Maurice walked swiftly away from the heated conversation he had just finished with Clive. His face was flushed and his heart was pounding harder than it had the night that Scudder came to his room, smelling like wet grass and sweat, only yards from where he was now. He walked through the gorgeous fields at Pendersleigh, realizing that he had most likely just spoken with his first love and for the last time.
As he walked, memories of the warmth of their closeness during those cold spring days at Oxford flashed before his eyes. And yet, even as he wiped a single tear from his cheek, he realized that all he wanted now was to feel Alec's calloused hands on his skin. It was then that Maurice realized where his legs were taking him.
It was the boathouse, where the gamekeeper had wanted to meet him so many weeks ago, before Maurice had realized that the boy's feelings for him were real. Something was calling him to go there, and he was almost running by the time he reached the door. He walked inside, looking around the large entryway for any sign of Scudder. He put his coat down next to the front door, when a sliver of light caught his eye. The light was coming from a nearly closed door, which he quickly opened. And there, curled up like a small child with his back to Maurice, was Alec Scudder.
"Alec," he said softly, catching his breath. Alec was there, waiting for him. The boy stirred, and Maurice went to him. He was still so beautiful, even half asleep. The blonde still was shocked by that. "So you got the wire then?" Alec asked, staring at his with those brown orbs that still sent shiver's down Maurice's neck. "What wire?" The words made no sense. "The wire I sent to your house. Tellin' you….." Alec looked away for a split second, then smiled. "….ooh, sorry, I'm a bit tired what with one thing and another" he looked at Maurice intensely, "no,-tellin' you to come here to the boathouse at Pendersleigh without fail."
The two looked at each other, both feeling the familiar stiffening of their manhoods' and Maurice could stand it no longer. He scooped Alec into his arms and kissed him so hard that when at last they broke apart, both were gasping for breath. As they clung to each other, relishing the heat and friction they received from their clothed groins and chests being pressed together, Scudder pressed his mouth to Maurice's ear, nibbled gently and whispered, his voice full of want, "Now we shan't never be parted, it's finished." As they embraced again, Maurice found his mind wandering. He knew that the life they had in front of them would not be an easy one, but as he felt Scudder's heart beating against his own, he realized that it didn't matter. He loved someone, and this time, that someone loved him back.