Page 39 of Hastings (Brothers in Arms #15)

CHAPTER 39

“G ood afternoon, Freddy.” Stephen shook the duke’s hand after he entered the library at the Park.

“Anne and Brett and the children are over at Blakely Farm,” Freddy said. “I’m sorry you’ve missed them. It’s riding lessons day.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Stephen said, suddenly nervous. “I’ve come to talk to you. Specifically.”

“Ah.” Freddy said nothing else.

Stephen had never known a man as shuttered as Freddy. He didn’t used to be like that, back when Stephen had first met him. But Freddy had been young then, and he hadn’t taken to the title easily. He’d let his mother manage it and focused all his energies on helping Brett heal from his injuries after the war. But now he was responsible for the estates and the title, as well as Anne and Brett and the children. And the village. And Stephen. And everyone else under the umbrella of his protection. It had matured him into a man who kept his own counsel and did as he saw fit. Everyone liked to tease Freddy about his kingdom, but the truth was he ruled Ashton Park and the surrounding county as if were his kingdom. He controlled the people here as if he were moving chess pieces on a board, but he was the only one privy to the game. And no one complained because Freddy made it all so damn easy on everyone else. Stephen was surprised he hadn’t taken a more active role in Maddy’s situation.

He realized he’d been standing there procrastinating having the conversation he’d come here for. Freddy smiled encouragingly at him and waved him over to a chair.

“How can I be of assistance?” Freddy asked, closing a ledger and putting some papers in the desk drawer.

“This is awkward,” Stephen said. “But I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d be comfortable having this conversation with.”

“Well, that’s intriguing,” Freddy said. He came around the desk. “This sounds like it requires a seat on the sofas. That’s where I have difficult conversations as a general rule.”

Stephen laughed and followed Freddy over to sit in front of the windows overlooking the gardens. “Now, what is it you wish to speak to me about?”

Stephen took a deep breath and blew it out of his mouth. He stared at a spot over Freddy’s right shoulder. “I need to know how two men…make love. To each other.” He chanced a look at Freddy and his expression hadn’t changed from the mildly curious one he’d worn to begin with. “I mean, I understand the rudimentary aspects of it, of course. But I want to be sure I’m not missing some important…element.”

“Oh, I think you have all the working elements,” Freddy said with a smile as he leaned back and crossed his legs. He steepled his fingers and pressed his index fingers to his lips. “And is this in relation to my sheriff, perhaps?”

“Yes,” Stephen said, breathing a sigh of relief that the initial salvos in the conversation were over. Once again, Freddy making it so easy.

“Does Hastings understand the…rudimentary aspects?” Freddy asked. His smile this time was teasing.

“Most likely,” Stephen said. “Though, not in practice, I don’t believe. Only in theory. For a change, I’d like to not be the one person in the bed who doesn’t know what to do.”

“How many people are in the bed?” Freddy asked, raising a brow.

“The usual,” Stephen prevaricated.

“In my domain, that is a disputed number. You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Three?” Stephen said.

“Are you asking me or telling me?” Freddy inquired. He smoothed a crease in his trousers.

“Telling you.” Stephen forced a firmness into his response.

“There you go,” Freddy said, showing his delight with a mischievous grin. “It is the usual number, then.”

Stephen laughed as the tension was broken. “Yes, the usual number.”

“So, you are not immune to what ails us all,” Freddy said. “I suspected as much. It’s why I’ve left you all alone at the parsonage.”

“What do you mean?” Stephen asked in shock.

“It was apparent from the moment Hastings was given to you that you wanted him,” Freddy said. “It’s why everyone’s hackles were up about him. ‘Not good enough for Stephen,’” he intoned.

“Brett,” Stephen said, recognizing who Freddy was imitating.

“He’s a mother hen,” Freddy said, appearing to be blind to the hypocrisy of the accusation coming from him. “He just loves you, Stephen, and wants what’s best for you.”

“Which is up to me to decide,” Stephen said.

“And that is what I told Brett. Anne is quite fond of Hastings and is delighted you are hopefully finding satisfaction at last.”

Stephen groaned in horror. “Have I been the subject of such salubrious conversations often, then?”

“Only among friends who want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”

“You have not been happy.” Freddy surprised him with his observation, and he recognized Stephen’s surprise. “It has been obvious to me for some time that you have been lonely, Stephen. How could you not be? You are not the kind who is meant to be alone.”

“I don’t know anyone who is meant to be alone,” Stephen argued. “Everyone longs for companionship.”

“Not everyone,” Freddy said. “I have met men, and women, who are quite content with their own company and need no other.”

“You are correct, then,” Stephen conceded. “That is not who I am.”

“Have we left you alone long enough?” Freddy asked. “Anne has practically marshaled a rebellion against my wishes in her desire to come and check on you all.”

Stephen laughed. “Yes, we have been left alone long enough, if you mean have I fallen in love with them.”

“Them. Yes. That brings me to Mrs. Higgs.” Freddy quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Miss Hyde,” Stephen told him. “Her name is Madelyn Hyde.”

“Hyde,” Freddy mused. “Do I know that name?”

“She’s from a disgraced offshoot of the Higginbotham-Hydes.”

“Good Lord,” Freddy said, his eyes wide. “What a miscreant bunch that is. If she’s from a disgraced offshoot I can only imagine.”

“It’s worse than you imagine.” Stephen gave him a brief version of Maddy’s history concerning the Higginbotham-Hydes.

Freddy was shaking his head before he was through. “What a thoroughly despicable bunch,” he said with feeling. “I shall have to renew my efforts to ruin them.” He began thrumming his fingers on the arm of the sofa. Stephen knew this meant he was plotting. “Although…” He paused and smiled at Stephen. “Never mind. So how are things going with her precarious situation? Has it been resolved?”

“There are others who are after her,” Stephen said. “She told us about a man at the Colonial Office of whom she has details of his perfidy through his association with her father. Although she’s only just told us.”

“Yes, well, that wasn’t your top priority,” Freddy drawled. “It’s only life or death and state secrets, apparently. Nothing compared to affairs of the heart.”

“You see,” Stephen said with satisfaction, “I knew you’d understand.”

“It would seem you need to understand the rudimentary aspects of more than one coupling,” Freddy told him matter-of-factly. “Pay attention. Do you need to take notes?”

For the next hour Freddy proceeded to fill a large gap in Stephen’s education.