Page 12 of Introducing Mr. Winterbourne

“He took it upon himself to learn since he thought—sensibly I suppose—that as an aspiring politician, he needed to be able to conduct himself with ease in Society. For my part, I didn’t see the need—it’s not as though I have any great desire to court a young lady.”

“Why not?”

The question popped out before Lysander had thought about it. But he couldn’t find it in himself to regret it. The shift in expressions on Freeman’s face—alarm, embarrassment and finally an odd sort of defiance—were too fascinating. Taken together with the incident at Monsieur Gris’s ... well, it presented some interesting possibilities.

Freeman lifted his half-full glass and drained it. He set it down with a decisive click, took a deep breath and said firmly, “I am not looking for a wife, Winterbourne.”

Just that.

A dozen questions teemed in Lysander’s mind. What did Freeman mean? Merely that he was a confirmed bachelor? Or was there something more to his confession? Could it be that Freeman was like Lysander? That he was more interested in his own sex than the fairer variety? Lysander’s heart began to race at the thought, and his mouth grew dry. He thought of Freeman lunging at him with his blade, his muscular body taut and lean, expression concentrated, and ... Lysanderwantedhim.

The wanting was like hunger, a yearning that went beyond mere desire, toppling over into pure need.

And it was that, finally, that made Lysander speak, that made him put caution to one side and utter the truth, or one truth anyway.

“I am not looking for a wife either.”

Chapter 6

Despite his hatredof dancing, and of socialising with peers of the realm, Adam found that he was practically bouncing with anticipation when he left his rented townhouse that evening for Lady Prentice’s ball.

He had parted company with Lysander Winterbourne an hour before, so they could each don their evening clothes, and now he was going to pick up Winterbourne in his carriage.

It had been a long and very strange day. Those afternoon calls had been tortuous, but they’d been worth it for what came after—first being forced to revise his opinion of Lysander Winterbourne, and then—

“I am not looking for a wife either.”

Was he reading too much into those words? Too much into the odd sincerity in Winterbourne’s frank blue gaze?

The moment had passed. They’d gone back to their dinners, both a little breathless, but it felt to Adam as though something had changed after that cautious, tentative confession. That a fragile trust was growing between them.

He hoped to God he wasn’t imagining it. It was dangerous for a man like him to bare himself to others. But today, there had been moments when he’d met Lysander Winterbourne’s gaze, and it felt like the man had seen right inside him, seenAdam. And it had made him feel as though their meeting, this day, tonight, all of it had been meant to be.

Alone in the carriage, Adam shook his head at himself. He was in danger of losing his head over Lysander Winterbourne, and the worst thing was, that admission didn’t frighten him as it should. It made him feel exhilarated and alive, excited for their next meeting.

Ah, God.