by Alex Jane
Gabriel noted too, he had swapped out his silver-topped cane for something altogether less extravagant. The old wooden thing had a well-worn handle, which looked to mold exactly to fit Nathaniel's hand. He felt something akin to a swell of affection at the thought Nathaniel might have a favorite cane, maybe one he had named like a pet or had some sort of interesting story attached to it.
"I found the key you wanted," Nathaniel said as he approached, reaching into his ticket pocket.
"Oh," was all Gabriel could think to say for a moment, simply looking at the item in Nathaniel's outstretched hand.
He was about to take it when Ruth spoke up. "Well, that's good timing. Why don't you both take a walk down there before lunch?"
Nathaniel looked distraught at the prospect. "I don't want to interrupt—"
"We're finished," she said, clearly not about to brook any argument, even from her Alpha. "It would do you both some good and keep me from having to listen to your rumbling stomachs while I finish cooking." When neither man moved, she shooed them both with waving hands and a hard stare until they walked away.
"Has she always been so fearsome?" Gabriel idly wondered.
"I'd say so. If she comes at you with a slipper, don't bother running. She could outpace me even when I wasn't a cripple."
"I like your pack immensely," Gabriel murmured, genuinely meaning it but enjoying the slight blush and the way Nathaniel pushed back his shoulders at the praise. "I hope you think the same about mine when you meet them."
"They're hardly strangers to me," Nathaniel said, almost petulantly.
"There have been some changes since last you saw them. And besides, ten years is a long time."
Gabriel murmured the words before he'd really thought them through, regretting his honesty as Nathaniel curled in on himself again and muttered, "Yes, it certainly is."
After that, they walked in silence. Gabriel was unsure of whether it was companionable or awkward given the way the air between them seemed so tense, but at the same time it was so familiar for them to be in each other's space. Gabriel was of half a mind to bring up some reminiscence of when they would walk together as boys to break the silence, but he wasn't sure how Nathaniel would take it. He knew losing Reuben had been as much a blow to Nathaniel as it had been to him, and it was too soon to tell yet if he would tolerate talking about him openly or in any capacity.
Except he had questions. Ones that only Nathaniel could answer. Gabriel had been given the most basic explanation of how the two older boys, men as they were then, had come to be hurt, but he had always wondered what had happened in the last moments of their ill-fated carriage ride, if anything could have been done to save Reuben or indeed Nathaniel from his injuries. He thought too, perhaps, those answers might explain why Nathaniel had never fully recovered as he should. At least with that issue, he knew the direct approach was off the table. Nathaniel might be crippled, but he was still an Alpha and would have no difficulty breaking Gabriel into little pieces if he felt so inclined. And besides, hurting him further was the last thing Gabriel wanted.
When they came to the glasshouse, Nathaniel held out the key again. Gabriel took it, smiling gently and trying not to react when their fingers made contact. The door handle was warm and somewhat unpleasant to touch with all the dirt on it, the key stiff in the lock, but it moved after a little encouragement. Smiling, Gabriel tried the door—but nothing happened. He pushed again, putting his shoulder into it this time, but still the door appeared completely seized shut.
"Here. Let me…" Nathaniel stepped forward, ushering Gabriel out of the way as if he couldn't bear the sad, yearning look Gabriel was aiming at the stubborn building.
It took a couple of tries even with the Alpha's innate strength but soon the door creaked open, the hinges screaming as if they were suffering the tortures of the damned. Nathaniel wrinkled his nose at the smell coming out and Gabriel found himself doing the same. It wasn't bad exactly. He'd smelled worse. Mostly it was the humidity, like a waft of tropical air carrying the odors of rotting leaves and rich earth, plant oils, and sap.
Nathaniel stepped back to let Gabriel enter first, which he did with one hand to his nose.
"Maybe you should have left the door open," he mused.
"I was hoping to keep the wildlife out," Nathaniel mumbled as he looked around. Something about the way he scanned the place had Gabriel wondering if he had been just as curious himself as to the contents.
"I guess it's not so bad. I'm surprised anything is alive in here after so long."
"Maybe the humidity has helped."
"Perhaps," Gabriel murmured before something caught his eye. "Oh, look! A fig tree. I love figs. Oh and a vine too, my goodness, look at all the grapes. We should take some back for lunch—good god, is that a pineapple?" Whirling around, he found Nathaniel watching him, a somewhat guilty look on his face. "You didn't know these were here?"
Nathaniel shook his head. "No, I…the family were in such a hurry to sell up and…they didn't exactly want to give me a guided tour."
"Why ever not?"
The withering look Nathaniel gave him left Gabriel confused until the Alpha glanced down at his own scarred hand and the cane it clutched. The realization came like a slap in the face. "You're serious? My god, what kind of people would act in such a way?"
"Most of them in my experience."
"Not me. And not anyone I would care to associate with."
"No, not you." A slight smile replaced the forced indifference before Nathaniel asked, "Well? Have I satisfied you?"
The temptation to spout some crudity or explain exactly how he would like to be satisfied danced on Gabriel's tongue like a demon on hot coals. But he swallowed it down like the good person he hoped to be and simply smiled instead. "Yes. I think so. At least, in this matter. Although…"
"Yes?" Nathaniel asked, bringing Gabriel back when his mind wandered with all the possibilities.
"Oh, I was just thinking Frank—he takes care of the garden back home—he might be able to sort this place, have it up and running, or at least instruct me how to sort the good plants from bad."
"Back home?" It sounded much worse when Nathaniel repeated the words, as if he was only then realizing how alien Gabriel felt, and missing the point Gabriel had intended.
Gabriel covered up his faux pas by pretending he hadn't noticed anything. "Don't you think it would be nice? I mean, I'm not saying we could start a winery or anything but some fresh fruit from our own garden would be so perfect. And the glasshouse itself—well, it's too lovely to leave to the ravages of nature, surely?"
Nathaniel regarded him for a moment, silently weighing up the request. "I suppose so."
"I don't want you to feel obliged."
"I don't. Perhaps it could be my wedding present to you. I should have thought to get you something before."
Gabriel felt taken aback and could only whisper, "But I didn't get anything for you."
"You're here, aren't you? That's enough."
When Nathaniel turned to leave, if only to escape his own admission, Gabriel called out, "In that case, may I invite him to dinner? Frank, I mean. To join my father when he comes tonight? At least, to ask him if it's worth saving."
Nathaniel paused, then nodded. "I'll send a telegram myself."
4
Gabriel had been lingering on the window seat in the sitting room, pretending to read a book, for a good hour when he heard the clatter of hooves and grinding of gravel, telling him the dinner guests had finally arrived. He'd been trying to help in the kitchen until Ruth's patience had snapped and she'd sent him away, sick of all his fussing and twitching over every little thing. This dinner might have been an informal meal between friends but Gabriel felt the weight of its importance keenly. He so wanted for Nathaniel to have a good impression of his pack and for them to get along with him. It might not spell catastrophe if they didn't but it would make his life a lot easier if there could be some harmony between them.
Th
rowing the boring tome to one side, uncaring at whether he lost his place in the book or not, he rushed to the door and was outside before the Hansom carriage had even come to a stop. Frank was the first to step down and Gabriel dragged him into his arms, holding him tightly as soon as his feet hit the ground. It was a relief to see a familiar face. It might have been a stretch to say he almost didn't recognize his friend, being that he was wearing a respectable suit and had clearly scrubbed his hands for hours to remove the dirt, which was invariably ingrained under his fingernails. Frank laughed and held him equally as enthusiastically before they gave each other a hearty round of pats to the back and pulled apart.
"It's only been one night. You couldn't have missed me that much," Frank said with a smile.
"What gave you that idea? I haven't missed you at all."
The two of them laughed and turned to offer a hand to Abraham as he stepped down from his seat, rolling his eyes as if he was used to their nonsense. "I imagine he's been too preoccupied to miss any of us."
"It's been an interesting day," Gabriel said, forcing a smile onto his face. It fell away when he turned to find Nathaniel standing in the doorway, glowering at them. "Come," he said, tugging on Frank's sleeve. "Let me introduce you."
What little introduction there was, was curt and somewhat awkward. Nathaniel greeted Abraham kindly enough. Clearly, Gabriel's father had visited the house before when he was arranging the marriage so they appeared on friendly terms, or at least as much as Nathaniel could muster in that department. When it came to Frank, though, his husband wasn't quite so gracious.
Frank did all the right things: called him Alpha, bared his neck. Nathaniel, on the other hand, didn't even offer to shake Frank's hand, only frowning and saying, "You're human. Gabriel didn't tell me."
It might have been less awkward if Nathaniel had pointed out that Frank's cock was dangling out of his trousers. The poor man looked mortified for a moment before stumbling out, "Yes, I…my mother was…I suppose…my brother is a Beta but…yes."
Gabriel could only look on open-mouthed and shocked into silence as Nathaniel grunted and limped away, saying, "Dinner will be ready shortly, if you'd like to join me for an aperitif in the drawing room."
Mouthing his silent apologies as they followed him down the corridor, Gabriel wasn't wholly sure what had just happened. Nathaniel must have known they had humans in their pack, and he had no recollection of Nathaniel being prejudiced in that way. Ideally, he would have loved to think the interaction was completely out of character for Nathaniel, but knowing the man so superficially, it was hard to imagine this was anything other than the Alpha showing his true colors.
Still, Frank seemed to brush the slight off after his initial shock and was charming, if a little quiet, while they had drinks and made small talk. It was lucky Abraham was so diplomatic and able to put people at ease. He hadn't had much practice lately, not since his illness and certainly after his wife had died his opportunities to attend social invitations had dried up along with her bones. He spoke well, though, clearly not intimidated at all by Nathaniel's scowling and terse conversation. It could have been he had become accustomed to his demeanor during their conversations, or that he still saw Nathaniel as the boy who had played at his feet. Mostly, though, Gabriel thought it was down to the fact that Nathaniel…well, he didn't exactly appear cowed by Abraham, but he did seem more than happy to defer to him, as he might do a Council member or his own Alpha. There was no weakness in it, simply respect, and Gabriel found himself watching Nathaniel quite closely and admiring him for his courtesy.
When dinner was ready, Solomon came to fetch them. Nathaniel introduced him and he was rather more generous in greeting Gabriel's father and friend. When they adjourned to the dining room, similar introductions were made to the rest of Nathaniel's pack and by the time they sat down to eat, everyone appeared to be happily chatting and getting along as Gabriel hoped they would. Except Nathaniel, of course. He wasn't rude exactly but very quiet, happy to let the others talk among themselves. Almost his only interaction was to compliment Ruth and Abel on the food, as they'd done the bulk of the cooking. Eunice blushed furiously when he said how much he liked the fruit pudding she had made.
By the time coffee was being served, he had relaxed a little, enough to pour for everyone, managing to even hand a cup to Frank without spilling any in his lap.
"Thank you," Frank said meekly as he took the cup. "And thank you for the meal. I wasn't expecting an invitation to join Abraham so soon."
Nathaniel only grunted so Gabriel spoke up. "Oh, I needed you here. I have such a surprise for you. At least, it was a surprise for me. I need your help with something." It was hard to keep the enthusiasm out of his voice.
"Sounds mysterious. You going to keep me guessing or…?"
"Let's finish our drinks and then I'll show you." It looked for all the world as if Nathaniel flinched at that, but being he was only barely visible in the corner of Gabriel's eye, he dismissed the idea. It did prompt him to turn to his husband and ask, "If that's all right with you?"
For a moment, it appeared as if Nathaniel was about to say no, it wasn't all right, but then he nodded. "I have some things to discuss with your father so you might as well occupy yourself somehow."
Gabriel smiled wide and hoped Nathaniel was softening in his attitude a little despite the evidence of his clenched jaw and pinched lips.
Still, Gabriel drank his coffee far too quickly, encouraging Frank to do the same, so they were making their way out of the house and into the garden before long.
"I think your Alpha wants to eat me," Frank hissed once they were clear of the house.
Gabriel laughed. "Oh, he's not that bad. A little dour maybe."
"A little—?" Frank looked aghast. "We must be talking about a different man, because that fellow? Not a little dour. A little murderous, maybe."
"Do stop exaggerating."
"I'm not. I thought he was going to carve me instead of the roast for a moment."
Gabriel laughed again and bumped him with his shoulder. "Don't worry about Nathaniel. He's simply a little awkward, is all. He worries. About his—" Gabriel gestured to his face. "About how he'll be received."
Frank scoffed. "I don't care a jot about that. I care more whether he's making you comfortable."
"Not happy?" Gabriel was a little offended.
"If you think that's possible, I will throw a parade for him myself."
"I don't think he'd much like a parade."
"Yes, well." Frank shoved his hands down into his pockets. "You dragging me out into this wreck of a garden to show me where the bodies are buried or—?"
It only took a moment more before they came into what passed for a clearing and the glasshouse appeared in all its glory.
Frank was appropriately speechless and came to a stop, gawping up at the edifice.
"I knew you'd like it," Gabriel said, trying not to sound too smug about his gift.
"This is…oh, poor old thing. How could he neglect her like this?"
Gabriel felt irrationally angry at the accusation. "Don't say that. I gather it was in a terrible state when he acquired the property and had no idea what was inside. Besides, with only the five of them living here and having more urgent matters to attend to, I think this was simply forgotten."
It was a sad thought, broken when Frank said, "He could have gotten a man in."
Gabriel smiled. "He did. Or rather I did."
It took a Frank a second before he understood and blurted out, "Me?"
Tugging on Frank's sleeve, Gabriel pulled him forward and fished the key out of his waistcoat. "Come on. I need your professional opinion."
The atmosphere in the glasshouse was just as cloying as it had been the day before. Gabriel had to satisfy himself exploring while Frank scuttled about, muttering under his breath as he stroked the leaves of the plants and poked at the soil in the borders. Mostly, he appeared to be uttering reassuring words to the half-dead looking things an
d praising the wild, overgrown plants for doing so well on their own. It made Gabriel smile to hear the chatter. He didn't have the whimsical approach to plants that his friend favored. Mostly, he was more interested in what he could raise for the kitchen than plants of interest or beauty. Which was probably why Frank found him standing next to the vine, his mouth stuffed with grapes, once he'd finished communing with the vegetation.
"So," Gabriel said, his mouth still half-full of fruit. "Is it salvageable?"
Placing his hands on his hips, Frank blew out a long breath, making his cheeks puff out as he looked about them. "Most, yes. I figure if the water feature at the center is being fed automatically, there must be some sort of irrigation system that's functioning enough to keep everything alive. Having said that, the cacti will have to go, as will the heliconias." He pointed vaguely, apparently expecting Gabriel to have some clue about which plant he was referring to. Gabriel didn't but was hesitant to stop Frank's flow. "The orchids and the tree ferns need some serious attention before I can say for sure they'll make it but mostly…" His concerned expression morphed gradually into something like delight. "Yes. Yes, I think we could make this jungle into something magnificent."
Gabriel clapped his hands together before cuffing Frank on the shoulder. "That's wonderful! I knew you'd be able to see its potential. You'll have to write everything down, of course. If you just rattle out instructions to me, I'll never keep it all straight in my head."
It took a moment for Frank to get what Gabriel was saying and it was less than flattering when he laughed aloud. "Oh no. I mean, yes, you could help, but this is a massive undertaking even for someone with experience. No way you can manage this by yourself."
Gabriel's heart sank a little. "So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying." Frank hooked his arm into Gabriel's and started to lead him out in the direction of the lawn. "That I will help you with your glasshouse, but it's going to take quite some time and might possibly break both our backs in the process."