Kurt was standing in the courtyard with the butler and steward, watching his father's carriage roll in.
He knew Lord Burt was likely to disappear directly into his office with the steward to go over anything that might have happened during his absence, so Kurt spoke as soon as Lord Burt climbed out of the carriage.
"Father," he said, bowing briefly. "Welcome home. I should like to speak to you at your convenience."
Lord Burt handed his coat to the butler and pulled Kurt into a short hug. "How fitting. I would like to speak to you, too," he said. "Let's have lunch together. We can talk about everything over food."
Kurt went to lunch with a little bit of apprehension. His father wanting to speak to him didn't usually mean anything really bad, but also rarely something good. Besides, he risked Lord Burt's displeasure anyway by telling him about Blaine.
They ate in silence for a while, but finally Lord Burt dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and said, "Well, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Kurt hesitated. He had thought long on how to tell his father the news, but had not been able to find words that would be able to describe his relationship to Blaine without mentioning details he really did not want Lord Burt to know.
"I made a new acquaintance," he finally said, "Or rather, I re-formed an old one. Blaine Anderson, the Viscount Dalton's son? With your permission, he will be joining us for dinner, and afterwards spend the night."
Lord Burt frowned. "And will he be sleeping in his own room, or in yours?"
Kurt said nothing, but knew his silence was answer enough.
The frown deepened. "Kurt -"
"Father, I know what I promised, but...Blaine is...I'm not saying he is the one I will settle down with, but I think...I think that at the very least we will be friends."
There was silence for a while, and Kurt waited with held breath. He knew his arguing was feeble; he could well be Blaine's friend without bedding him.
"I will allow it," Lord Burt finally said reluctantly. "For two reasons. The first is, I know the young man, and I know he could use a friend. I'm sure you can imagine that it can't always be easy to be the current Viscount's brother, or the late Viscount's son. Whatever else happens between the two of you, I trust that you will treat him well and with the consideration he deserves."
"Of course, Father," Kurt promised, watching with growing concern as his father now used his napkin to dab at his forehead, before he took a sip of water and continued talking.
"The second reason is that I am in a peculiar mood and willing to indulge you, especially since I have some news that I think will concern and vex you in equal measure. There was an...incident on the road yesterday. Nothing bad, just a spell of dizziness that incapacitated me for a moment, but it showed me, as my recent illness should have, that I am not immortal. Therefore I have decided that your brief period of freedom is over. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you everything you need to know about running the estate, so that when the day comes, you are ready to take over."
For a moment, Kurt felt dizzy himself. Losing his father was the greatest fear of his life, and he had thought that he could stop worrying about his health for at least a while.
"Of course, Father, as you wish," he managed. "But are you sure you are well? Would you like to lie down for a little while, or-"
"I'm perfectly fine, Kurt," Lord Burt interrupted. "William made me nap since we arrived. He is already fussing over me like a mother hen; don't you start, too."
Despite everything, Kurt had to grin. William was Lord Burt's loyal valet, a fussy man who liked to make motivational speeches at every opportunity. Kurt could just about imagine him tucking Lord Burt into bed, whether he wanted or not, promising all would be well as if speaking to a child.
"Seriously," Lord Burt continued. "I'm fine. This is merely a precaution," He stood up, throwing his napkin on his plate. "Now, I have work to do. Tomorrow, you'll be helping me. Or hindering me, more likely. I look forward to meeting your friend tonight."
"Father, may I present Blaine Anderson. Blaine, my father, Lord Burt Hummel of Lima."
"It's an honor to meet you, my lord," Blaine said, blushing slightly.
"Likewise, Anderson," Lord Burt said gruffly, but he was smiling. Kurt knew instinctively that if something bad happened between them, Lord Burt would regard it his fault, and never Blaine's. Strangely, that was how Kurt saw it, too.
Dinner was a fairly relaxed affair. Lord Burt and Blaine seemed to get along well enough, and after some initial shyness, Blaine was charming and even talkative, even though, Kurt was sure, he knew that Lord Burt was aware of what they would be doing after dinner.
They had agreed not to make a secret of each other to their respective families, as it would make getting together quite difficult, and Blaine had told Kurt that the Viscount had been surprised and less than happy over their involvement. Kurt grinned as he imagined an enraged Cooper confronting him, demanding he return Blaine virgo intacta, so to speak.
Well, that was not happening.
He looked at Blaine over the table, and very much wanted to kiss him.
After dinner, for a while things got awkward. It was too early to retire, and Lord Burt was in a sociable mood or just knew of Kurt's impatience and wanted to vex him. He inquired after Blaine's family and his studies until finally that topic had run out and silence set in. Kurt was about to propose a game of cards even though he wasn't fond of those, when he remembered something Cooper had mentioned in passing at one of the few opportunities he had talked about something other than himself.
"Blaine," he said, "I believe you sing and play the piano?"
"I do indeed," Blaine said with a smile. "I'm surprised you know of my humble abilities."
"I've never had the pleasure of hearing you, but I heard...someone talk about it."
Blaine would knew of whom he was talking, but Kurt's father really didn't need to.
"Anyway," Kurt said, rising. "Would you care for a duet?"
Blaine's smile grew wider. "I would love to sing with you. If it doesn't bother Lord Burt?"
Lord Burt waved his hand. "Please, do whatever you like. I confess I don't understand much of music, but I do enjoy a good song."
They spent a truly enjoyable evening singing song after song. Kurt was in awe of Blaine's talent as a pianist and singer, and he could see his own voice was appreciated as well when Blaine stopped singing after a few beats of their first song, only accompanying him on the piano to better listen to his voice. Most of all, he liked when they sang together.
But when finally Lord Burt bid them good night and retired, they stopped singing without having to talk about it, and not out of consideration for Lord Burt's rest.
Kurt was about to speak when Blaine crossed the distance between them in a few quick steps and kissed him hard, without a trace of any shyness or hesitation.
Both of them were breathless when they stopped, and Kurt had to subtly steady himself on the piano to keep his knees from trembling.
"I apologize for attacking you thus," Blaine said. "I've wanted to do this the whole evening."
"Me too," Kurt said. "And don't apologize. It seems you have embraced the boldness, and that can only be good."
They kissed again, more slowly this time and almost without any expectations of doing more, because of course nothing could happen as long as they were still in the sitting room, where any moment someone could come in. Before too long, however, Kurt longed to go upstairs and take Blaine's lessons a little further.
"What do you want to do?" he asked when they parted.
Blaine chuckled. "I don't think any teacher has ever asked me that before."
"I should hope that our relationship is very different to those with any of your teachers."
"That it is. My teachers were all hideous old men, but, like you, they enjoyed telling me what to do."
Kurt smiled, tracing Blaine's bottom lip with his thumb. "Well, but now I'm asking you what you want."
Blaine blushed and looked down, but at the same time, he gave a teasing lick to Kurt's thumb. "I want to go upstairs. Usually, I would of course let my esteemed teacher choose the lesson, but since you asked—there is something I very much want to do."
When Kurt wanted to take his hand away, Blaine grabbed his wrist and kept it at his lips, sucking lightly on his thumb before saying, "I want you in my mouth."
Kurt couldn't suppress a moan and had to hold on to the piano again, this time considerably less subtle. What was so incredibly erotic about this was less the promise of what was to come, as Kurt had every intention of letting Blaine have his will, but again the sure, confident way Blaine was stating his wishes. If he could keep doing that with the man he wanted to woo...well, the man would have to be an imbecile to reject him.
He would have to be that anyway. Blaine was handsome, very intelligent, courteous and friendly and energetic, and with Kurt's tutelage, he would be an excellent lover as well. Not to mention that he was the brother of a Viscount, and a rich one at that; though Kurt outranked him, Blaine was no bad match at all. Any man would count himself lucky to be chosen by him, and Kurt only hoped that the one he had chosen would prove himself worthy.
Kurt extended his hand for Blaine to take. They went upstairs together, nodding to the servants getting the house ready for the nightly rest, and once there, they didn't even bother pretending that Blaine would retire to the guest bedroom provided for him. Instead, they went directly to Kurt's room that was dominated by a large bed and lighted by candles a diligent servant had put there.
"Are you ready for your lesson?" Kurt whispered.
Blaine swallowed. "Yes, my lord. Yes, I am."
Kurt kissed him and helped him take off his jacket before quickly getting rid of his own. Blaine in only a shirt and waistcoat was a sight that made Kurt want to touch him, to taste him, and he decided to slightly change his plans. Blaine would still get his wish, of course; Kurt had no intentions of denying him that. But first...
He opened Blaine's breeches and made him sit down on the bed, then lowered himself to his knees in front of him.
He looked up at Blaine and smiled. "Watch, and learn."