Page 5 of The Labours of Lord Perry Cavendish

Adam shrugged. “That would be my guess. Certainly as far as men are concerned. Though he might have tupped half the women in Derbyshire, for all I know.”

“No wonder he seemed so buttoned-up earlier,” Jonny mused. Then he paused, eyeing Adam. “And he does understand about you and Lysander?”

“Oh yes,” Adam said drily. “He spied us kissing last Christmas—that was what prompted him to confess to Lysander that he prefers men too. Before that, Lysander hadn’t the least idea.”

“That was months ago,” Jonny pointed out. “For all you know, he might have got up the courage to expand his experience since then, especially now that he knows about you two. It’s so much easier once you know other people in the same boat, don’t you think?”

Adam shook his head. “Apparently not, according to Lysander. I think half the trouble is that Perry still hero-worships him—not that Lysander can see it—but I rather wonder if Lysander’s given Perry some idealised notions that are holding him back.”

“Well,” Jonny said. “If that’s the case, it’s just about the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. We really must do something about it, don’t you think?”

Adam raised his brows. “No, Jonny, I don’t. Sometimes people are best left to find their own way in their own time. I expect Perry will get there soon enough.”

Jonny frowned at that. “It doesn’t look like it to me. Don’t you think he’d benefit from a little gentle encouragement from his friends?”

Adam met his gaze. “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, then no. Neither Lysander nor I will be offering anyassistanceto Perry, thank you very much.”

“So possessive,” Jonny said, shaking his head and chuckling softly.

“Guilty as charged,” Adam said unapologetically.

“That wasn’t what I meant anyway,” Jonny said. “I just meant—you know, talking him through what’s involved. Perhaps introducing him to a nice chap or two.”

Adam’s brows shot up at that. “You, you mean? I thought you’d sworn off men for a while.”

“I have,” Jonny said quickly. “I didn’t mean me!”

Adam eyed him suspiciously for a few moments. “Heisyour type.”

“He is,” Jonny agreed, “but as you say, I’ve sworn off any more entanglements for a while. I have to get out of the habit of throwing myself at every chap who seems like he might conceivably suit me. There’s only so much heartbreak a fellow can take.”

Adam frowned. “Stephen Hillary isn’t worth being heartbroken over,” he said. “I don’t know why you stuck with him for so long. He dimmed all your brightness.”

Jonny smiled wanly. He was glad that was how Adam saw it, but the horrible truth was, being with Stephen had exposed things about Jonny’s character that had made him dislikehimself. Even now, he cringed to remember that last awful,stupidargument they’d had—over nothing more than Jonny not wanting to go to a supper party.

“All I said was that I wanted us to be alone for one evening!”

“That was it this time, Jonny, but what about all the other times? Everything is about whatyouwant. You want and you want and you want, and it’s bloody exhausting!”

Jonny never wanted to be the man he’d been with Stephen ever again, but perhaps that was just how he was when he was paired up with someone? He did like to do things his way, it was true, and he had to admit, he could be demanding company. He craved affection and reassurance, and while Stephen had quite liked that at the beginning—at least insofar as it led to frequent bed sport—he was not a man for tender words. Perhaps Jonny should have just accepted that, but hecouldn’t. He needed some small signs of affection from his lover, at least in private. And yes, he knew he was a bloody hypocrite because as soon as he began painting, he forgot all about Stephen, and everyone else. Nothing existed apart from the work.

“We’re better men apart,” Jonny said at last.

“Youare,” Adam said stoutly. “Hillary’s still an ass.”

Jonny gave a rueful chuckle, and for the next few minutes, they drank their wine in companionable silence.

After a while, Jonny said hesitantly, “Perhaps I should offer Cavendish my friendship. My wise counsel, as it were.” He cleared his throat. “Rather than my arse, I mean.”

Adam sputtered out a laugh at that. “Elegantly put, my dear.”

“Thank you,” Jonny said. “What do you think, though?”

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Adam replied gently. “More than anything, I think he needs a friend—someone who isn’t Lysander.”

“Perhaps I should paint him,” Jonny said. “He is rather glorious, and that would give us a chance to spend some time together and become friends.”

Just then, the door swung open, and Cavendish himself walked in. He paused uncertainly in the doorway for a moment, before entering.