The Duke of Tremont

Chapter 13

Warning: unsafe sex

*********************************************************

The scene in the common room of Brian’s suite was a cozy one. Duchess Lindsay sat on the settee cradling baby Gus. Next to her sat Mel and on Mel’s other side was Deb. Michael, Ted, Ben, Justin, Carl, Daphne and even Emmett were all spread about the room as well. The large table was set for all of them to share a somewhat intimate dinner rather than dining in the great hall. Brian had gathered his advisors and family to discuss the message he had received from his brother, King Jonathan earlier that morning.

“Brian please tell us what is so important,” pleaded Lindsay, who knew a message had arrived from the King and was dying of curiosity.

“We will be having a visitor within the week;” said Brian; “actually several of them.”

“Who?” Asked Lindsay excitedly, always happy to entertain.

“My brother and his entourage shall be arriving shortly.”

“The king?” Asked Deb in horror as she jumped up; “when will he arrive? How many will be with him? Oh my I have so much to do! Carl, come help me, we need to get ready!”

Brian smiled fondly at the woman who had come to be a foster mother to him; “please calm down and sit down Deb. The place looks fine, you always keep it in tiptop condition and you know it.”

Mel looked at Brian shrewdly; “is there a reason for this sudden visit My Lord?”

She did not miss the uneasy glance Brian and Justin exchanged; “yes,” Brian answered, “that is why I’ve asked you all here. Apparently there may be some trouble brewing on our border.”

“The border of Pennington My Lord, or Tremont?” Asked Ted.

Brian ran a hand through his hair; “Tremont. The trouble it seems is stemming from Balybonne, the seat of my dear sister and her husband,” he stated sarcastically.

Lindsay narrowed her eyes, knowing her sister-in-law only all too well; “what kind of trouble?”

Brian sighed; “the messenger did not say. That is part of the reason why I called you all together here. You are the only ones I’m telling about this. If anyone asks the King is coming for Gus’ christening. We don’t want to start any rumors until we can find out the truth.”

Everyone nodded in assent and then Emmett spoke suddenly; “Your Highness, Westlake is in Balybonne. Could they be in danger?” He thought of his friends and family that lived at the only home he had ever known.

Once again Justin and Brian exchanged an unreadable glance; “we don’t know anything Emmett,” said Justin. “I’m sure they will all be fine though. Father is very capable of taking care of the holding.”

Emmett and Daphne both nodded at the truth of Justin’s statement, but all of them remained uneasy. Justin especially was not feeling very reassured by his own words because Brian had seemed so restless ever since they had met with the King’s man this morning. Justin’s musings were halted by a knock at the door.

Michael moved to open it and revealed Brian‘s manservant; “forgive the interruption My Lord,” the man addressed Brian, “but you have visitors. They claim to be relatives of Lord Justin.”

Brian looked to Justin who just shrugged; “bring them in James,” replied Brian. James left and Brian turned to Justin; “who would it be?”

Justin looked to Daphne and Emmett, but both of them looked just as puzzled as he; “I have no idea. No one sent word that they were coming.”

The door began to open again; “well I guess we shall soon find out,” said Brian.

James escorted a middle aged blond man and a young blond woman into the room. “Molly! Uncle Patrick!” Justin cried out as he ran to greet his sister and uncle, “what are you doing here? Why did you not tell me you were coming?”

“Oh Justin, I have missed you so,” cried Molly as she hugged her brother; “I’m sorry we didn’t send word, but mother all of a sudden decided to let me visit. She sent Uncle Patrick to escort me while father was out visiting the holdings. I believe she thought he would not let me come,” Molly laughed at her mother’s sneakiness.

Daphne approached the young woman and hugged her. Sensing there was more to the story than Molly knew she guided the young woman over to Lindsay to be formally introduced to the ladies and fawn over baby Gus.

Justin eyed Patrick; “uncle what is going on? It is not like my mother at all to deceive my father in such a manner.”

Patrick sighed and laid a hand on his nephew’s shoulder; “there is trouble afoot Justin, but we cannot speak of it in front of Molly. She does not know about what is happening at home and I would rather discuss it with you first before telling her.”

Justin looked panicked; “what kind of trouble? Is my family in danger?” He asked trying to keep his voice down.

Brian, who had remained silent, moved up behind Justin; “calm down Justin. Let us eat dinner and visit with your sister for a bit. After we send her off to get settled in with the ladies we will have a talk with Sir Patrick.” Brian’s eyes flicked up to Patrick’s in recognition; “will that suit you Patrick or are you tired from your trip? Your knee must be causing you some discomfort after such a ride, you should sit down.”

Patrick’s expression was unreadable as he replied; “yes it does hurt a bit, Highness, but I shall be fine,” he let Justin lead him to a chair; “I shall be happy to meet with you after dinner.”

Justin stared at both men; “you two know each other? How is that possible?”

Patrick shifted in his chair and Brian glanced at the floor quickly then let his eyes return his lover’s gaze; “surely you know that your uncle served my father for many years?”

Justin nodded dumbly; “yes, of course, but...”

His uncle cut him off briskly; “I served as a palace guard so I saw the Duke quite often as a child Justin, then after my injury I served as his weapons teacher briefly before I retired.”

Before Justin could say anything else Brian turned away quickly to address the room; “well, I am starving. Shall we have the servants bring dinner in? James, could you please let the kitchen staff know that we will have two extra for dinner tonight?”

“Right away My Lord.”

Justin watched his uncle and Brian covertly while everyone found their places around the table. He knew there was more to the story than they were revealing. Then Molly spoke to him and his attention was turned to catching up with his sister.

*********************************************************

“She has gone where?!” Father Ronald worked hard to not lose his composure.

“She went to Tremont to visit Justin;” replied Craig, “I will admit I’m not pleased that Janniver went behind my back, but what‘s done is done. I am sure the Duchess will watch out for her and Sir Patrick is with her; Bishop Grassi as well.”

“But My Lord;” pleaded the priest, “what of our plans?”

Craig tilted his head at Father Ronald and narrowed his eyes; “what of them Father? I cannot see how a few extra weeks will matter. Especially since my daughter’s birthday is still almost a month away.”

His tone brooked no argument and Father Ronald knew it would seem suspicious if he said any more. “Of course, you are right Lord Craig; a few weeks will not matter at all. If you will excuse me?”

When the door closed behind him he hurried quickly down the hall to find his nephew. When he finally found the boy flirting with one of the serving girls down by the kitchens he took him firmly by the arm and pulled him to a private corner of the hall. “I have an important message for the Duke and Duchess and I want you to deliver it personally.”

“What is wrong Uncle?” Asked Christopher.

The priest’s eyes glittered with anger and a touch of fear; “I’m afraid we will have to change our plan. Now go and ready yourself for the journey whilst I write the letter;” he dismissed the young man and stalked to his own room cursing the entire Taylor family all the while.

*********************************************************

Dinner went well and all the guests seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Justin could not help but notice that Brian and his uncle seemed more subdued than was usual for either of them.

Sir Patrick pushed away from the table; “that was an excellent meal,” he sighed contentedly; “my compliments to your kitchen My Lady,” he inclined his head to Lindsay.

“Oh I have nothing to do with it Patrick,” she laughed, “I’m afraid I’m rather dismal at household matters. It is all Deb’s doing.”

“Well then my compliments to you Lady Deb.”

Patrick bowed in her direction and she blushed from the compliment; “thank you Sir Patrick.”

He stood; “and now if you will excuse me I think I will move outside for a smoke.” He pulled a pipe from inside his tunic and made his way onto the balcony.

The rest of the group chatted quietly for awhile until Lindsay rose and declared it was time for the ladies to retire; “Molly perhaps you would not mind sharing a room with Daphne? With the King visiting we will be a bit short on space.”

“Oh that would be wonderful,” replied Molly as she exchanged smiles with Daphne.

Brian stood suddenly; “I think I will get some air,” he rose and quickly went to the balcony.

“I will come...” Justin started to rise, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

“Let them be for a moment,” said Lindsay quietly to Justin with a knowing look in her eyes.

“What is going on My Lady?” Justin asked almost with a hint of desperation in his voice.

“It is not a story for me to tell Justin;” she kissed him on the cheek; “you must ask Brian. Good night.”

Justin slumped in his seat and tried to join in the conversation of the remaining men seated at the table. His eyes were stationed on the entrance to the balcony the whole time.

*********************************************************

Brian approached the older man who had seated himself on one of the stone benches. He thought to himself that Patrick had aged well and was still a very handsome man.

“It is good to see you again my friend;” Brian said quietly making Patrick jump a bit in surprise.

He gathered himself quickly; “I did not think it would be,” he replied without turning around.

Brian looked puzzled and moved in front of Patrick, leaning back against the railing of the balcony as he spoke; “why would it not be good to see an old friend and one of my beloved teachers.”

Patrick snorted; “how can you, of all people, say that Brian? After what I did to you?”

“Forgive me Patrick, but what in the hell are you talking about?”

“Brian please don’t play games with me. You know perfectly well what I am talking about,” he lowered his voice to a whisper; “Christ, I practically molested you.” Patrick drew back in surprise when Brian began to laugh heartily. “Why are you laughing? This is not funny.”

“Oh, but it is Patrick. You thinking that you molested me is very funny indeed. You can’t molest the willing my friend and I was a very willing pupil.”

“You were hardly more than a child. It was wrong and I never should have let it happen.”

“Apparently your advancing years have dimmed your memory of the situation;” Brian said wryly, “as I recall it was I who initiated it. If anything I practically molested you.”

“You were only fourteen Brian, I was the adult and I should have been able to show some restraint and good sense. Please do not diminish my shame and guilt over the incident.”

“God,” Brian gasped, “that is why you left isn’t it? It wasn’t your bad knee at all was it? You felt guilty about me.” Brian paced the balcony; “I didn’t even put it together.” He stopped pacing and turned to face Patrick; “you didn’t have to go. I wanted it and I wanted you. I would never have told anyone.”

“I almost wanted you to tell so I would be punished;” Patrick grated out painfully.

Brian moved to sit next to the man; “stop it, please stop it! I can’t stand that you are so torn up about this. You were my teacher in more ways than one. You were my first lover; so gentle and kind. You were just what I wanted and needed and I only have incredibly fond memories of the whole incident.”

“No, it was wrong,” Patrick resisted as he tried to pull away; “but God you were so full of life and so beautiful. I couldn’t stop myself,” he continued in a broken whisper.

Brian slid off the bench and knelt down between Patrick’s legs; “if it is my forgiveness you need than please take it. I absolve you, but there is really nothing to forgive,” he took one of the older man’s hands and brought it to his face and looked into the blue eyes that were so much like Justin‘s; “it broke my heart when you left. I think I was a little bit in love with you.”

Patrick stroked Brian’s cheek with his thumb; “I think all of us fall a little bit in love with the one who takes us that first time.”

Brian leaned into Patrick’s touch; “only if it is the right person,” he replied.

“Were you that person for my nephew?”

Brian pulled away and sat back a little; “how did you know?” He asked quietly, unable to meet Patrick’s gaze.

“I know my nephew well; I can see it in his eyes.” He reached his hand out again to touch Brian’s face; “you have turned into such a beautiful man; as I always knew you would. How could Justin resist you?”

Brian held Patrick’s gaze, unable to speak. All the old feelings of his adolescent crush were stirred up inside him. Patrick McFadden was still a very kind and handsome man. The two did not speak for a moment and then Patrick broke the silence; “the question is My Prince, do you feel the same about Justin?”

The unexpected question broke Brian from his spell and then he heard a voice call his name; “Brian?” Brian looked over Patrick’s shoulder to see Justin standing in the doorway. The low light from the oil lamps and the fireplace from the common room only served to illuminate his beauty. When Justin saw the intimate position of his lover and uncle he began to back away; “I’m sorry...I...I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Brian turned his attention back to Patrick; “yes,” he answered the question softly, “I feel the same,” Patrick’s heart tightened when he saw the expression of love in Brian’s hazel eyes.

Patrick smiled a bit wistfully; “Justin, my boy, come here,” he said before the young man could escape.

Justin slowly moved out to the balcony, still unsure about the situation; “yes Uncle?”

“Come closer;” Patrick gestured, “I haven’t bitten you yet and I’m not about to start now,” he reached out a hand and Justin took it. Patrick reached his other hand out and took one of Brian’s hands. He joined Brian and Justin’s two hands together and gave them a squeeze; “you two take care of one another. Do you promise?”

Justin flashed a bright, but slightly uneasy smile as he looked at his uncle in shock and then over to Brian; “I promise,” he said as he smiled at his lover.

“I promise;” said Brian.

“Good then;” he turned his attention back to Brian, “I am forgiven?”

“As I said before, there is nothing to forgive;” replied Brian softly.

Patrick smiled wryly at Brian and stood up, “well it grows chilly and my knee is stiffening. We should get back inside; there is much to discuss.”

He patted Justin’s cheek as he passed him and made his way stiffly through the doorway; “what was that about Brian?” Justin asked as he stared after his uncle.

“Remind me to tell you someday Sunshine;” Brian replied as he kissed the top of Justin’s head; “I will say this though; your uncle is a good man.”

“That he is;” replied Justin as he moved to go back inside as well, his hand still clasped with Brian’s.

*********************************************************

Far away in Backroma, the capitol seat of Balybonne, Duke Sapperstein read the message that Christopher Hobbs had just delivered; “double damn!” He swore.

“What is it My Love;” The Duchess Claire asked from where she sat sewing by the fire.

“The girl has gotten away!”

Claire laid down her sewing; “what? How is that possible?” She looked to Christopher who still stood stiffly in front of the Duke’s desk; “explain,” she said firmly.

“I went away with Lord Craig to visit some of his outlying holdings and when we returned we discovered that Lady Janniver had sent Molly to visit with her brother at Duke Brian’s castle.”

“Do not refer to that man as Duke Brian!” Claire bit out with venom; “he is filthy scum and he has no right to hold any title as far as we are concerned!”

“Claire, My Dear, please, let us not get started about your brother yet again,” cajoled the Duke, “we must focus on the problem at hand. That fool Father Ronald must have let the plan slip somehow to the mother.”

“I truly think it was just an innocent visit;” added Christopher.

“Oh believe me it is not,” replied Claire; “I have known Janniver for many years and she is no fool. She sent Molly away on purpose to thwart our plan.”

“With this coming on top of the information from our palace agent about the King traveling to Tremont, I think it is time to rethink our approach to this problem.”

“I like how you think, My Love;” purred Claire, “I agree. I think it is time to pay The Earl of Westlake a little visit. And since we will be so close to Tremont and Lofton, perhaps we should meet with my dear brothers as well. I think it’s time for them to hear our demands don’t you?”

“Yes, you are quite right Love;” Duke Sapperstein moved to stroke his wife’s cheek as she rang the bell for their servants; “it’s time to finally make Balybonne ours,” he whispered in her ear, then brought her lips to his in a fiery kiss.

Return to The Duke of Tremont