Page 100 of Restored

Henry began undressing again, and after a moment, Kit said tentatively, “How was George?”

Henry’s expression grew pensive. “Sad,” he said. He sat down on the mattress, clad only in his drawers now. “I feel as though he has been sad for a long time, Kit. Sometimes I wonder if it is events, or his nature.” He paused. “Or both.”

“This Oliver,” Kit said. “He is the one whose father caught them when they were boys?”

Henry nodded. “He’s marrying. An arranged match. The estate needs money, and the father of the bride wants her married to a titled gentleman.” He shrugged. “It’s common enough.”

That was certainly true.

“Perhaps George should expand his horizons,” Kit said gently. “A stint in town might do him good. Or a trip abroad.”

“He avoids London like the plague—he voluntarily exiled himself here as soon as he respectably could after university, and it’s nigh on impossible to get him to leave.” Henry sighed. “He hides it well, Kit, but he’s very shy.”

Kit nodded. He’d guessed as much.

Getting up on his knees, he shuffled closer, pressing his front to Henry’s back and kissing the nape of his neck.

“It’ll be all right,” he said soothingly. “He has you—and there’s no better father in all England.”

Henry huffed a laugh. “Hardly,” he said drily.

“The best,” Kit repeated, insistent, pressing more kisses to Henry’s neck, and all the way around the shell of his ear. “Kindest, most affectionate, and tender.”

“Tender, eh?” Henry said, squirming a little with pleasure. He twisted, catching Kit up in his arms, making him shriek as he rolled them both till Kit ended up lying on top of him, giggling hysterically.

“Lout,” he accused breathlessly.

“What?” Henry exclaimed, feigning offence. “But you said I was the kindest, most tender—”

“All right, I spoke too soon!” Kit gasped. His stomach hurt from laughing, and his cheeks ached from smiling so hard. His heart felt good.

They gazed at one another, smiling like lovesick fools, and as the bubbling mirth melted away, Kit felt the warmth of a deeper, quieter joy.

“Kiss me, Henry,” Kit said.

And Henry obliged.

The End