Dorian knew, intellectually, that trying to carry on an affair with a man (recluse artist or not) would be near impossible. Society not only frowned upon such a romance, but punished it to the highest degree. Secrecy was not only desired, but born out of the necessity to survive. High society made having a secret affair almost impossible.
"What else do these people do?" Basil had once exclaimed to Dorian in a fit of peak. "It seems to me they'd rather try to run my artistic business, rather than run their own blasted companies or countries!"
Though the complaint had come before "The Night of the Kiss", as Dorian now called it (much to Basil's chagrin), Dorian couldn't help but agree with the sentiment. It had only been three days! And yet, the questions about Dorian's current love life never seemed to end. He had never had to redirect so many conversations in one sitting as he did in the five social gatherings since The Night. He had almost blown a gasket when one of the Duchesses tried to introduce her niece to Basil in his presence.
"Isn't she lovely, Basil?" The Duchess had asked, batting her eyes in a way that made Dorian think that the Duchess herself would love to marry his Basil in her niece's stead.
"Of course, Duchess," Basil had replied, trying valiantly to appear less flustered. "But what could an artist of my means offer the niece of a Duchess?"
'A lot," Dorian had snipped in his mind, trying to keep his face passive as he watched his artist compliment some little chit with too much powder and an overbearing aunt. He would have felt sorry for the poor girl for being paraded around, if she hadn't been paraded in front of what was his.
He hadn't been able to spend more than a breakfast with his artist since the confession of their feelings for each other, and though Dorian knew that he alone held Basil's regard, he wished they had discussed how they would handle society. Neither of them hinted to a love affair, whether with each other or a female, and they were both trained in redirection and distraction. Dorian knew that discussing their approaches beforehand would have led to the same mode of conduct, but something in him wished for the private time together, if only of affirm his hold on Basil and Basil's hold on him.
When Sunday evening came, and the parties were over for the day (with no plans for Monday, as it began the new week of labor), Dorian took a coach to Basil's home for a late nightcap. When asked his plans, he simply told the truth.
"I had planned to share my after dinner brandy with Basil. I have some affairs I'd like to discuss before the work week begins. You know how it is."
Of course, no one but the artist and his model really knew how it was, but letting everyone assume that it was just an evening business meeting cut down on the gossip, and kept them safe from prying eyes.
The carriage pulled up to the stoop of Basil's city home, and Dorian thanked the driver before heading up the steps. He had chosen to take a hired coach instead of his own personal one, not wanted to have the driver wait up for him all night or risk the gossip if someone were to recognize his coach in the middle of the night after calling hours.
He planned to stay, tonight.
AN: Hello! I know that this chapter is SUPER SHORT, but I wanted to get something out there before I headed off for the day. :) YAY COMPUTER ACCESS!