The Actor and the Earl (9 page)

He wished Miriam a good night and examined the interconnecting door between his and Anthony’s room. Like the London townhouse, the bolt was on his side, and he pulled down the latch and let himself into Anthony’s room. It was similar in size to his own room and was dominated by the huge four-poster bed. Not sure when Anthony would retire for the night, Sebastian took the book from Anthony’s bedside table and settled down in a chair by the fireplace to read.

He did not have to wait long. The door opened, and Anthony entered. “What are you doing in here?”

Sebastian set down his book and stood up. “I wanted to speak to you about your ungentlemanly behavior.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What I don’t understand is, if you wanted to marry a woman, why you didn’t you just marry the ever-so-willing Lady Eleanor, instead of dragging my family into your games?”

Anthony scowled. “What are you talking about?”

“It is obvious to me from your flirting with Eleanor, and how you press your suit upon me while dressed as a woman, that your preference is for the female form. So why, when trying to quash the rumors about your dalliances, did you choose to marry Bronwyn, one of the least feminine women I know?”

Anthony looked baffled for a moment, then crossed his arms over his chest. “You think I’ve gone to all this trouble merely to deal with idle gossip that I take men to my bed?”

Sebastian was not expecting that reply. “Yes. After all, it is against the law.”

Anthony snorted. “Compared to what has been said about me, it is a minor infraction, I assure you. The rumors are not about my taste in bedmates, but whether I am loyal to the crown.”

“Oh.”

“‘Oh’, indeed,” mimicked Anthony. “If I didn’t have the ear of the Queen, my head would already be on a block by now. I was accused of being in league with a known plotter, but I could not prove that I was somewhere else without betraying a confidence.”

“Surely they would’ve understood?”

“Not when the confidence I am keeping is the Queen’s. I was delivering a message to a male acquaintance. It was a sensitive situation.”

Sebastian moved quickly to stand in front of Anthony. He placed his hand on Anthony’s arm. “But I still don’t understand why marrying Bronwyn will solve that.”

“The Queen herself suggested that I should ally with a family known for its unwavering loyalty, a family that would not allow their daughter to marry a man who could be called a traitor.”

“I see.”

“And the Hewels were perfect. Your father sacrificed everything for his country.” Anthony placed his hand on Sebastian’s. “Tell me, Sebastian, why did you refuse me in the rose garden? I thought you were happy to receive my attentions.”

“I am, of course I am. But we could have been seen. If I am found out, I will be lucky if all that happens is that I lose my head. I’m not a noble. I could be flogged to death for blasphemy for the vows I made in church in front of witnesses.”

“I would not let that happen!” Anthony grabbed him and held him close. “I would do everything I could to protect you.”

Sebastian pushed away. “No, you’d need to save your own head. And if we are ever caught in the act, you could claim that the plainness of your wife had doused your ardor and we had not shared the marital bed.”

“I could not do that.”

Sebastian looked up at Anthony and cupped his cheek. “As long as we are careful, then there should be no need. But in the rose garden…. I cannot, and will not, take that chance.”

Anthony’s kiss was insistent and demanding, his hand clutching at the ties of Sebastian’s bodice. For a moment Sebastian allowed it, but he pulled back. There was something else he needed to be sure of before he let this go. “I need to know if it is me that you want, Sebastian, and not Bronwyn, not the dress.”

“When I see you, I do not see your sister, I do not see the dress as anything more than a pretty costume. I do not care what you are wearing.” Anthony pulled the wig from Sebastian’s head and threw it to the floor. With his hands, he wiped away the last smears of rouge. “I only want you.”

Sebastian slumped into Anthony’s arms, not able to hold back the choked sob of relief, the built-up tension of the last few days leaving him bone tired. “Let me get you to bed,” whispered Anthony. “Tonight you will sleep in my embrace, and in the morning, I will more than make up for this.”

Sebastian nodded and let Anthony gently strip him, removing his clothes piece by piece. He let Anthony lead him to the bed and pull him under the covers before being encased in his warm arms. Finally, he drifted to sleep with Anthony’s soft breaths across his skin.

Chapter 8

L
YING
on his side, Sebastian’s hips canted to meet each stroke of his cock. Anthony’s wakeup call was the perfect way to greet the morning. He whined as the delicious friction was removed, but moaned his relief as instead the fingers slipped between his buttocks and worked him open. There was a dark chuckle from behind him as Sebastian relaxed to welcome Anthony inside of him. Filled by Anthony, and with the hand back stroking his cock, Sebastian didn’t know whether to bear down or push up. He gasped in delight, his body humming at being so expertly played. Anthony sped up, thrusting deeper, and Sebastian could barely breathe, so close to his release. The intensity built, and Sebastian could hold back no longer. Anthony growled as he reached his peak, Sebastian following barely seconds later. They lay still for a moment, until Anthony withdrew, leaving a soft kiss to the back of Sebastian’s neck.

“Good morning,” said Anthony.

Sebastian looked over his shoulder to see his lover’s flushed cheeks and self-satisfied smirk. “Oh, most definitely a good start to the day.”

He rolled over and laid his head on Anthony’s chest. “At some point, I will need to call Miriam to help me dress. I am a slave to my wardrobe.”

Anthony’s fingers lazily carded through Sebastian’s hair. “I’ve been thinking about giving you the opportunity to be yourself. William will need a tutor.”

“William?”

“My son. I’ve been meaning to introduce him to
Bronwyn
, but the last few days I have been….”

“Sulking?” suggested Sebastian.

“Perhaps it could be construed as such.”

Sebastian laughed. “So this son of yours?”

“William is nearly three, and he can be difficult with new people—even his nurse has trouble some days. But he is reaching an age where he will need a tutor or two, and Sebastian could easily be one of them, at least to the outside world.”

“I think it could work. Children generally like me, and it would give me a purpose here, apart from masquerading as my sister. But maybe I should meet him first.”

Anthony kissed the top of Sebastian’s head. “Very well, after breakfast I will introduce the future Earl Crofton to his stepmother.”

With the exception of Anne, the guests from the night before were seated for breakfast when Sebastian and Anthony arrived. The conversation turned to the day’s events, and Anthony happily described how the bowls lawn was ready for their tournament and that he hoped they’d all be willing to enjoy a game of hide and seek in the maze. Elaine laughed and called him a silly boy.

“Too true, my lady. But I somehow thought that you might not be up to hunting.”

Elaine rubbed her stomach and smiled. “If you want to play in the gardens, you do not need to use a pregnant woman as an excuse. I am sure we will all appease your strange ways.”

“Anthony has more strange ways than playing hide and seek,” said Eleanor with a knowing smirk.

A part of Sebastian had wanted to say something, but a bigger part wanted to see Anthony’s reaction.

“Apart from my desire to drink far too much wine, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Anthony,

“Perhaps you need me to aid your memory.”

Sebastian suspected that Eleanor thought her smile was playful, but it looked more predatory from where he was sitting. Anthony’s gaze darted to Sebastian, and he took a swig of beer before replying. “My memory is fine as it is.”

“If you are finished, Anthony,” said Sebastian, standing, “I would very much like to take you up on your offer of meeting William.”

“Of course.” Anthony turned to his guests. “We will meet at ten on the lawn… be ready to play your best game!”

Sebastian took Anthony’s arm, and he saw Eleanor scowl as they left. “Do I want to know what went on between you?”

“Nothing more than a mutually enjoyable way of passing the time.”

They headed upstairs and into the east wing. Sebastian’s stomach knotted painfully at the thought of the two of them together. “Are you still intending to ‘pass the time’ with her?”

Anthony’s brow creased, and even though they had come to an agreement the night before, Sebastian wasn’t sure whether he had the right to ask. “I suppose that would depend on what you are expecting of me.”

“What right do I have to expect anything?”

Anthony stopped and turned to face Sebastian. “You have every right. Tell me, what is it that you wish?”

“I would ask for your fidelity, but if that is not possible, then I ask for you to be discreet.”

Anthony’s kiss was unexpected and sweeter than anything they had shared before. “It is no hardship to keep my vows when you are the one I have made them to.”

“Thank you.” Sebastian could feel the blush as it spread across his cheeks.

“The pleasure is all mine, believe me.” Anthony kissed him again. “Now come, let us meet the only other man in this household I would be willing to let you spend time with alone.”

William’s playroom would have been the envy of any child. A host of dolls sat in one corner, surrounded by an army of toy soldiers, and there was a hobbyhorse leaning up against a tallboy. Sebastian suspected it would not be used for a few years to come, given the size of the small boy who was peering out nervously from behind the legs of his nurse.

Even with the restriction of his corset and the whalebone in his farthingale, Sebastian managed to crouch down so he was at eye level with the little boy, who disappeared behind his nurse. “Hello, William,” said Sebastian.

William’s blond hair reappeared, and he gazed at Sebastian with wide baby-blue eyes. His nurse muttered an apology, which Sebastian waved away, and she shooed William out from behind her skirts. He looked up at her uncertainly, and she stroked his hair.

“Hello,” he said.

Anthony crouched down as well, and William toddled toward him clutching a rag doll. “Don’t let the outside of an angel fool you. He can be a little devil when he wants.”

“I thought that was what little boys did best.”

Although Sebastian wasn’t sure William was old enough to understand everything they were saying, the expression William pulled gave the impression that he did, and he gave a disgruntled pout that reminded Sebastian of Anthony.

“My name is Bronwyn. I’m hoping you might want to be my friend.”

William looked to his father for reassurance, and when Anthony nodded, he held out the doll for Sebastian. “Thank you,” Sebastian said, taking it. “Does he have a name?”

“Dolly.”

William scuttled away, looking for something in the corner of the room. The nurse excused herself with a curtsey, and Sebastian, his knees beginning to ache, stood up. William rushed back with a wooden soldier which he also handed to Sebastian, and waited expectantly.

“I think he likes you,” said Anthony, sounding pleased. “He’s not normally one to share his toys.”

Sebastian thanked William and gave him back the doll and the soldier. “Both very fine toys. Maybe next time I can tell you a story?”

William’s enthusiastic nodding was accompanied by Anthony’s amused snort. “You’ve a way with Crofton men, Bronwyn. It seems we are all putty in your hands.”

Noticing the nursing chair, Sebastian sat down, William taking his action as an invitation. Ignoring Anthony’s warning to be careful, he clambered onto Sebastian’s lap. Sebastian put a protective arm around William to make sure he wouldn’t fall, and William cuddled closer.

“This was also my nursery,” said Anthony, picking up a soldier and turning it over in his hand. “My mother used to sit in that very chair and tell me stories.”

“I don’t remember my mother. Bronwyn claims she does, but I think she only says that to taunt me.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t need to tell you that childbirth can be dangerous—twins doubly so. From the little my father said, she never really recovered, and passed away before I was two.”

“It must have been difficult. I mean, I had a nurse, but my mother always came to kiss me good night, and even my father was known to engage in a fierce battle with my soldiers from time to time.”

Sebastian laughed. “Sounds idyllic. I was mainly in the care of a nurse, and when I got older, a tutor. My father was away more often than he was at home. And when he died….”

Anthony squeezed Sebastian’s shoulder. “Is that why you moved to the family house in London?”

Sebastian wasn’t used to talking about such things, but instead of the usual desire to deflect the conversation, he wanted to speak to Anthony. “Yes. But it’s not Hewel property. My father’s debt meant our home in Portsmouth was sold, and we were sent to my mother’s brother—Claire’s father.”