CHAPTER 3

The next day the whole family had been invited to dine with a neighbour. It was a fairly large dinner party and while coffee was being served the younger members of the party started to dance while the ladies took turn playing the pino. Castiel found a charming partner in Miss Evelyn Johnston and he danced a couple of dances with her. Occasionally when he turned his eyes met Dean's and he felt he was under constant scrutiny. The look on Dean's face was one of interest but he also looked like he was trying to solve a particularly hard puzzle. It made Castiel nervous and a couple of times he almost made mistakes, but Evelyn quickly signalled to him and he managed to finish the dance without messing up. He admired Evelyn even more and escorted her to have some cold lemonade. He apologized and assured her that he was usually a good dancer. She understood and put it down to him living so far North that there were no chance for him to dance regularly. She did not tell him this, however, and should she have done so his affection for her would definately lessen.

At around 11 the party was ending, but as uncle George rounded up his family he noticed that Harry and Dean were missing. After asking the other young gentlemen he was told that they'd gone to the neighbouring town. They were looking for 'fun', as he was told. At first he was puzzled but as he knew the reputation of Dean he could just imagine what sort of fun they were in search of. He found Castiel and told him and Castiel promised he would go with him to look for them. After asking the young gentlemen again they were given an adress where they might look. Thomas Hardy, a 23-year-old young man, knew himself there was a house where private parties were held on a regular basis. He had told Harry and Dean about it and they'd wanted to go immediately. Uncle George sent his family home and he and Castiel borrowed a carriage from their host and went to look for the boys. All the way there uncle George kept saying it was his fault. He should never have let the boys unattended and now his wife was worrying and the secret would surely come out. He would have to ask Dean to leave. He could not defend having him stay after this. Castiel almost told him that Harry wasn't so inocent himself, but he felt it should come from Harry so he kept quiet.

The carriage stopped outside a big terraced house near the mainstreet. It was white and had a big black door. Castiel told George that he would go in himself. He didn't want George to see what went on in there. George agreed anxiously. Castiel went up to the door and knocked and the door was answered by a servant in a red coat and white wig. Castiel asked after Harry and Dean and was given a nod to come inside. As soon as he entered he could hear music. It sounded like a string quartet playing. The servant showed him the way after surveying him for a second. He probably thought Castiel was there to take part.

The room he was shown into was furnished with little seating groups, clusters of people hanging around them. There were some women who looked to be prostitutes and a few men as well, Castiel noted with surprise. There were several gambling tables and the people around them were shouting at the excitement. The room was smoke-filled and smelled strongly of perfume and cologne. Castiel asked the servant if he knew where Harry was. The servant liftet one eyebrow and pointed to a secluded spot at the back. There were thick red velour curtains hanging, making litttle hiding places for groups of people. Castiel hesitated for a moment, worried about what he might find. He gently looked behind the curtain and the first thing he saw was Dean lying back with his eyes closed. He looked to be asleep. Harry was there as well and he was being kissed by a woman with too much red on her cheeks.

"Harry!", Castiel exclaimed and the woman turned her head in surprise. Harry looked at him confused and with hazy eyes, he was obviously drunk. Castiel grabbed him by the arm and started to drag him to his feet.

"We are leaving rigt now", Castiel said making the woman grab Harry's other arm and pleading for him to stay.

"We were having fun", she said.

"I'm sorry", Castiel said, not knowing why. "But Harry has to go." He sounded like he was talking to a child.

Harry was too drunk to protest and so he came willingly. Castiel dragged him out of the house and almost threw him into the waiting carriage, George exclaiming in surprise at the state of his youngest son. Harry started to protest that they couldn't leave Dean behind and Castiel reassured him thet they wouldn't.

He had to make the trip again. Up to the door, be let in by the grinning servant, walk through the drunk people and haul Dean with him. He was not happy about being woken up but when he saw it was Castiel he smiled a lazy smile and said: "Are you here to have fun with us?" He ran a finger down Castiel's cheek, making him go red.

"No, I'm here to take you home", Castiel said.

"Oh, well that works for me as well", Dean said, smile broadening.

Castiel got even redder, if possible, yanked Dean to his feet and dragged him to the carriage. The two young men fell asleep on the way home. When they reached the house, George put Harry to bed and Castiel was left with Dean, dragging him to his bedroom. For a moment he thought about changing him into his night clothes but Dean was so drunk he probably wouldn't be able to keep him upright. He put him on the bed and grabbed him by the shoulders to hoist him up so he was resting his head on the pillows. While doing this movement he came very close to Dean and he suddenly felt a wet lick behind his ear. He shot away from Dean and looked at him. Dean was grinning, a little laugh coming from his mouth. Castiel put his hand to his ear and Dean said: "Just testing the waters." He chuckled then turned on his side and fell asleep. Castiel didn't know what he meant and he didn't know if he wanted to. If Dean thought he would do...whatever it was Dean did with other men, well, he would have to think again. He left, closing the door behind him, and all the way to his own bedroom he could feel the wet lick from Dean's tongue. He kept rubbing his hand on the spot but it wouldn't go away. He went to bed thinking that man would never amount to anything and he was taking Harry down with him.

The next day there was no sign of the boys until way past midday. When they finally emerged they stayed in the shade all day. Castiel was playing croquet with his two young cousins and their two brothers, but all the time he could feel Dean's gaze on him. He wondered if he should confront him with his behaviour yesterday, but opted for speaking to Harry one more time. He took him into one of the sitting rooms and asked him jusy what the meaning of the night before had been.

Harry looked a little guilty. Castiel was happy with that. "We were bored at the dinner and wanted to have some fun", Harry defended himself.

"Harry, when you're invited to a dinner party you don't just leave in the middle of it because you think there's more fun to be had elsewhere. Especially to go to a place like that", Castiel said.

"We didn't think. We knew", Harry said.

Castiel got angry. "You're father is blaming everything on Dean. He will ask him to leave because he thinks he's a bad influence on you."

"That's unfair!", Harry exclaimed.

"So is your behaviour", Castiel said. "I think it's about time you take responsibility for your actions and tell your father about your gambling. Otherwise I will."

Harry looked at him with wide eyes. "I can't tell him", he said breathlessly. "He'll be so disappointed."

"And he'll be more so the further you leave it. Tell him now and be done with it", Castiel pleaded.

"I'll need a few days to think", Harry said. Castiel agreed and left Harry to think about what to tell his father.

When Castiel came into the garden he decided to go for a walk to the apple trees. There was some nice shade there and it was a hot day. As he was wlking along the gravel path he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Dean closing in on him.

"Is Mr. Brumley really going to throw me out?", he asked.

Castiel was surprised. "Were you listening to our conversation?", he asked.

"Yes", Dean said simply.

"Well, my uncle thinks you are to blame for Harry's bad behaviour. He doesn't want a scandal."

"I understand that", Dean said. "What if I promise to behave?"

Castiel looked at him with pleasant surprise. "Then I see no reason you can't stay", he said.

They'd come to the apple trees and Dean sat down under one. They were both quiet for a while, then Dean asked: "That girl you were dancing with. How well do you know her?"

Castiel was slightly taken aback. "Ermm... Well, I've met her when I've been here on holiday."

"Are you going to marry her?"

Castiel couldn't help huffing out a laugh. "I think it's a little too early for that", he said. Dean nodded.

Castiel found this the perfect time to ask. "Aren't you going to get married?"

Dean laughed loudly.

"What?", Castiel asked with surprise.

"Haven't you been paying attention?", he laughed.

"What?", Castiel asked again.

Dean suddenly went quiet. He looked at Castiel, who was standing in front of him. "Do you want to go swimming?", he asked.

It was a little late in the day for that. It was almost time to change for dinner and Castiel told him.

Dean nodded. "After dinner?", he asked.

"After dinner?", Castiel asked, voice going high. That was the most ridiculous idea he'd heard in a long time.

Dean stood up and smiled at him. "I want to test the waters", he said, then started going back to the house.

Castiel felt a flutter in his stomach. His hand moved up to the spot behind his ear where Dean had licked him yesterday.

There's no way I can defend going swimming with him after dark, he thought. It would be a really bad idea if he went. Imagine the stories people could make from that. He decided not to go.

After dinner there was the usual entertainment in the parlour. Harry and Dean were nowhere to be found and everybody thought they had gone to bed, still feeling bad from their escapades the pervious day. Around 11 everybody went to bed. Castiel changed into his nightclothes and heard a knock on the door. He went to open and outside was Dean, all wet and shivering with cold.

"Dean!", Castiel exclaimed. "What on Earth are you doing?"

"I thought we were going swimming", he said.

Castiel didn't know what to say. "I didn't...I wasn't.." He felt so bad and the sight of the shivering Dean made him go a little soft, but he didn't admit that to himself. He grabbed Dean's wrist and said: "Come inside. I'll light a fire. I can't believe you actually went through with it."

Dean laughed and said: "I had my reasons", but didn't elaborate.

A few minutes later Dean was getting warm in Castiel's robe and sitting on the floor by the warm fire.

Castiel watched him with curiosity. He'd had an impression of Dean as being young, extravagant and not caring about anything, but when he was alone with him he got the feeling there was more to him. Right at this moment he felt close enough to him to ask:

"Why do you go to those parties?"

Dean looked at him, surprised at the question, but he could tell there was no scolding on the way so he said: "I go to have fun, you know, play cards, have a drink."

"And", Castiel said.

"And?", Dean asked. Then he realized what Castiel was really asking about. He smiled, looked at the fire and said: "The way our society works it's not easy meeting the people you like if they don't match the accepted norm."

That was a bit of a mouthful. He was very articulate, Castiel thought.

"And what kind of people do you like?", he asked quietly, not knowing why, because he really didn't want to know.

Dean looked back at him and Castiel could see he was thinking hard.

"I think you're quite nice", he said, smirking.

Castiel could feel his cheeks burning. Well, he'd asked for it.

He cleared his throat. "I, ahh, I'm not..ah."

"Don't worry", Dean said. "I know. Well, I'd better get to my room. Thanks for warming me up." He stood up and gathered his wet clothes in a bundle. When he got to the door he said: "Oh, I'd better give you this back." Then he dropped his clothes, took the robe off and handed it to Castiel. "Thanks for the loan", he said grinning. Then he picked up his clothes and started making his way back to his room. Castiel couldn't help looking after him. He had a nice and muscular body and a small waist. Castiel's eyes went from his broad shoulders down his back and landed on his buttocs. Without knowing it he let out a sigh. It was a good thing all the girls were in bed, he thought. As Dean turned the corner, he looked back in time to see Castiel go back into his room. He smiled to himself. He'd promised to behave when it came to Harry, he thought, but Castiel...