He shrugged off his leather cloak and began to undress, aware of Bennett bringing a chair toward the fire for him to drape his wet clothes on, but he still refused to look at him. There were times in the past when he’d arrived angry, desperately wanting an excuse to forgive Bennett. This was not one of them.
Bennett took some older clothes from a trunk and packed them into a bag for William. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Richard dried himself.
“Must you look at me?” Richard asked, feeling his naked skin burn beneath the gaze. He focused on toweling his body, working as quickly as possible so he might get his hose on.
Bennett shrugged. “This may be the last time I see you. Forgive me if I try to take as much from you as I can.”
“You’ll get nothing but contempt,” Richard muttered. He would have made something of those words once, and the truth of it shamed him. How could he ever have loved such a man? He tossed aside the towel and picked up the new hose, then pulled them on hurriedly.
Bennett sighed, and Richard looked at him again. The genial mask was gone, and his face was expressionless. Richard wondered if he knew how to show any other emotion. He imagined that everything at the inn had been no more than a well-rehearsed act.
“What if I give you something you want?” Bennett asked. “I can guarantee you William’s safety immediately.”
“You must guarantee his safety permanently.” Richard stalked toward the bed and leaned over Bennett. Richard was half-dressed, wearing his hose and no shirt, but he didn’t care anymore if Bennett looked at him through lustful eyes. In that moment, he cared only for William’s well-being. “No more false accusations,” he continued, “and no knives in the dark. I will destroy you if he is ever harmed, even if you seem to have no connection to it. You should pray he has a long, healthy, happy life, because it will be on your head if he doesn’t.”
Bennett dragged his gaze away from Richard’s body and looked up at him. “He will suffer no ill from me. I have no wish to hurt you through him. As for now, I made no charge against him when the watch arrived, and I explained the error was on my part.”
Richard was used to lies from Bennett, but he believed him this time. Taking the matter further would have been inconvenient if he truly planned for William to work. If the lad had no value, things might have been different.
“Good,” he muttered, then returned to the clothes and continued to dress.
“No thank-you?” Bennett asked.
It was no jest, but Richard couldn’t stop himself from letting out a bitter laugh. “Thank you? For endangering him? No, you’ll have no thanks from me for that.”
“I never intended to see it through.”
“I know perfectly well your intent. You want him to work for you. I’ll wager you still think you’ll get him to spy on me.”
“The boy might as well have the extra money. If he won’t do it, then I’ll find someone else. I like to know that you’re well.”
“And I like my privacy. Why can’t you leave me alone?”
Bennett gave no response. Richard had expected him to make another play for his good favor, especially after his words of love at the Spurre, but Bennett was silent.
“I knew you didn’t mean it,” Richard muttered. His face burned again at the shame of knowing that once he would have clung to the memory of that meaningless confession.
Bennett left the bed and went to fetch Richard’s money from the hidden chest. Unable to look at him, Bennett mumbled, “It was the desperate act of a man who knew he’d lost the only thing he had that was worth anything. Pay it no mind.”
He removed the panel and then paused to take a deep breath. Richard could see the mask going back on again. It had to be exhausting playing the part of Bennett Goldfox all day.
Changing the subject to something more comfortable for them both, Bennett said, “I will have your funds in a moment. What have you for me?”
Richard riffled in his bag for a copy of the list. “I found Hobbes and your list, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. William dealt with him and said Hobbes behaved strangely. He is of our type, quite young, and appears to have a superficial interest in the occult.”
Bennett hummed agreement. “I have managed to learn a little of his character. He is apparently fascinated by the study of magic and astrology, though I am assured not the practice. I believe alchemy is more his specialty.”
“We saw no evidence of that, save from some dusty books and curios. Whatever he’s up to, I don’t believe it to be sorcery.”
“Did you make me a copy of the list?”
“Yes. You weren’t on it.”
Bennett’s face clouded. “You can’t have seen the right paper, because my name is definitely on it. You will have to go back.”
“I’ve made no mistake. We turned his room over and only found one that it could be. I was able to procure more information from Danbye, and he provided me a sample of writing in the same hand.”
“Does his name appear?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it,” Bennett muttered. “Stupid man.”
“This is not a list of traitors.”
“That is for the Queen to decide.”
Given her position on the list, Richard would wager every man and woman on it was innocent of treason if nothing else. But Bennett didn’t know that, and Richard thought him a little too quick to sell out Danbye. “I think you’d better explain,” he said, “because I’ll not be caught in a battle between you and Danbye. I went to Cambridge to save your life, not incriminate your rival.”
“This is no battle. Danbye told me I was in danger. He said there was a list of what he believed to be men to be accused of treason, in Hobbes’s room at Trinity.”
“So you decide to reward your old friend by accusing him instead?”
“I cannot ignore a threat of treason, not in my position. If there were another way—”
“Spare me more lies, Bennett,” Richard snapped. “I know how low you can sink. You would sell even me out to protect your position.”
Bennett narrowed his eyes, and breathed deeper. Although he kept his cool, he was furious. “He invited it by using us to go searching for his damned list. He must have wanted you to do the job because he didn’t trust his own men.”
“Then he is a fool, because he could have trusted them a hundred times over you.”
Silently Bennett left the chest of coins and took a small box from beneath the bed. Richard had seen it before and knew it housed all Bennett’s most important correspondence. He’d never looked inside it. Bennett unlocked it with a key he kept around his neck, and from the top removed a small scroll that carried Danbye’s seal.
“Here,” Bennett said angrily, “read what it says. Your name was supposed to be on that list too. I assure you he meant no one else when he referred to ‘those closest to me.’”
There was a knock at the door, and Bennett stalked over to it, shoving the letter into Richard’s hand as he went. “What is it?” he roared as he opened the door.
“Apologies, master,” a terrified servant in the doorway said, “but the entertainers are here.”
Bennett composed himself and grunted that he would deal with them. He left the room, leaving the door open and Richard alone with Danbye’s letter.
A quick glance told Richard all he needed to know. This time, at least, Bennett did not lie.
He went to the box to replace the letter and recognized his own handwriting on the one that had been below it. Addressed to Nick’s mother, it was the letter Richard had written for his former apprentice, not knowing that he wrote of his own progress. Bennett had said he kept it, but Richard had not believed him.
Curious, he picked up the letter below and found another in his hand, this one addressed to Bennett. It was nothing, just a curt note to say he’d made Nick his apprentice. He was surprised Bennett had kept it. Below that was more general correspondence between them, of no particular interest, and then far
ther down, he found his love letters, written during the few short periods of happiness they’d shared before it all went wrong again.
After adding a copy of the list of Unlucky Ones, he put the box away. When he turned around, he found Bennett leaning in the doorway, watching him.
“I am expecting guests,” Bennett said calmly. His hunched shoulders revealed he was still tense, but he was controlled. “You are more than welcome to stay. I would like you to stay. I don’t want you to go.”
“I have to get back to William,” Richard replied quietly. “Your horse is stabled at the Swan Inn. I’ve left a copy of Hobbes’s list with everything else written by my hand.”
Silently Bennett nodded and returned to the chest. Richard busied himself, gathering his wet clothes into a bundle and putting on his cloak, but he watched Bennett while he did so.
Bennett picked up a small sack he’d discarded when he went to get the letter. He grabbed fistfuls of coins from the chest and stuffed them into the bag. Richard watched it stretch under the weight of them.
“Here,” Bennett said eventually, when he could fit no more in. “This is your payment. It’s a little more than we arranged, but if I am not to see you for a while, then I will feel better knowing you are provided for. You can come back if you need to.”
Richard took the heavy purse. It was hard to lift, and he knew he would need William’s help to carry it back to the inn. The thought of the young man grounded him, and he realized just how much he’d changed since William came into his life.
“I will not be back,” he said, picking up the bag of dry clothes Bennett provided for William. “I can’t protect you anymore. William is my priority now.”
Bennett bit his lip. “Are you sure about him?” His voice was throaty, but he did not choke on the words. “Are you in love with him?”
“Yes.”
“And your feelings for me?”
They were gone. Bennett was too late. “How long could I love you when you gave me nothing in return?”
Bennett nodded a mournful acceptance and stared into the fire. “It is not easy for me to speak of such things. My position does not allow me the luxury of emotion. Still, I hoped I’d done enough. You have the ring, and all the meaning attached to it.”
Richard had not forgotten it. “Your mother’s wedding ring,” he murmured as he slipped it from his finger.
“Left to me for whomever I intended to marry. I gave it to you.”
“I should go,” Richard said, hoisting the purse up and into his bag. “I need to get back to William and tell him this is over.”
Bennett didn’t take his eyes from the flames. “I wish you both well. Good-bye, my love.”
Richard left the room, clasping the ring in his hand. As he approached the front door, he saw a servant he knew, who went to open it for him.
“Thank you.” Richard stepped out into the rain. Then, before the door could close behind him, he held out the ring. “Please give this to your master and convey my sincerest apologies that I am unable to keep it.”
RICHARD FOUND William a quarter of a mile up the road, drinking ale and eating bread and cheese in the Swan. Not wanting to enter with such a heavy purse in his possession, Richard gave the stable boy a penny to fetch him outside. It had been an effort to carry it, and he’d staggered up the road with the bag in his arms, fearing the strap would break if he forced it to take the weight.
A few minutes later, William entered the stable carrying the food and drink. They both sat on a long, thin bench that stood against the wall, and William offered some food to Richard, who gratefully shared it with him.
“Is it over?” William sounded nervous for the first time in several days.
“For good, I hope, but I make no promises when it comes to Bennett.”
Tension leaving him, William slumped back against the stable wall. “Good. I’m so tired I haven’t the energy to run again.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint, but we’ve a heavy load to carry back.” Richard opened his bag to reveal the large purse.
William’s eyes widened and a grin spread across his face. “I can manage that.”
An hour later they arrived back at the Spurre. Given their desperate flight the previous week, Richard expected questions from the inn’s regulars and a few of the locals, but only the young street seller paid them any mind, and William soon saw him off with a promise to see him in the bar that evening.
Neither of them returned with any expectation of getting their old room back, but Geoffrey had persuaded the innkeeper to save it for them and keep a good fire going. Richard hoped Geoffrey paid for it out of the money he’d left him and not from the purse he’d been gifted.
The rest of the company were away performing, so Richard and William entered alone and dropped down onto stools by the fire to remove their boots and wet clothes. Soon they were naked, letting their skin warm up and their hair dry in the heat of the blaze.
Richard stole a glance and saw William watched him in return. He had a look of nervous anticipation on his face, and his cock was half-hard.
“That was a long journey,” William said. “It’s nice to be back in our room, with our bed. I think I will sleep well tonight.”
“Are you tired?”
“I was exhausted coming up the stairs. But now I’m looking at you, I’m not so sure.”
Richard held out his hand, inviting William to come to him. The lad straddled his lap and kissed him hungrily while Richard explored his body with his hands. First he touched his nipples, sensitive little nubs that with a bit of friction grew as hard as his cock. Then he trailed his fingers down William’s sides and back toward his pert, round buttocks. Richard squeezed the cheeks and gently pulled them apart to expose the entrance to William’s body.
Withdrawing a hand, he brought it up to his mouth and wet his finger before offering it to William, who did the same. William did not try to kiss him again and looked down into his eyes. Richard returned the hand to his arse and brought the spit-slicked finger to the hole. He rubbed lightly but didn’t push inside.
“Tease,” William whispered and shivered as he clung to Richard, leaning forward so he could push himself back toward the finger.
Richard toyed with the pucker, felt it contract and relax as the lad’s excitement grew. He withdrew his hand, then picked William up and carried him to the bed. After laying him down gently, Richard climbed on top and kissed him, letting him feel the full weight of a man’s body pressing down on his own.
Richard pulled away to kiss William’s neck, shoulders, and then down to the sensitive nipples again. He licked and nibbled until William begged, “Please go lower. This is wonderful torture, but I want more. I want you inside me.”
It might be fun to play with William and make him wait, but Richard wanted only to please him now. He moved lower, swiftly dragging his tongue down beyond William’s thick cock, glistening with his juice, past the tight balls, and down to his arsehole.
“You must talk to me,” he said. “Tell me if it hurts. It might be quite a shock the first time something goes in.”
Biting his lip, William replied, “Your finger will not be the first.”
“You told me you were a virgin,” Richard murmured, not that he minded if William was not.
“I am, but there’s more than one way to know your own hand.”
Fresh desire shot through Richard. “You are sinful,” he whispered, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
William blushed slightly. “I have spent so much time longing for you. I had to have something.”
“You thought of me?”
Now William grinned. “Most of the time,” he teased.
Richard returned to his work. He had much to live up to now. He dipped down between the cheeks and lapped at the hole. William responded with low moans and pulled his legs farther up and apart, allowing Richard to worm his tongue a little deeper, which drew a fresh gasp of pleasure from him.
“Have in me,” Wi
lliam begged. “I can’t wait much longer. I am desperate to touch myself.”
“You need oiling.”
Richard withdrew to fetch a small bottle from his bag. When he returned, he took his time slicking his fingers while William watched impatiently, and his face told only of frustration with the time he took. Richard did not wish to make him beg again.
Slowly, gently, Richard pushed a finger inside his lover. William took it with ease and shuddered in ecstasy when Richard found his most special place. He moved his finger slowly at first but found it didn’t take much work to stretch William’s arse. The lad had trained himself well, but Richard knew he would still have to be gentle with him as William took his first cock.
When it was finally time, Richard pushed in carefully, letting him get used to the unknown length and girth. He’d used a lot of oil, most of the bottle in fact, but still he was cautious. Richard had been hard a long time and wanted nothing more than to pound the lad’s arse as deep and as fast as he could, but he held back and waited, making William’s satisfaction his own.
Progress was slow, inching inside him. William’s face strained, but his prick was as hard as ever, and when Richard pushed to the root and stopped, his breathless young lover said, “You must kiss me now. Do it like you really mean it. That is how I have always imagined this would be.”
So Richard did. He lay down on top of him again and kissed him deeply, with a force he’d not allowed himself before. He let himself dominate, capturing William’s mouth and pressing it into submission, stealing the lad’s breath. When William moaned, Richard pulled back just far enough that he could look down at him, letting the tips of their noses touch while their lips could not. William looked up at him, shivered, and closed his eyes, pulling Richard close again. The weight of him pushed his cock deeper still, and William groaned into his mouth as they kissed, angling his arse up to take in as much as he could.
At last William was ready, and Richard could move his hips. He lifted his weight up onto his hands so William might touch himself, and began a slow thrust, building speed as time passed and his lover grew louder. Then he felt the tight, hot squeeze of William’s passage as he reached his climax, and they were both coming off together.
The First Act Page 21