The Christmas Wager (23 page)

―I learned—years later—that Father had paid Colin‘s way

back to his relatives‘ home in Ireland. He‘d threatened to turn

him over to the authorities if he didn‘t agree to leave England

and never return.‖

―That‘s dreadful.‖

The duke seemed lost in his sad thoughts for a long

moment, but then he nodded. ―I suppose,‖ he said quietly,

―that that was when I lost my faith in love. And the foolish

promises people make when they think they‘re in love.‖

Andrew bristled at that. ―He was only a boy! A boy with no

social standing, being threatened by a lord. How could you

have expected him to defy a duke?‖

For a moment, anger flashed across Barrington‘s face at

Andrew‘s insolence, but just as quickly, the fight left him. ―I

suppose you‘re right. But I was a boy also. And I was

devastated.‖

He sighed. ―I, of course, went on to marry and father two

sons. But I never stopped loving Colin. A few years ago, I

attempted to find him. I told myself it was simple curiosity.

Most likely he had married and fathered a brood of children. No

doubt he‘d gone to pot in his middle age. But, no—it was far

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worse than that. I discovered he‘d been killed several years

before.‖

The duke‘s eyes seemed misty and distant now. ―The fool

was thrown off a horse. He‘d never married.‖

Almost of its own volition, Thomas‘s hand had found

Andrew‘s while his father spoke, and now he squeezed the

blond‘s fingers. It was as much to reassure himself as Andrew.

For perhaps the first time in his life, his heart went out to the

man he‘d always found so fearsome.

―After that,‖ the duke continued, rousing himself, ―I took to

spending my free time in the kennels. We‘d been happy there,

long ago, laughing and playing with the hounds. Being there

now still makes me feel close to him, in a small way.‖

―I‘m sorry, Father. I truly am.‖

This seemed to wake the duke from his reverie. The man

glanced up at his son, then looked away quickly. If it hadn‘t

been inconceivable to Thomas, he would have sworn his father

was embarrassed.

The duke heaved himself up from the chair, as if he were

so weary that the mere act of standing took gargantuan effort.

He stood, leaning a bit unsteadily on his cane and gazing into

the fire for a long moment. ―I‘ve been trying to protect you,

Thomas. From the law, from scandal. And, I suppose, from

heartbreak. But your behavior over the past few days, as well

as that of Mr. Nash, has given me hope that—perhaps—your

love might be capable of surviving. I can no longer withhold my

support. I no longer
wish
to.‖

He turned and took in both men with his gaze, penetrating

and sharp even through the drunken haze. ―I‘ve decided not to

withhold your allowance, either, Thomas. I give my blessing to

both of you and hope you find the happiness denied to me.‖ He

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looked pointedly at Andrew. ―I simply hope that
you
, Mr. Nash,

have better luck teaching my son discretion than I‘ve had.‖

Neither of the two young men could think of a response as

the duke walked to the door to let himself out. The man paused

at the threshold, turning back to his son, but unable to look

directly at him this time. ―Thomas… I know you‘ve always felt

that I don‘t love you. We‘ve always fought. You‘re as headstrong

as I, and you refuse to be intimidated. But do you really think I

would prefer a son who always obeys me? A simpering coward

with no passion?

―You have always been my favorite.‖

ANDREW watched as Thomas slowly stood and walked to the

fireplace, his handsome profile lit gold by the flickering flames.

The blond knew it would be a mistake to interrupt his

thoughts. Thomas had just had his world upturned. Perhaps

for the best, but whatever the outcome, his father had just

revealed himself to be a very different person than Thomas had

always believed him to be, and the nature of the relationship

between father and son had just changed dramatically.

Thomas stared into the fire for a long time before finally

giving a short laugh and saying, ―What an old fool!‖ But the

glistening in his eyes gave the lie to his words.

―Perhaps,‖ Andrew responded tentatively, ―but we appear

to have underestimated him.‖

―Hmm.‖

―And I warn you, I fully intend to take his admonition to

watch over you to heart.‖

Thomas glanced over at him, quirking up one corner of his

mouth. ―I‘m not sure I heard him say that.‖

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176

―He did. I‘m quite positive.‖

Thomas smiled at him fondly, and then turned toward the

small table where the duke‘s empty brandy snifter sat next to

his own. ―Perhaps you should start by limiting how much

brandy I drink.‖

Andrew laughed. ―Oh, don‘t tempt me.‖

―Well, perhaps I‘ll do it myself, then,‖ Thomas replied

thoughtfully, picking up one of the empty glasses. ―I‘ve been

noticing a tendency in my family to… overindulge.‖

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Chapter 28

THE next morning dawned bright and clear. The view from

Thomas‘s window was spectacularly beautiful, with clean white

snow blanketing the fields, untouched apart from the

meandering tracks of birds and rabbits and the occasional fox.

This was the first morning Thomas had spent at Barrington in

over six years that felt peaceful.

He looked back over his shoulder to where Andrew lay in

the bed, still mostly buried under the quilts, breathing softly,

looking like a beautiful, slumbering angel.
To think, how blind

I’ve been over the past three years!
he thought.
And how much

pain my blindness must have caused you. How can I ever make

it up to you, my love?

Somehow, he would. Or spend the rest of his life trying.

He rinsed his face as quietly as he could in the washbasin,

and then dressed. It was tempting to leave Andrew sleeping

peacefully, but he couldn‘t resist a gentle kiss on that soft

golden cheek.

―Good morning,‖ Andrew said, offering him a sleepy smile.

―You needn‘t get up. I‘m just slipping downstairs for tea.‖

Andrew sighed and sat up. ―No. I‘d better slip back into my

own bed before Percy or someone else finds me in here.‖

The mention of Percy dampened Thomas‘s happy mood a

bit, but he dismissed his annoyance at the boy. Percy
was
a

boy, after all. And he had merely been standing up for what he

believed was right.

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―Very well,‖ Thomas replied. ―Go back to your room, climb

under the blankets and sleep ‘til noon.‖

Andrew laughed. ―Well, not that long. But a bit longer, I

think.‖

He gave the lord a kiss, and then Thomas had the pleasure

of watching him scamper naked across the room to slip

through the connecting door.

Duchess Barrington was already having breakfast

downstairs when her son entered the dining room. She gave

him a startled look. ―Thomas! You‘re up quite early this

morning.‖

―Yes, I suppose I am.‖

As he took his seat, his mother poured him a cup of tea

and placed an unwanted scone upon his plate. ―I do hope you

and your father didn‘t quarrel last night,‖ she said, utterly

failing to hide her curiosity.

Thomas smiled at her. ―Of course we quarreled, Mother.

It‘s what we do.‖

―Oh dear.‖

―Not to worry,‖ he added, ―I believe we‘ve come to an

understanding.‖

Duchess Barrington picked up her teacup, looking

decidedly put out by his flippant attitude. ―I certainly hope so.

Susan has become quite fond of you and Mr. Nash both. It

would be quite tragic if neither of you were ever to visit her

again.‖

Thomas had forgotten about Susan, and he felt duly

reprimanded for it. ―You are quite right, Mother. But as I said, I

believe Father and I have resolved our differences. At least to

the point at which Andrew and I may visit in the future.‖

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179

His mother smiled at that and put a hand upon his. ―I‘m

glad to hear it, Thomas.‖

ANDREW woke to a gentle knock on his bedroom door. The

door opened and Percy entered, carrying a tray with the

makings of tea on it.

Fortunately, Andrew reflected, as he sat up his bed, he‘d

taken the time to put his nightshirt on. His eyes quickly

glanced about, taking inventory of the room, afraid something

might be amiss—that something would reveal that he‘d spent

the night in Thomas‘s room. But he could find nothing.

―Good morning, sir,‖ Percy said quietly, not really looking

in his direction.

Andrew smiled, doing his best to appear relaxed in the

boy‘s presence. ―Good morning, Percy. How is the weather

today?‖

Percy set the tray on the small table near the cold fireplace

and poured some of the steaming hot liquid from the china

teapot into a cup. ―It‘s a beautiful day, sir. Would you like me

to start the fire?‖

―That‘s all right. I don‘t plan on staying in for long.‖

―Shall I have water brought up for your bath, then?‖

―Yes, thank you.‖

The boy bowed and let himself out of the room.
There
,

Andrew thought
, I have managed to survive an encounter with a

fearsome sixteen-year-old boy. The day is already showing

promise.

He picked up the cup of tea and inhaled the sweet-

smelling steam as he walked to the window. The day was

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indeed beautiful, the sun bright in a sky with just a few billowy

white clouds drifting lazily by.

Some movement caught his eye, and he realized it was

Susan, playing merrily in the snow with two adults—Edward

and Rebecca. He watched as Rebecca and Susan hurled

snowballs at Edward, who fell over backward into a snow bank,

laughing. The joyous scene warmed Andrew‘s heart. He wished

the new family a lifetime of happiness together.

It was sad, perhaps, that the life he and Thomas were

planning together, most likely living in their rooms at the Club

for the conceivable future as ―confirmed bachelors,‖ could not

include children. But now that Thomas and the duke appeared

to be reconciled, Andrew hoped he and the lord would be

welcome to visit Susan and the rest of the family on holidays.

That would have to do.

And really, Andrew had what he wanted most in the

world—and what he‘d thought he could never have: Thomas.

All else paled by comparison. It would be a hard life, Andrew

knew. A life of false facades and hiding the truth from people

who might otherwise be their friends. And, always, the fear of

discovery would dog them for the rest of their days—the fear of

scandal; of incarceration; hard labor; even execution. He would

never have chosen to bring Thomas into this. But he could not

deny that the thought of Thomas loving him filled him with a

joy so great it eclipsed all of these fears.

They would survive. Together, they would manage to

endure.

IT WAS while Thomas was descending the main staircase, after

ordering his bags to be brought down, that Hew and Duncan

hurried into the Great Hall.

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181

―Your Lordship!‖ Hew said breathlessly. ―His Grace asked

us to come get you, straight away.‖

―Is something wrong?‖

―I don‘t know, m‘lord. But His Grace was very insistent.‖

No doubt. The duke was always insistent. Thomas was

disinclined to rush simply because his father demanded it, but

he was loath to break the peace now that the duke had

declared a truce. That was, provided the man remembered the

events of last night at all.

Thomas allowed the boys to lead him, scampering ahead

like puppies, until they reached the kennel. There, they bowed

and took their leave. They‘d seen the duke‘s temper and they

were no fools.

Thomas entered without knocking and found his father