Rourke, the smug bastard, beamed at him. “Better you than me.” At least someone found this situation amusing.
“Hold your tongue. I cannot wait until you fall in love. I hope he’s as annoying as you are.”
Rourke laughed. “It will never happen. I plan to choose a consort based on intellect not emotion. But that’s neither here nor there. We were discussing your marriage, and for the record, I think you’ve done well this time around.”
“Done well at what?” Julian stopped in front of them with two ales.
“Marriage,” Rourke answered and reached for one of the glasses.
“Oh yes. I think Colton was a much better choice for you.”
“Thanks for getting me one,” Sebastian grumbled. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore. It made his stomach unstable. Just because he loved Colton didn’t change anything. It only made Sebastian’s resolve stronger. Sebastian had to keep his head. He could never reveal the things to Colton that he had to Giles. Sebastian couldn’t take the chance.
“I did get you one, smart arse.” Julian looked over his shoulder. “I met someone at the bar and invited him to join us.” He grinned, leaving no doubt as to what Julian hoped would be the outcome of his invitation.
Sebastian leaned to the side to see whom Julian referred to.
Eugene Collis, Sebastian’s ex paramour, came ambling up with two glasses in his hands and a big cheery smile on his face. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Rourke whacked Julian in the legs with his cue. He whispered, “Why did you invite him to join us?”
“Ow.” Julian rubbed his shin with the heel of his other foot. “Because he said he knew Seb. Why are you assaulting me?” he whispered back.
“Sebastian.” Eugene slinked right up in front of Sebastian, handed him his drink and sat so close his body was plastered to Sebastian’s side.
Sebastian scooted over. “Good evening, Eugene. How have you been?”
“Missing you.” Eugene pouted and fluttered his eyelashes. “Have you missed me?”
Oh good galaxy. Sebastian drank his beer. He couldn’t answer that. To say no was rude. Saying yes would invite Eugene’s attention, which Sebastian did not want.
“Oh.” Julian’s eyes widened. “Eugene, have you met His Grace the Duke of Knighton?”
“I have.” Eugene gasped and hopped to his feet, spilling a bit of his beer in the process. He bowed at Rourke. “A pleasure to see you again, Your Grace.” His voice dripped with flirtation. Good, let him paw Rourke.
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Collis.” Rourke stood, lifted Eugene’s hand and kissed it. “Would you like to join us in a game?”
“I’d love to.”
Rourke reeled Eugene in by the hand he still held. Rourke whispered something in Eugene’s ear, and Eugene let out a squeal. Rourke led him to the sofa and patted his leg. “Come. You can take turns sitting on mine and Julian’s lap while the other takes his turn at the table.”
Bless Rourke. I hope he gets a piece of arse tonight. More than likely he and Julian both would. In the past, Sebastian, Rourke and Julian had been known to share. But no more. This wasn’t helping, and Eugene’s presence complicated matters in ways Sebastian didn’t need.
Sebastian took another drink, set it on the table and stood. He was going home to his consort where he should’ve stayed. It was where he wanted to be. Did that mean he was doomed? Probably. Sighing, Sebastian picked up his evening coat off the back of the sofa and put it on. “Gentlemen, I’ll bid you good night. I’ve a gorgeous consort to get home to.”
“You’re leaving?” Eugene looked up from tracing patterns on Rourke’s facial hair with a pout.
“I am. Good night.” Sebastian gave Julian and Rourke a smile. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. Have a good evening, and thank you for finding Benny.”
By the time Sebastian crawled into bed, Colton was sound asleep.
Sebastian kissed Colton on the lips and rolled him to his side. Spooning in behind him, Sebastian breathed in the fresh outdoor scent that always clung to Colton.
Colton slept on.
The urge to wake him and tell him everything was strong. Colton would stand by him. Sebastian was sure of it. But then…he’d been certain Giles would too.
Chapter Sixteen
January 18, 4831: Townsend Castle.
“Hello there, boy.” Colton patted Dazz’s nose. “How’re you this morning?”
From the stables, Apollonia whined.
“Hush, young lady. You cannot go this time,” Colton shouted and returned his attention to Dazz. “What do you say, boy? Your foot is better? Wanna give me a ride to the track?”
Dazz snuffled a bit, butting his head against Colton’s hand when he stopped petting.
Colton chuckled. “Good. We’ll just wait for Sebastian and Julian to join us, and we’ll be off. Shall we ride in the meantime?”
Colton put his foot in the stirrup, gripped Dazz’s neck and swung himself up onto the saddle without fuss. Leaning forward, he clucked his tongue.
Dazz started walking, his gait so smooth he practically glided.
Julian rode up next to Colton on a brown thoroughbred. “I’m thoroughly impressed.”
“I am too. I swear he’s floating.”
“Then have him float that way.” Julian pointed at the front gate.
As they rounded the end of the stables, Sebastian and Max came into view. Sebastian had a big smile on his face.
Colton’s insides fluttered, and he smiled back. “Look.” Colton held an arm out to his side. “Isn’t he marvelous?”
“Yes, he is.” Sebastian’s gaze traveled along Colton’s body, not Dazz’s. His expression was blatantly sexual. Glancing at the horse finally, Sebastian moved where he could see Dazz from the side. “I think I got a bargain for what I paid, and I shall be eternally grateful to Dazz.”
Heat rose to Colton’s cold cheeks as they drew abreast of Sebastian, and he fell in on Colton’s other side. “You mean for Dazz.”
Sebastian just smiled. Turning to Julian, he tossed him something.
Julian caught the black box and looked at it.
“You’re in charge of recording the race for the other Townsends to watch later.” Sebastian met Colton’s gaze. “It was the only way I could talk your family into not coming with us, sweeting. In the future, I’ll have to have more advance notice of races so I can prepare security detail for a bigger group.”
Julian cleared his throat. “I hate to change the subject, but why do they call you Lord Calamity? Should I worry about you falling off your horse during the race?”
Colton bit his lip to keep from laughing. “No. Horseback riding is the one thing I do well. You know our nicknames already?”
“Oh yes, a couple of the guards took great pride in telling me yesterday afternoon.”
Sebastian leaned forward in the saddle to peer past Colton. “He’s Lord Calamity because he’s always breaking things. When he was twelve, I think he managed to destroy every vase on the first floor of the castle.”
They rode out the front gate, and it closed behind them.
“Not every vase,” Colton protested. He couldn’t believe Sebastian actually knew about what he’d done all those years ago. He’d just started working at the castle. “I’d try so hard to stay away from the breakables, but they jumped out in front of me. I’m not so bad anymore. Except perhaps windows, but I’m only averaging a window a year nowadays. I’ve gotten much better.”
Turning on to the main road into town, Julian laughed so loud he drew gazes from passersby.
“Come to think on it…I haven’t broken a window this year.” It must be a new record.
“Oh good. Try to do it when I’m on duty,” Julian said.
Colton tried to look serious, but he failed miserably. “Who says I’m going to break one? Maybe I’ve totally weaned myself off windows.”
Sebastian snorted. “And now you have two households worth of windows to choose from.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Colton rolled his eyes. “Like you two weren’t mischievous at twelve. I bet both of you ran your parents ragged.”
“No.” Sebastian sat stiff in the saddle, looking left and right. Was he expecting trouble, or was it something else?
Unease moved through Colton. Sebastian had never mentioned his parents, only that he had a mother. “Did your mother not have any nicknames for you?”
Sebastian shrugged. “My mother wasn’t around when I was twelve. She died when I was ten.”
“Oh.” The air whooshed right out of Colton’s lungs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. You’ve never said.” He frowned. He felt stupid for not knowing anything about his husband’s family. He’d guessed Sebastian’s parents were deceased, but he hadn’t realized Sebastian’s mother had died when Sebastian was so young.
“He doesn’t talk about his family. Never has,” Julian said.
“What about your father?” Colton asked Sebastian.
Sebastian’s jaw hardened. “I don’t— I lost him the same time I lost my mother.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sebastian patted his leg. “I’m not. We’re here. Let’s go find Apollo and Brooks.”
Fareweather Track, on the grounds of the Fareweather Stables, in Classige, Pruluce.
Cecilia Brooks grabbed Colton’s hands in her dainty white-gloved ones to keep him from wringing them. “Relax. I think Apollo is going to amaze everyone. And I also think I may have found us a mare.”
“Really? Where? Who?”
She chuckled and caught Colton’s hands again. “You’re making Dazz nervous.” She let go. Her hunter-green pelisse swirled around Colton’s legs as she turned slightly. Absently, she stroked Dazz’s nose over the hitching post.
Colton glanced at the stallion. His ears were back, his gaze darting here and there. Colton petted him. “Sorry, boy.”
Brooks tipped her head to the right, gesturing toward the barn where a boy walked a beautiful dark bay mare with a red winter blanket on her back. “I’m going to watch her in the race, but I have a feeling about her.” Brooks grinned, showing off the charming dimples in her cheeks. “She’s two years old. Rumor has it her owner, Mr. Clamtin, is looking to sell.” A breeze blew some of the strawberry-blonde hair that had escaped Brooks’s chignon.
The mare nudged her groom, placing her forehead in the middle of his back, making him go faster.
Colton chuckled. “She’s impatient.”
Brooks nodded. “She’ll fit right in with Apollo and Apollonia. The mare has attitude, but she seemed likeable when I petted her. Her name is Tresham’s Thunderstorm, but the groom calls her Stormy.”
“What are the two of you looking at?” Rourke sauntered up, patted Dazz on the neck and stared off in the direction of the mare. “Seb said to tell you he’d be back over here before the race started. Stardust, he is lovely, isn’t he?”
Behind Rourke, Max gripped his reins with his teeth and tried to yank them free of the hitching post.
Brooks curtsied. “Good morning, Your Grace.”
“Good morning, Rourke.” Colton tugged the leather from Max’s mouth. “That horse is a she,” Colton answered. “Where’ve you been?”
“I’ve been here the whole time. Within three yards of you since Seb and Julian went to scope things out. I was just looking around, watching people. You really are nervous, aren’t you? And I was talking about the young man who the horse is bossing around, not the horse.”
Brooks cocked her head slightly. “He’s a little young for my tastes, but he’s good with Stormy.”
“He’s too…” What? The petite brunet was a nice-looking young man, cute in a Tarren or Trouble kind of way—which probably meant he was as obnoxious as both of them too—but not someone Colton would normally look twice at. “The jockey is too slim and small. And yes, I’m nervous.”
“I like slim and small. Why would I want a big ox like me?”
“I agree with Colton. I prefer my men larger.” Brooks turned back to Colton. “I’ve got to go saddle Apollo for you shortly. But now, I’m going to go mingle with the other trainers and see if I can learn any good gossip. I’ll be back to help you get ready before the race. Stop fretting. Olympian Stables is going to be a household name before we even open.” She bounded off toward the track in a flurry of green velvet and pink muslin.
“You know she’s right. Already I’ve heard talk. People have taken note of Apollo. And Dazz for that matter. You might want to consider selling Plantation Walkers too. I’d buy one. I rode one once on a mission in Glaudia. Even loaded down with my pack and weapons, that horse was a smooth ride. Had to fight the rest of the guys off. They all ended up with quarter horses.” Rourke shrugged. “The guide they sent with us was a pretty good ride too.”
Colton groaned. Please don’t let me blush. “I thought Sebastian didn’t know much about Plantation Walkers.”
“It was after Seb left.” Rourke sighed. “I miss the old days.”
“What was it like? In the RSR, I mean?” Colton searched the crowd for Sebastian. The track was completely clear of snow. Fareweather’s employees were efficient.
The duke brushed his knuckles over Max’s nose. “It was exciting. Freeing. It was quite an experience for a gently raised guy like myself. A culture shock at first, but once I got used to it I had a hard time leaving it.”
“I can see where it would be an adjustment. Were you the only lord out of the group?”
“Yes. Julian comes from a wealthy family, but he was not brought up with the strictures you and I were. Out of all the guys, I probably had the hardest time adjusting. Hell, just sleeping in a room with other men was scandalous in the extreme, not to mention showering with them and dressing in front of them.” He clasped a hand to his chest and smirked. “Shocking.” Dropping his hand, he chuckled. “They used to make fun of me.”
Colton smiled, starting to relax a bit. “Even Sebastian?”
“Good grief, yes. Seb thought it hilarious to try and make me blush. He even dragged me to a brothel on my twentieth birthday. After that…” Rourke got one of those odd smiles and a faraway look. He shook his head and glanced back at Colton. “After that, I embraced the life of a soldier and learned rather quickly ton soirées were the best places to pick up men.” He ran his hand over his beard. “Or maybe Seb is the one who figured that out. On leave, I used to drag him to balls with me. He and Julian were the only ones who talked like we do and felt comfortable mingling with our crowd. Probably because they’d both had private tutors growing up.”
Sebastian had had a tutor? Yet something else Colton hadn’t known about his husband. It made sense, Colton supposed, because Sebastian had always talked like an educated man. Colton couldn’t remember him ever being awkward around society. Colton had never thought to question it. But Colton had been under the impression Sebastian had been from a poorer family. He had hinted that the old admiral had bought him a commission. Stardust, was Sebastian ever going to open up to him? How could Colton win the man’s love if they didn’t know one another?
Fareweather stood nearby checking his horse’s hooves. He spotted Colton and waved.
Colton returned the gesture and turned back to Rourke. Perhaps he could get some information out of the duke. Rourke seemed to know Sebastian better than anyone. “Then Sebastian had been to ton events before he went into the RSR?”
“I don’t know. Between you and me, sometimes over the years I wished I hadn’t taken him with me. He met Wentworth at a ball I took him to.” Rourke shook his head. “I regretted introducing them for a long time.”
“Why? I thought his and Hastings’s marriage was a love match.” The mystery around Sebastian just kept growing. Granted, Colton had been young then, but he’d been under the impression Sebastian had left the Navy to marry Hastings.
“I think
Seb cared for him at first. But it didn’t take him long to figure out he was nothing more than a plaything to Giles.”
“Colton.” Gareth Fareweather sauntered up to him. “The race is about to start. Come take a look at my father’s newest stud.”
Blast Gareth’s timing. Colton wanted to learn more about his husband. He smiled at Fareweather and said, “I’d love to. I’m to meet my trainer in the stables shortly.” He glanced back at Rourke. “Your Grace?”
“Go ahead. Just stay within my sight. And if I don’t talk to you before the race…good luck.”
“Thank you. You’ll tell Sebastian where I am?”
Rourke dipped his head.
As Colton walked with Fareweather, a group of loud, laughing men passed them. Normally, Colton would’ve ignored them, but he heard Sebastian’s name. Colton lengthened his stride to keep pace with the group, but no matter how he tried he couldn’t hear their conversation.
“Are there any jockeys racing?” Colton asked.
“No. No jockeys allowed in this race. This is for fun and for the owners and trainers to test out new stock. We do this every other month or so.”
Well, that was one less thing to worry about. He wouldn’t be riding against professional jockeys. Colton heard Sebastian’s name again. He wanted to know what those men were talking about.
The group stopped and huddled together, still talking.
Fareweather pointed at something in front of them. “That’s Helford’s newest mare. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
As they passed the group of men, one of them said, “Wentworth and his companions gave him a grand ole time, from what I heard.”
Gave who a good time? A queasiness tickled Colton’s stomach and tried to climb up his throat. Sebastian had been out last evening. Not long, of course, but then Colton had learned firsthand that a tumble didn’t necessarily have to take that long. Who had Sebastian been with? He’d said it was to locate another of his ex-teammates.
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