The Actor and the Earl (10 page)

“I didn’t realize.”

“Why would you?” asked Sebastian. “And I didn’t miss the house in Portsmouth when we had to move, but everything was sold with it.”

“Everything?”

“I had a toy ship—a replica of the
Golden Hind
. And we had to leave it behind. There wouldn’t have been any room for it in London, but at the time I was so angry.”

William squirmed in his lap, and a misplaced foot connected with one of Sebastian’s most delicate of areas. Sebastian grunted in pain, and William giggled. Anthony scooped him up, and he let out a delighted, high-pitched squeal.

“We really should be getting back to our guests,” said Anthony. He didn’t sound like he wanted to, but he called for the nurse. She returned and took William from him.

“When would be the best time for me to visit William?” asked Sebastian.

The nurse curtseyed. “He tends to sleep for an hour or so in the afternoon, and his usual bedtime is after supper, but other than those, any time is fine, my lady.”

“Then I will come tomorrow. If you have no objection, my lord?”

Anthony looked startled at the question. “No, no—please do.”

By the time they reached the lawn, their guests had already gathered.

“There you are,” called Eleanor. “Anthony, you and I will make a fine team.” Anthony offered Sebastian an apologetic smile as Eleanor grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

“I am here only to watch,” said Elaine, who sat in a chair, her hands resting on her swollen belly, “but I’m sure Thomas would be happy to play with Bronwyn, if you wish.”

“I would be delighted,” said Sebastian. “And what of you, Anne?”

“This game is for the young—and Simon has agreed to partner my husband, who has temporarily forgotten that he is an old man.”

Bowls was a game his father had played, and the majority of Sebastian’s good memories of the man were in one way or another linked to the game. Thomas, Simon, and Anthony were rolling a dice to see which of the couples would play first. With a triumphant punch to the air, Thomas turned to Sebastian and handed him the jack.

“Ladies first,” he said with a grin. “Do you know the rules of the game?”

“Oh, I have a vague understanding. I’ve played once or twice when I was younger.”

Anthony caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. Sebastian ignored it and stepped forward to bowl. The ball glided over the smooth surface of the grass before coming to a halt. He then accepted a wood with a red spot and bowled it with an expert flare so it came to a stop in front of the jack with a gentle kiss.

“Ho!” cried out Thomas. “My lady, you are a secret weapon.”

“Maybe I am lucky,” said Sebastian with a wink.

Eleanor decided she should go next. “Perhaps, Anthony,” she said, leaning in close, “you can show me the best way to do this.”

Anthony was clearly mindful that Sebastian was watching him, and leaned away and held out a yellow-spotted wood. “Just try your best.”

Eleanor snatched the ball, her smile tight. “Don’t blame me if we don’t win.”

To be fair, Sebastian thought that Eleanor had tried to bowl properly, but the ball had left her hand in a haphazard way that caused it to roll only a few feet and in the wrong direction. Thomas clapped gallantly, applauding her efforts, but Anthony groaned at her ineptitude.

Thomas and Anthony were both excellent players, and Anthony had a competitive streak which caused him to get further annoyed at Eleanor’s continued poor efforts. “You must be able to at least get the damn wood in the general area of the jack,” he snapped.

Eleanor’s face fell, and Sebastian decided that Anthony’s behavior was hardly that of a gentleman. “Anthony,” he said, “it is only a game, and she is trying her best.”

Anthony bowed to Eleanor and kissed the back of her hand. “I apologize, my lady. My words were uncalled for.”

Part of Sebastian wished he hadn’t said anything, since Eleanor was now smiling at Anthony as if he was the moon and stars all rolled together. She’d not even glanced in Sebastian’s direction, let alone thanked him for interceding. “No need, I too am disappointed that I will be the cause of defeat if we fail to win.”

And lose they did. Sebastian, annoyed by Eleanor’s simpering and Anthony’s apparent delight at being the center of her attention, picked up his game, and he and Thomas won the game decisively.

Richard and Simon were more of a challenge, but they too lost to Sebastian and Thomas’s superior game play. “Tell me,” asked Richard in defeat, “where did you learn to bowl, Bronwyn?”

“My father—the family story goes that he helped Sir Francis Drake improve his game. My brother is better than I, but he made me practice with him when we were growing up.”

Anthony appeared at his side. “I have many things to learn about my new wife. Should I be worried about what else you might be hiding?”

“I assure you, my lord,” Sebastian said with a shallow curtsey, “I am hiding nothing sinister, unless you believe my abilities to distinguish a galleon from a frigate might cause you alarm.”

“I think I shall have to keep a very close eye on you. Now what do you say to me rewarding the winner with a kiss?”

“I don’t want one,” joked Thomas.

Anthony slapped Thomas on the back in a friendly fashion. “I would not wish to make your good lady jealous.”

“I suppose a kiss would as good a prize as any,” said Sebastian, and was thrilled when Anthony pulled him close and kissed him sweetly.

Dinner was served outside on tables brought out from the hall by the servants, and Sebastian found himself enjoying the wry humor of Anne and the not-so-subtle digs at Eleanor from Elaine. Eleanor paid the other women of the group no heed, preferring once again to monopolize Anthony’s attention.

“Take some advice from a woman who has been married for many years,” said Anne to Sebastian, although her gaze never left Eleanor. “A happy marriage must start well to end well. Don’t let Lord Anthony get distracted. He is a decent fellow—he just needs to be reminded of it.”

“I welcome your advice, Anne, but he has already assured me on this matter.”

Anne smiled thinly. “A pretty face can cause even the most loyal of men to forget their assurances.”

Sebastian heard the unspoken “especially when married to a plain wife” as Eleanor giggled and clung to Anthony’s arm. And although Anthony was not overtly encouraging her, it was taking him longer to push her away each time she touched him.

“If we have all staved off our hunger,” said Anthony, finishing his wine, “I think it is time for hide and seek in the maze, before the rest of the guests arrive for this evening’s feast.”

He pulled Elaine to her feet. “We’ll give you a head start, as I know there is only so fast you can waddle.”

She smacked his arm before taking her husband’s hand.

The six of them walked around the grounds to the opening of the maze. With no need to rush, it was a pleasant dawdle. Sebastian was relieved that Anthony had come to him, avoiding Eleanor, and they’d walked together, Anthony’s arm around his waist.

Made from an evergreen privet, the walls of the maze were at least two feet higher than the tallest in their group, and even during his wander of the grounds, Sebastian had yet to explore the maze, and he was eager to get inside.

“Right,” said Anthony, “the ladies will head in first and then the gentlemen. I will whistle several minutes after the last of you have entered, and then it’s first to the middle without being caught!”

Sebastian picked up the hem of his skirts and hurried into the maze. Anne and Elaine had headed left, Eleanor to the right, so Sebastian went straight ahead. Thankfully, the sun was bright and nearly overhead, so the maze was light enough to navigate without the worry of tripping over an unseen obstacle.

Unsure how long he had been weaving through the maze, the whistle having gone some time ago, Sebastian rounded a corner to hear Eleanor and Anthony. He took a few steps back and peered around the hedge so he wouldn’t be seen but could listen to their conversation.

“Why are you acting like this?” asked Eleanor. She had a hand in Anthony’s hair, trying to pull him down into a kiss. “You’ve never turned me away before.”

“I am a married man. I cannot carry on like I once did.”

“Nonsense.”

Sebastian’s chest constricted as Eleanor stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips across Anthony’s. For a moment, he thought Anthony would return the kiss fully, but he turned his head and grabbed her hand to move it out of his hair.

“Eleanor! This will not happen. I have Bronwyn now.”

“Bronwyn?” she scoffed. “I cannot believe that a plain girl like her can fire your passions. I know your tastes, I know what drives you wild, and there is no way she can do that!”

“You know no such thing. And you will do well to remember that by insulting my wife you are insulting me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know why you made such a match, but you should not deny yourself because you have been saddled with such a creature.”

Anthony scowled. “I will not tell you again. This stops now, or you will leave and not return.”

“You would not dare! My father—”

“Your father,” interrupted Anthony, “tried to marry you to me before, and I wanted none of it. We had some pleasant times, but they will not be repeated, and you will conduct yourself in a more ladylike manner, rather than throwing yourself at me like a strumpet.”

Eleanor slapped him. The hard crack of her hand across Anthony’s cheek made Sebastian wince. He thought it was time to make an appearance. He grabbed the branches of the hedge and shook them so they would hear and think someone was approaching.

Stepping out from around the corner, Eleanor spotted him immediately and raced away. Anthony was quick to speak. “Let me explain.”

Sebastian rushed up to him and placed a finger on his lips. “There is no need. I heard most of it.”

He reached up and wrapped his arms around Anthony’s neck and kissed him. Anthony responded eagerly, pulling Sebastian close to him. He could feel Anthony harden in his breeches, and he pushed his hips closer. “I could use my mouth,” he whispered.

Anthony groaned and pressed his face into Sebastian’s neck. “There is a secret hidey-hole at the north of the maze. We wouldn’t be disturbed.”

“Show me.”

They raced through the maze, Anthony taking the lead. Sebastian could hear the others elsewhere among the hedges, Elaine’s delighted laughter placing her some distance away. Stopping at what looked to Sebastian like a dead end, Anthony moved a section of branches and disappeared, only for his arm to reappear and beckon Sebastian through. He didn’t hesitate, and pushed though the branches and into a small square space made from four walls of hedge with a bench in the middle.

Alone, they reached for each other, Anthony’s kisses desperate. Sebastian guided him backward and onto the bench, not breaking the kiss until he sank to his knees between Anthony’s legs.

Anthony breathed heavily as he unlaced the opening of his breeches, freeing his hard cock. Sebastian reached out, took hold of it, and experimentally licked at the crown, causing Anthony to moan softly.

Sebastian had never done this, but he wanted to please Anthony, wanted him to enjoy his mouth. Carefully, he guided the cock into his mouth, making sure his teeth didn’t catch the sensitive flesh. His own manhood swelled, and he could feel its head rubbing against the fabric of his shift, catching on the ribbing of his farthingale. The friction felt wonderful as he sucked on Anthony and hummed his pleasure at his own excitement and Anthony’s evident enjoyment. He continued sucking, Anthony whispering out a litany of encouragement, but he suspected that he was being sloppy and wouldn’t rank high on the list of Anthony’s best experiences.

Anthony grabbed Sebastian’s wig, pulling it off as his hips bucked upward. Sebastian choked a little but carried on. His jaw was tightening up, but he was determined not to stop. His own release made him shudder, coating his shift, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to look Miriam in the eye later, but for now he didn’t care.

Sebastian applied more pressure to his sucking, remembering how Anthony had done the same to him, and Anthony gasped and came. Sebastian tried to swallow most of his release, but what he couldn’t trickled down his chin. He sat back, breathless, wiping his face with his sleeve.

Anthony tucked himself away and slid off the bench, gathering Sebastian into his arms. “You had not done that before?”

“No… I… was it that bad?” asked Sebastian, mortified at the thought that he had displeased Anthony and hadn’t realized.

“Oh, far from it. You were wonderful.” Anthony kissed him softly. “To know I am the only one you have done this with, the only one to have been inside of you—oh, it is indescribable!”

Sebastian didn’t know how to respond, because while Anthony was his first in so many things, Sebastian was just one of many to Anthony. “I am a mess,” he said eventually.

“I will tell the others you had to return to the hall, and will meet us for supper,” said Anthony, stroking his cheek. “I daresay you will need to take yourself in hand.”

“I could not control myself.” Sebastian blushed at Anthony’s deep chuckle. “It’s sticky.”

Anthony stood and pulled Sebastian to his feet, handing him his wig. “Go and clean up. I’ll find a servant to send Miriam along with a new set of clothes… for the feast, of course.”

Chapter 9