”

“Tried to. It’s been so long since I had one of the wretched things I—ah!” His words broke off as Danny’s roving hand reached its goal, Philip’s arse. “I coughed so hard my chest was aching. Even Matthew was more the suave man of the world than I.”

“And that’s as it should be. You’re no man of the world, Philip Luccombe. You’re the man of Danny Costessey, and don’t you forget it.”

He ground their erections together, and Philip groaned. “Oh God, that’s good.”

“Turn over. I mean to have you, Philip Luccombe, and I’m not of a mind to wait.” Danny hadn’t thought he could be more aroused than he was already, but Philip’s shudder at his words set Danny’s whole body aflame with want. He sat back on his heels as Philip raised himself up on his elbows and gave him a long look, dark with need.

“God, it’s been too long,” Philip breathed. His whole body was pale as moonlight, save for his thick, dark length, proof of his desire. Then he slithered over with that eerie grace that was all his own and settled himself on hands and knees before Danny, offering himself up for the taking.

His throat drier than a heath in summer, Danny reached forwards to take hold of those slim hips. They tensed under his touch, the muscles clearly defined under the perfect skin. “Aye, that’s right,” Danny murmured, his hands moving, tracing firm contours. “You’re mine to take, mine to have. And God knows I need to take you right now.”

A sound burst from Philip that was almost like a sob. Danny kneaded those tempting buttocks a while longer, his thumbs circling ever closer to Philip’s entrance, until he could wait no longer. Spitting into his palm, he applied the moisture where it was needed. “I’ll go slow,” he promised. “It’s been a while, but I’ll begentle with you.”

“Don’t be,” Philip pleaded, his voice hoarse. “Don’t be gentle.” Danny had to fight to stop himself ramming straight into his lover’s body, taking him, marking his claim. But he’d not hurt his Philip, not for all the world, so he lined up carefully and pushed in slow.

The pressure that surrounded him made him gasp. God, had Philip ever been this tight before? Danny stilled, breathing hard, as he tried to regain mastery over himself.

“Don’t stop,” Philip begged. “I need you. I need you to take me now.”

It was too much for any man. Danny grabbed a firm hold of Philip’s hips and slammed into him, crying out loudly from the pleasure of it. Philip’s cries answered his own. Danny slung an arm around Philip’s chest, pulling them as close together as any two men could get, and he reached round with his other hand for the red-hot poker that was Philip’s cock. “Aye, you want this, don’t you?” he growled.

“Yes—God—yes!” They moved together, bodies slick now with sweat, Danny’s balls slapping loudly against Philip’s backside with every thrust. Danny felt like he was in another world, one where there was no such thing as master and servant, no differences of class or education, only two men, slaking their desire in one another. It was a grand place to be; but he couldn’t stay there long. Had to speed up, thrusting on, carrying them both on to that moment where they groaned in unison, spilling their seed at one and the same time as if they were one beast.

As the shudders subsided, they lay down upon the hearthrug, still twined in each other, even as Danny slipped, with a pang, from his lover’s body. Philip shivered.

“Cold, are you?” Danny chuckled, wrapping his arms more tightly around Philip’s pale form. “There’s a stiff breeze blowing under the door tonight. I’ve half a mind to complain to the landlord.”

“It is rather bad, isn’t it?” Philip twisted in his arms, looking toward the door. Suddenly his whole body tensed. “It’s open. The door. Didn’t I shut it properly?”

Danny rolled over to see for himself. There were several inches of darkness showing between the door and its frame. “Bloody hell! I thought it was colder than it ought to be. Damn it to hell.” He broke off cursing when he saw how white Philip’s face had gone. “Hey, don’t worry about it. Like as not no one’s been within half a mile of here, this time of night.” He hoped he sounded calmer than he felt. To think they’d spent all those long weeks being careful, only for this to happen!

“What if they have, though?” Philip grabbed for his clothes, fumbling in his haste. “What if someone saw us? No one will believe this was drunken foolery!”

“Hush.” Danny took hold of his lover’s trembling form. “If someone had seen us, do you think they’d just have gone away quietly, if they were planning to make a fuss? No, they’d have burst in raising hell. We’ll be fine, love.”

The tremors stilled gradually. “You think so? Really?”

“Aye,” Danny said stoutly. “Now you get your clothes on and go back to your guests before you’re missed, and then if anyone thinks they saw owt—which I don’t reckon as they did—well, then, you’ll be back in the manor and they’ll think they must have been mistaken.”

Philip nodded and did as he was bid. When he’d gone, Danny sank into a chair. Christ, if it all came out….

He sighed and stood once more. No use dwelling on that. If there were consequences, well, they’d have to deal with them when they happened.

For now, he’d be best off getting some sleep.
Chapter 5

A
FTER
a wretched night’s sleep, Philip awoke tired and irritable, and dreading the day before him. How could he face his guests, his servants even, knowing one of them might have seen him with Danny? Being, oh God, buggered by Danny?

Standish, when he came in with Philip’s tea, betrayed no censure; but still Philip walked downstairs feeling rather as though he were on his way to his own execution. Eggs and bacon for the condemned man’s last meal. He doubted he’d be able to stomach more than a piece of dry toast. Passing a maid on the way, he found himself wondering if there was a hint of secret knowledge in her pert smile as she wished him good morning.

He entered the breakfast room to find his guests up before him, all save Matthew. The ladies greeted him cheerfully enough, but Frederick merely rustled the
Times
and grunted. Was it disgust? Philip’s hand shook as he poured his tea.

“Bad night?” Lucy asked, her voice sympathetic. “I must say I slept like a babe in arms. Frightfully comfortable beds you have here. You ought to have a care—if you make them too comfortable, your guests will never leave.”

“Yes, we slept well too,” Millicent agreed politely. “Didn’t we, Freddie?”

 

Frederick grunted once more, giving an eloquent flick to his paper.

“Don’t take it personally,” Lucy said in a stage whisper that could have been heard in the next room, let alone at Frederick’s end of the table. “He’s always this grumpy at breakfast.”

“I must say,” Millicent burst in brightly, “the weather today is glorious. Perhaps we might take a stroll after breakfast?”

They all turned to look through the window, and indeed, Philip saw for the first time this morning, the sky was clear and blue, the sun shining with that clean brightness peculiar to fine winter mornings.

“Sounds like an excellent idea to me,” Lucy said. “Philip? Can we bully you into guiding us through the estate?”

“No bullying required,” Philip assured her, feeling he’d be glad of some fresh air himself. “I’d be delighted to escort you both. Shall we say, in about half an hour?” He had some hazy idea the ladies might wish to change their dress before venturing outside.

“Yes. Perhaps Matthew might be down by then and could join us,” Millicent said. Philip noticed she didn’t suggest her husband should come along.

“Lord, no. You’ll be lucky if you see that young man before noon,” was Lucy’s judgment. “Cranmore men aren’t at their best before the sun’s well over the yardarm,” she added with a wicked smile over at Frederick.

Frederick folded his paper in a pointed manner. “I can hardly see how my dislike of idle chatter over the breakfast table can be compared to Matthew lying in bed with a hangover until luncheon.”

“I’m sure you can’t,” Lucy said archly, rising. “Half an hour then, Philip. Coming, Millie?”

A
T THE
appointed hour, they met in the hall. Philip had managed, after all, to eat something sustaining and was now feeling much more sanguine about the previous night. The door of Danny’s cottage had simply swung open, having been imperfectly fastened. No third parties need have been involved. Philip and Danny had nothing to fear.

They strolled out through the garden and the sweep of the park toward the woodlands. The frost that had silvered the trees’ bare branches still lingered in the shade, and holly berries showed brightly here and there.

“Such a lovely estate. You’re really very lucky, Philip.” Lucy laughed. “And you too, of course, Millie. Although I suppose I oughtn’t to speak about that.”

“About when I’m dead, you mean?” Philip wondered if he would become inured to Lucy’s rather shockingly blunt way of speaking by the end of their visit.

“No, Lucy, you really shouldn’t. Poor Philip will think you’re wishing him gone!”
Lucy just laughed. “You know, marriage suits you, Millie. It’s put roses in your cheeks.”

Privately, Philip thought it more to do with a combination of embarrassment and the pace of their walk. He would have slowed his pace to accommodate Millicent’s shorter, daintier steps, but Lucy had surged ahead with her mannish stride, leaving the other two scurrying to catch up.

“Does that mean you might change your mind about it, then?” Millicent asked, rather archly for her.

 

“Lord, no! In any case, I doubt there’s a man who’d have me.”

Philip hastily roused his very rusty command of gallantry. “I’m sure there are plenty of young men who’d be only too happy to—”

“Ha! Well then, if I’m such a catch, how about it, Philip? Care to make an honest woman out of me?”

 

A startled gasp caught in his throat, and Philip doubled over, coughing uncontrollably.

Lucy laughed out loud and pounded him heartily on the back, which only seemed to make matters worse. His eyes watering, he waved her away, staggering a few steps from her unwelcome attentions. “Philip, I am sorry!” she said, between snorts of laughter. “I’ll take that as a refusal, shall I?”

“I, ah…. Please don’t take it amiss of me….” Philip spluttered between coughs.

“Lord no. I was only teasing. Philip, I really am very sorry. I shall try and curb my shocking impulses in future, really I shall. Come on, old thing, let’s get you back to the house for a drink. You look like you could use one.” She took his arm and steered him back with her, a cross-looking Millicent following behind.

Frederick frowned when they walked into the drawing room. “That was a short walk. Everyone all right?” “No thanks to me, I’m afraid,” Lucy said breezily. Her sister gave a tight little smile. “Lucy proposed to Philip in the grove.”

Matthew, curled up in a chair by the fire, drew attention to his presence by bursting into loud laughter. Philip entertained a halfway serious wish they’d left him to die of his coughing fit outside.

Frederick merely raised an eyebrow. “I take it congratulations are
not
in order?”
“I think I rather shocked the poor old thing, didn’t I, Philip?” Lucy patted his arm, for all the world as if he were a bent old man inclined to get confused and overexcited about nothing.

Philip shook her off and straightened his clothes. “I admit I was a little taken by surprise,” he said, sounding stiff and pompous even to his own ears.

“Have to get used to it, I’m afraid,” Frederick shrugged. “That’s modern women for you. It’s all going that way nowadays. Women in politics, women in business—”

“And a damned good thing too,” Lucy put in. “You men have had it all your own way for far too long. The House of Commons is nothing but an overgrown boys’ prep-school debating society, and the Lords a fusty old gentlemen’s club. It’s high time we saw some change.”

Matthew unwound his slim figure from his chair and placed the book he’d been reading carefully upon a side table. “Well, if you ever go into politics, Lucy, you can be sure I’ll vote for you.” He padded, catlike, past Philip, who distinctly heard him murmur, “I should be far too terrified not to.” It made Philip rather warm to the boy.

Frederick watched him leave the room, then walked over to examine his brother’s reading matter. As he picked it up, his lip curled in disgust. Philip was disquieted to realize the slim volume was a collection of pastoral poetry from his own shelves. It had been some time since he’d perused that particular volume himself, but he well recalled the poems within were at best ambiguous, and at worst downright scandalous. Trust Matthew to find the wretched thing.

“Actually, Philip, I wouldn’t mind a word with you,” Frederick said. “Ladies, I hope you’ll excuse us?”

 

Sudden dread robbed Philip of his breath.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Oh, absolutely. Come away, Millie, they’re about to talk of matters far too weighty for our delicate female minds to handle.” The ladies left the room, Millie smiling in long-suffering apology for her sister as she went.

Frederick waited until the door had closed behind them before he spoke. “Fact is, I’m concerned about the boy. Matthew,” he added, unnecessarily. Philip fell into a chair, light-headed with relief. “Remember what I told you on the telephone?”

“You, ah, said he was getting in with the wrong sort,” Philip said cautiously.

 

Frederick nodded. “Have you had a chance to form an opinion yourself?”

Philip realized he must look a fool, sitting there gaping at the man, but he really hadn’t the first clue how he should reply to that.
Oh yes, Frederick. In my considered opinion, he’s the lightest-footed fairy who’s ever flirted with me
? “He, ah, he has certain affectations,” he said finally. “But he’s still very young.”