12. Conrad
CONRAD
Conrad turned to Mr. Ravenwing. “Indeed?”
Mr. Ravenwing paused for a long moment. “You said earlier that it was pleasant to be surrounded by so many contented people. Does it not bother you that we cannot count ourselves amongst them?”
Conrad frowned a little in the dark. “I do not consider myself discontented.”
“We are the only people in this house who are unattached,” Mr. Ravenwing clarified.
“Oh! Yes, I suppose you’re right.” He glanced to the side of the bed where his companion laid. “This bothers you?”
“Naturally. Moreover, I believe the solution may be simple.”
“Go on,” Conrad said, smiling at Mr. Ravenwing’s tone.
“You are concerned by your status presenting obstacles to your ambitions. I am concerned by the disparity in our circumstances with the rest of the household. I propose that we…alter those circumstances for the duration of our stay.”
Conrad considered this. “You are referring to our unattached state?”
“Yes.”
Conrad sat up a little. “You mean, you wish to…form an attachment between the two of us?”
“Only temporarily. Just while we are here. Being with me will demonstrate that you can be amicable with fae and that your class would not be an issue for you. And being with you would…it would make us both less isolated from these blissful couples.”
“And trios,” Conrad added.
Mr. Ravenwing grunted. “What do you think?” Without the benefit of the lamps, Conrad had only the gentleman’s voice to go by, and he caught a note of worry in the question.
He sat up fully. “I like it. I think it’s a brilliant strategy. Although I rather think it’s more for my own sake than yours. I don’t wish you to?—”
“It is decidedly of mutual benefit. I assure you.”
Conrad grinned in the dark. He didn’t know his companion very well, but he had wondered at the way the man held himself so aloof from the rest of the group.
But there had been moments—his participation in the riddles, his conversation with Conrad in the mornings, and, frankly, his presence in the house—which suggested that this self-imposed isolation was resulting in some amount of loneliness.
Conrad liked the idea of helping the gentleman, if only temporarily.
And if it helped him out as well, so much the better. “So, what will our strategy be?”
“I’m not sure we need much of a strategy. I shall sit beside you when we’re in a group and we shall make it clear that we are an item .”
“Simple strategies are often the best ones,” Conrad said. “And since most everyone is already convinced that we’re an item, I don’t think it’ll take much effort.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Well, in that case, you ought to call me Conrad. Even better, you should call me Con. My family does, you know, and it would only make sense if my beau did, as well.”
“Conrad will do. I cannot abide nicknames. You may call me Sage.”
Conrad chuckled. “Very good. And I suppose we can set aside your concerns about waking up next to me each morning?”
“Yes,” Sage said slowly. “However, that does bring up a rather important point. Are you…attracted to men?”
Conrad was surprised by the question. “No, I’m not.”
Sage muttered something under his breath. “Women, then?”
“No. Not any gender.”
“Oh.” Sage was quiet for another long moment. “Then I suppose you do not partake of…you don’t fuck anyone, I suppose?”
Conrad huffed out a laugh and laid back down. “That is entirely unrelated to my attraction to people. And yes, I do, upon occasion.”
Sage turned on his side. Conrad could see in the dim light that he had leveraged himself up on his elbow. “You do?”
“Oh, yes. I find the activity quite enjoyable. I know that many people prefer it as a way to get to know each other. I personally find conversation to be a more suitable means of acquaintanceship.”
“I see. So you enjoy it, but you don’t prefer it?”
Conrad mirrored the other man’s posture. “I enjoy the aspect of giving people pleasure. And, of course, I enjoy experiencing that pleasure myself. But it is never the first activity that comes to mind.” He cocked his head inquiringly. “Is it something you would like to do?”
“I…yes.”
“All right,” Conrad said easily. “As long as you let me know when you’d like to engage in that, I’m amenable.”
Sage gave a little huff of his own. “Amenable. It sounds as if you’re doing me a favor.”
Conrad grinned. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll enjoy myself. But if we were to simply talk every evening, I’d be content. So it’s not something I’d ever suggest on my own.”
Sage was quiet as he turned over onto his back. “Understood.”
Conrad did the same. “Anything else we should discuss?”
“You are not attracted to me, but you are open to physical intimacy, as long as I’m the one to suggest it. Does that go for kissing, as well?”
“I quite enjoy kissing,” Conrad replied. “And I’ve already told you I enjoy waking up with you next to me.” He paused. “You could fall asleep that way too, if you’d like.”
“That…sounds amenable.”
He laughed. “You did say I was softer than my physique implied.”
Sage scooted over, carefully laid his head against Conrad’s shoulder, and lightly placed his hand over Conrad’s chest. “Is this all right?”
Conrad draped his own arm around Sage’s shoulders. “Quite companionable. What else?”
“If we are to be convincing, it would be advisable for us to display affection in front of the others.”
“All right.”
“Anything I shouldn’t do?”
Conrad smiled and rubbed his thumb over Sage’s arm. “Nothing comes to mind. I’ll tell you if that changes.”
Sage breathed out. “Good.”
“Anything you don’t like?”
“No,” Sage answered softly.
Conrad had a feeling this was not entirely true but he didn’t press. “Then I suppose we are an item.” He kissed the top of Sage’s head. “Goodnight, Sage.”
“Goodnight…Conrad.”
* * *
When Conrad woke the next morning, he thought over the previous night’s conversation.
He didn’t think anything would be all that different from his side of things.
He would be addressing Sage by his first name and the two of them would share a more open form of affection, and he assumed Sage would request a little more activity in bed.
It was Sage who would be experiencing the bigger shift.
He had no idea what sort of public affection the other man preferred.
And he was still unsure if simple loneliness was the reasoning behind the initial suggestion.
Was he attempting to make Wyndham jealous?
Did he feel as left out in the group dynamic as Conrad often did?
It was possible, of course, for the proposal to be primarily for Conrad’s benefit, considering all the other kindnesses Sage had shown in the past several days.
But he rather hoped it wasn’t. He liked the idea of easing some of Sage’s loneliness, if only for a few weeks.
He idly ran his fingers through the man’s hair and tried to imagine how their new dynamic would change in the company of others.
Sage woke at his usual time, yawning against Conrad’s chest. “One thing is certain,” he said, “I will not be joining you in your early attendance at breakfast.”
Conrad chuckled. “I don’t mind. Another thing is certain: the teasing will most decidedly increase.”
“Yes, well, at least it will be true. Or…half-true.”
Conrad hummed his agreement. “And if I come down to breakfast a little late, like I did yesterday, they will all make a great deal of assumptions. Might be helpful to our scheme.”
“Does that mean my pillow won’t be moving anytime soon?”
Conrad laughed and reached for his book. “It does.” Sage relaxed against him.
After another hour, Conrad finally got out of bed and dressed.
When he strode into the breakfast room, the same group as before turned to look at him, amusement and curiosity plainly written in their expressions.
Conrad chuckled as he went to the sideboard.
“You really oughtn’t be surprised. After all, we were roomed together. ”
“I knew it,” Emrys said. “Sage has been coy, but it’s so obvious.”
Conrad smiled, his back to them, as he dished out his food.
“It was obvious to you because Torquil mentioned it,” Keelan retorted.
“And I mentioned it to you,” Emrys replied. “I’m very generous in my gossip.”
“He learns from the best,” Torquil said, smiling at Conrad as he sat down.
Emrys pulled Torquil close and kissed them. “That I do,” he murmured against their lips before turning back to Conrad. “Well, I hope you have a cheering influence on Sage’s temperament. Always had the worst personality, that man.”
Conrad felt a twinge of irritation at the casual insult to the absent man’s character. “I cannot imagine what gave you that impression. His personality is perfectly–”
Emrys waved a dismissive hand and said with a smirk, “Yes, yes, I’m sure he improves upon close acquaintance.”
“I think he’s already influenced him,” Keelan said, returning to the original topic. “We saw him pet a kitten yesterday.”
Roger straightened in his seat. “He pet Peony?”
“He did,” Torquil confirmed. “And she liked him.”
Roger seemed nonplussed by this information. “My goodness,” he muttered. “I never would have guessed it. I’m glad though.”
“I’ve heard of this kitten, but I’ve yet to see her,” Conrad said. “Where are you hiding her?”
“More like you’re hiding in the study all day,” Keelan said.
Conrad laughed. “True.”
“I’ll see to it you get to meet her soon,” Roger assured him. “She’s the sweetest little thing.”
Keelan and Torquil nodded their agreement, but Emrys looked dubious. Soon the topic changed to the fineness of the weather, and how they all ought to take advantage of clear skies.