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Hi, my name is Nicky
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 | [06-10] Forbidden Fruit |
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 4.93 with 15 vote(s)
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| Created: 2009-01-17 17:30:21 |
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[06]
THE winters’ cold had only gotten worse. It was bitter, like icy teeth clawing into the skin mercilessly. Nicky was once again inside the rickety stable, helping out the young Jonathon as he readied the horses for the journey.
He did look decidedly healthier, Nicky surmised with a small smile. Where he had been nothing but sickly pale skin and jutting bones that were fragile as twigs, he now had a little weight on him and a healthy glow to his cheeks. He looked like a boy should look like; fairly happy, well fed and cared for.
“Miss Elsa and the Cook seem to have been taking good care of you,” Nicky commented as Jonathon led a beautiful black stallion from his enclosure. Jonathon looked up and smiled. It was the first proper smile that Nicky had seen from the young boy since – well since the boy had started working here.
The boy nodded. “Aye sir. They ‘ave been like angels.” Nicky returned the boys’ soft, cheerful smile as he took the reigns of one horse and led it outside towards the carriages for Jonathon to harness. He stroked down the horses long nose softly, thinking pointless things to himself as he walked.
Before he even turned the corner to the long, pebbled drive he could hear Edward and his father heatedly discussing something he couldn’t quite catch. Edward’s usually cool demeanor of carefree boyishness had been replaced by a quiet fury, his eyes flashing darkly in a way Nicky had never witnessed before. The anger in the Lord was easier to watch, was familiar. His fat face was tomato red with the cold and with his own fury, his fist was balled and every now and then a sausage–like finger would jab in his direction.
Nicky frowned, observing the interaction with as much discretion as he could manage.
“Do you know what they are arguing about?” he asked the driver, Lance, who just shrugged uninterestedly.
“I don’t get involved. Neither should you. The Lord gets pretty nasty on those who eavesdrop,” the driver said with a pointed look and Nicky nodded.
“Hint taken.” The driver smiled very briefly, before he got distracted by the arrival of Jonathon with the second horse. From the way he was behaving, Nicky came to guess that Lance – a gentleman he had had very limited interactions with – was a very precise man, a perfectionist of sorts, if the way he watched Jonathon harness the horses and fretted every now and then was any indication.
Nicky was sniggering lightly at Jonathon’s barely suppressed eye roll when a harsh, quick sound above the wind caught his attention. His eyes immediately flew to the arguing pair to find Edward’s head tilted and his hand raised to his face so that his fingertips brushed his cheek and the Lord with his hand still raised as if in threat of repeating the action.
Nicky stood up a little straighter, wanting to go to Edward’s side but he had never seen Edward so angry before, and couldn’t predict how the man would react so he stayed put, feeling a little horrified. He was no stranger to being hit by his mother or father when he was alive, but when witnessing it, the act seemed less like a punishment and more like a vulgar cruelty.
Nicky moved slightly and watched as Edward’s hand fell after what seemed like forever, and his face became impassive. He straightened up but seemed to keep his eyes slightly lowered, focusing on his fathers’ buttons rather than his face. The Lord then said something to which Edward tensed, before nodding slowly. The Lord gave a satisfied smile before he turned his back on his son and marched up the driveway and disappeared into the manor.
Nicky deliberated going over to Edward, who was still standing there, his hand once again going to his cheek and stroking it thoughtfully. Though, just as Nicky had decided he would, Edward seemed to have taken a deep breath and turned away. He caught Nicky’s eye and winked, to which Nicky replied with a small smile. But he couldn’t help but noticed the dimmed redness on the other mans’ cheek, nor the uncharacteristic display of submissiveness. A bolt of brutal hatred rushed through his veins, for although Nicky found Edwards’ childish, demanding ways a little irritating, to see him reduced to that was…horrible.
“Morning,” he smiled as he approached, nodding to Lance and Jonathon. Nicky smiled back, eyeing him carefully, but Edward had reverted to his old self and not a glimmer of any deeper emotion than his boyish charm seeped out the surface. Nicky gently touched Edward’s arm, signifying for him to follow as he led the way around the back of the carriage and leant against Edward’s case that sat silently on the back.
“Are you okay?” Edward’s eyes flashed with vague annoyance before he smiled.
“I’m fine, Nicky, you worry too much,” Edward said, tapping him on the nose condescendingly with his boyish smile. Nicky overlooked the almost mocking gesture with more ease then he would’ve usually, and studied Edward for a moment before he nodded. He had no choice but to. Edward was stubborn and Nicky figured that prodding to much into a subject Edward obviously wanted to ignore would only cause friction between the both of them, and that was the last thing Nicky wanted at that particular moment.
Edward smiled again, his blue eyes flicking away from Nicky as his name was called. He moved away, but before he could fully step out of reach, Nicky grabbed his wrist and pulled him back out of view from the main manor and placed a sweetly light kiss on his reddened cheek before briefly brushing over Edward’s lips. He pulled back before smiling and pushing Edward back out of the way and towards the calling voice.
“Mr. Rodager, you are a shameless tease,” Edward chuckled, his eyes finally lighting up like they should be before he turned away, smiling to himself. Nicky leaned back against the case, resisting the urge to peek around the carriage and watch Edward do whatever he was doing and thought to himself. He had admired Edward for so long, he didn’t know anyone who didn’t. The guys wanted to be him, the females wanted him. He was seemingly flawless, charismatic and strong willed. He was beautiful and charming and yes, Nicky had admired him from a distance for the longest of times. Nicky had also come to realize Edwards’ many faults. He was egotistical, and all too aware of his good looks, he was stubborn and would resort to anything to get his own way, including pouting in what was an admittedly adorable way. But Nicky had also come to realize how little he knew of Edward, of how to understand him. He had come to realize that maybe Edward wasn’t all boyish charms and childish demands. There was something else there, something a lot deeper then Nicky had initially realized, something more then his skin deep beauty and surface personality and he had also come to realize that Edward also didn’t trust him enough to expose that side of himself to him.
And that smarted a little more then Nicky expected.
–
The journey to the next town took the rest of the day, although, Nicky thought, luckily Edward was back into his chatty, teasing mood and was able to distract him long enough so that Nicky didn’t die from the monotonous boredom.
The hooves of the horses crunched and cracked on the stony drive way and the driver pulled up beside the house. Nicky glanced out of the window – Edward had told him it was far to cold for him to be sitting outside with the driver like he was supposed to and besides, he would get bored – and stared up at the manor. It was basically the same in size and build as the one they had just left, but outside was a footman, standing by the front door, looking decided frozen.
Upon noticing the carriage drawing u beside him, the footman started and jumped up the manor steps to knock on the door. Nicky glanced at Edward who just shrugged and climbed out the carriage when the door was opened for him by Lance.
Nicky followed after him, slamming the door closed as a short Lord descended the staircase with a fair, plain female trailing after him with a soft suggestive smile and eyes locked on Edward.
For the first time in a long time Nicky felt the brutal emerald pang of jealousy.
[07]
The jealousy refused to ebb. In fact instead of fading, it swelled and pulsed like a heathen beast, polluting Nicky and souring his mood. Since they had arrived in early evening, Nicky had been forced to watch as the Lady – Lady Constance – hung on Edwards’ arm and spoke nonsense in his ear. Nicky had to watch as she flirted and giggled in an unabashed sense and it infuriated him no end.
A part of Nicky was ashamed and embarrassed about the silent jealousy that thrummed through his veins, and a part of him denied his right to feel such an ugly thing. But the most of him just seethed with quiet annoyance that hid behind a carefully schooled mask of impassiveness. He didn’t want that simpering little witch to touch Edward. It was that simple no matter how much he ignored such horrible thoughts for the sake of gentlemanliness. He hated having to watch someone else hang on Edwards’ every word and claim any opportunity to touch him with a lxsty relish.
He absolutely loathed it.
Nicky jumped slightly as the door of the room creaked open and his eyes snapped up.
“Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” It was a maid. She was rounded, with rosy cheeks and ginger hair tumbling from her cap. “I just came to light the fire…” Nicky smiled and nodded.
“It’s fine, don’t worry.” The maid beamed and moved across the room, reaching into her apron pocket as she did. Nicky watched lazily as she ignited the match with a flick of her wrist and threw it into the fireplace. He should really be unpacking Edwards’ things and putting them into some sort of order for the next few days, but in the mood he was in he was desperately looking for something to distract him mentally. The monotonous boredom induced by unpacking would only lead to his mind wandering and his blood boiling with renewed irritation.
But the distraction of the maid couldn’t last longer than a few minutes. As soon as she lit the fireplace, she disappeared, condemning Nicky to his own thoughts which he wanted nothing more then to escape from.
He swallowed, turning to the chest that had been brought up after they had arrived. He didn’t want to feel this way. He didn’t want to be jealous and fuming and hating some poor female he has barely even met for no other reason then the fact that Edward was showing a little polite interest and that she was staring at him like some kind of God.
Edward was anything but, in reality.
A part of him wanted to blame Edward for drawing his disgusting and draining emotion from him, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even blame the girl, even if she was the source. He was the one getting worked up over the inevitable. It was his fault that he had somehow forgotten who Edward was along the way and what was bound to happen sooner or later. It was his own fault for forgetting his place and becoming naïve.
He closed the chest once more, having emptied it of most of Edwards’ things and put them away where they belonged, and sat on it. mentally he was slinging every insult known to man down to Edward who was currently locked in conversation with Lord Tucson in the latter’s study. In reality it did nothing to ease his discomfort, but he did it anyway.
“Lord, that man could talk the legs off of a donkey,” an amused voice muttered as the door slammed shut. “I’m glad that is over for this evening.” Nicky glanced up, shaking his head at Edward, who was leaning against the door with an expression of great relief. Nicky couldn’t help but smile lightly at the expression even if the calm relaxation didn’t quite met the nobles’ eyes for reasons unbeknownst to him. There was a brief silence and Edward pushed away from the door and crossed the room so he was standing in front of Nicky. His head was tilted thoughtfully and after a moment he tapped a finger under Nicky’s chin, directing him to lift his eyes which had fallen to the floor once more. “You are in a bad mood.”
“Aren’t you the observant one,” Nicky replied in a tone that was a lot dryer then his normal voice. Edward frowned slightly, before nudging Nicky over and dropping beside him, his body turned so that he could face Nicky full on.
“And why is that?” Nicky’s eyes darted to the other side of the room as he fought to dream up a reasonable excuse that did not involve him and his persistent and childish thoughts and feelings concerning this whole trip.
Nicky shrugged and waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “It’s nothing. It’s just one of those days. Besides, you don’t seem too happy yourself.” Edward blinked before laughing.
“You’re too observant for your own good, Nicky,” he grinned. “But we weren’t talking about me, we were talking about you.” Nicky just rolled his eyes.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” There’s was another pause, only this one was longer and seemed to be buzzing with swarms of unanswered questions over spilling from the both of them. The Edward was moving again, his hand gently brushing along the smoothness of Nicky’s jaw, purposely tilting his head before their lips collided.
A bolt of momentary electricity shocked Nicky’s spine, it was a mixture of surprise and immediate want. But it was fleeting, keeping him locked in the kiss for a short time before he pulled back.
“Edward! What do you think you are doing? We are guest in someone’s house!” Edward just chuckled. He was barely a few centimetres away and his proximity was intoxicating. A delicious fog was clouding Nicky’s brain as the warmth of Edwards’ body sought his own out. And when he spoke, it was with soft, seductive tones that were near impossible to ignore or resist.
“Well…as you won’t tell me what’s wrong –” the blue eyes that were gazing at Nicky’s lips, flicked up to met his own with a playful, teasing glint – “I just I’ll just have to make you forget. I don’t want you to be distracted after all…” The hand that had been stroking along Nicky’s jaw moved to curl under his chin, a long thumb grazing lightly over Nicky’s fuller lower lip. The warmth, the proximity and the timbre of Edwards’ promise to ‘make him forget’ sent an embarrassingly wanton shiver down Nicky’s spine as he chewed his lip nervously.
Edward chuckled again, knowing exactly how he was affecting Nicky. He locked Nicky’s gaze as his head ducked slightly, only breaking the gaze when he looked down as his lips softly, teasingly journeyed from Nicky’s ear down to his chin. They were gentle kisses, nothing more then sweet little enticements to coax Nicky’s obvious assent to the proceedings into words rather then quiet desires locked only in his head.
“But…er…” Nicky struggled to formulate a sentence as the lips began to leave a searing trail down his neck, broken by occasional nips and bites that were a sinfully delightful break in the gentleness. “W–what if someone walks in…?” A whisper of a groan tumbled from his slightly parted lips as Edwards’ teeth closed around sensitive skin before it was soothed by a light lick and a sweet, fleeting kiss.
“They won’t,” Edward murmured into Nicky’s skin, the hot breath dancing across the younger mans’ neck wonderfully. “It would be horribly rude.” His hand was then on Nicky’s shoulder, easing him back onto the foot of the bed, so that his backside and lower back was still on the chest and his upper back and head resting on the bed. Then Edward was toying with Nicky’s buttons, flicking them open to expose more flesh that he could attack with relish. Nicky’s throat, his collar bone and shoulders were all tasted, all teased with soft strokes of tongue, harsh nips of teeth and smoothness of lips to soothe any discomfort.
“…Hmm…but s–someone might…ah…” Nicky’s sentence broke of as Edward sucked hard on a portion of skin just below his shirt collar. Nicky’s breathing was already alleviated, and his protests were weak and half hearted. With a few brief kisses, Edward had managed to render Nicky near incoherent and wanting more despite his refusal to admit such a thing.
“They won’t suspect a thing as long you,” Edward glanced up with a cheeky grin, “keep quiet, because at times it’s a wonder people don’t come knocking on the door…” Nicky’s cheeks flushed, but he let his head fall back. Edward laughed and returned his lips to Nicky’s shoulder to where he had been toying with a specific portion of flesh and a lightly purple bruise was beginning to form.
Nicky’s eyes fell closed under the ministrations, soft murmurs of contented sighs and occasional mewls tumbled from his lips uncontrollably as Edward exposed and taunted more skin with torturous slowness and precision.
“Move further up the bed the dammed chest is highly uncomfortable…” Edward ordered softly, pulling back so that Nicky was given enough room to move. Edward sat back, smiling quietly to himself before he too crawled from the chest top onto the bed, moving to lie on top of Nicky.
He ducked his head, his lips brushing Nicky’s for the merest moment before he kissed him deeper. Now they were in a more comfortable position and Nicky was in full agreement to the proceedings, Edward no longer had to enact restraint and his kiss showed this. It was hard and desperate, leaving Nicky breathless in the intensity that bled through from lips to lips, tongue to tongue. Edward wanted to devour Nicky completely, to remind him that he was his and his only, to make himself the only thought in Nicky’s head.
And Nicky succumbed completely to the almost fierce desire Edward seemed to have for him. He let himself be ravaged, let Edward take from him what he needed. He allowed Edward to kiss him with possessive lips and let his hands soothe and claim his body. He wound his arms around Edwards’ neck, groaning softly into the lips that overwhelmed him and gave himself over to the all consuming passionate fire that fuelled Edwards’ reasoning and his own body’s reactions.
Edward pressed him into the sheets, his hand running up Nicky’s clothed thigh teasingly. Nicky made a noise of pleasure in the back of his throat, responding to the touch by raising his leg and curling it around Edwards’ back, forcing Edwards’ body even closer to his own.
His shirt was abandoned, let to whisper to the floor as Edward made quick work of his own. Skin slid against skin sinfully, sparks of pleasure igniting furiously as hips moved mischievously, promisingly. A whisper of a moan encouraged the removal of more clothes until the floor was littered with various slips of fabric.
Heat arose as bodies moved together in sync lost in their own world, soft, needy noises broke the still air and nails clawed against flesh in desperation and want and lxst. Lips punished and consumed and pleasured. Hands gripped and marked at flushed, sweat slicked skin. Breath panted and hitched. A voice keened and groaned and whimpered ardently, stifled.
Pleasure and fervour and need and heat crackled intensely in the air, coveting the pair in the bubble of their own little world, undisturbed, where there were only each other, only that other body, that singular person. No one else in the world mattered, and overhead, in the inky blackness of the sky the moon bathed the scene in a beautiful, silver glow.
[08]
Nicky was sleeping beside him; half sprawled across Edwards’ chest which was a common occurrence. Nicky had always been one of those who craved contact, Edward had found out since their affair had begun. And Edward wasn’t adverse to that; in fact he rather liked the hint of dependency Nicky showed in sleep that he would never show whilst awake.
Edwards’ fingers trailed in feather light touches up and down Nicky’s arm. He knew he should wake the other man and that Nicky should return to the quarters set up for him lest someone find he was missing in the morning, but he couldn’t bring himself to awake the sleeping man even if discovery would lead to tremendous trouble for the both of them
The thing was that caught Edward most off guard was that he didn’t want Nicky to leave. His letting Nicky sleep not just for Nicky’s sake but for his own selfishness at not wanting to loose his warmth, or the soft breathing and gentle heartbeat that threatened to lull Edward to sleep. And Edward was shocked. He had never wanted to hang onto someone so much before. All his other affairs had been short lived and with women, except for one other. And he had never wanted anything more then carnal pleasures. But with Nicky it was different. And that scared the young noble. If he knew this would happen, Edward had to wonder if he would’ve ever kissed Nicky in the first place.
It was because of Nicky that Edward had made a move; the younger boy was hardly subtle in his attraction. At first, admittedly, Edward was just going to use him as a release, as women had never really interested him, but he didn’t anticipate Nicky being so addictive. His kiss was like a drug and Edward was hooked. Nicky’s taste, his warmth, his voice and smile; it was no longer sense that controlled Edward when it came to the other man, it was complete infatuation, it was an all-consuming craving and a need.
And now he had Nicky, he wasn’t about to let him go, no matter the cost.
––
“Stop fidgeting,” Nicky scolded, tempted to poke the older man with the tip of the scissors he was using. “You’re like an impatient child.”
Edward smiled. “Your links between me and children never cease do they?”
“Well maybe if you acted your age and not like my younger brother, they would stop,” Nicky argued, tilting Edwards’ head forward again to he could continue with trimming his hair –– as all good valets should once every three or four weeks.
Edward just laughed again, but kept his head tilted forward this time. “That’s what you love about me,” he said with a shrug. Although it was clear in his words that Edward meant nothing by such a phrase except his usual light teasing, Nicky’s hand faltered unintentionally just as he closed the scissors and ended up cutting of a larger amount of hair then it was supposed to. Nicky pulled his hand away and chewed his lip, not sure if he was more worried about Edwards’ reaction should he realise a chunk of his hair was shorter then the rest or the use of the word ‘love’ and his own reaction to the word.
He forced a quiet chuckle and a phrase that was something along the lines of ‘sure I do’ and continued cutting. He was frowning to himself by the time he had completed the task. He stepped back after dropping the scissors on the side.
“I’ve f–finished cutting. Hand me the – er – the brush,” Nicky muttered, hating how he tripped over his own words. He smiled briefly as Edward handed him the brush. He swallowed at Edwards’ quiet purr as he ran it through the older mans’ hair. Edward was the type who loved his hair being played with, which often made Nicky mentally compare Edward with a kitten rather than the child he habitually did vocally. He had the nobility of a cat and the mischievousness and the seductive qualities that were often linked to felines.
“Right, all done,” Nicky said, stepping back. He was still chewing his lips nervously as Edward rubbed his eyes tiredly. He then turned and awarded Nicky with a soft, tired smile of thanks before he sighed.
“Erugh, one must now suffer through more laborious talks with Lord Tucson,” Edward said with a smirk. “That man cannot take no for an answer…” Nicky looked up sharply, but Edward appeared to be talking more to himself then his valet. His eyes flicked up and he regarded Nicky thoughtfully. “Please begin to pact anything I don’t need for today, we leave this afternoon.”
Nicky bowed his head, jumping at the sound of knuckled colliding with the wood of the door. Glad to have a distraction from his thoughts, Nicky crossed the room and opened the door to find a maid he recognised as one of Lady Constance’s favourites standing there. He suppressed a dark look as she began to speak.
“Lady Constance wishes to speak to Master Edward before he goes to her father.” Nicky nodded sharply. Over the three days they had been here, the jealousy hadn’t faded as much as Nicky would’ve liked and he still felt an unpleasant shock of emerald whenever he saw Lady Constance and Edward together. As he went to reply, he felt Edwards’ presence behind him and he silenced.
“Of course,” he smiled, and Nicky automatically stepped out of the way just as Edward stepped forward towards the door. “Please, lead the way.”
Hours later and Nicky was glad to be leaving. No longer did he have to watch an annoying girl bat her eyelashes at Edward in what he supposed was meant to be enticing in some way. Well, he was saved for time being at least. He knew it was only matter of time before something like this cropped up again. But for now, the jealousy could ebb and Nicky could settle again.
“Brother, you have returned,” Lady Isobel swept down the staircase and enveloped her brother in an embrace as soon as the noble had stepped through the door. “Was it successful?” her eyes were glinting with that feminine glint of interest that women always seemed to glean hen there was information available that had the potential of becoming brilliant gossip.
Nicky thought nothing of being completely ignored by the Lady; she had made a point of doing so ever since he became Edwards’ valet. A part of Nicky thought it was to prove some kind of point, but what point it could possibly be, Nicky couldn’t fathom.
So he tuned out their conversation as the siblings walked arm in arm towards the sitting room and, together with the help of a servant boy, carried Edwards’ chest back up to his room.
“Thank you Philip,” he smiled as the older male just ducked his head and disappeared. Once alone, Nicky began to unpack Edwards’ things once more. It was a tedious job, and served only to keep his hand busy and his mind free to wander to dangerous territory in his belief. All day the phrase ‘That’s what you love about me’ had hovered and lingered like an irritating fly and Nicky couldn’t banish it. It was infuriating. He didn’t know why he continued to pester him nor did he want to know. The answer to such a question scared him even though he knew, deep, deep down why it haunted him. He just wasn’t ready to acknowledge it fully yet. He was quiet happy to suppress any thoughts and feelings concerning that for as long as possible.
He wasn’t ready to face that issue and their consequences just yet.
[09]
Edward had returned to the room later that evening the day they got back with yet another dully red cheek, evidence that he had once again infuriated his heavy-handed father. And once again he brushed to off as if it were nothing, waving a dismissive hand in Nicky’s direction when the younger man had asked just what had happened and why.
Since that day, Edward had changed. It wasn’t an obvious change. On the outside he was still happy and cheeky, but his smiles reached his eyes less and less and on the times Nicky had caught him without his mask, he wore a slight frown that looked horribly out of place on his boyish face. More and more the soft lullabies of his violin would fill the air, and contemplative silences became ever more the norm when before childish banter and cheeky demands would follow Nicky. They were subtle changes, noticeable to only those who were closet to him. And it was the subtleness that worried Nicky. Edward wasn’t being obtrusive with his obvious discomfort, even with Nicky; instead he was suffering in silence.
It bothered Nicky more then he cared to admit.
Edward was sitting by the window, a book in his hand, reading silently. The morning sun was streaming in and must have been reflecting off the page into his eyes, but he paid not mind. The silence stretched on, caught between discomfort and newly formed normality.
“I think you should have a day off, Nicky,” Edward said after a moment, his eyes flicking up to meet Nicky’s with a soft smile. “Go and visit your family. You must miss them…”
Nicky looked up from where he was carefully tidying away Edwards’ violin and sheet of self composed music. He was surprised by the sudden consideration. Not that Edward wasn’t considerate, it’s just Edward wasn’t the type to think that deeply about what others needed, unless they were obvious or matched his own.
“Are you sure…?” Nicky asked slowly, sliding the sheets of paper into the drawer. Edward smiled and nodded, dropping his book on the side and standing. His hand rested lightly on Nicky’s hip as he stood behind him.
“I’m sure. I can handle a day without you, I think.” Edwards’ breath ghosted down Nicky’s neck, making him all too aware of his presence. “Go on. I’m feeling generous enough to share you with your family.” He smiled against Nicky’s neck, the latter rolling his eyes with an exasperated sigh.
“I’m not your toy,” Nicky said with a disapproving tone.
“No, you aren’t my toy,” Edward agreed in sensual tones, stepping closer to his lover with a mischievous smile, “but you are mine.” Nicky opened his mouth to argue that fact, when Edwards’ fingers trailed down his neck lightly. “And don’t argue. You know as well as I do that it’s true.”
“You are insufferable,” Nicky scolded, moving away from Edward, who just chuckled at how Nicky didn’t make any nose to deny his statement. Nicky gave Edward the once over before nodding. “Fine, I’ll be back before night fall, if that is okay with you Master Edward.”
Edward nodded genially, overlooking Nicky use of the word ‘master.’ “Of course. Have fun. And use my horse.” Nicky just nodded, grabbing an overcoat and turning from the room.
One of Edwards’ horses and the one that agreed with Nicky most was a chestnut mare who had been named Princess by his sister at the age of ten (Lady Isobel being only sixteen years of age now). She was a calm horse and not prone to bucking or fright. She was one of the best to ride also. With young Jonathon’s help, Nicky had her saddled and ready to ride within a few minutes.
As he led the horse form the stable, Nicky glanced up simply by chance and caught Edward with his back to the window and his sister glaring over his shoulder in Nicky’s direction. Frowning, Nicky quickly dropped his gaze and climbed on the horse and directed her towards the gate and out onto the main road.
The ride towards the village was as peasant as ever, princess being a swift and fast horse. Her hooves assaulted the mud road, which bled from the secluded area of the manor into the louder, filthy village square. As he drew closer, the horse slowed as he became conscious of the number of children that were bound to be running around, playing games and whatnot and not paying attention to horses and carriages. When he was a boy he’d more than once almost been trampled by a horse and had only been saved by the quickness of a friend or the perceptiveness of another. It was a debt that had been repaid many a time as well. The village children, bound together by the same poverty, always looked out for one another.
He trotted slowly down the lanes, weaving through the back streets to the quieter outskirts where his childhood home stood, crumbling and old. A few of the older villagers would nod in his direction, and some of the lads he knew from childhood would yell and jeer, calling teasing names to receive some thrown back, only then to drop the mock hostility and laugh jovially.
He turned the corner, before sliding from his horse and leading it towards the family run stables. He knocked on the door and, with money present, requested they look after the horse, dropping the added note that it was Master Edwards’ and should be treated as such before turning away to walk down the road towards his home.
It hadn’t changed. It was still tumble down, thick cracks slicing up the sides and bricks crumbling with age. But it was home and it brought a warm smile to his lips. Climbing the steps, he knocked on the door. there was a familiar ruckus within, and a few catcalls that could have only come from the twins, before the door was flung open.
Mother and son stared at each other in faint shock, before his mother beamed and threw her arms around her eldest son without preamble. “Nicky,” she whispered delightfully. “I was wondering when you’d come to visit, my son. Welcome home.” She drew back, a large smile beautifying her tired, worn face. Her hand cupped his cheek. “You look well. It seems they aren’t treating you too badly up there.”
Nicky smiled and ducked his head. “I suppose not. Nothing beats home though.”
His mother chuckled, stepping aside. “Come in, come in, you’re just in time for breakfast. And you have caught us at a time where everyone is home. Although, our Rosalyn is expecting company.”
“The bakers’ boy?” Nicky inquired as he stepped into the familiar hall, complete with the smell of lavender that often cloaked his mother.
“You know? Ah yes, you met in the village didn’t you?” His mother nodded, leading him through to the kitchen. “She told us about your new position. Perhaps the debt will be cleared a lot sooner then we first hoped.”
Nicky’s eyes fell downcast. “Perhaps…” He didn’t want to tell his mother that the Lord had added three years to his payback time. Not yet anyway. His mother noticed his expression and paused at the doorway of the kitchen, observing him in the probing manner only a mother could do, but she didn’t question him. Instead she pushed open the door.
“Guess whose back for the day,” she announced, pulling her eldest son into the kitchen. The rickety table was crowded by Thomas, a sixteen year old apprentice to the blacksmith, Rosalyn, the fifteen year old beauty, Benjamin and Jacob, the eleven year old troublemakers and young Bethany of only two years of age, cooed in her basket.
“Nicky, you’re back!” Jacob grinned through his mouthful of porridge.
“That’s great,” his twin added, their eyes connecting as they shared a matched evil grin. Nicky smiled.
“Aye, I’m back for the day.”
“Welcome home brother,” Rosalyn smiled quietly, rising to embrace her brother and kiss him lightly on the cheek. “Although, perhaps you are no longer needed so much. Thomas is quite the young blacksmith. The best apprentice the old dog has ever had, so we have been told.” Her smile was teasing now, her eyes glinting in mirth.
Nicky chuckled. “Is that so, Tommy?” he said, moving across the room to take Bethany from her cradle and hold her, kissing her button nose sweetly as she giggled.
“Aye brother,” Tommy grinned cheerfully. “I’ll prove to be a better man than you, just you see.” Nicky laughed again, nodding in agreement as he set Bethany down in her bed once more.
“I don’t doubt that, brother,” Nicky said softly, his smile faltered but it went unnoticed by everyone except Rosalyn. She looked upon her older brother with soft, understanding eyes. She had been figured out a long time ago, and at first it had sickened and disgusted her to figure what he was, but over time, her love for her brother overwhelmed her disgust. Now she only wished that Nicky found some modicum of happiness, even if it did go against the will of God.
For some time, the family spoke and teased in the kitchen over a breakfast of porridge, but before long, Rosalyn was requesting some time alone with her older brother before she left with the Bakers’ boy, who was to turn up anytime soon.
“What is it you want, Rose?” Nicky asked gently, leaning against his sisters’ dressing table. Rosalyn smiled softly, fixing her brother with calm eyes.
“You know exactly what I want to discuss, brother,” she answered. “And don’t deny it. You are far from stupid.” Nicky nodded his eyes dropping to the floor.
“I see. And just what was it you wanted to say.” There was the sound of fabric and Rosalyn was directing Nicky to look up as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I want to say that I give you my blessing,” she whispered. “Admittedly, it took a long time to become at peace with it and at first I was disgusted and I was in one mind to try to slap you out of it, but then I realized it didn’t matter who you fall in love with, as long as you were happy. As long as your happiness in ensured, I care not what you do. Whether it is sinful or not and,” she pulled back, another soft smile playing on her lips, “I will always be by your side no matter what happens.” She laughed. “And besides, doesn’t the Bible teach us to love and that love is beautiful. I have come to the belief that that much in the Bible is true, and something beautiful should never be broken, no matter who is involved. Oh, and rest assured that your secret has been and will be kept.”
Below there was another knock at the door and Rosalyn’s eyes brightened. “I must go, but Nicky, please remember what I said.” He nodded, and with a last peck on the cheek, Rosalyn ran to the door. Before she left however, she turned and smiled. “You should tell him how you feel, Nicky; I have come to the belief that he isn’t exactly normal either.”
Nicky frowned. “Tell who?”
Rosalyn just giggled knowingly and fled from the room, leaving Nicky leaning against her dressing table rather shocked at the whole conversation.
[10]
Nicky left his home later that evening with a contented sense of relief. Not only had he had a good day with his family, been able to converse with his mother and siblings, but the uneasiness that had settled in the back of his mind like a weight had eased off slightly. Knowing for sure that his sister knew, that some else other than Edward knew and wasn’t completely appalled was a tremendous relief.
So it was with slightly lighter shoulders that Nicky mounted Princess once more and started off up towards the main street and back towards the manor. The January winds were icy, biting, even colder than those of December. His overcoat was warm, but not nearly warm enough to keep the freezing caresses of the wind truly at bay.
By the time he had returned to the manor, Nicky has were frozen and numb, reminiscent of the times when Nicky had tried to avoid Edward. It was strange to think that had only been about a month ago and when he thought to how their interactions had progressed he thought it to be an obscenely short time.
He left Princess in the capable hands of young Jonathon before heading back up to the manor, choosing to go through on of the side doors rather than the front door. On his way to his room, one that was at the very end of the entrance hall beside the stairs he passed Elsa. She was chewing her lip worriedly, her shaking hands clutching a letter.
“Elsa, what’s wrong?” he asked his brow furrowing in confusion and worry as he stepped closer to the girl, his chilled hand gently touching her arm. She looked up, her eyes brimming with unshed tears and her lower lip trembling as she fought to keep the tears at bay.
“My b–brother…” her hand clamped over her mouth and the tears made their bid for freedom. Elsa’s breath hitched dramatically and her face crumpled. Bewildered, and slightly at ends on how to deal with a sobbing female, Nicky simply stepped forward and enveloped the younger girl in his arms, his hand softly, comfortingly, stroking up and down her spine as she wept into his shoulder. He whispered quiet thing sin her ear, things he hoped would somehow ease her bout of sadness, if but a little.
“It’s okay Elsa,” he soothed. He stroked her hair tenderly, holding her as if she were something precious and rocked her gently like you would a distressed child.
It was a while before her tears slowed enough to speak. “My brother, h–he is ill. Consumption has o–overcome him!” a fresh wave of tears exhausted her and she clutched to the front of Nicky’s shirt for support. “Why has God forsaken us? W–we have done n–no wrong!”
Nicky wrapped his arms around her heaving shoulders. “I’m sorry Elsa, I wish there was something I could do to ease your pain and our brothers sickness.” Her sobbing just continued to flow, hindering her speech and her breathing. A part of him remembered he should be helping Edward change for dinner, but there was no way he would leave Elsa in her sorrow, not even for Edward. Her tears were heartbreaking, and her sobs roused sympathy and his own complimenting grief in his brexst. It was a horrible, drowning feeling. It consumed and swamped like a breaking wave against the shore.
“O–oh my,” Elsa hiccupped. “I h–have kept you. Y–you have w–work to d–do.” She pushed away from him, her shaking hands wiping her watery, distraught eyes. “F–forgive me,” she uttered mournfully, before she swept from view down into the sanctum of the kitchens, where Nicky couldn’t reach her.
Nicky’s eyes lingered at the door through which Elsa had fled, before he sighed. His own feeling of grief was weighty. Frowning slightly, Nicky climbed the stair and bumped into Edward on the way.
“Nicky.” He smiled, appearing genuinely happy to see the younger man. “How was your family?” His hand strayed to the small of Nicky’s back, leading him back down the stairs. Nicky nodded distractedly.
“They were good, thank you,” he replied with a short duck of his head. “My mother is a little weary but Thomas is supporting the family well.”
Edward nodded. “Good. I’m gad to hear it.” There was a lapse in speech.
“Sorry I didn’t come to aid you,” Nicky said after a moment, “I was sidetracked.” He ducked his head once more in apology, but Edward brushed it off with a wave of his hand.
“I am capable of sorting myself out now, Nicky,” Edward said with a smile. “I am a grown man.”
“You had me fooled,” Nicky muttered teasingly, throwing a genial smile in Edwards’ direction. Luckily, Edwards’ retort was cut off by the appearance of his father. Nicky quickly lagged behind very slightly, and lowered his gaze respectfully. The bulbous Lord sneered at him, but Nicky missed the movement for his eyes were still submissively lowered. What he did catch was Edward slight, immediate tenseness at his fathers’ arrival.
“Son, have you thought a little more on what we spoke of?” His voice was obscenely loud after Edwards’ mellow, lazy tones. Nicky kept his head lowered.
“Yes father.” His tone was colder and harsher than usual, but it was something Nicky had come to expect between father and son. “I have. And I have come to realize that no matter what I say, you shall do what you please anyway.”
“Such a wise boy, my son. Do you perhaps decide against your constant quarrelling?”
Edward smirked darkly. “And make things easy for you? I wouldn’t dream of it father.” The smirk was hinting at mockery now. His father snarled bearishly and his throat contorted rather disgustingly as it appeared he swallowed down something decidedly repulsive.
“Hmm…” his dark eyes focused on his son unflinchingly and Edward very slightly tilted his head, his smirk firmly in place before his father sniffed and turned on his heel. Edward sighed and shook his head, flashing a real smile in Nicky’s direction as the younger boy glanced up. Nicky returned the smile quietly.
“What was he talking about?” he asked as the pair started walking towards the dinning hall after the Lord. Behind, there was the light gossiping and rustle of Lady Isobel and her maid descending the staircase.
Edward pulled a face at the question. “Father wants to hold yet another one of his parties,” Edward said finally. Nicky frowned.
“Why should that be a problem, everyone knows you love to show off.”
Edwards smile was fleeting. “Yes,” he agreed slowly, nodding his head and lowering his voice as his sister approached. She touched his arm in greeting and pushed roughly past Nicky, causing the latter to stumble slightly. As Edward chuckled lightly and reached out to help right him, he continued, “but this time it isn’t on of fathers’ shows to display our wealth or befriend wealthier or more powerful Lords and Ladies. This time it is to find and pick me out a wife.” |
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© 2008 The Doll Palace. All rights reserved.
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