The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian

Author:Cat Sebastian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-01-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Returning from his walk, Lawrence found Georgie in the study, tacking bolts of cloth to the walls.

“What the—”

“This felt will muffle the sound and give you some peace,” Georgie called over his shoulder.

Lawrence trailed a finger over the lengths of coarse dark material that now lined his walls. It was true; he could hardly hear the commotion downstairs.

“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for thinking of it.” Thank you for knowing, he wanted to say. He shouldn’t be surprised that Georgie knew how much Lawrence valued his silence.

Georgie spared him only a glance by way of recognition. “The maids will clean this part of the house on Wednesday afternoons, during which time you may make yourself scarce or scowl silently or whatever pleases your lordship. Regardless, I will be present to ensure that none of your more lethal equipment is interfered with.”

This was less tolerable, but still Lawrence grunted his assent.

“When the child comes, dinner will be served in the dining parlor at six o’clock.”

No. “To hell with this—”

“It’s a meal, Lawrence. Not a ritual sacrifice. Just sit there and bear it. There will be one footman present. If you play your cards right, the only people you’ll have to see all day are your son and one or two servants, both of whom will be instructed not to be alarmed if you act like a perfect savage.”

Lawrence shut his eyes and drew in a breath. He did not want to be forced out of his sanctuary; he did not want to sit at a long table and endure the stares of servants. He couldn’t conceive of a single sane thing he could say to Simon, and the very idea of seeing the child he had last held as an infant threatened to short circuit his brain. “And you,” he said.

“Pardon?”

“I will also see you.”

Georgie looked startled, which was to say that his usual mask of cool composure slipped for the merest instant. “I thought you didn’t mind me. Not two hours ago it was ‘I need you, Georgie,’ unless you only said those things to be gallant?”

Lawrence was so astonished by this image of himself being gallant that he let out a crack of laughter. And then he saw the answering smile on Georgie’s face, lighting it up like a candle.

“You caught me out,” he said, trying for a light tone, “telling falsehoods to flatter everyone around me.”

Something shifted in Georgie’s expression. “No, I daresay falsehood and flattery are not your abiding sins.” He returned his attention to the felt.

There was an emphasis on the your that made Lawrence want to say that it was all right, that Georgie’s secrets didn’t matter, whatever they were. But he still didn’t know the exact nature of the man’s secrets, and he was afraid that by asking he would ruin everything between them, so he said nothing. Instead he came up behind Georgie, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re doing the right thing,” Georgie said, putting his hand over Lawrence’s.

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