Chapter One #2
“You need to use those hands on a woman.” One of the valet’s blond eyebrows rose. “In fact, you would thoroughly benefit from having a woman in your bed.”
Dear God. Was this Travers’ new way to badger him, then? “Perhaps, but everyone is disgruntled because of this wretched weather, this even more wretched year. It’s best to wait.”
“That is an excuse, and you know it.” The valet shook his head. “It is the perfect reason to do it now.”
Barr shook his head. “I’ll see how things go as we move through the Christmastide season.”
He hadn’t taken a mistress because his children required care and supervision especially after his wife died, then life happened with both, and it had just been busy for the past several years.
Truth be told, he’d been content with all the projects he’d put off when concentrating on his children.
Occasionally over the years, he’d tryst with someone he met at a ball or other event, but those were few and far between.
More often than not, if he had specific urges, he took himself in hand and left it at that.
There were other things to occupy his mind, like the books in his library and the challenge of translating ancient texts or scrolls he came across at auctions merely for the fun of it.
Or he would wander the exhibits at the British Museum, walk through Hyde Park, visit lending libraries, all the while avoiding making eye contact with people.
“You are naught but a coward, Your Grace.”
“Oh, I quite agree. My wife was the one who made social plans and dragged me out to them. Left to my own devices? I want no part of polite society.”
“So you’ll decay beneath this roof alongside your books and objets d’art, hmm?”
“I might, and will be happy to do so.” Barr moved to a trunk near the back wall, covered with a layer of dust. “There is more to life than fucking one’s brains out.
” In fact, there was much to be said about indulging in deep conversations, good debates, sharing private jokes, reading interesting bits to each other from a newspaper or a book, or simply sitting in silence while listening to the dratted rain.
“Now you sound like a man well beyond your years, and that is quite sad.” The humor in Traver’s voice tugged a grin from him.
“Bah.” Ignoring his valet for the moment, Barr cracked open the trunk then rummaged through the contents.
Thick tomes on a variety of dull subjects were what he unearthed.
“Damn. It would appear my father’s reading tastes were beyond boring, and I rather doubt he did much reading anyway. ” That just wasn’t who his father was.
When one of the books slipped off the corner of the trunk where Barr had set it, it thudded to the wooden floor, but when the pages cracked open, he gawked, for the center of the book had been hollowed out.
“What is this?” A slim volume with a faded yellow linen cover tumbled from the larger book.
The cover was worn and aged, and the golden lettering on the front had all but flaked away, but from what was left, he discerned the title was a mix of Egyptian lettering and hieratic. “How interesting.”
“It must be valuable if your father thought to hide it.”
“Indeed.” As Barr flipped delicately through the pages of text he couldn’t understand, excitement buzzed at the base of his spine.
“Quite a cheeky piece of literature.” There were erotic drawings interspersed throughout the pages which provided a hint at the content.
Some of them were quite explicit, almost as if it were an instruction manual for coupling written by Ancient Egyptians.
A book of affection between lovers? He couldn’t say until he could have it translated.
“I’ll wager this will fetch a princely sum at an auction house.
” He looked forward to poring over it in greater detail once he retrieved his reading spectacles, for the text was a bit blurry.
“You won’t translate it?” Travers wished to know.
“I could, but I’m afraid Ancient Egyptian isn’t my strength. It would take forever.”
The valet nodded. “Or you could use the book for yourself. Perhaps it will give you a few ideas and encourage you to take a lover.”
Heat sneaked up the back of Barr’s neck. “Do shut up.” Yet he couldn’t help a grin. “I’d need it translated first before determining value… or reading it for pleasure.”
“Or using it for pleasure,” his friend was quick to add.
A huff left his throat. “Why must everything come down to bedding a woman?” Clearly, his valet had a healthy marriage.
“Intercourse and physical touch are vital parts of one’s existence.” Travers shrugged. “Honestly, you should move on to the next portion of your life, and you’re a man who needs to be needed by a woman. No shame in it. Why not simply keep an open mind? It is the season of miracles, after all.”
Barr couldn’t help but briefly roll his eyes to the ceiling before resting his gaze on his friend. “Fine. Truce. If there comes a day when it doesn’t rain, then I will seek out a woman for nothing more than to relieve carnal tensions. Would that suffice?”
It was a safe wager to offer, for he knew it would never stop raining; he’d be safe.
“Indeed, Your Grace.” Travers beamed as he glanced about the space. “Let’s catalogue some of these bits and bobs, see if we can sell it. Oh, and I’ll bring the Christmas decorations down in the event you’ll want to make use of them.”
“I can’t imagine that I will. My wife was the one who enjoyed decorating and entertaining during this time of year. Without her, it just seems… empty and a sacrilege to do so.” He frowned at his valet. “However, do what makes you and your wife happy. I have missed the sparkle, though.”
“As I said, you are a man who needs to be needed. Since you haven’t had that in your life for a several years, you’ve fallen out of the habit of being social.
” Travers flicked his glance to the erotic book still in Barr’s hand.
“Perhaps in the course of finding someone to translate the book and then securing a buyer, you will stumble upon a connection that will help tug you back to the present.” The valet’s expression sobered.
“The past, though lovely as it was, has nothing else to offer you.”
Slowly, Barr nodded. “Perhaps you are correct.” He looked at Travers.
“Thank you for the reminder.” As he tucked the small volume into the inside pocket of his jacket for later study, he sighed.
“I’m not certain I even remember how to attract a woman.
” At least he was honest. “With my wife, it was easy, and it was such a long time ago.” After twenty years of marriage, five more years since he’d lost her, it felt as if an age had gone by.
“Don’t think too hard about it, Your Grace.
Start with a smile, perhaps a suggestive wink, or a play on words.
” Travers shrugged as he dug through boxes and trunks in the apparent search for Christmastide decorations.
“The season will lend itself to cozy talks and the opportunity to act gentlemanly in the hopes of keeping a lady warm.”
“I’ll bear that in mind, my friend.” Then he joined Travers at the trunk. “Let me help carry some of the boxes down for you. And tell your lovely wife she has the authority to use whatever of the staff she wishes to help with the decorations.”
No matter that he was thoroughly alone for the first time in many years and wasn’t inclined toward celebrations, that didn’t mean everyone beneath the roof must suffer the same humbugs as he.
God help us all.