10. Conrad
CONRAD
Conrad woke the next morning to the sound of rain pattering against the window and the weight of Mr. Ravenwing at his side.
His own arm had wrapped around the other man’s shoulders, which was a new development.
Conrad smiled and relaxed. He was unaccustomed to leisure and feeling cozy.
For once, he didn’t have to spend hours on his feet in order to eat, nor did he have to wrangle little siblings or help out in the kitchen.
He was free to sleep in, to enjoy late evenings solving riddles, and to while away afternoons discussing magic.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever have this opportunity again, even if he did earn the position.
Perhaps it was past time he reveled in it.
He closed his eyes and tried to doze alongside his companion.
His mind, however, had not yet caught on to the idea of relaxation.
It buzzed with questions, lists, ideas, and plans.
Finally he gave up on the notion of complete relaxation and reached for his book on the bedside table, picking up where he left off.
Mr. Ravenwing had apparently also decided on a slower morning, for it was nearly two hours before he stirred. He seemed to have finally accepted his fate in terms of waking up on top of Conrad, for he didn’t grumble or pull away. He simply sighed against his skin.
“More bloody rain,” he murmured. “I might actually go mad here if we have to spend our entire time cooped up together in the building.”
Conrad marked his place and set the book aside. “Look on the bright side: we’re the best at solving riddles. It’ll be harder to go mad when everyone is lauding our genius.”
Mr. Ravenwing huffed. “Genius? I’m quite sure I scandalized half of the household with my answer last night.”
“You weren’t the one who picked the riddle,” Conrad pointed out.
“True.” He yawned. “I suppose I ought to move so you can scurry away downstairs again.”
“No hurry. I’ve concluded that I ought to relax a little.
I believe I’ll be watching Silas cast today, if he leaves Keelan’s side long enough.
But I don’t expect that to happen for a few hours yet.
I’m so accustomed to having to plan and strategize that it’s…
taking me some time to recognize I might actually not have to worry anymore about the position. ”
“You’ve been working individually with each councilmember in residence. I don’t understand why you were worrying in the first place. You probably earned that position you’re so eager for the moment they invited you to extend your stay.”
“You’re probably right. I don’t like to depend on that too much, of course, but it is nice to have a bit of hope at last.”
Mr. Ravenwing grunted.
Conrad idly trailed his fingers back and forth over the other man’s shoulder, considering his situation.
“The only real downside to this whole scheme is that the longer I stay, the more apparent it will become that I don’t entirely fit in.
All the singing and piano playing, the card games, the talk of fashion…
I like to think that my experience is a benefit to the possibility of being on the Council, as I’ll add a new perspective.
But I worry a little that the differences might be too stark. ”
Mr. Ravenwing was silent for a long moment. “That doesn’t appear to have troubled Mr. Rook-Worth.”
“True,” Conrad agreed. “But, truth to tell, he’s of a higher status than I am, as well. He’s never…he’s never had to worry about whether he’ll have dinner each night.”
Mr. Ravenwing seemed about to say something, but then he cleared his throat and pulled away. “If they turned you down for the position for that reason, I can’t imagine you’d want to work with them anyway.”
Conrad laughed. “Right again. Thank you. You really are marvelously good at helping me sort out my thoughts.”
“Besides,” Mr. Ravenwing said quietly, “Roger may be many things, but he’s not a snob. I have a hard time imagining he’d send you away for being of a different class. None of us were under any illusions when you arrived.”
Conrad felt himself beaming at the man’s back. “Thank you,” he repeated softly. “It is kind of you to let me voice my worries.”
Mr. Ravenwing huffed, but didn’t otherwise respond.
Cheered, Conrad dressed and went downstairs. The breakfast room was a little more full, considering his later arrival. Everyone turned as he entered and he caught more than one amused expression.
“Sleep well?” Torquil asked.
“Yes,” Conrad said, as he filled a plate at the sideboard. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well as I have since coming here. I’m getting dreadfully spoiled.”
Emrys laughed. “I’m sure Sage could be convinced to assist with that when you get to London.”
Conrad paused in the act of adding potatoes to his plate.
He realized that the gentleman was making the exact reference that Mr. Ravenwing had been so upset about before.
He debated whether or not to correct him.
Remembering Mr. Ravenwing’s request that he not make things worse, he simply replied, “Let’s take it one thing at a time, why don’t we? I haven’t even left the house yet.”
Emrys smirked, but seemed satisfied with the answer. Conrad hoped Mr. Ravenwing would be, as well.
“You two seem to be getting along quite well,” Keelan commented.
Conrad sat down at the table. “We are,” he said truthfully.
“He’s very kind.” He saw as, almost as one, the entire table paused and looked at him.
He could tell from some of their expressions that they wanted him to continue, but it occurred to him that he was chatting about a man who wasn’t present, so he said, “Another rainy day, I suppose. How will we fill the time?”
“I would like to have you observe Silas today,” Roger said, grinning at him. “And then Wyn and I want to see you work with raw materials.”
Conrad stared at him. “I forgot about that discovery of yours. But I’m game to try.”
“Excellent. After that, Wyn and I would like to see you work with another fae, the way he and I did last year. You’re the only human, other than my family, who has expressed interest in that experiment.
It seems a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity, since we have so many fae in the house. ”
“I would be delighted.”
“That should keep you both busy for a couple of weeks,” Torquil observed.
Conrad tried to hide his thrill at the casual remark. He was being permitted to stay that long? “I’m looking forward to it,” he managed.
Torquil winked at him and went on, “And then, of course, Roger will want to put you through your paces on the rubric, if he hasn’t already?—”
“I haven’t.”
“So by the time we all return to London in the autumn, you should be up to speed.”
Conrad’s eyes widened. “Do you mean?—”
“We have to get my father’s approval still,” Roger chimed in. “But from everything I’ve observed, I can’t imagine he’ll decline your application. I’m hoping to introduce you to him myself.”
“Thank you,” Conrad said, feeling as if he might burst. “Do tell me whatever you need me to do to clear up any doubts you might have.”
Roger smiled. “No doubts at all. Although since I’ve been selfishly keeping you locked up and working in the study, we haven’t given you much opportunity to interact with the rest of the group.
Not that I have any concerns about you getting along with others or anything.
But I do want to make sure you have a chance to socialize with the fae in residence, in particular, and those who are not on the Council in order to get a good sense of what we can do for them. ”
“That sounds reasonable,” Conrad said.
“Although if Roger continues with his plans,” Torquil put in, “you may have to find time to socialize on your own.” They chuckled. “I’m not sure you’ll get much opportunity to otherwise.”
“Well,” Emrys said, drawing out the word, “I can think of one fae he’s getting to know very well.”
“And if you can get along with him, you can get along with anybody,” Keelan added.
Conrad shrugged good-humoredly. “I’m not sure I understand everyone’s impressions of the gentleman. From everything I’ve seen of Mr. Ravenwing, he’s really quite?—”
“Sweet?” Emrys offered with a smirk.
“Kind?” Keelan added.
Conrad looked around at the expectant faces and chuckled. “Decent.”
Torquil’s amused expression turned thoughtful. “I’ve always suspected as much, but…I daresay if anyone can verify that, it’s you.”
“Agreed,” Roger said. “I’m glad I invited him, after all. I think it’s going to turn out to be very nice to have him here.”
“Why did you invite him?” Emrys asked.
Roger blushed. “I have my reasons,” he said, lifting his chin.
Emrys snorted. “If I wasn’t certain that you were keeping my brother very busy, I’d think you were offering Sage up on a silver platter.”
Roger’s blush deepened. “Nothing of the sort. And besides—” He broke off and sighed. “That’s all in the past anyway. I think we would do well to move forward.”
Torquil nodded their approval at this, although Emrys looked dubious.
Conrad didn’t inquire into the details—for one thing, he agreed with Roger that some things were best left in the past, and for another, he was well accustomed to such vague references to past events by now.
The group had a lot of shared history and it would take him ages to untangle it all.
While he liked everyone there, his priority was not to root out old gossip.
So he took a sip of tea and joined in when Keelan politely pivoted the topic back to how they ought to spend the time of another rainy day.