Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch

Author:Lee Welch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: m/m romance, fantasy romance
Publisher: Lee Welch
Published: 2021-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Fenn took a deep breath.

“Well, it’s this: the first time we had dinner, you apologised for Mandillo. Remember? You didn’t need to, but it was right decent. And I told you I’d already left. And I had. I’d already lost my home. Reckon you ought to know why.”

“Oh?”

“Aye.” Fenn closed his eyes and said, in a bit of a rush, “Truth is, I went to prison. Two years. For stealing. And after that I couldn’t stay on Mandillo. Couldn’t face the way people looked at me. My Mam and Da were dead by then. So, I went to the mainland and I been here ever since.” Fenn opened his eyes. Waited, wincing slightly.

“Ah,” Morgrim said.

“Right.” Fenn waited some more, but nothing else was forthcoming. “That all you going to say? ‘Ah’? Don’t worry you none? Me being a thief? An ex-convict?”

“Fenn. I already knew.”

Fenn opened his mouth and closed it again. Because of course Morgrim had made enquires. And Fenn had wasted his time agonising over that confession for weeks. Like a right dolt. And he was relieved, of course. But there was also a small part of him that wished Morgrim could have heard it from him first.

“Yes,” Morgrim was saying. “I couldn’t have you staying here, likely meeting Aramella, meeting Jasper, without knowing a bit more about you.”

“Right. Well. And since you haven’t kicked me out, I’m guessing it don’t worry you too much, then?”

“It was more than twenty years ago. You’ve not stolen anything since. Well, not and gone to prison for it.”

“I haven’t.”

“Well, then. You’re hardly a hardened criminal.” Morgrim glanced at him. “But I would like to know, because I can’t imagine you stealing anything. Did you? Did you do it?

“Aye. I did. Bottle of wine and a bottle of brandy. I took them, all right.”

“Oh.” Morgrim gave him a sharp look. “I thought there must have been some mistake.”

“No. No mistake,” Fenn said, dully.

“Was it because it was drink? Couldn’t you help yourself?”

“No. I just wanted them.”

“But, Fenn. Why?”

“Maybe I was just a thief. Or an uppity servant what thought his master’s property was his own. That was what the magistrate thought. Annoyed him, I did.”

“I don’t think either of those things are true.” Morgrim took his hand again and squeezed it. “I should like to hear the circumstances.”

“You sure? When I told the magistrate, he got angry. Said I was trying to justify my behaviour.” Fenn could hear the old anger in his voice and added, “And that was true, I expect.”

“Can I judge for myself?”

“Aye, you got a right, I reckon. What with having me in your house. And, you know...this.”

Fenn removed his hand from Morgrim’s. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t take any tender gestures just now. This was going to be hard enough. He had to hold onto himself.

“Well, you know I was a groom on Mandillo. But you asked if I’d ever worked for any ladies or gentlemen and I said no. Didn’t want you putting two and two together, see, and asking about me.

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