Page 7 of The Marquess and the Earl (The Unlikely Betrothal #3)
Chapter 7
T here was nothing better than waking up with George in his arms. It wasn’t a luxury that they might be afforded regularly, depending on where they each needed to be, so Nate would revel in it as long as he could. George wasn’t wrong to be frustrated that they had to be so careful in how and when they expressed their love for each other.
Nate stared at George’s head resting on his chest, wishing he never had to move from where they lay. He had never thought he’d find love the first time, much less a second time. He held him tighter. After the devastation of such a loss the first time, his heart wouldn’t survive if something were to happen to George .
George stirred and shifted his chin up to meet his gaze. “Good morning,” he said, his eyes only half open.
“I must return to my chamber before either of our valets should knock.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
Nate groaned at the realization that George’s cock was hard and resting on his thigh.
“I told you, I have a plan.”
“I’m listening,” George said, running his fingers through the hair on Nate’s chest.
Nate’s cockstand made a tent out of the blanket, and it was going to be agony until he could return.
“You are going to tell your valet you don’t feel well and wish to rest today. Say it was the cold from the rain. Let him bring you a tray and fuss over you while I go down to breakfast.”
Confusion marred George’s face. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, after breakfast, I’ll make a show of having a megrim, thus needing to return to my chamber. At least if one of us dresses and goes downstairs, it would appear less suspicious. We shall each tell our valets we wish to rest and will ring when we have need of them. Then you are all mine.” Nate pressed his lips to George’s, not deepening the kiss, else he wouldn’t be able to remove himself from George’s bed .
When Nate pulled back, George began placing soft kisses on his chest, pulling a low groan from Nate. “You must stop, or I shan’t leave.”
“You had better go then,” George said, giving him the most tempting look.
Nate tossed the covers off himself and climbed out of the bed, turning to spread the blankets back over George. He grabbed his banyan and wrapped it around himself.
“I’m going to unlock your door so you don’t have to get out of bed when you ring for your valet.”
George nodded, and Nate crossed the room back to him and placed one more kiss on his lips. “I shall return as soon as I can.”
“See that you do,” George playfully returned.
After unlocking the door to George’s chamber, Nate quickly returned to his own room through the adjoining door and locked it behind him. He unlocked his own chamber door and rang for his valet. The sooner he got dressed and broke his fast, the sooner he could return.
Thompson arrived a few moments later. While Thompson shaved him, he hoped George forwent his own shave that morning. He had to push the thought aside, or his valet would surely be scandalized by his reaction. After his shave, Nate dressed and begrudgingly went downstairs to get it over with. At least he’d get to eat something, since he wasn’t certain when they would emerge from their chambers again.
At breakfast, Nate noted that Viscount Callan was seated with Lady Lily. He couldn’t hear the conversation that the two were having, but something about the way they glanced at each other made Nate pay closer attention. When they each thought the other wasn’t looking, he noted something in their expressions, which indicated there was affection between them, even if they weren’t ready to admit it to each other, or themselves, yet. Good for them.
At least Lady Lily wouldn’t be devastated when George decided not to offer for her after all. With that matter settled, he supposed he and George could discuss what each of their plans might be when they left the house party. It wasn’t as if Nate could move George into his home, or vice versa, as much as he wished that were the case.
Nate ensured he sat near his hosts during breakfast. He needed them to hear his request, hoping that it would aid the notion that he wasn’t feeling his best. When most of the guests had arrived, he flagged a footman down and asked his valet to be summoned to bring up a tisane to his chamber.
“Are you not feeling well, Lord Demming?” Lady Ockham asked .
“Just a bit of a megrim. I am certain that a bit more rest will be just the thing.”
“Be sure to ring if you need anything,” she replied. “Lord Knox isn’t feeling well this morning, either.”
Nate feigned indifference at her comment and rubbed his temple for good measure. He didn’t enjoy lying and sneaking around, but it was necessary until such a day that society might see matters of love differently. It was either walk away from George and a chance of happiness, or give into the need for the occasional ruse. He would always choose the latter.
“If you will excuse me, I shall return to my chamber. I hope to rejoin the group soon.” Another lie.
Once Nate reached the stairs, he grinned to himself. All he had to do was wait for Thompson to bring up the tisane, and then he could return to George. He entered his room and removed the clothing he had just donned. He slipped his banyan back around himself and tied it closed.
He sat in one of the chairs in his chamber, rapping his fingers on the armrest, waiting for Thompson to knock at the door. Minutes felt like hours, but the knock finally came.
“Enter.”
Thompson approached with a cup. “Here you are, my lord. ”
“Thank you. I am going to rest for a while and will ring for you when I feel like rejoining the party.”
Thompson gave him a quick bow and departed the room.
Nate quickly rose from his chair and crossed the room to lock the door. Finally. He set the cup down by the washbasin and made his way to the door that led to George. He unlocked it and opened the door, which pushed out into George’s room.
He poked his head into the room and came almost face to face with a man. Hell and damnation. The man assessed him, and Nate did his best to hide himself behind the door so the man might not notice that Nate had bare feet and only wore a banyan.
“I just wished to see if Lord Knox was all right as I heard he wasn’t feeling well from our hosts. I find I am suffering a megrim and thought perhaps there could be some sort of ailment going around.” Nate assumed the man was George’s valet based on his clothing and hoped he wouldn’t examine the story too closely. It really didn’t explain why a marquess would attempt to enter in Nate’s current state of dress, or lack thereof.
“He is resting, my lord.”
“Well, give him my best.”
Nate closed the door and locked it, not giving the man a chance to respond and hoping he heard the lock and assumed that would be the last of Nate entering his lordship’s chamber.
He paced his chamber, hoping George’s valet wasn’t a man prone to gossip. He also knew he couldn’t risk entering again without some kind of signal from George. If the man was still in there, there would be no acceptable excuse.
Nate waited for a quarter hour, continuing his constant pacing and hoping for a knock from George. After another half an hour, he worried he should do some kind of damage control. If he rejoined the party, perhaps that would dissuade any talk if there should be any. At least if he were downstairs mingling with guests and perhaps flirting with a few of the ladies, ones whom he knew wouldn’t favor him, no one could accuse him of having a tryst with a man upstairs.
A sigh escaped Nate’s lips. He should have considered that George’s valet could have been present. It was a foolish mistake and one that could cost them if he didn’t act quickly.
He reached for the bellpull to ring for Thompson. There was nothing else he could do. He had to do his best to ensure that even if the valet should say something, the rest of the house party would believe otherwise.
Thompson knocked, and Nate unlocked the door .
“I am ready to dress again. I am feeling much more the thing after a bit of rest.”
He dressed in the items Thompson sat out for him and let his valet help him back into his coats. Once dressed again, he departed from his chamber. When he passed by George’s door. His heart pained, longing to barge into his room. To hell with what anyone would have to say about it.
But he kept walking and when he arrived downstairs, he found that there was a group trip planned to visit the village. He groaned to himself. Not only were their plans for the day ruined, but he’d have to attend the trip and leave George behind at the house. He cursed under his breath since he only had himself to blame for attempting such a risky rendezvous.
Nate gathered with the other guests, joining Lady Preston and St. Albans as they all waited for a coach. Plastering his best polite smile on his face, he did his best not to look as irritated as he felt. It was going to be a very long day, indeed.