Regency Rogues Box Set -- 4 Gay Historical Romance Stories in 1
Page 34
“Naturally.” Sam smiled. “Alfie said you used to love it as a boy.”
He nodded it was true. As a boy he had spent many happy times there, but since he had grown to manhood it had fallen into disrepair, but not so much so that it wasn’t recoverable. He had looked into it when his man of business had suggested selling it.
Sam swallowed, and continued. “Charlie and Harry suggested that it may be that there is a need for homes for children who fall foul of types like Dante, or Wallingford, whatever you want to call him. Charlie has a big house in Yorkshire if the children needed to take the sea air, or to get away from the city, and they think that they might even purchase a property by the sea for that purpose.”
Sam stumbled to a halt and drew breath. “What do you think?” he whispered, his eyes wide and anxious.
Tristan was unable to speak. He just nodded. Several times, and he blinked a lot. It was a splendid plan. So splendid, he didn’t trust himself to speak. Sam ran on. “Alfie is looking into Overdale’s business with the orphanages. He said he has a horrible feeling that there is definitely something going on there, with Overdale supplying young children to brothels and houses from the orphanages.”
Tristan choked. He still couldn’t even begin to fathom that, but at least he might be given the chance to work with Alfie in exposing whatever was going on and put an end to it. “Then I shall work with him. Help him in any way that I can.”
“So, between us, Alfie, Charlie, and Harry and the rest of them, we will be able to give them somewhere safe. Charlie reckons we could even teach them their letters and prepare them to find good jobs so that they can make a good living. Have a good, respectable life.”
Tristan was struggling to process the whole thing. “Why didn’t you speak to me about any of this?” he asked. “It is a remarkable idea.” He shook his head. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but it sounded very much like Sam was saying that he wasn’t going to run away, that there might be a way for them to spend time together.
Sam closed his eyes and then opened them. “Well, this is the second point.” He coughed and rubbed his hands together.
“I hurt you,” he said. “When I talked of leaving, I thought that I was doing what was best, even though it broke my heart, but I hurt you.”
Tristan had to look away. “Don’t worry about that. I am perfectly fine. I apologise if I was overly dramatic. Again,” he added.
Sam continued as if he had not interrupted. “I needed to be sure that I had something to offer you before I spoke to you again.”
Something to offer me? Tristan waited, barely breathing.
“Secondly, and most importantly, you are the most lovable man that I know.”
Colour exploded in Tristan’s face. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he began, but then Sam was taking him by the arms and holding him tight. Looking directly into his eyes and making him look back at him. His eyes. His beautiful, crystalline grey green eyes shone.
“You are loveable. Incredibly lovable.” Tristan stared as Sam took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he continued. “I love you. I love you so damned much. I don’t blame you if you don’t believe me after what I did, but it is the truth. The absolute truth. I love you.”
Tristan blinked hard.
“Then why did you insist on leaving me? No, don’t answer that,” Tristan said, holding up a hand. For once in his life he just needed to listen, but somehow words kept tumbling forth that he knew would more than likely precipitate an argument.
“Because I thought I had to,” Sam said, capturing his hand. “Because I needed you to respect me. How could you respect me if I lived off you and sat about doing nothing? When all I have managed to do with my life is to fall into debt, sell my body, and almost get your family ruined and you killed?”
“Respect,” Tristan repeated, and turned the idea over in his mind before replying. “Actually, I have enormous respect for you.” It was true. It had taken Sam’s words for him to realise it, but he really did.
Sam scoffed, but Tristan held up a hand and continued. “I respect the fact that you fought hard to survive when you lost your home, you fought hard to get out of Dante’s.” He slanted a glance at Sam. “I respect the fact that you have tried to do what you see as the right thing, even though I didn’t like it above much.”
A small smile curved Sam’s mouth and he looked a little incredulous. “Really?”
“Really.” Tristan ran his thumb over Sam’s knuckles. “There is so much to respect about you, but me? Why on earth would you respect me?”
Sam looked a little perplexed. “Well, all this?” he said, gesturing to the house. “The small matter of you being a peer of the realm?”
“I didn’t earn it; it was given to me. An accident of birth. I haven’t done a single thing in my life to deserve any respect that is shown to me, other than be born in the right place into the right family.” It was true. He’d never thought of it that way before, but there was little to remark on in his life.
Sam’s eyes sparkled. “I always thought you were a bit of a radical under all that fancy clothing.”
Tristan ducked his head and laughed.
“I respect the fact that you helped me when you had no need to, you cared for me when you had every right to throw me in the gutter and, well…you shot Dante and made sure I won’t hang for killing Mosely.”
Tristan closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Sam’s shoulder, loving how he was pulled close. He hated himself for asking, but couldn’t help it. “Do you really love me?”
Sam’s arms tightened around him. “Yes. I don’t blame you for not believing me but, yes. I do.”
“I do believe you, I just…like to hear it.”
Tristan pulled back so that he could look at Sam. He touched his lips with his fingers and then kissed him. Just a fleeting touch.
“I love you, too.”
Sam let out a sigh and touched their foreheads together. “Thank God. I thought you did, hoped you did, but I was afraid that I’d ruined it all.”
“I loved you from the first. I never stopped.” He looked up and smiled. “I might have hated you for a bit in the middle, but…”
Sam looked shocked for a moment, but then laughed and they laughed together.
“So, what do we do now?” Tristan said.
Sam shrugged. “If you agree we set things in motion to remove to Havering.”
Tristan nodded. “Tell me again.”
“Well, we can move into…”
“No, not that bit. The other.”
Sam’s grey green eyes glinted. He smiled slowly, tilted his head to one side, and let his gaze roam all over Tristan’s face, warming him. All that he felt was clear to see, and Tristan’s breath caught again as he spoke.
“I love you.”
THE END
ABOUT RUBY MOONE
Ruby lives in Lancashire in the northwest of England. All through school she was told that she would never get anywhere if she didn’t stop daydreaming. Eventually it occurred to her to write down the daydreams, and voilà! The beautiful men in her head came to life.
Ruby writes historical and contemporary gay romance but has a definite weakness for handsome men in billowing white shirts, breeches, and cravats. Oh, and she loves tea. Lots of tea.
For more information, visit rubymoone.com.
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JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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