The First Act

by Vanessa Mulberry

  William arrived with the script a minute later. He kept his head down, sat at the table dutifully, and didn’t try to engage Richard in conversation. Richard was grateful for his silence and that he was not sullen or miserable with it.

  Taking a penny from his purse, he went to sit at the table facing William.

  “Thank you for your help today,” he said as calmly as he could manage. “I’m sorry I was short with you. You risked a lot to get me this information, and I should have shown you my gratitude earlier.”

  William took his hand tentatively, strengthening his grip when Richard didn’t pull away. “I’ve not finished yet,” he said. “I think you need comfort, and I will provide it.”

  “You have lines to learn.” Richard carefully withdrew his hand from William’s grasp and stood from the table. “Here is a penny for your dinner when you’re done.”

  William watched him put it on the table but didn’t move to pick it up. “What will you be doing?”

  Richard could tell from his tone that William had an idea and it didn’t please him. “Going to see Bennett.”

  Eyes narrowing, William set his jaw, determined now. “I’ll not let you go,” he said. “I’ve been as patient as I can be with your mood, but this is too much to bear.”

  Richard was taken aback by his impudence. He’d expected William to moan and sulk but hadn’t anticipated demands from his apprentice. “You can’t stop me,” he replied, too surprised to check William’s insolence.

  “I can. I get a say in this if nothing else. I risked the noose stealing for you this afternoon.”

  “And I just thanked you, but that is exactly why I must see him, so you won’t have to do it again.”

  William stood now and placed his hands on the table. He leaned forward. “Don’t go to him. He has nothing you could want or need.”

  It was almost a given that what William desired was behind this, not any respect for what Richard might. “I will not be in his bed again if that is what concerns you. You’ll get yours tonight.”

  “That is not what I’m thinking of.”

  “I thought you considered naught else, the way you have carried on since we met,” Richard retorted. He immediately regretted it.

  William’s face turned scarlet with fury, and Richard took a step backward. It was unnecessary; William kept himself under control.

  “You think I care more about a fuck than I do your life? Or my life, for that matter, if he finds out I’m the one who has implicated him? I don’t want you to challenge him. He’s rich, powerful—”

  “Well connected and influential too,” Richard interjected.

  “You do not need him to be any more of an enemy than he is. Go to him when you have a clear head so you don’t do anything rash.”

  With anyone else, William would have been right, but Richard was far likelier to regret seeing Bennett when he was calm. That was when he was prone to foolishness. He had forgiven Bennett more than once in the past.

  “I do not go to challenge him. I just wish to speak to him for the last time.”

  “You will achieve nothing by that. You must think sensibly, even though he was your master. You owe him no good-bye.”

  William was correct, but Richard was not in the mood to listen. If it was to be the end of his acquaintance with Bennett, then he must go. He wanted to see Bennett’s face when he realized that, for once, Richard had won.

  “You should work while there is daylight,” he snapped and turned away from William to signal the conversation was over.

  He went to the window and looked out at the fading light, wondering whether he would need a linkboy. Outside he saw the costermonger, the one who’d called to William, look up at him before both their attentions were drawn to an approaching carriage.

  It was an impressive coach, even if not a large one. Like Bennett’s house, it proudly displayed the wealth of its owner without resorting to size over style. The wood was ornately carved with scenes of foliage and Tudor roses, and it was beautifully painted. A man had to be extremely brave or foolish to visit Southwark with that much pomp—or very well connected with London’s underclass.

  Richard recognized it instantly, having ridden in it many times. He’d come home in Bennett’s sedan chair the previous night, grateful the dark had hidden the gaudy decoration that matched the coach, but the carriage had taken him numerous places over the years. He and Bennett had even shared some good times in it when the velvet curtains were drawn.

  “Bennett’s carriage is outside,” he said as he turned back to William. “You should go downstairs and wait until we’re finished.”

  “What’s he doing here?” William sounded worried now, all anger forgotten. “Do you think he knows I took the note?”

  “Unlikely. Not an hour has passed since, and it is nothing but a scrap of paper. I doubt it will be missed. Now go.”

  William didn’t move from the table. “I’m not leaving you with him,” he said, shaking his head. “No good will come of it.”

  “He won’t hurt me,” Richard promised.

  “He may not hurt you, but do you trust yourself with him? Honestly?”

  Richard had felt certain when Bennett was an hour’s walk away. Now he had to admit he was less sure.

  “Quickly. Under the bed,” he ordered, knowing it was too late to argue anyway. “I suppose it will be easier to keep a clear head with you here listening. You must not make a sound, no matter what you hear, no matter how much it shocks or worries you. If he finds you, then he will make you pay, and the only way I can protect you is to kill him. Don’t think I will hesitate to run him through. It will be you or him, and he has lost any loyalty I felt for him.”

  William disappeared beneath the bed, and Richard arranged the sheets so they fell to the floor.

  It seemed to take forever for Bennett to reach the room, and Richard had time to build up the fire while they waited, wondering how things had ever come to this.

  When the knock came, he opened the door and let Bennett inside.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly, no more polite than he had been two days earlier.

  Bennett was visibly taken aback by the greeting but rallied quickly. Behaving as if Richard had been nothing but polite, he answered, “I was about to return home when it occurred to me that I could collect you and save you the shoe leather.”

  “I’ll not ride with you.”

  “I thought that was exactly what you planned to do tonight.”

  “I’ll do it, all right, but not with you. Never with you again.”

  Finally accepting that he could not bluff his way out of this, Bennett frowned. “When you left me last night, I assumed I’d won you back with my generosity, if not my manner.”

  That was too cruel, even if there was some truth to it. Bennett’s words knocked Richard’s confidence exactly as he must have intended.

  When Richard made no comment, Bennett asked, “No boy today? Or does he approach? Wait, don’t tell me. He comes from the rear. Is that what this is about?”

  “He is no business of yours, and soon I will not be either.”

  “Please, just tell me what I have done now,” Bennett said wearily, taking a seat on the bed. It creaked, and Richard could only pray William was all right beneath it.

  “You know what you have done. You just do not wish to give yourself away if I am annoyed at you over something trivial. You set me up, sent a man to this very room to extort money you knew I didn’t have so I would be forced to come to you.”

  “Where did you get that idea?”

  “I did a little investigating.”

  Bennett raised an eyebrow. “After you swore not to? You couldn’t help yourself, could you? Spying has got into your blood.”

  “I hope you’re enjoying mocking me. It will be the last chance you get, so make the most of it.”

  Bennett appeared perfectly relaxed now the truth was out, not taking the words as any threat to his well-being. “I did not int
end to hurt you, and if I have, I apologize unreservedly. To wound you was never my intention, and it pains me to hear you suffer. I needed you to trust me again, and it seemed the quickest way.”

  Richard couldn’t help himself and laughed bitterly at the absurdity of the situation. “You wanted me to trust you, so you lied to me? No, you didn’t want my trust. You wanted my service in your bed. You made me your fool yet again, and I let you.”

  “It was not like that. I deceived you, yes, but I have need of you for a job, and I knew you would refuse if I didn’t give you a reason.”

  “Spy work? You did this because you wanted me to spy on someone?”

  “Why else?”

  Richard felt an all-too-familiar swell of emotion—disappointment mixed with grief. On the numerous occasions Bennett let him down, he always felt a crushing weight on his chest and a sickness in his stomach. Today was no different.

  “How can you be so cold?” Richard asked, struggling to keep his voice steady. “In the sixteen years I have loved you, all you have done is use me. Every time I have been seduced by your lies into forgiving you, and all you’ve ever wanted was a body to fuck occasionally and someone to protect you when you needed it.”

  “No. That is not true,” Bennett murmured. “You swore to protect me, and I have taken advantage of that, but I didn’t ever lie to you in bed. You know how I feel about you.”

  “You’re right. You’ve never made me promises or told me you love me. There’s no lie there.”

  Bennett flinched. “Listen to me—”

  “No. Never again.”

  “Please. I need your help.”

  Richard knew that. Bennett wouldn’t be bothering with him at all right now if he didn’t.

  “Ask someone else. I can’t be the only man you’ve strung along.”

  “There’s been no one else for years, and you know it.” Bennett was speaking quickly now, and sweat was beginning to form on his brow. “I’m sorry my lie offends you, but I had to win you over. I have no hope without you. My life is at stake, and you are the only person I can trust.”

  In spite of himself, Richard listened. “Who wants you dead?”

  Bennett shook his head. “We can’t talk here. Come to my home.”

  “So you can lie to me and fuck me again? Never. Get out of here.”

  “Please. I will die if you don’t help me.”

  “I don’t believe you. Go.”

  “One last time!” Bennett barked, and Richard was stunned into silence.

  In all their years, all their disagreements, Bennett had never shown desperation before. Richard always believed it beneath him. To see him that way now was disconcerting.

  Richard took a deep breath. He forced calm into his voice. “I was twenty-one years old the first time I heard you say that, and I have heard it many times over the years. Now here you are, asking for help again. Why should I believe it now?”

  “This time it is true meant.” Bennett was calmer too, but the tension in him was still obvious as he sat hunched on the bed.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever had the truth from you. You can’t convince me of it now.”

  Bennett closed his eyes and pursed his lips. When he opened them, he said, “If you will not trust me, then please trust that you’ll be rewarded so generously you need never work again.”

  As ever, Bennett thought his endless supply of gold would buy him whatever he desired. Richard didn’t want a penny of it. “Keep your coin. In fact, I have five pounds to return to you. I assume you’ll get the rest back from your henchman later.”

  He held out the purse, but Bennett wouldn’t take it.

  “I told you that money was a gift, and I intend you to keep it no matter what happens. I did not buy your company last night. You gave me that for free, and that five pounds was my gift in return. Keep it now. I want you to remember that I always helped you, even when you didn’t need it.”

  “I will remember you only as the man who made me a thief and a liar, and worse besides. I will not be in your bed or your employ again, I promise you that.”

  Bennett’s face flickered for a moment, and Richard thought he saw a grimace of pain. It was gone before he could be sure.

  Bennett collected himself. “Don’t be so quick to refuse. You might need me again one day.”

  Richard’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “I’d rather starve than go back to you.”

  “Would your men?”

  Caught off guard by the question, Richard had no answer to that. Bennett had paid their wages more times than he cared to admit. Their relationship had always been about more than just the two of them.

  Bennett rose and walked toward him slowly, as if Richard were an animal he did not wish to scare. “I can provide you right now with four new plays and the costumes required. Call them a gift to the company. I have no use of them, but your men might. Come to my home now, and you can bring them back here tonight.”

  Richard knew he should say no, but new material would be most welcome, and the costumes would be worth a fortune. With so many purses to fill, it was hard to turn down the offer. Even Geoffrey would take it.

  “I’ll accept your gift, but I make no promise,” he relented, hating himself for his weakness, but if he did not take the costumes, he would regret it later. He could always use something to sell to pay the men during the lean times.

  Bennett gave him a relieved smile, which faltered when he apparently realized Richard hadn’t forgiven him. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “That you’ll even consider this gives me hope.”

  For the first time in years, Richard didn’t care how Bennett felt. He was more worried about what was going through William’s mind as he lay on the dusty floor. It surely could not be good.

  UNDER THE bed, William kept his breathing as shallow as possible and lay so stiff his body ached. Although he felt the pain, it didn’t bother him. His discomfort was mitigated by fear. If Bennett discovered him, he would suffer more than the embarrassment of having been caught eavesdropping.

  To calm his nerves, he focused on the conversation instead. That didn’t help. When he’d slipped beneath the bed, he trusted Richard with his life and his love. What an ass he’d been to do that!

  He could no longer ignore the situation he was in, and for the first time, he admitted to himself that he did not know Richard at all. He’d left everything he knew and cared about because he wanted a tumble with a complete stranger. Lying on the floor listening to them, he felt a bigger fool than Richard was professing to be.

  But William didn’t think Richard a fool and wouldn’t have described him as such. Right then, if someone asked, William would tell them Richard Brasyer was a dangerous man to associate with, and he was a liar.

  Finally he acknowledged the most damning fact of all. He could have put up with all of it if he still had a shot at Richard’s heart. Now he was sure he had no chance of that.

  “Come,” Bennett said. “Let’s away and fetch your trunk of things for the company. We can discuss the job at my home.”

  Richard sounded hesitant as he replied, “Not yet. My apprentice will worry about me. I’ll leave when I am finished with him.”

  “Finished?”

  “I wouldn’t want to go to you as needy as I did last night. I’m not about to make that mistake again.”

  “Later, then,” Bennett replied.

  William heard Richard let him out of the room.

  Door shut, Richard came straight to the bed and loudly whispered, “Wait.”

  William heard him walk to the window, where he remained for a few minutes. He guessed Richard was watching the carriage to make sure Bennett was gone.

  A short while later, he returned to the bed and peeked below it. “You can come out now.”

  William crawled from underneath, covered in dust.

  “Well?” Richard asked, nervous. “I’m sure you have something to say.”

  William couldn’t look at him as he brushed his clothes down and re
adied himself to leave. While he collected his few possessions, he muttered, “I have risked myself three times for you, and you didn’t deserve it. I only have myself to blame for that. I’ll go now.”

  He had no idea where he was going. He didn’t even care if he ended up dead in a ditch. He simply had to get away if he wanted to maintain any dignity.

  Richard silently watched him snatch up his things and toss them in his bag. William was out of the inn and marching down the shadowy street when he next heard Richard’s voice.

  “William! Stop!” he shouted, chasing him up the road.

  Ignoring him, William walked on. Suddenly, Richard grabbed him, manhandling him into a tight alley between two buildings.

  “Don’t go,” Richard growled low in his ear. “I’ll not let you leave like this.”

  William struggled, but Richard held him firm and stared into his eyes. As William wrestled against Richard’s grip, he knew he should be frightened, but he was not.

  “Get off me,” he hissed, “or I will scream for help.”

  “That will guarantee men keep their distance,” Richard whispered back.

  His face was faintly lit by the glow of firelight from the windows on the main street, and William could see he wore a pained expression. He wasn’t angry and didn’t appear to be a physical threat, despite his tight hold.

  William stilled, and Richard’s grip relaxed a little, though Richard swiftly pressed his body against him instead, pinning him to the wall. He was ashamed to find being this close to Richard was still arousing. Apparently learning the truth about his master hadn’t changed how his cock felt about him.

  “You have lied to me and used me,” he said, ignoring his lengthening prick. “How can you expect me to stay after that?”

  Richard looked away from him, shaking his head as if to clear it. “I don’t expect you to stay. I want you to, but I have earned no loyalty from you.” He stepped back and released William, standing aside so he could pass. “Get away from me while you can, and don’t look back.”

  William had been determined moments before, but now he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. He remembered Geoffrey’s words that, given his past, if Richard truly cared for him, he would let him go.