Free A Fashionable Indulgence (Society of Gentlemen #1) by Kj Charles Page B

very well.
I
certainly shan’t mention that unfortunate business. A Vane is a Vane, after all. And I do detest those cattish people who delight in dragging up old gossip.”
    “I couldn’t agree more, cousin,” Julius assured her. “And I look forward to dancing at Laura’s wedding.”
    —
    The party lasted for a full ten days, with some changes of guests and several evenings of dancing, for which Arrandene’s dining room was cleared. It was large enough to allow eight couples to stand up together, although they found themselves one male partner short when Dominic failed to arrive as intended.
    “I am exhausted by society and the Little Season hasn’t even started,” Julius observed at the end of the evening. The guests had departed or retired and the Ricardians were either seated or sprawled in Richard’s withdrawing room, recruiting their energies with brandy. The windows were open, letting the chirping of grasshoppers float in on the August night air. Harry was still rather pink, having danced for some three hours without stopping, but the exercise clearly agreed with him. He looked flushed and happy, and he met Julius’s eye with a glimmer in his own that suggested he had plenty of energy yet. “Where is that traitor Dominic?”
    “At work,” Richard said. “Some sort of trouble brewing in the North, I believe. He found it necessary to stay in London.”
    “He is dishearteningly predictable,” Francis said. “I believe Gabriel and I will return to Town tomorrow. What do you all intend?”
    “Oh, is it time to go to London?” Harry sat up, eagerness in his eyes. “Wonderful. At least—” He glanced at Julius, seeking permission.
    “I’d intended to wait until September,” Julius said. “The Little Season really can’t be said to start until then and Town is unbearable in August.”
    “I’ve never—” Harry began, and swallowed it.
    Never minded before,
Julius would have wagered were the words on his lips. “I don’t usually return in August either,” he put in smoothly, covering over the mistake.
    “It might be as well to let Harry familiarize himself with the place while company is thin,” Richard suggested. “And Gideon is keen to see you, Harry; he wrote to me just yesterday.”
    “It’s Wednesday. We might plan to return next Monday,” Julius suggested. “That will give us a week before anyone of importance even considers returning to Town. We mustn’t bore Harry to death by solitude.” And he wanted just a little more time here, in Arrandene’s cool gardens and secluded rooms, a little more time with Harry by his side.
    He listened in silence as the others discussed carriage routes and post-houses, waiting impatiently for the first of them to go to bed. Finally, after what seemed an age of pointless meandering, Richard rose to bid them all good night, and Julius took Harry’s arm in friendly fashion as they walked down the corridors to their adjoining bedrooms.
    “Will your valet be waiting up?” Harry asked.
    “Certainly he will. Give me ten minutes.” He ought to take at least half an hour to undress and for Frampling to put away his garments properly, but be damned to it. He allowed the man simply to remove his tailcoat then sent him off, disregarding the very slightly raised eyebrow of disapproval at his vagaries.
    Two minutes later, as Julius sat on the bed undoing his shoestrings, Harry padded softly in. He was in linen shirt, breeches, and bare feet, the very model of a gentleman bent on criminal conversation, and the sight made Julius’s chest heave. “Good evening.”
    “Good evening to you.” Harry came closer as Julius kicked off his second shoe, and dropped to a crouch in front of him, between his knees. He reached for Julius’s hands with both his own.
    “Harry?”
    “Tell me.” Harry took a deep breath. “Did I do well enough? Will I pass as a gentleman?”
    “You
are
a gentleman.” Julius squeezed his work-tough hands. Harry was applying