A Minor Inconvenience

by Sarah Granger

  Theo’s eyes travelled over him appreciatively. “I can see why you do not dress in your uniform for every ball—there would likely be a riot if you did.”

  Hugh flushed slightly. He didn’t think Theo was teasing him unkindly, but he didn’t know quite how he meant it. Theo leaned in and spoke very quietly. “It is all I can do not to take you home right this instant and show you precisely what I think of you looking like that,” he said, and then with a smile of the sort that one bestowed upon casual acquaintances, he moved on, leaving Hugh discomfited and slightly breathless.

  He obtained the orgeat and on his return to the Dowager found she had seized upon another victim, so he was able to bestow the glass and retreat, and check upon Sophia. She was standing up for a dance with a gentleman Hugh didn’t recognise, but she was smiling and his mama was watching closely so he had every confidence all was right there.

  To his surprise, Hugh appeared to be much in demand despite being unable to dance. He was kept busy much of the evening ferrying drinks or escorting the occasional young lady to the punch bowl. It must have been two hours later when he stood against the wall of the brilliantly lit ballroom and finally had a few minutes peace.

  “It’s the curse of the scarlet coat.” Theo’s voice suddenly came from beside him. “The ladies can’t resist it, it seems.”

  “I shouldn’t complain if one or two of them managed to stand firm,” Hugh returned, for he still had the Dowager’s account of the unlikely heroics of her son Harry ringing in his ears.

  “If you’re speaking of whom I think you are, I have had to issue strict orders to my men not to shoot that lady’s son on sight.”

  Hugh laughed. “I didn’t think he could possibly be as insufferable as she makes him out to be.”

  “He’s worse,” Theo said promptly.

  Their peace was shattered then, as Lady Spencer descended upon Theo and insisted she introduce him to somebody most desirous of making his acquaintance. Hugh girded his loins once more and began to make another round of the ballroom. This time he had a chance to talk with Emily for a moment—she had been surrounded by eager swains every time he had seen her so far tonight—and also with his mother, who could not have been more delighted with the evening because Theo had, apparently, effected an introduction for Sophia and the Marquess, and the Marquess had then stood up with Sophia for a dance.

  Hugh was not sure that was such a good idea because he thought James had managed to depress his mother’s unrealistic hopes for a match there. But he couldn’t worry about such a little thing, not when the despair he’d felt this afternoon had been vanquished. Sophia had stood up with a number of most respectable and influential gentlemen, each of whom had appeared charmed by her pretty manners and unassuming ways. Any unsavoury gossip that Stanton might try to start was doomed before it could seize hold, for Sophia’s respectability was now unassailable. And it was all thanks to Theo.

  At the end of a long evening, when the guests were finally beginning to depart, he found himself saying as much to Emily. He watched Theo across the room as he was caught in conversation yet again by their hostess.

  “He is the very best of men,” he said, a trifle thickly, for the wine at supper had been very fine indeed.

  Emily laid her hand upon his arm. “Nobody is perfect, Hugh,” she said. “Not even Colonel Lindsay, difficult though that is to believe after today. You’ll bid good night to your mother and Sophia for me?”

  He agreed, and she went on her way. Once Sophia and his mother had joined him, Theo wandered across the room to them. “Care for a nightcap, Fanshawe? It is too early yet to retire.”

  So after accompanying his mama and Sophia home—and it was hard to tell which of them was more excited about the evening they had spent—he found himself at Albany yet again. It was, as Theo had said, as well that he had a spare bedchamber in which Hugh might be assumed to sleep off the results of too much drink rather than weave his way home as dawn was breaking.

  Hugh had scarcely got through the door of Theo’s sitting room when Theo pushed him abruptly back against the wall, his body pressed tightly against him, and his tongue thrusting between Hugh’s lips. Hugh clutched at him, suddenly breathless at the feel of Theo’s body plastered against him so closely, and before he could get his breath back—which was not so easy as it sounded, given the determined assault Theo was launching on his mouth—Theo drew back just enough to begin disrobing Hugh. Between dizzying, deep kisses, he murmured his appreciation for Hugh’s dress uniform. His dress uniform which was, piece by piece, coming to adorn Theo’s Persian carpet.

  Theo’s sure fingers explored every inch of Hugh’s skin as he revealed it, and all Hugh could do was hold on to Theo as best he could and try to remember to breathe as Theo’s slightly roughened fingertips moved over him, clever and knowing. He gasped as Theo’s fingers skated across the tight, hard points on his chest, a gasp that had Theo dragging himself away from Hugh’s mouth and raising his head long enough to give a smile that looked distinctly predatory, before he ran the edge of his fingernails across the same skin. Hugh groaned and hitched his hips even tighter against Theo’s, desperate and wanting.

  But Theo was working to his own programme and would not be rushed. His eyes were intent on Hugh’s face as he unfastened Hugh’s knee breeches and worked his hand inside to touch Hugh where he was already so hard. Hugh made a soft sound of desperation at the light touch that promised so much more, and Theo kissed him again, promise and need combined in the way his tongue pushed into Hugh’s mouth, exploring so thoroughly it left Hugh weak and dizzy.

  And then Theo’s thumb stroked across the head of his yard, already wet with his need, and Hugh moaned and arched into his touch, his head thudding back against Theo’s wall in a way that had Theo laughing softly as he reached his other hand up to cup Hugh’s skull and bring him to rest his head against Theo’s shoulder.

  “I would rather you did not brain yourself until we are done, Hugh,” he said. “Nursing you back to consciousness is not what I have in mind for you.”

  Despite the amusement that sounded in his voice, his eyes were dark with desire and his hand was still stroking Hugh, firm and teasing all at once. All Hugh could do was to breathe in broken little pants against Theo’s neck and long for more. Theo’s laughter abruptly died, and encouraging Hugh’s head up, he kissed him again, a kiss that grew increasingly desperate and uncontrolled. But even then, Theo never forgot—before things had gone too far, he manoeuvred them both to the sofa, where Hugh found himself positioned in a shameless sprawl.

  “For I am not entirely sure your leg would hold out, given my intentions,” Theo explained, sounding so serious and calm as he knelt between Hugh’s splayed thighs, before he proceeded to prove himself right. Hugh could never have stayed on his feet. Not with the way Theo’s mouth felt on him, so warm and slick that he pushed up mindlessly into it, making sounds he swore had never escaped him before. Anything—everything—with Danilo had been a mere shadow compared to this.

  When Hugh found his release with a choked-off cry, he closed his eyes, because he knew he could hide nothing from Theo in that moment.

  …

  “I’ve been thinking,” Theo said to him later, when they were lying in bed together. Theo had once again performed his Gymnastic treatment, which had eased muscles Hugh had not even known he had. It had seemed inevitable for other things to follow, things that had left Hugh deeply content and a little drowsy.

  Theo poked him in the ribs. “Are you listening to me, Fanshawe?”

  “Of course,” Hugh murmured sleepily, so very comfortable where he was lying pressed to Theo, holding him and being held in return.

  “Good,” Theo said. “I would hate to think I was wasting my profound insights on someone who was more asleep than awake.”

  Hugh nuzzled his cheek against Theo’s shoulder, which was warm and comfortable. “Go on.”
>
  “I think it a very bad idea for you to wear your dress uniform in future,” Theo declared. “It was all I could do tonight on setting eyes on you not to push you up against the nearest wall and do exactly as I wished with you. I could not answer for my actions were you to wear it again. And that, Hugh, is not a comment upon the uniform, believe me—I have no particular love for a scarlet coat. On you, however, it becomes transformed somehow. Or perhaps it transforms you—there was an air of confidence tonight that most definitely becomes you.”

  Hugh was vaguely aware of Theo’s words, though they were softened by the cotton of sleep. He supposed idly that something had been different tonight—he had drawn fewer stares and judging looks for his limp. Perhaps when he was in uniform everyone understood what had caused it and saw the uniform rather than the weakness. Or perhaps he had concentrated so much on Theo that he had forgotten to think once of his unsoundness. And perhaps now that Theo had finally stopped speaking, he could allow himself to fall asleep because it was so very, very close and tempting…

  He edged back to wakefulness for an instant as he heard Theo sigh and his arms tightened around Hugh.

  “Oh, Hugh,” Theo whispered. “What am I to do with you?”

  But neither the question nor the unhappiness in Theo’s voice made sense, so Hugh drifted back to sleep, held warm, secure and happy in Theo’s embrace.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Hugh spent another comfortable, wonderful day with Theo on Sunday. When Monday dawned, it felt like a chore to have to report to Horse Guards. But if it were not for Horse Guards he would never have met Theo, so he should not resent so much the way it took up his time.

  He had not long been back from Horse Guards that afternoon when Murray announced Major James Fanshawe. Hugh cast the newspaper he was reading to one side, surprised. James very rarely visited him in his lodgings.

  “Hugh, I hope you don’t mind,” James started as he came in. “I was passing and thought I would drop in to see how you are. I haven’t seen you much of late.”

  “Perhaps because you’ve been dancing attendance upon Miss Drury,” Hugh suggested.

  “Perhaps,” James confessed with a scapegrace grin, as he cast himself into the nearest chair. “She is the most wonderful lady I have ever met.”

  “It’s as well that she’s the one you’ve proposed to, in that case. Would you care for a drink?”

  James shook his head. “Thank you, no, though I hope you may be able to help me with something else. I have had the most peculiar story from Sophia and I do not know what to make of it—she tells me you and she were at Spencer House on Saturday.”

  “We were.”

  “How came you by an invitation to such an exclusive ball? Sophia mentioned something about Colonel Lindsay’s involvement, but that sounds like a faradiddle to me.”

  “No, it’s correct,” Hugh said, as he thought swiftly. He could not tell James of Sophia’s lapse—it would serve nothing except to further distress and embarrass her now all was mended once more. “I believe Sophia expressed a wish to attend such a thing to Lindsay, and he was most obliging.”

  “Obliging? I should say so. Do you have any idea—? No, I can see that you don’t. But tell me, Hugh, why would Lindsay go to such lengths? Has he a tendre for Sophia?”

  “No,” Hugh said, and then realised how bald that sounded. “Not so far as I am aware, in any case. He also caused Lady Emily to be invited, as well as Mama.”

  “This is what I mean—this is no small thing he did, especially at such short notice. Do you not feel beholden to him now, Hugh?”

  Hugh stared at James in some surprise. “No,” he said honestly. Grateful, yes; beholden, never.

  “I see,” James said, though what it was he saw Hugh had no idea. “And forgive my curiosity, brother, but Sophia also tells me that Lindsay is on the very best of terms with Countess Lieven.”

  “I believe so.”

  “But surely he has not spent any appreciable time in London since she has been here.”

  “I imagine they became acquainted somewhere abroad, in that case,” Hugh said. He was beginning to feel as if this was an inquisition and levered himself to his feet to pour a glass of sherry. “Are you sure you won’t have one?”

  “When you put it that way,” James agreed, and took the filled glass with a word of thanks. As Hugh sat down, James returned to the subject Hugh hoped he would have dropped. “It is just that she is… Well. She is not precisely trustworthy, you know.”

  Hugh stared at him, feeling all at sea. “But she’s a Patroness of Almack’s.”

  James sighed. “Hugh, you really aren’t the most astute of fellows, are you? She’s from a German family and married to a Russian and only a Patroness because she has garnered the friendship of one or two powerful ladies whose judgment may very well be called into question. Acceptance by Society is no marker of trustworthiness, you know.”

  “I know,” Hugh said defensively. Despite James’s belief otherwise, he was not completely stupid. “But what has that to do with anything?” he asked, remembering the thrust of the conversation. “Even with what you say, our only interest in her is to obtain a voucher to Almack’s, and you know how happy that will make Sophia.”

  “True,” James said. “Though why such an insipid gathering would cause so much delight is beyond me.”

  Hugh choked with sudden laughter. “Ladies are beyond me,” he confessed. “Is not one pair of York tan gloves just the same as another?”

  “Well, exactly,” James said, before he leaned forward warningly. “You do know that if you say such a thing in Elinor’s hearing, I shall have to disown you.”

  “I am not entirely stupid,” Hugh assured him. “I express my admiration of every single one of Sophia’s gowns, even when I could swear they are almost exact copies of one another.”

  “Ah, but one will be trimmed with lace, you see, and another with—well, with a different sort of lace,” James concluded. He drained his glass and stood up. “It’s good to see you, Hugh, but I must be off. I am promised to a rout at the Drurys tonight. No, no—do not get up. I know it must be difficult for you.”

  He opened the door, and then turned. “Oh, by the way, have you seen anything of George lately?”

  Hugh shook his head. “It must be more than a month since I last saw him, over dinner at Half Moon Street. Why?”

  “No reason. I just wondered. Well, I shall see you soon, I’m sure.”

  As the door closed behind James, Hugh was left wondering how James always left him feeling as if he had danced with a whirlwind—out of breath from such energy and feeling just a little confused.

  He leaned down awkwardly to pick up his newspaper, cursing himself for tossing it so carelessly to the floor when James had come in. As he straightened again in his chair, he wondered if Theo’s latest idea might bear any fruit.

  Theo had explained to him that part of Medical Gymnastics was a series of exercises designed to correct physical defects. There was nothing that could be done for Hugh’s underlying problem, but Theo said there was a physician in Sweden who taught that the right sort of exercises, undertaken regularly, could help his mobility and flexibility. Hugh was not at all convinced such a thing was possible—if it was, why did the army surgeons not know of it?—but he was willing to try, so with Theo’s encouragement, he had written a letter detailing his precise condition and symptoms. Theo had taken it and said that in the absence of a Swedish Embassy in London he would ensure it reached someone who could find out the physician’s address and arrange for delivery of the letter. It seemed there was no one Theo didn’t know and nothing he couldn’t do.

  Hugh wouldn’t mind overmuch if the letter did not result in anything. After all, nothing could be as good as the Medical Gymnastics that Theo did with him.

  …

  When he returned home to his lodgings on Tuesda
y evening, Hugh was a little surprised and more than a little disappointed to find no invitation from Theo. He realised suddenly that perhaps he should be the one to offer an invitation, given the hospitality he had enjoyed at Theo’s, but he also knew they were safe from discovery there. And he didn’t think Theo was such a high stickler as to insist on strict etiquette. In fact, he knew he wasn’t. He did, however, have a life away from Hugh and could not be expected to spend all his time with him.

  Hugh decided to take advantage of not having any commitment and took himself to Half Moon Street to see Sophia. Matthews informed him that Lady Fanshawe and Miss Fanshawe had both stepped out but were expected back shortly, so Hugh elected to wait in the morning room. It was not long before a slight commotion in the hall announced the ladies’ return.

  “Hugh, why did you not wait for us in the drawing room? It is so much more elegant than this dreary little room,” his mother greeted him as she came through the door. “Come upstairs now and tell us what you have been up to. Sophia and I have enjoyed the most charming promenade in the Park, and since the ball at Spencer House, the knocker has scarcely been quiet, you know—so many cards have been left. The Marquess was at the Park today too, and he very graciously engaged Sophia in conversation. Now come upstairs so we may speak in more comfort.”

  “Thank you, but this is the most fleeting of visits,” Hugh said. “I merely wished to see how you both were.”

  “Oh,” his mother said, disappointment in her voice. “Well, you must come and see us again when you have more time, Hugh. We scarcely seem to have seen you of late and I do worry about you, you know.”

  “Sorry, Mama,” he said.

  “I will leave you to catch up with your sister for I’m sure she will have much to tell you about the Marquess. He is such a distinguished man.”

  “Yes, Mama,” Sophia murmured, and when the morning room door finally shut behind their mother, she turned eyes on Hugh that were full of laughter. “I swear, Spencer House has enlivened her in a way I have never seen,” she said. “I hope your Colonel Lindsay knew what he was doing there.”