Page 52 of A Gathering Storm
“Like what?”
He grinned wide. “How about a kiss?”
A raspy chuckle. “I think I could manage that. Come here.”
Nick leaned over him, bracing himself on one arm. For a few moments, he just looked at Ward, taking in the picture of him lying there, in bed with Nick. The morning sunlight kissed Ward’s hair so that it gleamed dark gold against the white linen pillow, and his eyes, which had the greenish tinge of a ripe pear this morning, were warm with fond good humour.
Why was it that Nick never seemed to get bored looking at Ward? He had the same features as everyone else, two eyes, a nose, a mouth. Brow and chin. What was it about the particular configuration of Ward’s face that fascinated Nick so much he could just lie here all morning and stare at the man?
“I thought you were going to kiss me,” Ward said at last, seeming amused.
“Be patient,” Nick scolded, mildly. “I’m looking at you.”
“Why?” Ward’s smile was satisfied. “Do you like what you see?”
Nick gave a growly chuckle. “You know I do.”
Ward laughed, then his eyes went soft and he said, “So do I.” He slid one hand up the length of Nick’s braced arm and curled his fingers round the back of Nick’s neck, fingers tangling in the thick hair at his nape. “Now kiss me.”
And with a muffled groan, Nick obliged.
They breakfasted in the parlour they’d dined in the night before. After last night’s coupling and this morning’s more languid performance, they were able, finally, to concentrate on eating, and each polished off a large breakfast of coddled eggs, ham, sausages, and fried potatoes.
“What’s your plan then?” Nicholas asked, dropping his napkin onto his empty plate and leaning back in his chair. “We’ve the whole day free, haven’t we?”
“Yes, the séance isn’t till evening,” Ward confirmed. “Shall we take a turn about town? There are several bookshops I’d like to visit, but other than that, I’m happy to accompany you wherever you’d like to go.”
It was only once the words were out that it occurred to Ward that Nicholas mightn’t want to spend every moment with him. Quickly he added, “Unless— You’d probably prefer some time alone . . .”
Nicholas’s eyebrows drew together. “Why would I?”
Ward tried—but probably failed—to hide his pleasure and relief at that swift response. His smile felt impossible to hide, even as he tried to rein it back in. “All right then. Is there somewhere particular you’d like to go, or shall we just have a walk around?”
“I wouldn’t mind taking a look at the new railway,” Nicholas said.
“Excellent idea!” Ward agreed. The line from Truro to Penzance had only just opened the previous year. “Anything else?”
Nicholas thought. “When I come down for the livestock auction, I usually go to the White Hare. They have the best stargazy pie I’ve ever tasted.” He frowned a little then, looking at Ward. “Though it’s a fairly rough sort of place, so . . . perhaps not.”
Ward wondered if Nicholas was thinking of the day Ward had gone into the Hope & Anchor and seen Nicholas for the first time. He’d felt like a fish out of water, but look where his boldness had brought him. To this place, today with Nicholas. Which only went to show that sometimes one found unexpected treasures in the strangest places.
“I’d like to go there with you,” Ward said. “I’ve been itching to try this famous Cornish delicacy everyone keeps telling me about. Although—” He patted his stomach and made a rueful face. “At this moment I can’t imagine I’ll ever eat again.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Oh, I think your appetite will recover.”
Ward grinned. “I’m sure it will,” he said, and he wasn’t talking about food.
They set off shortly after breakfast. The Fox and Swan was a mile or so west of Truro proper and as it happened, the railway was on the same side of town. They headed south to Higher Town where the small station was located, strolling down country lanes that were densely green with early summer growth.
It was a lovely day. The sky was a cloudless stretch of blue, and the sun shone with early warmth and the promise of more heat to come. They’d scarcely been walking five minutes before Nicholas shrugged off his coat and slung it over his arm.
“Wish I hadn’t brought the damned thing,” he grumbled. He’d worn his usual tweed while Ward’s light fawn coat was of cool linen.
“Your coat’s too heavy,” Ward pointed out. “You should have worn one like mine.”
“Perhaps I would have, if I owned one like yours,” Nicholas said mildly.
Ward immediately felt ashamed of his thoughtlessness. He had wardrobes of garments to choose from, some suitable for warm, summery days like this and others for cold, wintry ones. Nicholas’s clothes were perfectly respectable, but they were clearly of a different order of elegance from Ward’s and his choices were presumably much more limited.