"Florian?" Noel knocked on the open doorframe before entering the guest room that Florian was using. "Papa wanted to let you know that Duke Wilhaven will be joining us for dinner this evening." As soon as he finished delivering the message Noel took a running leap and landed on the neatly made bed. Florian dropped his book and dove in, scooping Noel up and lifting him high while they both laughed. It was more difficult now that Noel had gained some height and weight, but Florian managed well enough before dropping Noel down onto the bed again.
"You'll be getting too big for that soon," Florian told him, making a show of dropping onto his chair as if exhausted.
"Then I'll get as big and strong as Ray and lift you up instead," Noel assured him. He rolled off the bed and made ridiculous strongman poses until Florian caught him and pulled the boy onto his lap.
"I suppose that means you're going to eat all your vegetables from now on."
"What? No! Vegetables don't make you strong." Noel crossed his arms, preparing for yet another round of the argument they'd been having since he first came to live with Florian in Ray's house.
"No?" Florian asked before taking hold of Noel and standing up, spinning around in a circle. "How could I do this if I didn't eat my vegetables?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Henri Tassel commented from where he was leaning against the doorframe watching their antics.
"Cookies!" Noel declared as Florian set him carefully on his feet so he could run to his father.
"Cookies make you strong? I assume you have scientific proof to back your claims?"
"Not yet, Papa. I need to conduct experiments first."
"I see," Henri smoothed an unruly lock of hair away from his son's face. "I suppose those experiments would require a lot of cookies?"
"Lots and lots," Noel assured him, nodding. "You and Florian could help. You like cookies too."
"I suppose we do. Alas, we have a guest arriving soon so the experiments will have to wait." Henri turned Noel gently, pointing him in the direction of his room. "Hurry and get washed and dressed so we don't keep our friend waiting."
"Okay, but Florian sits next to me. You promised." Noel waved and ran down the hall and into his room, closing his door with enthusiasm.
"I assume you heard that I've invited a guest to dine with us this evening?" Henri asked, still standing in Florian's doorway. He'd been welcoming and kind but there was always a hint of caution when he spoke to Florian, as if he were afraid Florian might take Noel away. Florian tried to find ways to reassure his host, but it was difficult when Noel wanted to spend as much time as possible with "his" Florian.
"I look forward to meeting your friend," Florian assured him. He was used to dinner parties and hoped that having someone else at the table might help convince Henri that Florian wasn't trying to undermine his relationship with his son.
"I think you'll like him. Roddy Wilhaven is an old schoolmate. His wife and son were killed in carriage accident just over a year ago. He's not ready to return to large social gatherings, but I thought he might enjoy meeting you. He's been very lonely."
"Thank you for telling me," Florian crossed the room but stopped well short of touching distance from his host. "I look forward to meeting the Duke."
"None of that," Henri insisted. "Roddy prefers not to use his title in small gatherings like this. Besides," Henri gave Florian a smile, "you have a title of your own. It would be too confusing to call you both Duke."
"Roddy it is then," Florian let the subject of titles, particularly his title drop. He only had his because of Ray's kindness. By rights, the title should have ended when Florian sold himself to Ray to pay off his family's debts, but Ray had handled it in a way that allowed Florian inherit his father's title on his twenty-first birthday.
"I'll let you return to your book." Henri took a step back and nodded at Florian, reminding him that dinner was at seven before taking his leave.
Florian closed the door and returned to his chair but didn't sit, instead he looked out the window, his thoughts on his distant lover. They'd only been apart for a month, but Florian ached with the absence. He'd accomplished nothing in that time. Nothing but running away. Tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. This was his mess, and he would find a way to fix it.
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"Roddy, allow me to introduce—"
"No need. This must be Noel's Florian." Roderick Wilhaven held out his hand, smiling brightly. "So glad to meet you at last."
"The pleasure is mine," Florian replied, shaking the man's hand. He was as tall as Ray, but broader and fair skinned, with reddish blond hair and storm-grey eyes.
"Noel tells me you're from Paris. Can you believe I've never been there?"
"No? But you must visit someday. It's a beautiful city." Florian did love the city of his birth, even if the thought if it now caused a pang of grief and loneliness that he barely managed to hold back.
"I'd like to hear more about it, hopefully from a less biased source that my friend Henri." Wilhaven nudged Henri then added, "He insists that one hasn't seen anything if they haven't been to Paris."
"You may think me biased as well, but it is my home." Florian took the glass of wine that Henri offered and took a small sip before adding, "If you prefer somewhere less crowded, then the Loire Valley is spectacular." He took another sip and gave Henri a nod of appreciation for serving an excellent vintage. To Roddy he said, "If pressed, I might admit to having a fondness for a certain town in Italy."
"Italy is it?" Roddy said as he took the bottle from Henri and topped off his glass, then Florian's before returning it to Henri. "What brings you to the wilds of England?"
Florian had prepared an answer for that question but found himself unable to voice it. Instead, he took another sip of wine to stall for time. Fortunately, Noel arrived, racing ahead of his nanny and latching himself onto Florian as if they'd been apart for days.
For the duration of the meal Florian found himself laughing along to Noel's stories of his adventures with his Florian and Ray. Hearing the boy's fanciful version of events helped ease some of Florian's sadness. By the time Henri excused himself to read Noel his bedtime story, Florian was more relaxed than he'd been since the incident that had led to this exile.
"You've been holding out on me; you're quite the traveler," Roddy teased. "I feel so provincial." Henri had offered the use of his study, having realized early on that the book-lined room offered Florian some comfort. The two guests settled into chairs by the fireplace and Roddy leaned over to offer a cigar, which Florian declined.
"Not provincial," Florian told him with sincerity, "from what I've seen, this is a lovely place to live. For its size, Paris can seem confining."
"Ah," Roddy nodded, hearing more in Florian's reply than his words. "It's never easy to be the target of gossip. I speak from experience."
"True," Florian gave him a warm smile but didn't elaborate. They had just met but the silence between them was comfortable and neither man felt the need to break it. At least not until Roddy set the stub of his cigar in the nearby ashtray.
"I'm riding the perimeter of my estate tomorrow. I'd be glad for the company if you are interested." He frowned, then asked, "I'm assuming you're comfortable on horseback?"
"I am," Florian assured him, "and I would be delighted to accompany you if you don't mind being a tour guide."
"Now you've done it," Henri warned as he entered the room and took the seat closest to the fire, settling in with a sigh of relief. "I guarantee you'll know more than you ever wanted to know about everything around here by tomorrow night." Henri explained that the Wilhaven holdings were quite large and included the nearby town. "He usually drags me along on these rides, but I've got meetings I can't postpone, and Noel's tutor will be here until three."
Florian would never admit it, but Roddy's offer gave him the perfect opportunity to see some of the area while allowing Henri and Noel some time together. He'd noticed the way Henri watched him when he played with Noel and realized that it would be best to keep his visit short. A day of horseback riding might give him time to decide where to go next. He loved spending time with Noel, but he had no desire to come between him and his father.
"I'll take my chances," Florian replied, giving Roddy a big smile, and getting one in return while Henri just laughed.
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