Page 5 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

“No, of course not,” Lysander interrupted, offering a quick smile. He glanced at the longcase clock. “Oh heavens, is that the time? I really do have to be going.”

He forced himself not to rush away, eating the rest of the breakfast he no longer wanted and drinking his tea. Then he stood unhurriedly and bid Jonny a good morning.

But Jonny still looked faintly troubled as he took his leave, and Lysander knew he’d not really convinced him he hadn’t misspoken.

Chapter 3 - Adam

When Adam entered thebreakfast room, it was to find Jonny poking unenthusiastically at some coddled eggs.

“Has Lysander been and gone?” he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Jonny looked up from his reading. He was still in that preposterous dressing gown.

“Yes,” he said. “Good Lord, that boy can eat! I suppose it’s all that hideous exercise he does. Days on end in the saddle.” He shuddered.

“Hmm.” Adam helped himself to a kipper and toast and sat down. A silver coffeepot waited at his place. His small staff knew his preferences well. A good pot of coffee in the morning and privacy to eat without footmen hanging all over him at mealtimes.

“Must have thighs like iron,” Jonny went on in a dreamy tone.

“Pardon?” Adam said.

“Lysander,” Jonny said, biting his lip dramatically. “With all that riding.”

Adam couldn’t help but laugh at that. Jonny was incorrigible. “He is...rather beautifully formed,” he agreed with a grin.

“Darling he’ssublime. I can see why you’re smitten.” He paused. “Youaresmitten, aren’t you?”

Adam stared at his kipper for a long moment, then he glanced up. “Yes. Completely.”

Jonny beamed and clapped his hands together. “I knew it!”

Adam sighed. “I’m not sure he feels the same way.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Jonny waved a careless hand at Adam. “It’s obvious he adores you. You’ve only to see the way he looks at you. It’s nauseating, frankly.”

Adam snorted, though a pathetic little part of him wanted to dig deeper. Wanted to say,how does he look at me?He resisted the urge.