“How has the manor been treating you, Mr. Abram?”
Tennyson said. He was keeping himself quite level, although it seemed like it was forced and something wasn’t quite right. It most likely wasn’t, since Oliver had been called here, and he was definitely one of the numerous things the Minister had to deal with. And of course, Oliver’s never failing sixth sense was a good way to judge the situation.
“I am getting used to everything. Thank you. “
“Do you have everything you need?”
“I do, yes. As I’ve mentioned, everyone’s been very helpful. “
“Indeed, they all are.“
Except for you, Oliver almost heard it behind the Lord’s look.
Tennyson crossed his arms.
“I’ll be direct, because I am quite occupied as it is. I don’t see you doing what you’ve been hired for. “
Oliver wanted to protest, or try to persuade the man otherwise, but he knew it would be in vain. The Lord was right.
“My son is quite difficult. And I understand you’ll need more time to get him to...request for your attendance. But I am also not entirely fond of waiting, Mr. Abram.“
“Yes, I’d assume so, Sir.“
“I have spoken to him a few times, but as always he refuses to listen to me. However, I dare say I know him very well, he’ll come to you eventually. “
Tennyson sat down behind his desk “Neverttheless, try to make yourself look more… don’t know, useful to him.”
“I’ll do my best. “
“I will have another word with him, but make sure you see to it. “
The Lord picked up the papers on his desk and said “You can leave, but keep in mind next time I call you here, I’d expect you to tell me what my son is doing. As you’ve noticed, he’s rarely even home in the evening, let alone during the day. “
“I have Sir.“
“Thank you. That will be all Abram. I’m expecting an important visitor, so you’re free to go.“
Oliver tipped his head and exited Fernsby’s study.
****
On the next evening, Lord Callum called for Oliver. Oliver had been reading something in his room when one of the maids came to fetch him.
He hadn’t seen the Lord for days, and he honestly didn’t know what he could’ve been called for at that time of the evening. Tennyson had most likely spoken to his son, although Oliver was surprised it had worked.
He thought the Lord might need his help getting dressed, which was also highly unlikely, considering he obviously didn’t need anyone for that.
When he entered the room, Oliver found the young lord sitting upright in his chair, that same one Oliver had first noticed the moment he’d entered the room for the first time.
The Lord was in a dark, neat suit, as usual. Oliver concluded that was the Lord’s preferred color.
There was a half-empty glass next to him on the table.
Callum closed the book he was reading and looked at Oliver. His eyes had a very strange spark to them; it almost made Oliver feel uncomfortable. The way Lord Tennyson's look had that very first day they'd met.
"You've called for me," Oliver said and nodded to the lord.
"I have."
The short retort sounded angry, even though Callum’s posture didn't give away the mood the man was in.
Or he was most probably trying not to show much of it. Oliver glanced at the bottle on the small table by the chair and noted it was almost empty. The Lord didn’t seem to be drunk, yet one never knew.
Callum got up and put the book on the chair carefully. He finished the drink and threw the empty glass in the fireplace.
The crystal shattered and its tiny pieces scattered everywhere. It came out of nowhere and Oliver tried not to flinch at the absolutely unexpected action.
"Now help me get ready." The lord instructed and left the room. Oliver just stood there for only a second, before he shook his head and headed for the other room.
****
They went to the dressing room where the bath had already been prepared.
Lord Callum began unbuttoning his jacket.
"Allow me, Sir." Oliver approached, but the other man pulled back. "No, no need."
Oliver was again beginning to wonder what he was doing here at all and took an unnecessary look around.
The room was small and warm. There was something cozy about it.
Just like the Lord's bedroom.
Callum began taking his clothes off slowly, the entire time his cold blue eyes didn't leave Oliver's.
Oliver had the wildest idea the man was doing all of this on purpose- and most likely he was, just to provoke him.
To get it back to his father for making him accept the servant he didn’t want.
But Oliver had been in more difficult situations, and that included situations with naked men as well, so knew what he had to do.
He wasn't planning on giving up so easily and letting himself be fooled.
Oliver also knew another thing- that this was either the beginning of a dangerous game they were both going to play or a terrible misstep;
Silently, as no one could risk making the first move, or saying anything out loud. Or there wasn't any first move to be made and Oliver was entirely wrong and had miscalculated the looks and the way Callum was regarding him now very,very bad.
The Lord slowly stripped his shirt sleeves and unbuttoned his trousers. He let them drop on the floor and stepped away from the pile, only in his briefs.
Oliver still struggled with being told what to do and that was one of those cases when he wanted to do something entirely different from what he was ordered but remained where he was.
He let his gaze travel slowly over the other man's body.
Callum was slim, but his muscles were very well defined.
Unlike Oliver, he had never needed to do labor outside, so his skin wasn't touched by the sun. It was so white it made his hair look even brighter and for that one second, Oliver wanted nothing else but to see the red strands spilled on his sheets. The vision appeared in his mind so quick and vivid Oliver almost flinched.
Callum's chest was smooth, and red hairs formed a thin line under his belly button. It disappeared under the underwear the lord still had on.
Oliver noticed a few bruises marring the skin on Callum's ribs. Some were purple, others had started turning yellow-ish at the edges.
"I fell from a horse," Callum said after he'd most likely followed Oliver's gaze.
"Which horse, my Lord?"
"Pardon?" Callum asked surprised at the unexpected question. He pinned Oliver with his eyes and this time Oliver returned the look.
He could play this game as well.
The Lord hesitated for only a moment before he said
"You don't need to just stand there, have a seat. " Callum pointed at the chair against the bathtub and Oliver decided he had nothing better to do anyway but sit.
"How old are you?" The question almost caught Oliver off guard.
"Uh...28, Sir."
"I'm standing naked in front of you and you are still expected to use formal language with me."
The Lord frowned.
Something unreadable passed his beautiful face.
It was there only for a second, then he quickly gained back his composure and added "Yet, I'm not the best example of the gentry."
He turned his back to Oliver and stripped the remaining clothes he had on.
Oliver looked away and the lord got in the tub. Hadn't he known better, Oliver would say Callum seemed nervous.
That would be very unexpected, however, considering the casual attitude the young lord constantly tried to display.
And maybe it was him who was nervous, in fact, Oliver wasn't exactly sure which it was.
Once in the water, the lord started washing his body slowly.
Oliver was very aware of the man, the way his outgrown hair was now dripping wet, small water drops falling down Callum's neck.
Oliver imagined licking them, tasting the skin, and clenched his teeth. Maybe this was more difficult than he'd thought.
"You served under Charles, correct?"
"I did."
"For how long?"
"Less than a year, My Lord."
Oliver said and leaned in the chair, hoping he looked indifferent to the sight of Callum's wet chest.
The lord ran a hand over his hair and closed his eyes.
“What did you do to get dismissed?”
“I wasn’t.”
“You weren’t?”
“No..I was…”
Callum’s hand moved lower then, over his chest, and then even lower, until it sank under the soapy water.
Damn him and the display he's making of this, Oliver thought and finished after a probably awkward delay
“I was recommended here. “
“By Charles?”
“Yes, Sir.“
"So you must know your previous employer is one of my father's most serious political rivals, despite their friendship." Callum was saying when he tipped his head back and bit his lip.
What is he playing at, Oliver thought.
What was worse - Oliver had nothing against the idea of being part of the play. To hell with it, he could hang, it didn't matter.
Be damned what he was supposed to do and why.
Oliver would get up and make this mouth do other things. His imagination was suddenly running wild, with images of his hands all over Callum, when the Lord asked.
"Did he?"
Callum was now looking lazily at him and Oliver sat straighter in his chair.
"Excuse me, My Lord?"
Callum's lips curled at the edges.
"Hm, I see." He took the soap and began slowly tracing it over his hands. "By the way, won't you ask me why I'm inquiring about your previous work?"
Another question Oliver hadn't expected.
"I don't see how that matters," he said simply, following every move Callum was making." But if you need to know something, you can always ask me."
Callum smiled again and Oliver added "Sir ."
The lord left the soap at the stand nearby and propped his elbow on the tub. He tilted his head, resting it on his palm, still watching him.
He was gorgeous, even now. Especially now and Olived didn't want to think of anything else. The Lord’s naked, wet body in front of him. And him, touching the smooth skin.
Which was another unexpected, unstoppable image that was passing his mind, but he just couldn’t do anything about it.
Everything was happening in a very odd way, not only about that moment, but everything since the very beginning, and Oliver paused.
It was right then and there that realization hit him.
If he failed- and chances seemed to be increasing with every second he spent here- this handsome, cunning, and spoiled lord was going to be the reason behind it.
"Fetch me a towel." The lord's voice traveled in the dressing room and sobered Oliver up.
He got up and Callum took the soft towel while he was still in the tub.
"You are dismissed."
Oliver gave a curt nod and exited the room, leaving Callum who'd propped his head on the tub, his expression back to being unreadable and the rest of the world completely lost to him.
He was walking outside in the sunny garden. An orange-yellow cat was lazily sleeping by a nicely cut bush and the furry ball registered his presence by only moving an ear.Oliver searched his pockets for a cigarette, although he wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to light one here.He didn’t see anyone around, so he decided it was safe enough and he could afford it.Oliver was just taking a cigarette out when he heard someone come. And he always heard when someone was coming his way.He turned and saw it was the girl he'd meet the other day- Della. She was carrying something in her hands, coming his way.The girl glanced at the cigarette in his hand and Oliver said"Sorry, I just...""Oh, no, please, don’t mind me. "He put the roll back in his pocket, hoping he won’t crash it and h
"And then the prince stabbed the big monster!" The child exclaimed, full of wonder and Jenny laughed."Percy, you are the monster my nephew's talking about? ""You ain't funny, Jenny. "Percy made a face at her and she pretended she didn’t see it and ignored him. Oliver hadn’t told anyone he’d seen them in the study, but he’d spent the day with Percy and the kid again, so he’d hinted they should probably be more careful. He’d saved the details around the fact he wasn’t the only one who had seen them that day.Obviously, the Lord didn’t care in any way for any of this, but Oliver suspected Thomas wouldn’t be so indifferent if he found out. And if the butler didn’t like something, that meant trouble for all of them.Oliver got up and said "Thank you for the dinner, Adelia. I'll be heading up. "
They played a few rounds during which Callum was winning to Zhi's increasing annoyance. Oliver's head was starting to spin, even though he hadn't drunk that much.Callum, on the other hand, seemed perfectly sober, even though he was much ahead with his brandy compared to the others. They were given new pairs of cards when Xiao grunted. ."Go to Hell, you Red devil." The man threw his cards and slammed a first on the table. "Enough."He got up abruptly and told Callum it's time to go."Wait for me with the girls, or wherever you see fit and I'll be back in an hour. "His master instructed. The four men got up, leaving all the money on the table and headed towards the back room.No one tried to take whatever they had left, and Oliver decided those people were more dangerous than they seemed and no one would risk taking anything from them.One of the girls climbed on top of the other, still on the floor and Oliver got up.
"I will need you to escort me to a place. We have to get a present for a lady." Callum was saying while putting his hat on.Oliver eyed him and the Lord said "A real one, not like the ones you met the other night."Oliver tried not to linger too much on the we part. He had thought way too much of him and Callum together anyway.The carriage took them to Savile road.Callum was greeting everyone on his way, smiling politely and Oliver had to admit- the man seemed to fit everywhere.Despite his scandalous behavior and cheating on cards, he looked like a real gentleman when he wanted to.The tailor took his measures and they arranged to meet later next week for final preparations. Normally, noblemen had the tail
Oliver hadn't seen Callum in the past few days as he and Liam had had to leave for Winchester to settle family matters.Oliver wasn't provided any further details and Callum had told him to use the time as he pleased. He wrote a letter to his sister and put it in an envelope. He was planning on giving it to his friend when they met the following week.It was past eight and the dinner was over, so Oliver was sitting in his usual company in the kitchen, the white Irish hound playing with something he'd found on the ground."This wretched ball coming has us all working our butts off." Jenny said and poured tea for each of them."And it takes ages to prepare everything, My God. ""I won't tolerate such language, even in the kitchens."Adelia scolded her.From the time Oliver had spent here, he'd gathered Adelia seemed harsh at first glance, but the woman was much softer on the inside once a man got to know her. Thomas was a different matter, though."Sorry, madam. Bu
"There's only one room left, upper floor.""Thank you," Callum said. "I think we will manage. Besides, we don't have much of a choice, as there isn't anything much nearby.""What do you mean only one room?" Oliver interrupted. The innkeeper looked at him as if he was mentally challenged."If there's really no other way..." Callum smiled and looked at Oliver. "I hope it's no trouble for you, too?""No." Oliver said shortly."I will need a name and the pay for the room.""Gregory." Oliver said "I will wait outside. ""Excuse my cousin," he heard Callum explaining to the man while he was fixing the paper works and Oliver almost pushed people out of his way.Oliver was smoking outside when Callum came to pick him up. He sat down next to him, and Oliver resisted the urge to get up."I know it's inconvenient, but I couldn't come up with anything else.""You don't need to apologize to your servant. ""I stil
Oliver was taking a walk outside, enjoying the sunny day before the soft cotton clouds had turned into something else.He tried to guess how many hours it would take before rain poured when he saw Cian running fast towards him.The dog jumped as soon as it was close to him.It was so tall its paws almost reached Oliver’s shoulders when it was standing up.Hadn’t Oliver been that big, the animal would’ve pushed him down to the ground.“Cian, what’s gotten to you?’The dog slipped its paws and ran away. It crossed a short distance and turned to see if Oliver was coming after him.“You want me to come?”The dog turned and began running again.Oliver thought it had found something, or a small animal had been caught in one of the traps that were set by the hunters in the nearby woods, which were also part of the estate.He was already leaving the garden
"I didn't expect to get a message from you so soon." John put his glass down on the table."And I thought you'd be happier to see me.""I don't know, Ollie. Meeting you usually means trouble.""Oh, come on. ""Well, that's why people stay away from you. "Oliver made a face even though he knew his friend had been joking."Sorry, that was a bad one. But you just bring bad luck, mate.""Since when?" Oliver asked and crossed his hands."Since that time they almost killed us in, where was it?...""Manchester?""No, Manchester was not that bad. ""Yes, true." Oliver said thoughtfully and John f