The Earl's Scandalous Bargain by Merry Farmer

Author:Merry Farmer [Farmer, Merry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Merry Farmer

Chapter 13

Reese’s body still ached and his head throbbed just a bit from his fall as the train he and Freddy had taken to London rolled into St. Pancras Station the following morning. But balanced against the fact that he’d had the best night’s sleep he’d managed in years with Freddy’s arms around him, it was a burden he could bear.

Slightly less bearable was the way Freddy barely spoke to him from the time he shook him awake before dawn and ordered him back across the hall to his own room to avoid suspicion from the servants, to the moment they took their seats on the train. Freddy had been quiet at breakfast, frowned more than smiled as they packed up and traveled to the Bedford train station, and was nearly silent on the entire train journey to London.

“You’re more than welcome to stay at Howsden House,” Reese finally burst, eager for Freddy to stay with him, as the train slowed. “There’s plenty of room. The marchioness’s chamber has been vacant for all these years now, and even though it adjoins my dressing room, I don’t think anyone would bat an eyelash if—”

“Henrietta and Fergus have returned from Ireland for the election,” Freddy cut him off, standing to fetch his bag from the rack above them as the train lurched to a stop. “I’m eager to catch up with them.”

Reese let out a tight breath and watched Freddy, disappointment squeezing his heart. Freddy had been so distant with him during the journey that anyone would think they were riding in a crowded third-class car instead of a private, first-class one.

Reese stood, reaching for his bag, but as soon as he moved it to the seat, he rested a hand on Freddy’s shoulder. “I don’t want us to part like this.”

“Like what?” Freddy blinked at him, doing a poor job of keeping his expression neutral.

“We know where we’ve been and we know where we’re going,” he said, cryptic, but hopefully clear enough for Freddy to catch his meaning.

“Do we know?” Freddy asked, scooting toward the compartment door.

“Yes,” Reese said without hesitation, meeting and holding Freddy’s eyes.

“And what if I don’t want to go there?” Freddy did an unfortunately good job of holding his own.

“You do, darling,” Reese said, keeping his voice low. He brushed the side of Freddy’s face with his fingers, darting a sidelong glance to the compartment window to make certain the disembarking passengers rushing past weren’t spying on them. “I could feel it in the way you held me last night and I can feel it now.”

For one moment, tension radiated off of Freddy and his jaw was hard. Then he blew out a breath and his shoulders sank. “I’m too tired to face this right now, Reese. I just want to go home to my sister. And I still can’t shake the feeling that my…company is part of the bargain for Silverstone’s salvation. I’m just not ready for it.”

Reese opened his mouth and swayed forward, but before

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