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.This house is a friendly house and both of you will be welcome here, shared bedrooms and all.""Not everyone would see it like that.They'd think I would corrupt him to my own ends.""Would you continue to make advances to Aedyn if he told you they were unwelcome?"Kestan shook his head.Never in his life had he pursued a man who wasn't interested; he remembered Aedyn's own clumsy advances too.For whatever reason, Aedyn had set his sights on Kestan."Aedyn asked me to kiss him," Kestan admitted.The earl was a man who made sharing confidences seem like the most natural thing in the world."So, on some level he must be attracted to you.""Maybe, but it wouldn't be very fair of me to take advantage of that.He is very innocent, Chadron.It's hardly surprising considering how long he was locked away from the world.Then there is also the fact of the law; I don't want to get him killed." Kestan set down his brandy glass, noticing that his hands were shaking."But what if he's willing to take the risk?""I don't know, I just don't know.""Well, why don't you get some rest and think it over? Things might be clearer after a good night's sleep.""Thank you."Kestan took his leave of the earl.Once he entered the hallway, the maid, Hawise, curtseyed and showed him upstairs to a bedroom.This room was as far from Kestan's dingy bedroom at Grunhall Abbey as one could get.There were wide windows draped in dark blue velvet, held back with silver tassels.It was dark outside with little flurries of snow swirling against the panes.The fire had been lit to warm the room and an oil lamp was already placed on the bedside table.The bed itself was a large four poster with curtains to match the window drapery and a thick blue bedspread with lots of pillows heaped up by the headboard.It was a room for guests, not servants."There's hot water for you, sir," said Hawise, pointing out the wash stand and Kestan saw the steam rising from the pitcher as well as a selection of cloths and towels."Do you need anything else?""No, thank you.""Well, there's a bell pull by the bed.Just ring if you need anything.""Thank you, but I think I'll be fine."Once the girl left, Kestan sat down on the side of the bed and removed his shoes.There was a dressing gown and a nightshirt draped over a chair by the window.Unbuttoning his shirt as he went, he poured out some hot water into the bowl and washed his face and neck, trying not to think.For when he did think the only thing he could think of was Aedyn.He climbed into bed and removed the warming pan which had taken the chill off the sheets, but even before he lay down he knew sleep was going to elude him once more.It wasn't the thought of ghosts or spirits which made him restless tonight, but thoughts of Aedyn and how ill he was.What if Aedyn died? How could he bear it? And if Aedyn didn't die, how could Kestan bear living without him? Would it be selfish of him to pursue Aedyn when in doing so it might cause his death anyway at the hands of the courts?He punched his pillows as if they had done him some great wrong, but Kestan knew he wasn't going to get to sleep and it wasn't the pillows or the bed's fault.He got up, pulled on the dressing gown and slid his feet into a pair of slippers before making his way down the hallway to Aedyn's room.Much to his surprise, he found that Aedyn wasn't alone.An older woman, who had the same fine-boned features as Jessamyn was sitting in a chair, reading softly to Aedyn, although Aedyn didn't seem to be awake.Her brown hair was hanging in a braid over one shoulder and she was dressed in a nightgown and shawl.She smiled on seeing him."Master Kestan, do come in.He hasn't woken, but sometimes voices can soothe.If you could stay with him for a while, I can get to bed.""Forgive me, Countess,, I didn't mean to have so disturbed your household.""Nonsense, it's the least we could do.To think, he's been alive all this time.We should have done more to find him.""I should have rescued him sooner."She laughed a little."We can play the blame game all night, but let's just be thankful that he is away from there at last.Goodnight, Master Kestan.""Goodnight, Countess [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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