Chapter 36
GEORGE
George sought out his father before dinner to tell him about Theo.
He felt a little embarrassed, but he wanted to be as honest with his father about this as his father had been about Kit. So, he explained who Theo was to him and what their plans were for the future.
His father’s delight at the news should probably not have surprised him, but it did, in the very best of ways.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the duke told Theo when he entered the dining room later. Theo, who had come with barely anything in his saddlebags, was wearing a suit of George’s clothes. They looked very well on him, if a little on the tight side given his broader frame.
“The pleasure is mine, your grace,” Theo said, bowing nervously. “I apologise for descending upon you without warning. It’s terribly rude, but I—” He broke off, glancing helplessly at George, clearly unsure what to say.
“That’s quite all right. George has explained everything.” The duke's smile was kind, his gaze welcoming. “I’m very happy to have you here, my boy.”
Theo looked startled by his warmth. He glanced briefly at George before turning back to the duke. “Thank you, your grace.”
“Ah, and here’s Kit,” the duke said. “Kit, come and meet George’s young man, Theo Caldwell.”
Theo’s eyes widened when the duke said George’s young man, and George had to bite back his smile.
Kit was, of course, all urbane charm. He took Theo’s offered hand in both of his own and held it, unselfconscious. “I believe we’ve met before, Mr. Caldwell,” he said. “It’s good to see you again.”
Theo stared down at his trapped hand, clearly wondering what to do. “Likewise, Mr. Redford. George speaks very fondly of you.”
Kit flushed with pleasure, his already bright smile deepening when he turned his head to look at George. “Well, that is very nice to hear, I must say.”
George felt rather flushed himself. “Shall we go through to the dining room?” he said. “Poor Theo hasn’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Good heavens!” Kit said, tucking his hand into Theo’s elbow and leading him towards the dining room. “You must be famished!”
They were just sitting down when Freddy appeared, dressed rather informally in a loose shirt, modified to accommodate his bandages and straps, a pair of old breeches, and a loosely-tied banyan.
“Freddy,” George said happily. “I’m glad you joined us. Theo, do you remember my brother? He would have been one of the younger boys when you were in your final year at St. Dominic’s.”
Theo smiled ruefully. “I'm afraid not. I was probably quite insufferable back then. Eighteen-year-olds consider themselves vastly superior to younger boys, as I’m sure you know.”
Freddy just laughed. “I remember you, though. Best bowler in your year.”
“I wasn’t too bad,” Theo said, chuckling.
“You were a dashed sight better than that, but I'll spare your blushes,” Freddy grinned, slipping into an empty chair. “Excuse me for not shaking your hand, but as you can see, I’m rather strapped up at the moment.”
“It’s… difficult to miss,” Theo admitted. “I hope you’re not in too much pain.”
Freddy shrugged. “I can live with the pain. The difficult part is not knowing how well I’ll recover.” He smiled, a little wanly. “I daresay I’ll find out soon. And now that’s quite enough about my woes! Kit—how is Clara? Is she going to come and visit me soon?”
While Kit filled Freddy in on Clara’s news, George surreptitiously glanced at Theo. When their gazes met, Theo bit his lip against his instant smile in a gesture that was almost shy—and that made George smile too, and duck his head, his stomach clenching with pleasure.
When he looked up again, it was to find his father watching him with what could only be described as fond amusement.
After a convivial meal, George offered to help Freddy back to his bedchamber. He’d descended a whole flight of stairs to the dining room and now had to make his way back up with his ribs screaming at him.
“I’ll give your young man a tour of the library,” the duke said as George helped Freddy out of his seat. “There are some volumes on agricultural methods I want to look out for him.”
The walk upstairs to Freddy’s room was painfully slow, and Freddy seemed exhausted as George helped him ease back down into his chair.
“So,” Freddy said, when he was finally settled. “Is Theo Caldwell your Kit?”
George bent to remove Freddy’s slippers. “Yes,” he said, then added, just to hear the words aloud, “He’s mine, and I’m his.”
When he straightened, he was flushing a little, and Freddy was grinning at him. “So, is he going to live here, with us?”
And just like that, the moment was upon him.
George sat himself down on the side of Freddy’s bed, facing his chair. “Do you remember what I said before, Freddy? About you being my heir?”
Freddy looked wary. He didn’t say anything, just waited for whatever George was going to say next.
George took a deep breath. “I told you that I’m not going to marry. I’m really not. I’m going to make a life with Theo.”
Freddy blinked. “I see.”
“Theo’s property in Wales needs some care, and I’m going to help him with it. We’re going to live there, together. So…”
He saw the moment understanding dawned in Freddy’s gaze. “You’re leaving?”
George nodded. “Yes. We’re going to make Blackfriars our home.
And since you don’t seem to want to return to your regiment, I thought that, well…
you might want to consider staying here.
Taking over from me. There’s a lot to do.
A lot to learn.” He paused. “It’s all right if you don’t want to, but you should know it’s a choice available to you. ”
Freddy searched George’s face, his gaze serious. “I don’t want to usurp you, George. What if one day you change your mind? I would never want you to feel resentful or pushed aside.”
George set a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “That won’t happen.” He smiled. “I’m getting everything I want. My only reservation would be if I was leaving Father to deal with all the ducal estates himself.”
“You won’t be, but even if you were, he wouldn’t mind,” Freddy said roughly. “He wants your happiness. He was so worried about you, George. We all were.”
“I know,” George said. “But there’s no need to worry about me anymore. I’m happy. I want you to be too. I think this would be good for you.”
Freddy huffed a rueful laugh. “I’m not sure what to say, George. I never imagined this sort of future for myself.”
“Does it appeal to you?”
“Of course. This is my home. I love it with all my heart.”
“There’s your answer then,” George said gently.
“I suppose,” Freddy agreed. After a moment, he added, “You know, this running off to Wales sounds much more like the sort of hare-brained thing I’d do.
Does this mean you’re going to start getting into unspeakable scrapes, and I’m going to become all serious and sober and start reading Herodotus in the original Greek? ”
George laughed. “Perhaps it does. Theo does rather bring out my more frivolous side.”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” Freddy said softly. Then he added, “But I’m not reading Herodotus.”
* * *
After he left Freddy, George went to the library in search of Theo and his father.
The duke was standing on the stepladder they used to fetch down books from higher-up shelves.
His head was tilted, reading the spines of some of the volumes, while Theo sat at the big desk, leafing through one book, several others waiting at his elbow for attention.
When George entered the room, he looked up, his smile immediate and unrestrained.
“Ah, there you are, George,” his father said. “Do you know where that text by Captain Williamson is, by any chance? I can’t find it anywhere.”
“I was reading it quite recently,” George said. “It might still be in my rooms. I’ll check. In the meantime, do you mind if I steal Theo?”
“Not at all,” the duke said. “Off you go. I’ve a few more volumes I want to look out.” He glanced over at Theo, adding with a twinkle, “I’ll bore you to tears about them tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it, your grace,” Theo replied, setting down the book he’d been perusing and rising to his feet.
“And as I told you,” the duke said, turning back to the bookshelf, “No more your gracing me. Now, go on with you both. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“What did Freddy say?” Theo asked, once they’d left the library, closing the door behind them.
“He’s going to stay here. He wants to do it. I did, however, have to reassure him that I won’t feel usurped by him.”
“And you truly won’t?” Theo asked, his expression a little worried.
George turned to smile at him. “Do I have to reassure you too?”
“Perhaps a little. You’re giving up so much.”
“It doesn’t feel like that,” George said honestly. “It feels like I’m gaining everything. Everything I ever wanted but never thought I could have.”
They had reached George’s bedchamber now. George opened the door and stepped inside, crossing the floor to set the chamber stick down.
When he turned around, Theo was there, wrapping his strong arms about George’s shoulders and pressing their mouths together in a brief, fierce kiss. When they broke apart, George gave a gasping laugh, giddy with joy.
“For someone who never used to kiss anyone, you seem rather fond of it now,” he observed teasingly.
“I’m extremely fond of kissing you,” Theo replied, nibbling along the line of George’s jaw.
“You weren’t always,” George pointed out, squirming pleasurably. “Do you remember what you said the first time I kissed you? In Redford’s.”
Theo groaned, dropping his head to hide his face in George’s neck. “Don’t remind me,” he pleaded.
George ignored him. “You said I don’t do that sort of thing.”
Theo lifted his head, meeting George’s gaze. “I was a fool,” he said feelingly.
George chuckled. “I seem to recall there was also something about how you could never feel romantic about another man…”
Theo gave another embarrassed groan. “Did I? Well, I’ve proved myself well and truly wrong now, haven’t I? Coming all this way to throw myself at your feet and beg you to be mine.”
“You didn’t need to beg me,” George murmured.
Theo’s gaze searched his face. “Are you sure you want Blackfriars to be your home? If you want to live anywhere else, I’ll—”
“I’m sure,” George interrupted. “I’ll be happy wherever you are.” Then he laughed, giddy with how easy that decision was. After all the long years of feeling his duties weighing him down, it felt astonishingly liberating to simply make this choice. His own choice.
The choice to go with Theo. To make a life with Theo.
To love Theo.
Leaning forward, he kissed Theo again, whispering against his lips, “Shall we go to bed?”
Theo’s gaze went soft, his lips curving under George’s. “God, yes,’ he murmured. “I’ve missed having you in my bed at night. I’ve slept horribly since you left.”
“Me too,” George said softly.
Theo drew back then, meeting his gaze. “Let’s never sleep apart again.”
He looked so serious and sincere. So very unlike the guarded, careful man George had seen in Redford’s that first night.
Theo was open now, free in a way he’d never been before.
And George loved him.