CHAPTER 31
GEORGE
Percy took my hand and led me from the kitchen. Walking around Hamilton Place was like stepping into a treasure chest. I couldn’t quite believe I now lived here, and with Percy by my side. He led me down the marble hallway to inspect each room. I paused at the covered piano, tossed back the cover and opened the lid.
“Go on,” Percy said fondly, and so I pulled the piano stool out and sat. Percy tugged the cover off completely to reveal a beautiful polished ebony grand piano by a company called Steinweg and Sons , which by the look of it, had barely been played.
“Theo had this shipped over from New York three years ago,” Percy informed. “The maker is rather new. The company was set up by Theo’s friend Heinrich Steinweg. I swear, it’s a relief grandfather has this large foyer. I was here to witness the delivery and it would have been quite the bugger to get this monster upstairs!” he added. My heart felt full to bursting as I watched Percy watching me, his blond curls looking a little disheveled from lugging trunks and armfuls of costumes, but his eyes were bright and they looked upon me like I hung the moon. I’d never tire of this feeling.
I started to play and found the piano was tuned to perfection. It stunned me that it had remained here, under cover, as if it was waiting for me. I closed my eyes and played ‘La rivière’ a melancholic lullaby mother used to sing in French to soothe me when I was a child.
Walking by the river
A day of summer true
I saw you there my sweetheart
And I ran to you
I’ve loved you for a long time
And will love forever more
And think of you, and summer
When winter hounds my door.
I opened my eyes to see Percy’s gaze affixed on me, his eyes glistening pools of adoration. I stopped playing and the silence that fell seemed vast.
“I’d say we need to find a bed,” I suggested softly, then stood and offered Percy my hand. He took it and pulled me flush to his chest.
“Gods, you take the breath from me, George Dancie,” he said before pressing his lips to mine for a passionate kiss. The initial heat of that joining became slower, languorous as if we both suddenly realized that we had time to enjoy it, time to explore and no one would invade our privacy and shame us. I pulled away first, “Let’s find a bed,” I suggested again.
We looked into the first of four bedrooms which we found was shuttered. The drapes were closed and when Percy pulled them open and the afternoon sunlight sent darts of brilliant golden light around the room. I saw that Holland covers concealed all furniture to protect it from dust. I pulled the cover draped over the bed off to find a grand French mahogany sleigh bed with gilded detailing. In bedrooms two and three we found the same set up.
“The furniture looks like it’s never been used,” I observed.
“I stayed over with grandfather sometimes, especially when mother was demanding things from me that I could not give. But I can’t recall Theo having other guests in these rooms. This was a place to rest his head while work was busy. And of course, this is where his most precious collections of art and books are stored. I think mother would have gotten the vapors if he’d decorated Blackwood Hall in the same vein,” he chuckled. It sounded like Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt was quite the matriarch and I did not look forward to meeting her.
Bedroom four was the largest and from the pair of monogrammed blue velvet slippers positioned at the end of the bed, this was Theodore Harcourt’s bedroom. It appeared that Theodore had employed a maidservant too, because the bed was freshly made and in good order, the scent of comforting lavender strong in the room. I thought Theo’s room might have smelled of him, of pipe smoke and flop sweat maybe, but the room was orderly, clean, and ready for us to use. I turned to see the glassy-eyed look Percy gave those monogrammed slippers.
“You miss your grandfather a lot, yes?”
“I do, I have many regrets where he’s concerned. I was too much in my own head to see how deeply he was suffering. I wish I’d have understood him as he understood me.” Percy’s sadness pulled at my heart.
“I understand you. And you, my dear, are exhausted. This is the coziest bedroom, come let’s ready this bedroom so we can sleep here…if that’s okay.”
“Yes, I like this room too. Theo said he didn’t want me to be alone anymore. I think it would give him comfort to know I’d found a love to share the bed.”
Evening was drawing in so I searched the mantle for a box of Sulphur matches, lit the wall gas lights, and set the fire to warm the chilly room. Both Percy and I were drained with the excesses of the day and we would make ourselves comfortable here.
“Theo had the latest invention in hot water systems installed,” Percy informed. “It’s called Dr Bunsen’s atmospheric burner. I’ll light the gas and it should heat water enough for a bath in half an hour. I think we could do with a nice hot bath, don’t you?” Percy left the room and returned moments later.
“The water should be ready to run a bath soon enough,” he informed. I sighed and swooned theatrically onto the bed.
Percy joined me; he cupped my face and looked into my eyes. “I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. We have our own bath, hot running water and a posh latrine!” We laughed together and within moments we were wrestling. Percy was straddling my hips, holding my hands above my head; he grinned triumphantly and said,
“I seem to recall you said you wanted to kiss my face off,”
“Did I? You must be mistaken sir, for I am so very pure and virginal. I have never kissed a boy in my life,” I jested coquettishly.
“Oh, my sweet innocent angel, if that’s the case, please let me show you how things are done…for research, of course.”
“Of course. Very well sir.”
“A kiss is always best if the person is at close quarters, like this,” Percy said, leaning in pressing us chest to chest until I could feel the rapid beating of his heart and smell his wine scented breath against my skin.
“And then we press our mouths together and let the pleasure take us where it will.”
We luxuriated in sensual kisses while the bedroom heated up. I could have lain there all night, but Percy insisted we wash. While he readied the bath, I took a look in the study. A cobwebbed, half-consumed glass of whisky was on the desk and a journal was open. Naturally, I was curious, and then shocked to my core when I read the final words on the page.
“I know that this is the end and it will come at the hand of the man who loved me so dearly. I wish it to be this way, and I pray that we will be reunited beyond the veil, finally at peace, away from the constrictions of human bonds…”
I wondered how Theodore Harcourt had perished and didn’t know if it was suitable conversation when bathing. Percy opened the door,
“Ah, there you are. What have you found?”
“Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t be nosey,” I said wracked with guilt, ”But I must admit I am curious as to who Theodore was.”
“Come, join me in the tub. I shall tell you about Theo and his Edmund,” Percy reached out a hand of invitation.
“Oh,” I’d never bathed with a lover before and the thought of it made my pego twitch. I met Percy’s eyes and noted, “You don’t have a night shirt, or any smalls.”
“My belongings will be delivered tomorrow. I’ll make do tonight. I’d rather hoped a nightshirt and smalls would be unnecessary!”
So, this was how it would be from now on! I liked this turn of events very much.
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