Part 2: Hmmm

In three days many things can and do happen. Such as, a magic storm inside the Unseen University courtyard lifts thirty houses in the vicinity exactly ten feet in the air causing mild panic buying of ladders and emergency trampolines before the problem is rectified; The blue swans are changed to silver as blue is considered too tacky; Vimes fires and then rehires Nobby for hygiene issues (Vimes was next to use the latrine on a particularly bad day, after Nobby) and then realises he can't shout at another person like he does at this unfortunate soul so keeps him on; The Ephebian ambassadors become more tolerable and decide to inform the palace cooks the correct way to cook all of their dishes, which of coursemakes them as popular downstairs as a rat in a pie; Vetinari has a mild stomach problem caused by a few spicy dishes; Guests are met, issues discussed and paperwork is signed.

On the third day,Vetinari decides he can now broach this subject in a calm and collective manner.

Drumknott is studiously working on several index cards on his desk.
" So, Drumknott" asked Vetinari in his best nonchalant voice. "You have a ... date for the Sunrise Ball?" He raises his eyebrows for enhanced nonchalance.
Drumknott looks up to see Vetinari attempting small talk and stares at his expression. Hmmm?
" Er..yes. Yes my Lord. Yes I do." He quietly says then turns quickly back to his work.
Vetinari looks at him and frowns.
" Well, who is it then?" He barks. All nonchalance quickly put aside for frustration and annoyance to bully their way through.
Drumknott looks up startled.
" Tony, from the gardens. Um, he's always been nice to me, " blushes Drumknott.

Now it is Vetinari's turn to stare. He didn't like how this news affected him. He felt conflicted. He felt emotions. Powerful contradictory emotions beginning to make their way into his head and other parts of his body like some sort of mad flu. On the one hand he experienced a sense of loss yet on the other, there was a whisper of a chance to change this loss into a gain. A romantic gain. Drumknott liked men. Vetinari had suspected this but hadn't known for sure as Drumknott's lovelife was far too vacant to gather any sort of information on.
This Rufus Drumknott, this pale, blonde young man and his beautiful eyes, his sharp organised innocent mind. His employee.Oh dear gods, how on earth was this going to be in any way appropriate? He knew he wanted something from this clerk but was it fair to be so selfish?

" Oh yes, I know Tony," replied the Patrician slowly. " I'm glad for you Drumknott, he is nice." His face remained impassive as he lied.
Drumknott nodded and went back to his work. A look had changed in his masters gaze towards him and he had noticed but it wasn't his place to acknowledge such things. He couldn't help blushing however and cursed himself inwardly.
They continued working for some time each busy with their own thoughts as well as their tasks in the large quiet office in the palace.

Drumknott sighed and sat back, stretching.
" I will make some tea my Lord."
" That would be most appreciated Drumknott," said the Patrician.

Drumknott poured the tea efficiently and in silence. Lord Vetinari pretended to read his papers as he surreptitiously watched Drumknott's hands. Drumknott made the mistake of looking up and catching his lords eye. He held the gaze a little too long before he turned his attention back to preparing the tea.
Hmmm, thought Vetinari.

He moved his slender arm to grasp a cup and in doing so, brushed his hand deliberately over Drumknott's hand. Drumknott's fingers trembled and he nearly dropped his tea. Vetinari deftly gripped the cup and Drumknott's hand within his own for a moment before releasing him.
" Careful Drumknott, " whispered Vetinari.
" I, I'm sorry My Lord, " trembled Drumknott.
" Drumknott, am I making you nervous?" Queried the Patrician, tenderly in his low deep voice.
" Oh gosh, yes you are," said Drumknott breathlessly before he could stop himself. He couldn't look at the Patrician directly as he fiddled with the tea cups, close by his masters hands. His cheeks blushing furiously.
Vetinari watched Drumknott, his eyes never leaving the clerks face. The brilliant man of reason and cold hard intellectualism was rendered a powerless victim to his passionate emotions just as his dear friend Lady Margolotta predicted would happen. Damn that woman! He had supposed to her that he would never experience the sort of passion as he had done so as a youth because he was older and more in control. He also said that as a man he was biologically more capable of controlling his errent passions.
After smacking him around the head with a semi precious vase, Margollota said she would be proved right in time.
Possibly I have experienced some sort of brain damage from that woman he thought madly as he watched long dexterous fingers mop up a little spillage of milk on the desk. Oh gods...

Vetinari stood up suddenly. This startled Drumknott.
" Ah, Rufus...I," started Vetinari, struggling to keep his composure (when all he really wanted to do was take this young clerk roughly over his desk and watch his naked body writhe ...oh gods..).
" I'm sorry, " the lord started. " I...want you, " Vetinari continued, " To come with me. To the ball. Would you?"
Vetinari's eyes bore deeply into Drumknott's who could feel himself melting. As soon as Vetinari had called him by his first name, he felt a powerful erotic charge surge throughout his entire body. Not being as in control as Vetinari was or could ever be, the clerk saw his first name mentioned as a sign that he better do something right now in case he awoke and this was all a dream.
In one swift graceful moment, Drumknott moved in and, holding his masters cheeks in both hands, quickly kissed the surprised patrician of Ankh Morpok tenderly but firmly on the lips.
He didn't stop until his master moaned.

To be continued…