Free The Two Lords of Wealdhant Manor by Katherine Marlowe Page A

Algernon started for the door.
    “Sir,” said Mr. Cullen, stepping forward to tidy Algernon’s neck cloth with his usual professional fastidiousness, still serving as both butler and personal valet.
    When he was released, Algernon glanced back at Jasper, who was standing where he’d been left. His shoulders were hunched, neck muscles tensed. Algernon fought the impulse to lick that proud throat.
    “Jasper…” Algernon bit his tongue, uncertain.
    Jasper watched him, brown eyes guarded.
    “Come with me,” Algernon offered, on impulse. He wanted to try again and to have Jasper as an ally, in order that he might keep him close and kiss him again and again.
    Holding his gaze for a moment, Jasper nodded once and then crossed the room to his side.
    Mr. Cullen stepped forward. “If I may, Mr. Waltham.”
    Jasper stiffened, scowling Mr. Cullen with surly distrust as the valet-cum-butler tidied his waistcoat and hair with swift professionalism.
    Algernon bit his lip to contain his amusement. He suspected that Jasper had never in his life enjoyed the services of a valet, and this wasn’t the first time that Mr. Cullen had helped to neaten up the amorous dishevelment which Algernon left in his wake.
    “Thank you, Cullen,” Algernon said, as appreciative as ever of his employee’s discretion.
    Mr. Cullen nodded in acknowledgement and stepped back.
    “Shall we?” Algernon said to Jasper. His voice wavered, feeling uncertain about their new arrangement and what exactly it entailed.
    Jasper stepped up to his side, following him out of the room.
    As they reached the stairs, Jasper’s hand curled around the back of Algernon’s elbow, holding it with light possessiveness as they walked together up the main stairwell.
    Algernon allowed it, but he lifted his chin higher and pulled his shoulders back, wanting it to be perfectly clear to everyone involved that he was the lord of the manor here.
    Jasper’s hand stayed where it was.
    When they reached the door to Algernon’s chambers, Algernon paused, glancing over at Jasper. He couldn’t read the expression on his companion’s face. Jasper’s brown eyes were alert, possibly edged with distrust, and his square-jawed face was blank.
    Algernon swallowed back the urge to kiss him. “Be my ally, Jasper,” he murmured. Jasper was still very close to him, and in the momentary privacy of the hallway, the connection between them felt weighty with significance. “Things are going to have to change in Wilston, but if you’ll face them with me I will do everything I can to accommodate your wisdom and advice.”
    Jasper watched him inscrutably for several seconds, and then leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of Algernon’s jaw.
    A thrill went down Algernon’s spine at that intimate gesture of agreement. Grinning with delight, he reached for the doorknob.

Chapter Six
    Algernon
    A lgernon enjoyed very much the new pleasure of waking up in Jasper’s arms.
    Jasper’s solid body was warm, which was especially pleasant in contrast to the January chill of the room. A fire was burning cheerfully in the grate across the room, but it could only do so much to mediate the cold that pooled in the bones of the old stone manor.
    It seemed that Jasper was especially affectionate and possessive when he slept, keeping his arm looped around Algernon’s waist.
    Rolling over to face his lover, Algernon pressed soft kisses up the column of Jasper’s throat. Jasper smelled like apples and vanilla, and being around him was addictive. More so because of how utterly indignant he was about everything. Algernon wanted to invent an ever-lengthening list of new experiences to inflict upon Jasper just for the pleasure of how Jasper set his shoulders and scowled.
    A few of those scowls from yesterday had been successfully smoothed away by kisses. Algernon had learned so far that sometimes Jasper could be coaxed with sweetness, and sometimes he could be tempted into angry and heated kissing, but in the