He glanced up as Hugh startled awake. “I need to know what it is we are dealing with,” he said, by way of explanation. “Tell me, how far are you able to bend your knee?”
Theo was entirely matter-of-fact about his investigations, his hands upon Hugh’s leg moving it to discover its limits, bending it, straightening it, ascertaining all the time how what he was doing felt to Hugh. By the time Theo was through with him, having explored the entire range of movement he still had and traced the scars from where the surgeon had cut open his leg even further to remove every last piece of broken bone, Hugh felt no embarrassment at Theo knowing the extent of his unsoundness, nor feeling how weak the lower leg was.
“Excellent,” Theo concluded enthusiastically, having conducted an examination more painstaking than Hugh had received from any man of medicine. “Although I believe, to be entirely sure of my findings, I should engage in a thorough testing.” The glinting grin he gave had Hugh’s heart beating harder, and an instant later Theo surged up the bed, taking Hugh’s mouth in a kiss while his hands explored with purpose.
Their coming together was just as urgent as the first time, and Hugh was soon lost, with Theo’s body moving against him in such a way. And then he held him close while Theo gasped out his completion.
Hugh was sure he could not want for greater happiness than this.
Chapter Ten
Hugh came slowly to awareness, not understanding why his face appeared to be pressed against something solid and warm. He jerked fully awake as he realised—he was in bed with Theo, his cheek resting against Theo’s chest, and strong arms around him. Hearing a metallic scraping sound, he realised that was what had woken him. He turned and saw in the dim morning light that Theo’s man was engaged in cleaning the grate.
Theo’s arms tightened, and Hugh drew his eyes away from the fireplace and looked up into his face. Theo looked as if he had been awake for some time, alert and fully aware of all that was happening around him.
“Sleep,” Theo said quietly. “All is well.”
Theo’s body was sleep-warm against Hugh’s, the hold of his arms somehow reassuring, and Hugh gradually relaxed from his rude awakening. His eyes closed, and he didn’t hear the servant leave the room.
When he awoke some time later, daylight was streaming through the window, from which the curtains had been drawn back. A fire was burning brightly in the hearth, and Theo was sitting up on his side of the bed, his hands behind his head. He was watching with some amusement Hugh’s sleepy blinking into full wakefulness. As Hugh stirred, his leg made known its usual morning ache, and he rubbed it beneath the covers as he wished Theo a good morning, his voice still somewhat thick with sleep.
He wondered if he should feel self-conscious about the fact he was naked and in bed with an equally naked Theo, but he would not change things for the world. The covers were pooled around Theo’s waist, revealing the muscled perfection of his body and causing Hugh to wonder precisely what the etiquette for this particular situation was. It was not one in which he had previously found himself, and he did not know if tackling Theo, who happened to be both his host and a senior officer, to the bed and touching him the way he wished to was quite the done thing. Perhaps he should wait for Theo to make the first move. Or perhaps, he realised with dawning dismay, what had happened last night was not to be repeated.
“Good God, Hugh—the working of your brain is louder even than your snores. And at this hour? Have you no consideration?”
Hugh relaxed then, remembering this was Theo. His host, yes, a senior officer, yes, but Theo.
Before he could take advantage of that realisation and follow his wishes to reacquaint himself with Theo in the most intimate way, Theo frowned slightly. “Your leg?”
Hugh realised he was still rubbing it, and stopped. “It’s nothing of consequence,” he said. “It merely tends to make its presence known after a night of inaction.”
Theo’s eyebrows climbed as Hugh spoke. “I could take that as a challenge,” he said, but even as he teased, he threw back the covers so he could see better. “Allow me.”
He moved so that he was able to take the offending limb between his large, warm hands, and slowly begin to rub. As he did so, Hugh sighed and lay back upon the pillow. He didn’t know what magic Theo had in his hands, but what he was doing was a hundredfold better than his own attempts to ease the cursed thing. As the ache that so often nagged at him disappeared entirely, he became aware that Theo’s touch was no longer designed simply to ease his discomfort.
It was not much longer before Hugh was gasping under Theo’s attentions, his hands clutching at Theo as he spent himself.
…
Some hours later, Hugh was established comfortably in Theo’s sitting room, reading The Times. They had arisen rather late and enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before perusing the day’s newspapers, which had been laid out awaiting them. Apparently Theo took a copy of each of the newspapers instead of reading just one, as Hugh was wont to do. Hugh was clad in what he knew Murray would bewail as the ruins of his shirt, pantaloons and stockings from the previous night, as well as one of Theo’s dressing gowns, a magnificent creation of frogged gold-and-crimson brocaded silk. Theo, resplendent in a gown of quilted blue satin, was deep in another newspaper.
“For God’s sake!”
Hugh looked up from The Times to see Theo tossing his copy of The Daily Chronicle aside. He sounded, and looked, extremely irritated.
“What’s wrong?”
“Damned newspapers and damned leaks. Would you believe somebody has supplied to that wretched publication a copy of one of Wellington’s circulars? I grant he is an ill-tempered martinet at times, but they twist things to make him sound a prating fool into the bargain.”
Perhaps it was as well Theo was not in London often, for it was depressingly common to read that sort of thing in the newspaper. People didn’t hesitate to use military matters for political gain, regardless of whether or not they had any comprehension of those matters.
“There’s no way of tracing the leak?” Hugh asked, though he thought he already knew the answer.
“None. The document was only for the commanding officers, but of course copies will have reached the regimental files. You know as well as I the number of people who have access to those.”
Hugh did indeed.
“Next we see, they will be publishing the revised route of the Monmouth Light reinforcements,” Theo said.
“No. Even the newspapers would not risk military defeat for political gain.”
Theo snorted. “Sometimes I cannot decide whether such innocence in you is charming or dangerous,” he said, sounding ill-tempered still. He stood up suddenly, picked up the newspaper and cast it onto the fire. “That’s the best place for it. Now, what shall we do today, Captain Fanshawe? Taylor tells me it is temperate enough to make a ride in the Park a pleasure rather than a madcap excursion.”
“I no longer ride,” Hugh confessed awkwardly.
Theo stared at him. “Why? Your knee bends, after a fashion, and your thigh grips—extremely well, if my memory is to be trusted—and I know for a fact there is absolutely nothing wrong with your seat.”
Hugh blushed at the images conjured by Theo’s words even as he tried to wrest his mind back to the matter in hand. “I daresay I could manage, but I can’t see how to mount.”
“We shall have to resolve that situation,” Theo declared. “You can’t be in London in the Season and not make your appearance in the Park. More importantly, you can’t desert me to make my appearance there alone and be besieged by matchmaking harpies. Come along, Hugh—your heroism is required.”
And before Hugh knew entirely what he was doing, he found himself fully dressed in last night’s clothes and sent on his way to his lodgings in Ryder Street so he might shave and change into clothes suitable for riding before meeting Theo at the mews. Hugh had been uneas
y at that suggestion, knowing the trouble to which he was putting Theo when usually he would have his horse brought to him, but Theo would have none of it.
“It’s about time I checked in on Joseph and ensured he hasn’t seduced any stable lads,” he said. “Or rather, as I know the likelihood of that, that he has not seduced too many all at once.”
When Hugh reached the mews, he found Theo deep in conversation with a man who looked to be middle-aged. He was bow-legged, and what little remained of his hair was dark brown in colour. This was Joseph, Theo’s groom, and Hugh thought that Theo must have been roasting him about his carnal appetite, for he seemed a very taciturn fellow.
Joseph brought Leander out for Hugh when bidden. He was a neat-looking bay of about sixteen hands with a white star on his forehead and appeared most taken with Joseph’s pockets, as though looking for a treat.
“Away with you now,” Joseph scolded him.
As if he understood, the beast heaved a sigh and stood quietly while Hugh approached him, unsure just what Theo had in mind for getting him up there. It was soon clear, for he was bidden to bend his left knee, so far as he was able, and Theo cupped his hands beneath it. On a count of three, with the propulsion of his sound leg and a strong boost from Theo, Hugh found himself in the saddle with a minimum of fuss. The awkwardness he felt at being treated like a lady faded as he realised only Theo, Joseph and Leander had witnessed the entire event, and none of them had paid it any heed.
Seeing that Hugh had gathered his reins and was adjusting his stirrups, Joseph disappeared into the stables. He returned leading a large chestnut with a bold blaze down its face. Once Theo had swung himself lightly up into the chestnut’s saddle, Joseph moved the few steps over to Hugh and offered him a whip.
“Might be handy, sir,” he said, and it did not escape Hugh that he was offering the whip to his left hand. He had no idea if he would be able to use his left leg to guide the horse; the whip would be something with which he could exert any pressure needed. He took it with gratitude, but when he thanked Joseph, the man merely shuffled back silently in the direction of the stables. Like master, like groom—they shared a matter-of-fact approach that made nothing of Hugh’s problem while finding a way around it.
As they negotiated the busy streets on the way to Hyde Park, Hugh found it difficult—nay, impossible—to stop smiling. He had missed riding, but more than that, it was a wonderful feeling to cover ground easily and at a good pace, without pain or effort.
They had not been in the Park long when Hugh spied a familiar-looking figure in a barouche which was pulled up at the edge of the Row. The great congregation of gentlemen gathered around it confirmed who the occupant must be. Emily saw their approach, and he noted the surprise in her face, followed by a smile of such brilliance that most of her admirers were unable to prevent themselves from turning to see what had prompted it.
Emily said something then, which he was sure was all graciousness yet left them in no doubt they’d been dismissed. By the time he and Theo reached her and made their greetings, the gentlemen in question had unwillingly melted away. Hugh could understand their reluctance to leave, for Emily looked as lovely as ever in a gown of green silk, with a small straw hat placed at a fetchingly rakish angle on her ringlets.
“Hugh, what a truly delightful surprise it is to see you here,” she declared, the smile on her face matched by the happiness in her eyes. “And so excellently mounted, too.”
He stroked Leander’s strong neck. “He is Colonel Lindsay’s horse.”
“I see,” Emily said, although he had no idea what it was she saw. Her eyes were lit with amusement, as though at a private joke. “It is most generous of you, Colonel Lindsay.”
“Pure self-interest,” he replied promptly. “I require protection from predatory mothers. I fully expect Captain Fanshawe to immolate himself upon the matrimonial altar in my defence should it be required.”
“Is that what you expect of him?” Emily murmured, and their eyes met before she turned her attention back to Hugh. “Now, Hugh—we must have words. You have done exactly what I advised against and spoken to Sophia, haven’t you?”
Thoughts of anything that was not Theo had slipped from Hugh’s mind over the past day, and it took him a little while to remember what Emily was speaking about. And then he recollected the disastrous conversation with Sophia. “You’ve spoken to her?”
“I met her walking with Miss Williams earlier and took them up for a turn around the Park, during which she confided to me that, although you are an excellent brother in general, when it comes to this you are an insensitive block who will never understand the emotions of one truly in love.”
Hugh sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Why is she so intransigent?”
“I might ask the same of you,” Emily returned with spirit. “I was making such progress too. I had her agreeing with me just the other day that although disordered hair might look to be romantic and handsome, the very fact it was unbrushed meant one could not be sure what might be living in it.”
Theo laughed. “Lady Emily, I feel almost sorry for the man upon whom your disapproval falls. I can only pray it never does so upon me.”
“Then do not give me a reason,” she responded, eyes sharp upon his face.
Laughter faded from Theo’s face as he returned Emily’s gaze, until finally he looked away across the Park.
“So Miss Williams also knows of her attachment?” Hugh said, dismayed as the full extent of the situation was borne in upon him.
“They are bosom friends, after all,” Emily said, her eyes returning to Hugh. “Don’t tell me that you and Robert didn’t share everything, for I know that to be a faradiddle.”
“Yes, but neither of us fell violently head over heels in love with a rake,” Hugh protested indignantly.
Emily and Theo turned identical quizzical looks upon him.
“Oh, Hugh,” Emily said in laughing despair. “How are you so—so—”
“So Hugh?” Theo supplied.
“Exactly!”
And he and Emily smiled at one another while Hugh wondered, yet again, whether the whole world had run mad around him.
They left Emily a little while later, and were scarcely five horse lengths away before her barouche once more became surrounded by admirers.
“Lady Emily is a most extraordinary lady,” Theo said.
Before Hugh had time to express his warm agreement, they were being hailed. James, mounted upon a showy grey gelding which set off the scarlet of his uniform to perfection, was bearing down on them at a speed that broke every rule of the Park. On reaching them, he almost unseated Hugh by delivering a forceful congratulatory slap to his back.
“Hugh! I thought you could no longer ride. How capital to see I was mistaken—one could almost think there was nothing wrong, seeing you like this.”
Before Hugh could reply, Theo cut in. “Have you seen today’s Daily Chronicle, Major?”
James’s smile dropped as he turned to Theo. “I have, sir. Sometimes I wish those hiding behind their words would be placed in the front ranks as the enemy cavalry bears down on us.”
Theo’s smile was wintry. “Only sometimes? You’re a more forgiving man than I.”
“Have you a theory about whence the leak came?”
“For my money, from the regimental files,” Theo mused, “although I would not like to venture a guess as to whom or why. There are as many motives as there are dishonest men.”
Hugh stared glumly at Leander’s pricked ears because Theo spoke the truth. James sighed slightly, as though he too was depressed at the thought, but then evidently something else occurred to him for he turned to Hugh with renewed enthusiasm.
“Now, Hugh—I must recruit your support. I have been speaking to Mama about this hare-brained scheme of hers for Sophia and told her it will not do. If she raises it with you, you must hol
d the line.”
“Of course,” Hugh agreed. He hadn’t the first idea what James was talking about, but he had an eye to Theo. James should not raise family issues in front of him.
“I’ve told her to set her sights lower—there are many perfectly respectable gentlemen who will do for her far better than continuing to set her cap at Esdale,” James surged on, entirely oblivious to the need for discretion. He had spent too long in the Peninsula where niceties were less observed; evidently he saw Theo as a fellow soldier and had forgotten where they were and of what they were speaking.
“Esdale is a good man,” Theo put in, surprising Hugh. “And I understand from the ladies of my acquaintance that he is considered not ill-favoured.”
Yet it was not Esdale who was in question here, but Sophia’s lack of fortune. Hugh, realising James would likely offer up this information in the next heartbeat, decided to change the subject.
“Your gelding is a fine animal,” he said to James. “He looks to have some Hanoverian Cream in him, if I am not mistaken.”
“Good God, Hugh.” James turned a withering look upon him. “How the devil can you call yourself a horseman when you betray such ignorance? As if I would ever have such a paltry, insipid, docile creature.” His gelding arched his neck and pranced, snorting, as if to underline James’s point. Or as if James had tightened the reins and pressed in his spurs in his indignation.
A lively conversation about horse breeding occupied them for the rest of the turn around the Park, and they parted ways with James at the gates.
“Your brother has very decided views,” Theo remarked as they picked their way through the crowds of vehicles upon the streets.
Leander snorted, which saved Hugh from having to do so. “He knows his own mind,” he agreed.
“It appears to be a family trait,” Theo said blandly. “Ah, here we are.”
They stopped outside Albany, Joseph coming forward and taking Theo’s horse as he dismounted, before grasping Leander’s bridle as well. Hugh dropped the reins and swung his good leg across the horse’s neck, allowing himself to slide gracelessly down Leander’s side. He would have lost his balance as his feet came into contact with the ground, but Theo was there, unobtrusively steadying him, his hands firm on Hugh’s waist for a moment until, satisfied he was steady, he let him go. Hugh took a couple of steps, finding that his legs felt as if he had just stepped off a ship.
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