Silas shook his head. “I want to get my shop open again. My own place. Reckon I should be safe to do that now. It’ll be a while yet till I get it set up, but it’s time to start planning.”
He’d lost his bookshop in a fire earlier that year, and David knew Silas missed his independence. Still, he’d be sorry to lose his radical friend from the household. “Lord Richard would have you here indefinitely, you know.”
“Aye, I know. He’s not a bad fellow. Didn’t think much of him at first but…not so bad.”
“I’m sure he’d be delighted to learn of your good opinion.”
Silas grinned. “And what about you? You pulled it all off.” He tipped his chair back, contemplating David. “You got my lad Harry safe, and me off the gallows, and Dom well out of his lordship’s way, and that young neddy Ash out of trouble. And your arse in his lordship’s bed, even, which sounds like as much hard work as all the rest put together. So what’s next for you, Foxy? Back to folding clothes?”
“Whatever’s needed. As and when.”
“At Lord Richard’s service?”
“Let’s say at his side, shall we?”
“I’ll drink to that.” Silas raised his glass and then looked around at the jangle of a bell. “Sounds like that’s the gentry done, so I’ve a promise to keep, and I dare say you’ve business too. Enjoy yourself, redcock.”
“You too, radical. Try not to make Mr. Frey squeal too loudly. It alarms the housemaids,” David said, and ducked out of the door before Silas could throw anything at him.
—
Richard came into the bedroom and saw David there. As he always was, as he always should be.
“Cyprian,” he said, shutting the door.
“Good evening, my lord. I hope you’ve had a pleasant time?”
“Very pleasant indeed.” Richard locked the door, then walked to his usual position by the mirror. David ran his hands up Richard’s back as if smoothing the coat. Richard breathed in sharply. “A great deal more pleasant for seeing you.”
“I thought you might stay talking later.” David was taking his time over Richard’s coat, shifting it off his shoulders with excruciating care. He could feel his valet’s breath on the nape of his neck.
“I was preoccupied, and I don’t think I was the only one. David, would you like to go to France?”
That got David’s attention. “We’re not fleeing the country, are we?”
Richard laughed, feeling David’s hands on him shifting with the shake of his shoulders. “Oddly enough, no. Ash tells me that Warminster has lost patience with Lord Maltravers and is sending him on a lengthy tour of the Continent. Julius says if this starts another European war, he will enlist on the other side. Francis simply hopes his boat will sink.”
“Mr. Webster is a very sensible gentleman,” David said. “If Lord Maltravers will be on the Continent, isn’t that a good reason to stay in England?”
Richard turned. David’s arms slid around him at the same time, and Richard took hold of his slim hips in return. “The Continent is large enough to hold us all. It simply occurred to me that I enjoyed my own travels abroad a great deal. I thought perhaps you would like to see Paris and the French fashions. We would travel very light. No entourage.” He bent his head to press a kiss to David’s pointed ear. “Just a gentleman and his valet, quite anonymously doing as we wish.”
David tilted his head, allowing Richard access to his pale neck. “That sounds…wonderful.”
“Mmm.” Richard tugged at David’s neckcloth, wanting it undone. “We must go to Tarlton March first, of course, to spend some of the summer with Philip’s family. And pay a visit to Cricklade while we are there. But then—”
“Paris.” David was removing Richard’s cravat with three times Richard’s dexterity despite working around his arms. “I should very much like to see Paris. I have never been abroad. Paris.” There was awe in his voice.
Richard couldn’t adorn David’s ears with jewels and doubted very much he’d want them. Even the plainest gifts would be attention-grabbing, inappropriate, dangerous. Richard would just have to give his valet the world instead. “Paris, Lyons. Munich, even. We can go wherever takes our fancy, for however long we like. I cannot be expected to travel without you, after all.” He cupped David’s face in both hands, stilling him, relishing the feel of long, sleek hair under his fingers. “I love you, my fox. I wish I’d had you there tonight, there with us. You should have had the highest seat at the table, and we all knew it. I honestly believe Julius was expecting me to present you to the others.”