— "I do not want to leave," Alex murmured.
— "I know, my dear. It is difficult for me as well, to think of parting, even for three days. They seem like an eternity without you."
Alex could not restrain a yawn, covering his mouth with his hand. Nathan smiled and yawned in response.
— "I hope you manage to rest better at home."
Alex smiled sheepishly. He kissed the Duke on the cheek, mounted Soul, and rode home. Nathan watched his beloved until Alex disappeared around the bend, then turned toward his study.
The closer Alex drew to his home, the heavier his heart felt. After the ride, he deliberately avoided his father, hiding in his room, knowing that his father would insist on more practice to improve his skills.
Moreover, the Young Lord worried that their frequent meetings and overnight stays with Nathan might appear peculiar, especially since the Duke was actively preparing for his wedding to his fiancée. Although Nathan and Ophelia had not made any official announcements, gossip had already begun to circulate among the noble households. Therefore, Alex and Nathan resolved to part from time to time, however reluctantly. The necessity of it clenched the jaw in frustration and weighed upon the heart with a sense of helplessness.
— "Alex, my dear! Good morning!" his mother exclaimed, rushing to embrace him. "I heard you performed marvelously at the races. The Countess would not cease her chatter about how your talents render you the most desirable bachelor of the season. No one cares for mere standings, indeed! None are pleased with that harsh Sir Berkeley. All speak of how Young Lord Carlston values his horse so greatly that he will not risk its health for prizes. So take no heed of them! I have spoken with your father. You know how he can be… Ah, everything seems so well arranged for choosing a suitable lady… But I am not hasty! I merely think the opportunity is excellent. The choice remains yours."
— "Thank you, Mother."
She continued chattering about the latest news and gossip, leading Alex into the garden for a walk.
— "By the way, Lady Ophelia will visit us today. We met her yesterday at the milliner's, and I agreed to assist her with the ceremony. She spoke so fondly of you — I am delighted that you two have become friends! She told me you have taken it upon yourself to teach the Duke to dance? What a golden boy you are! Indeed, he moves somewhat stiffly; such manners are hardly suitable with a bride of that calibre."
— "Alex."
The Young Lord turned and rose. "Good day, Father."
His father regarded him silently for a moment, then said:
— "You performed well earlier. Yet one may always improve. Tomorrow I shall personally train you and point out the errors you made during the races. Today, rest. You have earned it."
— "Thank you, Father."
Lord Carlston retired to the library, leaving mother and son to enjoy one another's company.
Toward supper, Lady Ophelia arrived. As always, she greeted Lady Carlston and Young Lord warmly, then joined them for their meal.
— "Forgive me, Ophelia; Lord Carlston, as usual, has buried himself in books and cannot sit with us today."
— "That is quite all right. I am most grateful for your invitation, Lady Carlston. I could scarcely have imagined how taxing arranging a ceremony might be. I count on your guidance! Alex, I hope for your assistance as well! Lady Carlston, do allow Alex to support Nathan through this arduous preparation. It is a comfort to have kind friends nearby."
— "Of course, my dear, of course!"
It seems Ophelia has secured my permission to meet with him — under the watchful eye of my own mother.
— "Ah, I hope one day Alex shall provide me with such delightful concerns. I am carefully collecting ideas for his wedding ceremony!"
— "Ah, Lady Carlston, you are ever so considerate!"
The ladies began discussing the event, while Alex felt somewhat superfluous. He dined silently, lost in thought. When Ophelia bade Lady Carlston farewell, she asked Alex to escort her to her carriage. He readily agreed.
— "I wish to introduce you to my dearest Emily next week. Do you agree?"
— "Yes, of course."
— "Ah, I am so pleased! Then we shall arrive on Wednesday for supper at your place, I mean, at Nathan's. I trust we have not wearied you with our chatter? Your mother is simply wondrous! My parents have lost all hope for my own wedding and, thus, all useful connections." Ophelia giggled. "I must depart now. Farewell." She kissed Alex lightly on the cheek, as one might a younger brother, and waved from her carriage.
***
The following day, Alex attended his third fencing lesson after a lengthy interval. By the session's end, he was utterly spent, for Sir Bronte allowed no respite.
— "You seem to have entirely forgotten the fundamentals, Young Lord! Should you wish to regain last winter's level, you must see me more often."
Alex sat on the bench, sipping water and wiping the sweat from his face.
— "Very well, Sir. But I do not intend to participate in competitions, so there is no urgency. I merely enjoy fencing."
— "Ah, it seems your love of horses still outweighs your fondness for fencing. My heart is shattered!"
Alex laughed.
Sir Bronte, a man of forty-three, appeared somewhat younger, perhaps due to his active lifestyle. He was of medium height, solidly built for his age, with short curly hair, brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, and a neat beard. His Italian heritage was evident in every aspect: a penchant for loud declarations, a love of wine, and jokes skirting the edge of propriety. All of it delighted Alex, who enjoyed both the man's company and his method of teaching.
— "Go and change. You are last today; I shall wait for you on the porch."
Alex obeyed and soon joined him there.
— "If you feel no soreness tomorrow, consider today wasted! A jest, never wasted!" Sir Bronte tousled his hair.
— "Sir!" The sole irritation Alex had with his tutor was his bad habit of tousling the Young Lord's hair, requiring him to reset it into a ponytail.
The teacher waited while his pupil adjusted his appearance, then they strolled along Bond Street to part ways. The street brimmed with shops of all kinds; the wealthy conducted their shopping here. Alex disliked crowds and visited rarely, though his mother loved to drag him along.
The Young Lord walked with his teacher, discussing fencing thrusts and occasionally laughing at Bronte's witticisms. Suddenly, he noticed a change in his teacher's expression, followed his gaze, and felt a shift within himself.
He saw Nathan with Ophelia. A memory of what the Duke had told him about Sir Bronte resurfaced — one he had completely forgotten. Anxiety stirred at the thought of the awkward encounter.
Sir Bronte spotted Nathan and called out loudly to his former pupil from afar, waving energetically.
Alex noticed Nathan's surprised, somewhat displeased expression, yet he and Ophelia approached Alex and his teacher regardless.
— "Nathaniel! I mean, Duke of Blackthorn, what a surprise! Delighted to see you! I have not seen you for so many years. I trust your skill has served you well during such a long journey!"
Nathan forced a smile.
— "Good day, Sir. I am glad you are in good health. Pray, meet my future bride, Lady Ophelia Latham."
— "Future bride?" Sir Bronte appeared flabbergasted. Then he recovered, taking Ophelia's hand to kiss it. "I confess, I have seen many ladies, yet I have not seen anyone more beautiful than you in so long, Lady Latham. Have we met before?"
Ophelia, though smiling brightly, did not appear particularly pleased; Alex could sense her unease.
— "Good day, Sir. Yes, I fear we have known each other for some time."
— "Ah, a good friend of the Duke of Blackthorn! Ophelia, bella, how could I forget? No wonder I said I had not seen anyone more beautiful in ages. The last time, indeed, was when I saw you!" The teacher laughed at his own jest. "Forgive me my manners. This is Young Lord Carlston, my finest pupil — or at least, he was six months ago," Bronte added with a laugh.
Ophelia approached Alex, embraced him, and kissed his cheek.
— "Alex, dear, always a pleasure! I did not know you were a fencer as well! Your talents know no bounds!"
Nathan merely smiled at the Young Lord and inclined his head slightly. Alex responded in kind. Nathan then asked:
— "Alex, Ophelia and I were debating the sweets for the ceremony. Might you join us?"
— "Very well, with pleasure, if I shall not intrude…"
The prospective couple answered in unison: "Of course not!"
Sir Bronte regarded them with curiosity, shifting his gaze between Nathan and Alex. Then he smiled and said:
— "I wish the married couple long years of prosperity and passionate, sincere love!"
He tousled Alex's hair once more.
— "I shall await you at the next lesson!"
— "Sir!" Alex snapped, half in irritation.
Bronte bowed and took his leave. Once he had gone a few paces, Nathan and Ophelia let their masks drop, exchanging glances. The Duke looked darker than a thundercloud. Alex averted his eyes as he undid his hair ribbon, unaware of the sudden shift in their moods.
— "I shall leave you for a moment. Meet me at the bakery," Ophelia said, moving ahead.
— "What?" Alex glanced after her.
Nathan looked around, took the Young Lord by the arm, and guided him hastily into a narrow alley between the shops, concealing them among stacked boxes.
— "What are you doing?!"
Now Alex noticed Nathan's irritation. The Duke cupped Alex's face in his hands and kissed him, pressing close.
Alex was taken aback. They were in a narrow alley where anyone could appear at any moment. Yet he had missed the Duke so intensely that he did not pull away. A pang of anxiety stirred in his chest. When Nathan finally broke the kiss, a flushed Alex wiped his lips with his sleeve and murmured:
— "What has come over you? We might be seen…"
Nathan ignored the remark.
— "Let me help you," he said, holding out his hand for Alex to place the ribbon in.
The Young Lord turned his back, and Nathan began gathering Alex's hair into a ponytail. Suddenly, he remembered how the Duke had done this months ago. Every touch felt sharper now, yet fear lingered — anyone could appear at any moment. Still, Alex could not stop his beloved, for the sliding fingers brought him a strange, compelling pleasure.
Nathan noticed Alex's earlobes blush slightly, which brought a genuine smile to his face. When finished, the Young Lord turned and touched his hair, as if in a desperate attempt to hold onto the sensation of his beloved's touch for just a moment longer.
— "Thank you."
Nathan gently stroked Alex's head, smiling.
— "Shall we go?" he suggested.
— "Wait."
— "What is it?"
— "I remember you telling me about Sir Bronte… but I do not think I understood what just occurred between all of you…"
Nathan raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
— "Do not dwell on it."
— "Very well…"
They then proceeded to join Ophelia, assisting her in selecting sweets for the ceremony.