All Is Bright - K. Sterling Page 0,14

and swung to the door. Lane grabbed Aiden and they hurried to intercept Reginald as the door swung open.

“Right here,” Aiden grumbled and gave him half a wave. The library was utterly silent around them and Lane’s teeth scraped over his lip as he tried to find a way to minimize the awkwardness later. He discreetly swiped a book off a shelf and held it up.

“I left this right here earlier and we just popped in to grab it.”

“Oh?” Reginald asked as he plucked it from Lane’s fingers and checked the spine and snorted at the almanac.

“I can smell the sex but it’s not you,” he whispered very softly then smiled and waved the book at Aiden. “You reek of sweat but you’re fresh as a daisy,” he told Lane then leaned so he could look around them but Lane turned him.

“Were you looking for Aiden for a reason?” He asked and Reginald cut his eyes at him but he consented and allowed Lane to lead him back into the hall. Lane shut the door behind them then crossed his arms over his chest, blocking the door.

“As we are all trapped at Blackhurst for an impromptu house party, I thought Sharp and I might collaborate on something special. Since it’s the holidays,” Reginald said to Aiden. He didn’t respond and just squinted at Reginald as if he’d said it in Swahili.

“I think he’s trying to figure out how much of that is sarcasm and euphemisms. You might want to explain,” Lane explained.

“Ah. Gotcha,” Reginald said and reached for Aiden as if they were going to have a word in private but Aiden leaned back and gave him a wary look.

“I’d feel better with a witness present,” he said and Reginald’s lip pushed out.

“Don’t be like that! We were making such good progress and I’ve been so looking forward to our first Christmas together!” He pleaded and Aiden shook his head quickly and looked at Lane.

“We’re not spending Christmas with him,” he said but Lane cringed as he held up his hands.

“Who knows how long we’ll be here,” he warned. Aiden slouched and groaned hard.

“Noooooo! I like our Christmas just the way it was.”

“I will make it up to you,” Lane promised as he reached for Aiden’s shoulders. He saw the library door at the end of the hall open slightly and turned to Reginald. “Why don’t you tell me what you had in mind,” he said as he steered Reginald around and headed for the stairs. Reginald’s nose wrinkled and he shook his head.

“You can be a bit stodgy...” he said and Aiden hurried to get ahead of them and pointed as he climbed the stairs sideways.

“There. You have to ask Lane first,” he said then raced up the steps. Lane widened his eyes at Reginald but he just chuckled and waved it off.

“He’ll come around. Do you think he’d be up for a skit and possibly a duet?” He asked hopefully. Lane bit down on his lips so hard it made his eyes water. He nodded and took a deep breath through his nose until he could trust himself not to howl.

“Probably not but I’d give anything to see it.”

“Let’s see what we can do. I have a set of darling matching coats that says otherwise but go on,” Reginald said and shooed Lane. “I think I’ll take a stroll through the library and find myself something to read.”

“Well. Enjoy that,” Lane said with a salute and laughed to himself as he went to see how much the idea would horrify Aiden. “Actually...” Lane slowed when he reached the gallery and the massive picture window. “If I tell Aiden we need him to babysit Reginald...” He knew Aiden would hate everything about the idea but the comedic payoff could be amazing.

Chapter 9

“All clear?” Cyril asked a pair of footmen as they shut the ballroom doors and they replied with terse nods.

“The ballroom is empty and all the doors have been locked.”

“We’ll take the conservatory,” Alon said and the footmen left to check the library. “Lord Marston has been spending a great deal of time in the conservatory,” Alon noted as they continued down the long “East Hallway.”

“We might take a pass through there and see if there’s anything we should be concerned about,” Cyril said and caught a soft smile as they crossed through a shaft of moonlight but the older man glanced at the window to check the rose garden and the smile was gone when Alon reached