When Dorian Red Gloria the Earl of Gloria met Mr. James and asked him to join the Eroica Gang, he made a promise to him. Dorian took promises very seriously, whether he was being given one or being the giver. In particular the one he was about to make was important.
He held firmly onto Mr. James' hands. He was trembling-Dorian had taken him to the castle and it always scared people the first time they were in it. He himself scared them as well, but that wasn't the case with Mr. James. He could tell simply by looking at the young man that he was intrigued, even in love with him. It was cute. Silly, but cute.
"I promise," said Lord Gloria, tightening the grasp on the fair hands in his grip, "that I'll always love you and take care of you forever and always. No matter what. Even if your hair falls out and you lose your hearing and you end up hating me-I'll still love you."
The look on young Mr. James' face was priceless. His eye, the one you could see as he always had his hair covering the other, was as wide as a saucer. His skin grew four shades paler, if possible, and something between a whimper and a squeal escaped his lips. No one had spoken words such as these to him in his entire life, ever. Could it be true?
The Earl of Gloria furrowed his brow and said, "Do you promise me the same thing, Mr. James?"
James shook his head slowly, up and down. "I promise. Oh, I promise, M'lord. I do."
Dorian let go of Mr. James' hands-they were starting to get clammy. He chuckled. He said, "We're not getting married."