With Everything I Have Read Free

way a
mother might hope. She’d want grandchildren too if Sebastian could
convince himself to give ladies a try. He didn’t think he would. He
didn’t believe his mother truly thought he would either. Soon she
might even give in the inevitable and shove willing young men in in
front of him if Prudence failed to capture his interest. Anything
to save Sebastian from the path he was currently on, which his
mother thought a dead end. Until tonight, a part of Sebastian had
been starting to believe that too. Then Peter had inquired ever so
indirectly about dear little Prudence who just wanted the freedom
to be with her beloved Mary.
    “I said no such name,” Peter remarked,
scratching out a notation he must not have needed. He reached for
the bottle with his other hand and drained it. He licked dark red
stains from his lips when he was finished.
    Sebastian sighed with more longing than he
meant to. His family had a history of scandal but he might be the
first to continually flout convention as he was. Sodomy was now
legal after one too many famous names dragged through the gutter
press and courtrooms but that didn’t mean the well-heeled and
well-connected expected it to be tossed in their faces. Yet here he
was, the owner of three Aucourtes and possessor to a key to Peter
Aucourte’s home. If Sebastian did not know himself he would have
assumed a lavender-tinted marriage between them as well.
    If only.
    “No, you didn’t,” he agreed at last, because
Peter hadn’t said the name. Sebastian was probably spinning
daydreams again. He toed off his shoes with a bit of effort and
settled against the headboard of Peter’s bed. “But the talk of your
autos was serious enough. You should make more. Charge more. People
want things more when they have to pay dearly for them, and I
believe we both know most of your fans now are boys you remember
from school. I know I do.” He had a brief memory of their
tormentors but shook it off and grinned at the thought of how they
would kiss Peter’s boots now for a chance to own one of his autos.
“Bleed them dry,” he advised ruthlessly. “Make them beg.”
    Peter’s laugh was rewarding. Sebastian helped
himself to Peter’s pillows, piling them behind his back. He let the
bay rum scent wash over him as he went on. “You’ve been building
machines since we were in school. I can’t help being proud that
your work is finally being recognized.”
    There were a few imitators, a smattering of
competitors, but none came close to the quality that Peter put into
each creation. Each new model was improved upon the last. His work
was revolutionary… if only the roads could keep up. Most autowagons
were barely faster than a carriage, driven by trained chauffeurs
for slow drives around the park. Peter’s autos were meant for
speed, and a road with holes in it, especially a twisting, narrow
country road, was dangerous.
    Peter drove too fast on any road, if
Sebastian were being honest. Frighteningly fast, so fast it was
going to get him killed one day. Peter was scared of a house full
of guests, but flying down dirt roads in a ton of metal excited
him. Sebastian didn’t understand it. He only knew that his presence
in the passenger seat was the one thing guaranteed to make Peter
slow down.
    Peter gave another uncomfortable shrug for
the mention of his fame and talent and Sebastian let the topic go
for now. The room was quiet, as was the whole house. The servants
were asleep upstairs and Peter had no family to occupy the floor
with him. It was late, Sebastian realized all over again, but
didn’t move. Nights like this they sometimes watched a moving
picture or he would fall asleep while Peter worked. It was cold
outside in any event and Sebastian had been looking forward to
spending some time with Peter tonight, dinner or no dinner. He
didn’t feel any urge to get up and make his excuses.
    Peter made a few more notes in his pad then
got to his feet to stretch his limbs. Sebastian considered