Page 56 of A Gathering Storm

Immediately Nick felt foolish. “I didn’t mean here in Truro. I meant here, in this bookshop.”

Gabe’s frown deepened. “I have been known to read, you know. I’m a schoolmaster, after all.” His gaze flickered to Ward, curious.

Beside Nick, Ward rasped, “Introduce me to your friend, Nicholas.”

Gabe’s eyes widened a little at that, though whether it was his harsh voice or the sheer high-handedness of his words that surprised him, Nick wasn’t sure. For his own part, he was bristling at being so blatantly told what to do, but he was used to hiding his feelings when he was provoked, so he only said mildly, “Of course. Gabriel, this is Sir Edward Fitzwilliam, Mr. Roscarrock’s newest neighbour. Sir Edward, Mr. Gabriel Meadows. He used to be the village schoolmaster in Porthkennack.”

Gabe took a step closer to Ward, and the two men shook hands.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Meadows,” Ward said, though his unsmiling expression gave lie to the words.

“Likewise,” Gabe returned stiffly. “Nick and I are— Well, we used to be friends when I lived in Porthkennack.” He paused. “Good friends.”

Nick glanced at him in surprise.What on earth?When Gabe returned Nick’s look, there was something oddly defiant about his expression.

There was a brief awkward silence then. What was a man supposed to say in a situation like this, after all?

Ward—this is Gabe. We were lovers till he ran off and got married without telling me.

Gabe—this is Ward, my new lover. I fucked him for the first time yesterday and it was nothing like the time we did it. In fact, it was the most wonderful experience of my life . . .

“So, what brings you to Truro, Nick?” Gabe asked.

Nick wasn’t sure what Ward would be comfortable with him saying, so he merely said, “Oh, you know how it is. Business to attend to. I tend to store up my errands and deal with them all at once.”

“How long are you here for?”

“Just till tomorrow.”

Gabe smiled. “Then perhaps we could dine together this evening? It’s been too long. I’ve missed your company.”

Nick was about to decline when Ward rasped, “I’m afraid that’s impossible. We have a prior engagement.”

Nick turned to look at him, astonished and irritated in equal measure by this possessive—and quite unnecessary—interjection.

Gabe said, “Both of you?”

“Yes,” Ward said, again without waiting for Nick to speak. “Nicholas and I travelled down here together, and we’ve made arrangements for the whole evening.” The words carried a distinctly dictatorial edge.

Nick’s temper surged. How dare Ward presume to speak for him without first consulting him? And this possessiveness? It was flattering to an extent, but could Ward not see that such behaviour could expose them to conjecture? Even if Gabe could be trusted—and Ward had no basis for making such an assumption—the fact was that anyone in this bookshop might overhear their conversation. Oh, but it was this just sort of arrogance from the very wealthy that most riled Nick, this total lack of consideration for consequences. After all, why worry about consequences when you would face none? With his wealth and title, Ward simply didn’t have to be as careful as Nick and Gabe did. That, Nick thought bitterly, was just a fact of life.

Shooting Ward a quick glare, Nick turned to Gabe. Somehow he managed to keep his tone even. “I’m afraid that we—thatIam busy this evening, but if you’ve time for an ale just now, we could go to the White Hare? It’s not far from here.”

Nick felt Ward stiffening beside him, even though he was still looking at Gabe. Gabe, whose smile had returned now, wide and genuine.

“That would be wonderful,” he said.

And somehow, it was Gabe’s pleasure, more than anything else, that filled Nick with sudden, overwhelming regret. He turned to Ward.

“You’re very welcome to come along,” he said, offering a small smile. “The White Hare is the place with the stargazy pie I was telling you about.”

But Ward wouldn’t even meet his eyes. He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of intruding. I’ll let you catch up with Mr. Meadows in private.”

Nick couldn’t hear any tone in the rasped words, but he could tell Ward was unhappy from his averted gaze and unsmiling mouth.

“You wouldn’t be intruding,” he assured Ward desperately, even as the man nodded a polite farewell to Gabe and began to turn away.

“I’ll see you this evening,” was Ward’s cool reply. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”