Page 15

THE REST of the day passed pleasantly, the Nelson siblings both far more fun than James had been.

Once he seemed to shake himself out of the sorrow that had seemingly consumed him since the conversation he’d had with Arthur upon arrival, Rudolph proved himself a quick wit and a much better chess player than either of the Ashford men could claim to be.

Ida was a delight, conversational and sillier than I was accustomed to the women I knew being, her clear comfort with the setting allowing me to gain a friendship I had not anticipated.

It was quite nice to while away the afternoon and evening in the parlor, Rudolph and I discussing a formidable trial that had taken place the month prior, Arthur, Ida, and Charles playing whist, and by the time we needed to retire it seemed quite certain to me that the arrival of the Nelsons was a welcome addition to our summer festivities.

It was well after eleven when I finally made my way upstairs, having said good night to our small and pleasant party before taking my leave.

It was pure coincidence that resulted in Felix and myself crossing paths in the hallway at the top of stairs, Felix holding a jug of water for Charles’s room.

I caught up to him in no time, touched him on the elbow, and smiled when he started slightly.

“Oh, Tom,” he said, grinning at me, the formality of my last name long replaced with the comfort of my first. “Goodness, you’re light on your feet. ”

“Sorry I frightened you,” I said. “When you’ve taken that water to Charles’s room, can you meet me in my suite? I’d like to ask you about something.”

Felix searched my face, his eyes crinkling slightly. “Of course,” he said. “Is everything okay?”

“I just have some questions,” I said, patting him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t worry.”

I made my way to my suite, finding, as always, a freshly brewed pot of tea.

The servants had clearly picked up on my habit of staying up far too late and drinking my weight in tea, and I was thankful for the refreshment as I settled on my small sofa and waited for Felix.

He wasn’t long, knocking lightly on the door before letting himself in, and I waited for him to take a seat before pouring him a cup of tea and pushing the sugar bowl towards him.

He doctored his drink and then looked at me, blue eyes glinting slightly in the low light of my room.

“Well? I can hazard a guess at what you’d like to know, but perhaps I’m wrong. ”

I took a deep breath, looking at him to see if he was showing any sign of being disingenuous but seeing nothing whatsoever to suggest as much. “Why don’t you tell me what you believe I want to know?”

“You want to ask me if Rudolph and Arthur were lovers,” he said, and my surprise and relief must have shown on my face because he laughed, leaning back in his seat with his teacup in hand. “Did you think you were being terribly mysterious?”

“No, but I didn’t think I was being that obvious, either.”

“Not obvious,” Felix said. “But it’s easy enough for someone who’s been in service all their life to intuit what people want. And you do spend an awful lot of time gazing at Arthur when you think he isn’t looking.”

“Is that so?” I asked, because to be quite honest I thought I’d been doing an excellent job of keeping my eyes to myself. “How did you know I would ask about him and Rudolph?”

“Because they are even more obvious than you are,” Felix said, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

The way Felix said it made me think immediately that I had been incorrect in my assumption that the love between Arthur and Rudolph was a thing of the past. “You noticed as soon as Rudolph arrived today, didn’t you? ”

“Yes,” I said. “I could see it immediately. The change in Arthur.”

Felix sighed, taking a sip of his tea and looking at me with some intensity.

“It started when he and Arthur were teenagers. They had always been close, but they began to find time to be alone together. I’m not a fool, and my position necessitates my proximity to Arthur.

We were inseparable in most things, and he began to confide in me that his feelings for Rudolph were beyond friendship.

I was stunned, but Arthur has always been my purpose in life, so I quickly convinced myself I would support him no matter what.

It turned romantic before Arthur departed for university. ”

“So they’re lovers,” I said, and Felix shook his head. “They’re not?”

“I’m sure this won’t come as any great surprise, but Arthur is not the easiest man to love.

He barely allows Charles and I to show him affection.

I understand this particular defect, despite existing his entire life, was a strain on Rudolph.

The man is like his sister and laughs easily and often.

I believe he hoped that Arthur would eventually reach that point with him, but he never did. ”

I remembered Arthur, the way he looked at me at the pond, the grace in his movements and the softness in his eyes.

He was a serious man, but there was still a tenderness there if you knew what to look for, and I knew that if given time and opportunity it could be uncovered fully. “That isn’t in Arthur’s nature.”

“No,” Felix said. “When Rudolph realized that it wasn’t going to change, he called an end to things. That would have been… four years ago now, I believe.”

“Before the blackmail case?”

“Yes,” Felix said, nodding and setting his teacup down on the table between us. He looked down at the dregs for a moment before turning his attention back to me. “I’m telling you all of this because I know what you are, Tom. Birds of a feather, after all.”

“You…?”

“I’ve dabbled,” Felix said, and I couldn’t help but smile at that.

“Does Arthur know?”

“I think he suspects. We’ve never had a conversation, but when I was a teenager, I had a dalliance with one of the stable boys.

I’m fairly sure Arthur caught us once, but he never said a word.

” He got to his feet, his brow furrowed.

“This is all to say… I hope you use this information for good. I like you, Tom. I would like it even better if you had a positive change on Arthur. As much as he’s loath to admit it, he’s lonely.

He loved Rudolph, even if it wasn’t the same sort of love that Rudolph had for him. He’s opening up to you.”

“Thank you, Felix,” I said, getting up as well and walking over to the suite door with him. “I’m glad you told me about this. It helps me put the pieces together in all this. I only have one last question, though.”

“What is it?”

“Does James Wright know about Arthur and Rudolph?” I asked, and Felix scrunched his face up, clearly considering the possibility.

“He might,” he finally admitted. “They used to walk in the garden together. It’s possible James saw something he shouldn’t have. Why do you ask?”

“Before he was sent away, he made a comment that I looked like Rudolph, and he thought perhaps Arthur had invited me here for that purpose. He seemed to think it was strange that Charles and I have been friends for so long and I’ve just now been allowed to visit.”

Felix looked up at me, a thoughtful look in his blue eyes.

He studied me for a moment before shaking his head.

“No, I don’t think that’s it at all. You bear a passing resemblance to Rudolph, but I doubt that’s why Arthur finally allowed you to visit.

It seems much more likely to me that Arthur said yes because he realized that you had proven yourself unlikely to have a friendship with Charles solely to social climb.

Your exploits in court have made a name all their own, and your presence here has only cemented that.

I have no doubt you’ll find yourself a frequent guest to Ashford Hall for as long as you please.

” He yawned, failing to stifle it before looking at me.

“Now, I implore you, no more questions. I’m so tired. ”

“Dreadfully sorry,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “You’ve been a great help. I promise, I won’t impose on you quite so late again.”

“Good night, Tom,” Felix said, patting me on the arm in return and leaving the room.

I settled in for another few hours of poring over the legal documents I’d been provided, my candle flickering in the cool summer breeze coming in from the cracked balcony door.

I had hardly made it through five pages when I heard what sounded like heavy rain falling abruptly on my balcony, and I turned my head to peer towards the darkness.

Seeing only my watery reflection in the thick glass, I stood and walked to the balcony in time to see another handful of pebbles land on the stone.

The moon was full and bright and I stepped out onto the balcony without my candle, leaning over the railing to find that Rudolph was standing below, dressed only in trousers and a thin sleep shirt.

It seemed he had begun to undress for bed before some other business had struck him, and I had a suspicion it was the same sort of questioning that had brought me into conversation with Felix that night.

“In the future, I believe one or two rocks thrown at the glass should suffice,” I said, kicking the loose pebbles from the balcony.

“Are you looking to continue our chess game?”

“Care to take a stroll?” Rudolph asked, spreading his arms to either side of him. “I was told you suffer from insomnia, and I simply cannot pass up the company of another night owl.”

“I’ll be down momentarily,” I said, my curiosity as to what Rudolph wanted outweighing my desire to continue with my legal review. “Wait there.”