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Hi, my name is Nicky
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 | [11-15] Forbidden Fruit |
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 4.7 with 10 vote(s)
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| Created: 2009-01-29 18:22:14 |
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A/N: Four parts left. Hmm. Not to impressed with the last part dxmmit. :/ Ah well. It'll hopefully pick up again in the next part.
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[11]
The music was like poison to Nicky. He didn’t want to be here in this hall with the swirling magnificence’s of the rich, to be. He didn’t want to be waiting on all these lords and their wives, much less their daughters. They ranged from beautiful to plain, and each and every one of them was subtly fighting for Edwards’ attention. He wasn’t set to inherit the most amount of money out of his fellow bachelor nobles but he was one of the most desirable due to his looks and charm.
Nicky wove between the fabrics of dresses, holding his platter of wine glasses. He paused occasionally, allowing the rich to take glasses from the platter he held. Ahead he could see Edward. He was talking to a lovely, willowy red head, smiling. And Nicky had to swallow down something nasty as he smiled politely at a elderly gentleman who took the last remaining glass on his silver platter.
He lowered the platter, eyes sweeping the room. Edward was now conversing with a few other ladies and it smarted a little more then expected. Nicky dragged his eyes away, fighting something bitter as he returned to the table at the side, collecting some more glasses and pouring red wine into half and white into the other half before he returned to the midst.
He approached the Lord quietly. “Wine, my Lord?” The fat Lord barely even glanced at the young man as his huge hand enclosed around the delicate glass and took a sip. Nicky wrinkled his nose, turning away before his expression was caught by the hefty Lord. Nicky then moved swiftly away, passing small groups of parents discussing and friends talking. The females that weren’t desperately trying to get Edwards’ attention were giggling and gossiping in various groups, casting furtively, flirty glances in his direction.
Nicky gritted his teeth and retreated to the sidelines, leaving the platter on the table. The colors were obscene in his mind; the music was loud and irritating. Everything about this party was grating on Nicky’s nerves, eating and clawing and nibbling in annoyance and aggravation. The jealousy that had devoured him weeks earlier had swarmed back with vengeance. It was sour and acidic. He hated seeing what he had come to think –– rather naively he had to admit –– of his being allured and surrounded by harpies in the form of beautiful young women. He didn’t want others’ to touch Edward, and he hated Edward for taking the evening with such a smile, not even glancing his direction. He hated how he felt like a dxmned female, spiteful and venomous towards her promiscuous husband.
Yet he couldn’t help it.
He stayed at the sidelines, watching with dark eyes and fighting to keep a scowl from his face. Edward was dancing with a dark haired beauty. He looked stunning, dressed in his best and waltzing across the floor with practiced grace and ease. In a horribly feminine way, it made Nicky’s heart ache.
Edward smiled at the brunette, bowing to the lady as she curtseyed. They exchanged a few words, words that made Edward laugh and he reached over brushing some hair from her face.
“You dance wonderfully,” he commented.
The female giggled. “Thank you Edward,” she said with a coy smile. “So have you thought of who you are to marry?” Edward faltered slightly before he smiled, his blue eyes glancing across the room, catching sight of Nicky as he started to move through the crowd once again.
“I’m still uncertain. As you know, it is the ultimate choosing of my father,” he said, ducking his head once more. “Excuse me, my Lady.” He bowed once more and began to weave through the crowd. Nicky was just ahead of him, offering glasses to Lord and Lady Hampshire. He smiled to himself, moving towards the figure before he was cut across by a red head, a red head he recognized in an instant.
“Bethany?” Edward said, laughing delightfully, “Lady Bethany Harlow?”
“Edward,” she smiled, kissing his cheek. “I have missed you.” She smiled, her hands on his cheeks as she studied her old friend. “You haven’t changed at all have you?”
“Nor have you, Lady Harlow.”
She waved her hand at him. “Enough formalities, Edward. I have never been ‘Lady Harlow’ to you,” she grinned, winking at him. “What changed?” Edward smiled, glancing over her shoulder as Nicky started to walk towards him, his eyes downcast.
“A lot, my dear friend,” Edward commented, his voice softly. “A lot.” He reached out and touched his fingers on Nicky’s arm. Nicky started and looked up.
“Wine sir?” he asked, his eyes slightly darker than usual. Edward frowned slightly, and nodded.
“Please,” he answered, taking the glass, Nicky offered, purposely allowing his fingers to linger momentarily but tenderly on Nicky’s. Nicky suppressed a small shake of his head before turning to Lady Harlow.
“And my Lady?” The lady nodded genially, she too taking a glass of red wine and offering her glass to Edward.
“A toast, old friend?” she asked with a secretive smile. “To old times…” Nicky swallowed. Something about how Lady Harlow spoke, how she addressed Edward hinted at a more-than-familiar background, perhaps something a little more than friendship. Nicky ducked his head and went to move away.
“To old times,” Edward agreed with his characteristic lazy smile, but his eyes fixed on Nicky instead and his hand closed around the younger mans’ wrist and held him in place for a moment.
“Nicky,” he reprimanded lightly, “Don’t be rude.” He turned to his old friend. “Lady Beth, this is Nicky. Nicky this is a childhood friend, Lady Beth Harlow.”
“I take it you are Edwards’ new valet,” she said. Her smile was slightly snooty and Nicky got the sense that she was looking down on him with a sense superiority. Her words were laced with a slight sneer.
“Yes, my Lady, I am.”
“Hmmm,” she said, her eyes back on Edward. “I wonder how long you will keep this one.” Her laugh was tinkling and melodious. Nicky forced a small smile and a bow before he hurriedly moved away. HE dumped the tray on the table and, ignoring the potential punishment, disappeared through the side door out into the garden. The room was stifling and he needed to get out before he choked on his own envy.
[12]
The outside was freezing, icy bites vindictive and harsh against Nicky’s face. Crossing his arms in meager defense, his eyes skimmed the dark grounds before he settled on going to towards the rose garden. It was infuriating that everything led him there, into the garden that was so aesthetic in the spring and summer, but he couldn’t help but venture here when his mind needed ease. It was out of both convenience –– this small garden being the closet to the side door from the kitchen –– and the attraction the garden held, even after death had ravaged it of its beauty and the blistering cold plagued the delicate skeletons that remained.
The small gate clanged shut behind him as the wood fled from his fingers in a rather forceful gust of wind, the metal latch colliding heavily with the metal catch on the post. He paid no heed to the noise above the wind; instead he wrapped his arms around himself tighter, moving to collapse into the bench at the very top of the garden.
A quick glance upwards revealed a cloud drenched sky, the moon struggling to fight back the thick black clouds of impending rain. The wind howled brutally, whipping and stinging with viciousness. Nicky was well aware of the harsh juddering of his body, but being beaten by furious winds and bracing colds was better than forcing a smile of servitude as Edward was surrounded by wanton females, and looking as thought he wasn’t that adverse to it. At least the outside gave him freedom of the embarrassing pulses of jealousy and even anger that threatened to burst.
Despite the feeling in intense cold, Nicky closed his eyes peacefully, appearing more like a man in prayer or meditation than one battling of the cold and weariness.
“Well, isn’t this familiar?” Nicky didn’t flinch at the familiar voice, he didn’t open an eye or show any sign of hearing Edward except the tired sigh that only just escaped his lips to be caught in the wind.
“Edward, don’t,” Nicky said softly, his voice barely rising above the wind. “Please, just don’t.” Edward wasn’t surprised by the weary response. He had sensed the change in Nicky over the past two weeks since he announced the true intentions of the party to be held, the party that was being held at this very instant. He wasn’t stupid; he knew what was wrong with Nicky, he knew what was bothering him but Edward was far from the most tactile man when it came to introducing topics that led to emotions of varying degrees of distress or discomfort. Once in those conversation he was fine, but introducing them as his downfall.
And his usual tactics of distraction were highly inappropriate at this time and besides, Nicky had been delicately and quietly brushing off Edwards’ touches for the past two weeks. Edward sighed. He wasn’t particularly good at this sort of thing, but he strode forward. He neglected the space beside Nicky for the time being and crouched in front of the younger man, touching his hands to the other mans’ knees to draw his attention to him. Nicky’s brown eyes eased open and gazed at the man in front him, the piercing blue of Edwards’ own eyes searching, gently probing for answers to unspoken questions.
“I’m terrible at this sort of thing,” Edward admitted quietly, refusing to break eyes contact even though he sensed Nicky did. “But I want to probably understand what is going on with you. I have my ideas’ and my inklings, but I want to know. I want to understand.”
Nicky chewed his lip. “Not now Edward,” he said finally, his voice small, inexplicably sheepish. “I –– just not now.” His eyes darted away before flicking back to meet Edwards’. There was embarrassment in the soft orbs, and a quiet hint of shame, although Edward could think of where it had been borne from.
“Nicky, please,” Edward said, his one had lost its habitual teasing and become rather gentle and dulcet. “This conversation will come up sooner or later.” Nicky knew what Edward said was true. Although Nicky was the type to ignore the strange and carry on, he knew Edward wasn’t. The older man was curious by nature and he hated not understanding.
And Nicky was thinking, dreaming up his answer. The wind around them had died, as if it too was curious and wanted to properly understand Nicky’s feelings. He could feel Edwards’ questioning gaze and tried not to blush under the unwavering attention. He could also feel the silent trembles of Edwards’ hands upon his knees as the cold began to work its numbing poison through Edwards’ body as well.
“I –– I guess –– I just…” he trailed off, blushing slightly. He couldn’t think of a way to put it that didn’t sound horribly feminine or stupid. Each time he even thought about telling Edward what he was feeling –– the jealousy, the affection, the anger, the confusion and unease –– he felt his cheeks grow mortifyingly hot.
“You just…?” Edward encouraged delicately.
Nicky exhaled, closing his eyes again as he was unable to look at Edward as he said something so –– in his own eyes –– humiliating.
“I don’t want you to get married…” he spat out finally, the worlds melding together in his need to expel them with the least embarrassment possible. But now he had started speaking, there was nothing to stop him. So he continued. He continued to speak. As his eyes were still closed, he missed Edwards’ small, tender smile at his admission. “I hate seeing you with them; I hate the way they always find an excuse to touch you and how they exaggerate. I hate how they bicker and fight for your attention. I don’t want them near you. I knew it would happen, in the back for my mind, I’m not stupid. I knew this would happen and I thought I had readied myself for that, but I hadn’t. I didn’t expect –– even these past two weeks when I have been trying to return our relationship back to something less dangerous, something less painful and more platonic, I wanted nothing more than for you to throw one of your idiotic tantrums and demand what I want you to demand like you usually do. I –– I don’t want to give you up….” his voice had lowered to something that was barely a whisper towards the end so much so that on the final statement Edward had to lean forward a little to hear it properly. There was a pregnant silence, before Edward chuckled softly.
He stood and moved instead to sit beside Nicky on the bench. The latter was now carefully avoiding his gaze and Edward assumed that his pride as a male had been a little wounded at that confession. Without saying a word, Edward pulled the freezing body of his lover to his slightly warmer one, kissing his lovers’ temple tenderly.
“I love you too,” he whispered, still smiling.
Nicky tensed and drew back, looking a little alarmed. “I –– I don’t love –!” Edward raised an eyebrow, smiling lightly before Nicky swallowed and looked away; he knew the truth in Edwards’ words.
“Yes you do,” Edward stated simply, his hand tapping Nicky’s chin, quietly demanding the tatters’ full attention. He then leaned forward so that he was whispering directly into Nicky’s ear. The chill seemed to bother neither of them now; they were too engrossed in each other to notice anything else in their surroundings. “Believe me when I say I would rather not get married. It is simply formalities for me. Nicky,” Edward drew back slightly so he could lock gazes with Nicky, who was sill chewing his lip. Edward seemed to find it a lot easier to express his emotions that Nicky, and Nicky wasn’t sure if he was thankful for that or not. “At the risk of sounding rather like one of my sisters dreary romance novels, I love you and only you. No one else can compare. You needn’t worry. You shan’t get rid of me that easily…” He smiled softly, and neither man heard the small gasp of surprise from just outside the manor as Edward ducked forward and caught Nicky’s willing lips in a chilled, meaningful kiss.
[13]
It had been a few days and she had been deliberating what to do with the information she had found out. She couldn’t believe it. Not only was a man kissing –– actually kissing –– another man, but one of said men was a hugely popular trendsetting noble and the other his lowly servant.
“‘If a man also lies with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them’,” she quoted quietly to herself, staring out the window of her room. Her maid was busy behind her, readying her bed clothes for the evening and heating the water for the bath.
“Did you say something my Lady?” the maid asked. The Lady shook her head, turning to smile at the girl before returning her gaze to the evening sky.
“No, Evangeline, I said nought.” The maid nodded, brushing down her skirts before she disappeared to warm set the bath for her mistress. Alone, her thoughts began to thrive.
They had been involved once. Teenage messing around behind their parents backs, behind society’s back because really, she should be untouched. They both had a similar need to rebel against their parents and the social norms of the society. They were way ahead of the times in that thinking; it’s why they got along so well.
And surely this information was precious, secret –– this sordid little affair. Surely Edward wouldn’t want that getting out. No, no, no. Especially not when Nicky would be the one who would be ostracised, the one who would be punished, labelled a seducer and a blasphemer and Edward would get off the hook due to his status.
And Edward wouldn’t want that. He cares somewhat for his little whxres –– herself included –– even those who he only embraced once or twice. And if what she had overheard was true, that he was in ‘love’ with this servant, he definitely wouldn’t want any harm coming to him. But Edward also enjoyed the high life, and wouldn’t want to loose his fortune and position in society either.
So that was it, it was decided. Edward would marry her and –– of course –– never see Nicky again, or he could kiss his precious little whxre a brutal goodbye.
––
“Master Edward.” The door to the library edged open and Nicky’s eyes swept the room, locating Edward in the far corner engrossed in one book or another. “Master Edward?”
“…hmmm…?” his voice was obviously distracted. Then his light eyes flicked up and he smiled. “What?”
“You have a visitor,” Nicky informed, stepping aside to reveal the gently curving form of Edward’s old friend, Lady Bethany Harlow. “Miss Lady Harlow.” Lady Harlow didn’t miss the strange smile playing on Edward’s lips when he looked at Nicky, neither did she miss the shift into his more teasing, guarded smile when he set eyes on her. He looked curious; his soft eyes roving over her face as if a mere look would reveal her intentions.
“Thank you Nicky,” he said with another of those strange small smiles. The servant nodded his head, recognising when his master wanted time alone and bowed out of the room, keeping up the pretences of extreme politeness and respect.
Bethany studied the man in the chair, his book now laid to rest of the small circular table beside him. His eyes were also studying her. Each was waiting for the other to speak first.
“Why are you here, Beth?” Edward said, never being one who was able to stay quiet for long. Beth smiled and swept across the room, taking the chair close to him and smiling.
“He is a pretty little play thing, Edward,” she commented idly. She had to suppress a giggle when Edward tensed infinitesimally. He recovered quickly.
“Play thing? I’m too old for toys, Bethany,” Edward replied genially. Beth fell silent and studied him once more; idle teasing wouldn’t get him riled up. Edward was the King of idle teasing.
She decided to be blunt. “I saw you the other night, on the eve of the party.”
Edward kept face, even though he knew exactly what Beth was edging at. It wasn’t him he was protecting, but Nicky. So he kept his genial smile. “Everybody saw me on the eve of the party; after all it was essentially thrown for my benefit.”
“Don’t play coy with Edward,” she smiled. “You I know you too well, old friend. You know exactly what I am referring about. And, frankly, what you are doing is blasphemous.”
“Lady Harlow, you have to be a little bit more specific, I do a lot of things that are considered blasphemous.”
She sighed. “I’m referring to you and your little servant boy. ‘If a man also lies with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them’.”
Edward just smiled, it was an unexpected response. “You can’t preach to me, Bethany. You are hardly an angel.”
“We aren’t discussing me, Edward,” Bethany said. There was a pregnant silence hanging between.
“What do you want Beth, to tell me I’m going to burn in perdition for my sins? To tell me I’m condemned to dxmnation for the whole of eternity for my ungodly ways? Because I knew that from the beginning.”
“No, I came to make a deal,” Beth said, her tone settling on businesslike. “You marry me and no one finds out about behaviour.” She said the word behaviour as if she were swallowing something particularly nasty.
“And why do you want to become my wife, Lady Beth?”
“Because you aren’t the most rich of the nobles, but you are definitely the most popular. What you say goes. I want that.”
“Well, well, well, it looks like a vain, greedy little someone will be burning in hell right beside me,” Edward mused, a delighted smile now beautifying his features.
“You do realise that if I tell, it’s that boy that will get all the trouble, not you. You would have effectively ruined his life. All I’m asking is for a simple ‘I do’ and your recognition and status. Is that too much to ask for? And don’t think you can be adulterous behind my back with your little friend. I don’t take kindly to cheats.”
“Isn’t that a little hypocritical, Lady Beth?”
“The decision is easy,” Lady Beth said, ignoring Edward’s little comment. “Marry me and let me in on your extreme popularity or completely ruin the life of…Nicky, was it?”
“You’d go that far to be recognised within the circles I move?” Edward raised an eyebrow. He knew his friend was spoiled, knew she was vain and greedy and extremely susceptible to envy, but he never thought she’d resort to dirty tactics. He couldn’t even see why she’d want to. The upper classes of the upper class weren’t really that interesting; they just flashed their money and abused their influence to hide their sordid little secrets. But then Lady Beth always took things for face value, and the face value of the upper classes of the upper class was glamour and richness and beauty and parties with the most distinguished members of society; it was everything Lady Beth had ever craved.
“Well, do we have a deal?”
[14]
Edward hadn’t given her an answer. In fact, he hadn’t said anything except, “You know where the door is, Lady Harlow,” in tones that were quite unbecoming of the usually high spirited noble. The Lady had left then of course, sweeping from the room and closing the door behind her, confident that he would come round.
Nicky was coming up from the kitchen, holding a crystal flask full of a golden liquid that Bethany guessed to be Edwards’ preferred Bourbon whiskey and a small glass. She smiled. Well, perhaps a little convincing on Nicky’s part would do the trick.
Setting a friendly expression, she moved over to where Nicky was conversing with another servant. He laughed, shaking his head, saying something in quick retort. Bethany had to admit that Edward’s taste was good, despite the whole thing being decidedly disgusting.
Nicky was slightly shorter than average, but of pretty face and gentle features. His soft brown eyes lit up with his wide smile, flashing fairly straight teeth. The servant chuckled and Nicky clapped him on the shoulder and sent him on his way with a quiet farewell. Nicky watched him depart, still chuckling over whatever had been said. He didn’t glance in her direction as he moved towards the library, keeping his eyes locked to the floor.
Don’t meet your superiors or their visitors in the eye.
The rule he had been taught upon arrival rung clear in his mind as he crossed the floor. He could feel her eyes on him and it was uncomfortable, but he carried on. Just as his fingers touched the cool brass of the door knob, Lady Beth called his name.
Frowning he glanced up.
“May I help you, Lady Harlow?” he asked in stiff, formal tones. His dark eyes were curious, questioning. She smiled.
“It’s Nicky isn’t it?” There was something about her tone and her smile that made Nicky bristle. Something wasn’t quite right. The glint in her eyes wasn’t a kind one.
“Aye, Lady Harlow,” he answered, wondering just where this was heading. Lady Beth was staring at him. And it wasn’t a good stare, it was speculative, it was observatory. Nicky rather felt like some kind of specimen under the strict scrutiny of a scientist. The silence stretched on for bit longer as Lady Beth fought of a way to introduce her little insight without catching the attention of the other servants who passed by every now and then.
“Do you mind walking me to my carriage?” she asked, knowing dxmn full well that Nicky couldn’t refuse, not really. He glanced at the door, before he nodded slowly.
“Of course, my Lady.” She didn’t miss the reluctance in his voice. He obviously wasn’t very fond her. He deposited the glass and decanter on a side table, before joining her by her side and leading towards the front door.
“I know you know.” Nicky frowned, seeming genuinely confused. He turned and stared at her with furrowed brows before realising that was probably rude and dropped his gaze.
“I don’t know what you mean, Madam,” he answered, thoughtfully. He sounded a little put off at the fact that he wasn’t fully clear on her meaning. Lady Beth didn’t delay in enlightening him.
“You and Edward.” Nicky noticeably tensed, before he carried on walking.
“I must confess your ladyship, I still do not understand…” he answered weakly. The Lady laughed.
“You’re picking up bad habits from him you know.” She stopped, fingers closing around Nicky’s chin and forcing him to look at her. She was only a little smaller than him, and could look comfortably into his eyes. And she had no qualms of treating an underling in such a manner. “Do not lie to me.” Her narrowed eyes were hard before she stepped back, and returned to her previous picture of innocence.
“Now would you like to rethink your answer?” She sounded sickly sweet, like a teacher of the very young. Nicky swallowed. He felt trapped and was desperate for an escape, a distraction but he knew it was sods’ law that Edwards’ very demanding presence would not show up to save him this time. “I do not like to be kept waiting, Nicky.”
“I…er…” he didn’t quite know what to say. He seemed to have lost the ability to string together a coherent sentence and his head was screaming with alarm bells. There was no way this conversation would end happily.
“You aren’t his first,” she said, her tone deceptively soft. “And you most certainly won’t be his last. He is a…” she smiled wryly “…serial seducer.” Nicky kept his eyes downcast. Something about that statement didn’t particularly surprise him, after all Edward was a forward kind of guy. “I was taken in once, when I was a little younger. I saw the error of my ways though.”
Nicky didn’t make any kind of noise, and she saw that he had already suspected everything she had just told him. Time to be a little harsher, she decided with a barely concealed cruel smile.
“You are nothing to him, Nicky,” she said as Nicky pulled open the front door and stepped aside to let her out first. “You are just another body, another whxre in a very long line of unfortunate souls.” She noticed how Nicky’s stance had changed to being guarded, permanently tense. A part of her thought that he had also suspected this, deep down, maybe even feared it to be true. Well, she was going to confirm that fear.
Lady Beth always got what she wanted, no matter whose toes she had to trample or people she had to destroy.
“As soon as he gets bored it’s bye, bye Nicky and hello to the next naïve fool who gets drawn in by his pretty eyes and charming smile. You are nothing to him. Absolutely nothing. And what’s worse is that you are potentially dangerous nothing. You’re a whxre that is much more trouble than you are worth.” Nicky kept his eyes fixed on the ground, but he was frowning. He resented what he was hearing. No, no, no. Please stop, he was thinking. Please just stop talking.
A part of him knew she was playing on his fears fro whatever reasons, but a larger part couldn’t help but be taken in by her cruel words.
“If any was to find out about your little affair Edward would be ruined and it would be all your fault.” Beth observed the effect of her words, before continuing, “So you are worthless, meaningless sex that could potentially destroy his life.” Nicky was still refusing to look at her as they paused beside the awaiting carriage. The words sounded even worse in her silky voice. The venom was subtle but strong, and working wonderfully at poisoning him.
“I mean, I know, I know, he is awfully charming and sweet, if a little demanding. He is good looking and all that, but really, he will get bored. Even of you. It won’t last. You are a just body to him. He is a terribly lxsty creature, and you are just another desire that will burn out sooner rather than later. Think about that, hmm?” She then smirked, and climbed into the carriage after the footman had held open the door for her.
Nicky was rooted to the spot, chewing his lip. Her words were a potent poison, thrumming through his mind and infecting and contorting. He was helpless against it. He swallowed, trying to ignore the ache the words had evoked; he turned on his heel and disappeared rather hurriedly into the manor, desperate to escape to… somewhere.
And Lady Beth smiled successfully from within her carriage.
[15]
Nicky felt distinctly out of sorts. He knew that Lady Beth had some questionable intent behind her cruel words, but they had done enough to feed his fear, the fear that had been lurking in the back of his mind since this whole thing (he hesitated in calling it a relationship) began. He knew what Edward like. It was fairly obvious to the most simple minded of men. But to think that he had just been another in a long line brought the realization a little closer to home.
And he didn’t want to think badly of Edward, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help but question everything Edward had ever said to him.
He slipped back up the steps into the hall, pausing to take the whiskey decanter and glass and knocked gently on the library door.
“Come in.” When Nicky stepped into the library, Isobel broke mid sentence and glared in his general direction. Nicky dropped his gaze, and moved across the room, placing the decanter and glass on the small circular table beside Edward. He went to step back but a soft word from Edward caused him to stop.
“Sir?”
“Are you okay?” Lady Isobel sighed audibly at the interruption, visibly impatient. “You took your time.”
“Lady Harlow required me to walk her to her carriage, Master Edward,” Nicky answered. His voice was quieter then usual, distracted. A part of Edward wanted to sigh. He thought he had just eased Nicky’s ridiculous fears and doubts, but apparently it had all been in vain. His anger flared.
“Sister, please, may we continue this discussion later?”
She looked surprised. Frowning at her brother she nodded, “of course, brother.” She threw a suspicious glance in Nicky’s direction as she stood, and disappeared from the room with a swish of expensive fabric.
There was a pregnant silence. Edward studied his lover quietly. “What did she say?” His voice was surprisingly calm. Ti was that same oddly serious tone that he used a few nights ago when trying to assure Nicky’s irritations.
“Nothing,” Nicky answered. “Now, I should be leaving. Your father requests a formal meal with you and some relatives this evening and I should start out your dinner clothes.”
“Nicky, don’t run from me. Tell me what she said.”
Nicky rolled his eyes. “I said it’s nothing,” he snapped, his irritation spilling over for the first time. Edward was on his feet then, grabbed Nicky’s arm and pressed him against the wall, effectively trapping him against the wall.
“Obviously it’s something.”
Nicky met his light eyes, and Edward was surprised to find some element of anger there. “Can’t you just leave it?” Edward raised an eyebrow. “If you really want to know, she told me all about you.”
“And you believe her?”
“I find it hard not to.” It slipped out before Nicky could stop it. Seconds after and Nicky wanted nothing more then to grab the words back into his mouth and force them back down his throat.
“I see,” Edward said slowly. “Well, that proves just how highly you think of me, Nicky.” His blue eyes had darkened dangerously.
“Don’t give me that,” Nicky retorted. “You can’t deny that you are the type to seduce who ever you please.”
“That is beside the point,” Edward said.
“Is it?” Nicky shook his head. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is going on between us needs to stop.” His dark eyes were unexpectedly stern. Edward frowned.
“What?” He sounded genuinely shocked.
“You heard,” Nicky said, not wanting to force the words from his mouth again. “You are to be getting married soon, whether we like it or not. If we get found out, we are both dxmned and don’t deny it. So I think it’s best that we just leave it. What this is, isn’t ––,” he faltered. He didn’t want to say it, but something about what Lady Beth had said rung home. “We should just leave it.”
“But ––.”
“Edward. I’m serious,” Nicky snapped, pushing Edward away forcefully, much to the latter’s disbelief. “Leave me alone. There is nothing more between us then a master–servant relationship.” He side-stepped Edward and went towards the door.
“Nicky, what are you saying?”
“There is nothing between us, Edward. Go find some rich Lady, marry her and inherit all it is your meant to inherit and provide some heir to control the land after you’ve gone, okay? Stop messing around with people, stop seducing whoever you can get your hands on and leave me alone.”
“Nicky––!” But Nicky didn’t turn. He didn’t look back; he didn’t even glance over his shoulder. Instead he left the room with a short snap of the door. He paused outside the door. Beth had said that if anyone had found out, Edward would be ruined. Nicky wasn’t willingly going to be the cause of that.
Besides, a part of him found what Beth had said about Edward getting bored of him horribly plausible, and wanted to stop everything before that moment came along. Sooner was always better than later. |
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© 2008 The Doll Palace. All rights reserved.
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