Page 3 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

“Don’t be a brat,” he told Jonny firmly. “As and when Lysander has time to pose for you, I’m sure he’ll let you know.”

Jonny pouted again, which made Lysander chuckle, and the tension dissipated.

But Adam was left with a queer ache in his chest that wouldn’t go away.

Chapter 2 - Lysander

Once Jonny had left, still pouting, Lysander got out of bed and donned his own, far less spectacular dressing gown.

“I’d better get going.” He looked at Adam, who was staring into the middle distance, lost in thought. “Shall I see you downstairs?”

“Sorry, what?” Adam blinked and glanced his way.

Lysander headed for the door. “I’m going to get dressed now. Shall I see you downstairs for breakfast?”

Adam shook his head. “I’ll eat later. I need to shave.” He rubbed at the dark stubble on his cheek.

Lysander smiled fondly. “I like you unshaven. You look...disreputable.”

Adam’s mouth quirked. “All right, I’ll leave off shaving tomorrow but today I need to call on Mr. Dawson, so there’s no helping it.”

“Spoilsport,” Lysander said, by way of a parting comment and slipped out, Adam’s soft laughter following him.

He dressed quickly in his working clothes—a well-made but hard-wearing suit of brown worsted and his favourite riding boots—and made his way down to breakfast.

Jonny sat at the table, a newspaper spread out in front of him, cup of tea in hand. He glanced up and smiled, eyes twinkling with pleasure. “My, don’t you look handsome?”

He really was impossible to dislike.

“You’re very kind.” Lysander crossed the floor to the row of silver serving dishes on the sideboard and began heaping a plate with food. “But I can’t claim to match your splendour. That dressing gown must’ve cost the earth.”

“It did,” Jonny admitted. “And I adore it. I only wish I could wear it outside. Can you imagine me strolling down Park Lane like this?”

“I should pay to see it,” Lysander said, setting his plate down. “The ladies would be green with envy.”

Jonny laughed appreciatively, then looked at Lysander’s plate and grimaced. “Ugh. how can you eat all that first thing in the morning? I need at least three cups of tea before I can face a bite.”