‘Very kind of you, Sir,’ Lucy said, before dropping her head and grinning at Fecker.
‘I will expect exemplary behaviour from the gentleman,’ Archer warned, and when Fecker turned back, caught his eye with a faux-stern glare.
‘Da,’ was Fecker’s succinct reply, but he gripped Archer’s hand and crushed it; his way of showing thanks.
‘As Mr Wright is no longer my valet,’ Archer continued, massaging his fingers. ‘Mr Payne has agreed to assist me in the dressing room when needed, and to help him and Mrs Norwood in his other duties…?’ He beckoned to the housekeeper. ‘I think, Jimmy, you know Mr Holt.’
Harvey entered, nervously fussing with his casual clothes, and on seeing James, smiled at him, before remembering himself and facing the viscount.
‘Welcome, Mr Holt,’ Archer said. ‘Don’t worry about your dress. I believe Jake has measured you and will produce your livery in a couple of days. It won’t be the regimental garb that Kingsclere demands his servants endure, we like to be more avant-garde here in the city. You have met Mr Payne, I assume. He will give you full instructions if he hasn’t already. I hope you will be happier here than you were at Kingsclere. We have made the earl aware of the situation.’
‘I have no words, My Lord,’ Harvey stammered, his eyes wandering from face to face. ‘Except for my deepest gratitude.’
‘Unnecessary. Mr Payne will explain all, and make clear the… er, the other aspects of life at Clearwater House when he shows you your rooms.’
Archer threw a wink to Thomas, who took the message. Harvey would be housed on the top floor, and the relationship between Thomas and James needed to be carefully explained, as did the one between Archer and Silas. James had discussed the footman with Archer and as well as assuring Archer of Mr Holt’s discretion, told him of the treatment some of the Kingsclere servants were made to endure. After hearing the shocking report, Archer had vowed to help those he could, and that included a hall boy. It was he who Mrs Norwood brought in next.
‘And you are Jasper, is that correct?’ Archer said.
The youth, more nervous than Harvey, nodded and bowed before glancing apprehensively at the assembled men.
‘Jasper Blackwood, Sir,’ Mrs Norwood announced.
The youth was older than Archer expected, and he put him at seventeen or eighteen. His hands hung at his sides, as if he didn’t know what to do with them, and he kept his eyes on the carpet, until Archer said, ‘I believe you had an early and unexpected start, Mr Blackwood,’ and the young man looked up, revealing a bruised eye.
‘Are you injured in any other way?’ Archer asked, and when Jasper didn’t reply, encouraged him to come further into the room. ‘You must tell me, Jasper,’ he said, smiling. ‘The first rule of Clearwater House is honesty.’ It sounded slightly hollow, as Jasper was the only one in the house who didn’t know the full story, and had to be protected from it, until Thomas judged he was trusted enough to understand.
‘No, My Lord,’ Jasper said. ‘It’s just my face. It’s fading. I had an accident.’
‘Huh,’ Archer huffed. The black eye was no accident. He knew that from James, but he understood the youth’s reticence to tell the truth. ‘Know this, Master Blackwood. Nobody here will hurt you in any way. You will be well treated, and all we ask in return is that you are honest and hardworking. Do we have an agreement, Sir?’
Jasper nodded obediently, and when Archer offered his hand, looked to Mrs Norwood for permission to shake it.
‘Go ahead, Jasper,’ she said kindly.
The lad held out his hand, but his handshake was weak, and his face pale.
‘When did you last eat?’ Archer asked, noting how the lad swayed slightly.
‘Last night, Sir,’ Jasper said, his voice a whisper.
‘Luncheon is here in the servery, My Lord,’ Mrs Norwood said, stepping towards the servants’ door. ‘Shall we bring it?’
‘Good idea,’ Archer agreed. ‘Perhaps Harvey will help you, then we shall all sit down to eat, and become properly acquainted.’ Seeing the concern on the new footman’s face, he said, ‘Yes, Harvey, not what you are used to, I am sure, but I want you and Jasper to meet your new household informally. Your real work begins tomorrow, and you will find your roles differ somewhat from those you are used to. As for the rest of our crew…’
Smiling contentedly, he looked from one to the other and caught James and Fecker’s bemused smiles. Mrs Norwood gave him an uncustomary wink, and a gentle nod from Thomas showed his proud approval.
Archer’s eyes came to rest on Silas’ affectionate gaze, and hardly believing they now had everything they wanted, he said, ‘For all of us, it is time to begin anew.’
The Clearwater Mysteries will continue in book seven,
due for publication in summer 2020.
If you have enjoyed this story, here is a list of my other novels to date. With them, I’ve put my own heat rating according to how sexually graphic they are. They are all romantic in some way apart from the short stories.
References to sex (*) A little sex (**) A couple of times (***) Quite a bit, actually (****) Cold shower required (*****)
Short erotic stories
In School & Out *****
13 erotic short stories, winner of the European Gay Porn Awards (best erotic fiction). Boarding schools and sex on a Greek island.
Older/younger MM romances
The Mentor of Wildhill Farm ****
Older writer mentors four young gay guys in more than grammar. Isolated setting. Teens coming out. Sex parties. And a twist.
The Mentor of Barrenmoor Ridge ***
It takes a brave man to climb a mountain, but it takes a braver lad to show him the way. Mountain rescue. Coming to terms with love, loss and sexuality.
The Students of Barrenmoor Ridge *
Two boys stranded on a mountainside, what could go wrong?
Coming out, falling in love, mentoring, and a return to Barrenmoor Ridge with characters from ‘The Mentor.’
The Mentor of Lonemarsh House ***
I love you enough to let you run, but too much to see you fall
Folk music. Hidden secrets. Family acceptance.
The Mentor of Lostwood Hall ***
A man with a future he can’t accept and a lad with a past he can’t escape. A castle. A road accident. Youth and desire.
The Clearwater Mysteries
Deviant Desire ***
Book 1. A mashup of mystery, romance and adventure, Deviant Desire is set in an imaginary London of 1888. The first in an on-going series in a world where homosexuality is a crime.
Twisted Tracks **
Book 2. An intercepted telegram, a coded invitation and the threat of exposure. Viscount Clearwater must put his life on the line to protect his reputation.
Unspeakable Acts *
Book 3. A murder will take place unless Clearwater’s homosexuality is made public; can his lover stop the killing and save his reputation?
Fallen Splendour *
Book 4. A kidnapping, a court case and a poem by Tennyson. What is the connection? James has four days to find out.
Bitter Bloodline *
Book 5. What do a runaway boy and an assassin have to do with Clearwater’s famed Easter dinner party and its guest of honour, the actor, Henry Irving? Silas suspects assassination.
Artful Deception **
Book 6. A damaged work of art tempts Clearwater to a final confrontation with his arch-enemy, Doctor Quill. But the only way for Archer to win is to die.
MM romance thrillers
Other People’s Dreams ***
Screenwriter seeks four gay youths to crew his yacht in the Greek islands. Certain strings attached.
Dreams come true. Coming of age. Youth
friendships and love.
The Blake Inheritance **
Let us go then you and I to the place where the wild thyme grows
Family mystery. School crush. A treasure hunt romance.
The Stoker Connection ***
What if you could prove the greatest Gothic novel of all time was a true story? Literary conspiracy. Teen boy romance. First love. Mystery and adventure.
Curious Moonlight *
He’s back. He’s angry and I am fleeing for my life.
A haunted house. A mystery to solve. A slow-burn romance. Straight to gay.
These can all be found on my Amazon Author page.
Please leave a review if you can. Thanks again for reading.
If you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.
Jackson
www.jacksonmarsh.com
Artful Deception (The Clearwater Mysteries Book 6) Page 33