Howard and the Hellfire Club (16/19)
Title: Howard and the Hellfire Club (Part Sixteen of Nineteen)
Genre: FPS - AU (very!)
Pairing: Howard/Vince overall
Rating: 18
Word Count: This part: 4,981
Warnings: Male/male sexual activity
Summary: Set in England during the 1740's. Howard is a gentleman and Vince his servant. A libertine and an innocent-sh lad... At Stowe, the Dodington's re-enter the fray, and Howard's long-held secret is revealed.
Author's notes: Betaed by the wonderful waqaychay , with hand holding and consulting by monooccularcat . Awesome header by emptyheaven . Thank you also to my flist for putting up with me talking about this relentlessly. And to everyone reading; I was convinced everyone would have been bored by now. Thank you my lovelies. Sorry, I'm early again...
Names and dates have been tampered with to protect the innocent. This is particularly true in terms of West Wycombe house and park, which wasn't complete by the dates given. However, in terms of the look of the house and property, I have tried to stay as true as possible to the landowner's plan. Please note that there was no Duke of Buckingham during this time period. ALSO, the inspiration for this was Fielding's bit-part in Plunkett & Macleane. I liked it so much, I stole Rochester.
Previously in Hellfire: The Earl of Rochester is reunited with his sister after his mother's death. Sissy - the sister - is in love with a prostitue, Jasmine, who Vince gets to know. As lovers, Howard and Vince spend time in West Wycombe, where Howard tells his parents how he feels about Vince. They take it well; concerned only for their son's happiness and the security of he and Vince. They travel to West Wycombe for a meeting of the Hellfire Club, where Vince loses his virginity and becomes friendly with the Hellfire Club. They turn on Dodington, who is trying to ruin the Moon family, and send him fleeing from the caves.
Howard and Vince go into hiding at Stowe. It's here, Vince comes to realised Howard has a secret; one that James - The Duke of Buckingham - is implicated in. Howard tells Vince the secret, whereby James' lover from the army, Shaw, turned out to be a traitor. Howard, trying to rescue James, was forced to kill Shaw. The incident had a long lasting impression on them both.
In the meantime, Fossil has been shipped abroad. Bainbridge and Thomson, our series henchmen, are also on the way to Stowe for a meeting of the Kit Kat Club. But who should arrive? The fair Lady Eleanor, and she has her sights firmly set on one Howard Moon Greville.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
Part Fifteen
Part Sixteen
A Pub, 10th May 1748
Lord Dodington awoke under a table. It was dark. He shivered.
“Lights,” he whispered. He could just see a few glowing embers in the grate of what had been a roaring fire. He crawled towards it. The shadows couldn't reach him as long as he clung to the warmth and the light.
All he had to do was fulfil his destiny. And then, Lord Dodington decided, he would be free. No matter what the shadows had told him.
*#*
Stowe, 10th May 1748
Howard and Vince were snuggled up in the Gothic Temple when a knock came on the door. Howard answered it, much to the surprise of Sissy, Jasmine and Dave who stood on the other side. He waved them in whilst Vince put the kettle on. When they were all present in the large main circular room, Sissy prodded Dave to speak.
"Ow," Dave said, rubbing his side.
"You said you needed to talk to us all..." Sissy rolled her eyes. "It must be about that woman."
"Ye-es." Dave looked a bit worried. "As you know, Lady Eleanor has arrived. She's staying at the main house. The Duke had considered moving her to the inn at the edge of the grounds, but... he decided that it was better that we keep an eye on her."
"And why, for heaven's sake, isn't throwing her out a reasonable alternative?" Sissy demanded. Vince noted that Jasmine looked a little... angry.
"Because she 'as no carriage," Jasmine said, angrily. "Because if James throws 'er out, she can walk around the grounds and creep up on us instead. Because ignoring 'er and pretending she does not exist is not a good thing to do. If she wants to find me, I say, let 'er find me. I can protect myself. She won't be the first man's wife I 'ave 'ad to keep calm."
"This is slightly different than a woman walking into a brothel, dearest," Sissy said. Vince winced at the tone, as did Sissy. She was a firebrand and, sometimes, her propensity was to push a little beyond her control.
Jasmine stood. She pointed at Howard. "You once told me you lectured 'im about not giving Vince the credit for looking after 'imself. What do you think you're doing now? Hmm?" Before Sissy could answer, Jasmine left the building. Everyone looked at Sissy.
"What?" she said. "I'll go after her in a minute, just hurry up, coachman." She glared at Dave.
"Excuse me?" Vince questioned. He looked at Howard, who was already leaning forward, giving Sissy a questioning look. She looked at Vince, blushed, then scowled at Howard.
"Look, all of this is... it's not helping me and Jasmine at all. I don't mean to be harsh." She looked at Dave and stretched out her hand to squeeze his. "I'm sorry. I just want all this to be over. Just... tell me what the plan is."
Dave squeezed Sissy's hand back and sat forward a little. "Okay, she's here, but it has been decided that we should act in as normal a manner as possible. However, the Duke has had to make up a few stories. First of all, he wasn't going to tell her that you and Jasmine were here, but then Rochester burst in asking if his sister was home."
Sissy looked skyward and shook her head.
Dave continued with a sneaky smile. "So, the story is that you are staying in the Ladies Temple with your maid, m'am."
Sissy arched her eyebrows. "That'll go down well," she said sceptically. "And if Eleanor starts anything?"
"Well, yes," Dave said diplomatically. "That's an issue. The Duke wasn't sure whether to suggest that either your brother was to stay with you...?"
Sissy's eyes widened in horror.
"Or, well, the other alternative was for someone else to stay. A man... Someone who could, well, that is to say, just provide a little bit of a..."
"Who?" Sissy barked.
"Well, that's open for discussion. The suggestion was that, well, I mean... well, what... Er... who, well, there's, er..."
"You'll do nicely," Sissy said with a thin smile. "I wouldn't trust my brother to keep a cat safe, but you... Yes, David. I would be very grateful if you would stay with us."
"Oh! Right," Dave blushed. "That's perfectly fine, and I'll be round a bit later, m'am."
Sissy squeezed his hand again. "I'll go and tell Jasmine."
The men stood as Sissy left, then sat as soon as the door was closed behind her. Vince spoke first. "Did you mean to suggest that you stayed with them?"
"Not really," Dave said ruefully. "I just knew she wouldn't like the alternative, so I figured she might as well make up her own mind."
Vince chuckled, as did Howard after a few moments.
Dave grinned at them both. "Sorry, sir," he offered. "I'd not do that to you, of course."
Howard raised his eyebrows and smiled. "So what's the decision on Vince and I? I take it we're under orders, as well?"
"You're staying here with your manservant," Dave told them. Vince tried to keep the disappointment out of his expression, but knew he'd failed when Dave continued. "Sorry, Vince, it's just that Lady Eleanor's got a bit of a crush on Howard. She wanted to know where he was as soon as she arrived. Looked for you all over the grounds." Dave's cheek stretched as he pushed his tongue firmly against it. "Reckoned there was a naughty pair of ghosts over at the Temple of Venus."
Howard laughed uproarously and Vince choked slightly. He recovered himself to question Dave further. "She's got a crush on Howard?"
"It does happen, you know, Vince," Howard replied with a disgruntled air.
"But you're... She must be..."
"Older," Dave finished. "She is. Maybe. She's younger than her husband."
"Really?" Vince said, nodding. "You clearly made quite an impression on her." Vince looked at Howard and squeezed his knee, making the older man jump slightly.
"He did," Dave agreed. "She was going on about the man who saved her life all afternoon. Said that she had left Dodington to meet a true man like Howard Greville...?"
Vince turned and looked at Howard. The name was a blast from the past. It was one that Howard had used with some of his other suitors. It kept the gossips away from Howard Moon if everyone knew that Howard Grenville was a complete cad. "Greville?"
"It just came out," Howard said with a shrug. "You know I wouldn't dream of going anywhere near her. Don't you?"
Vince didn't reply. He believed Howard; it was just that Howard's past made him suspicious. Why use that name?
"So I'm his servant and..."
"And you're both artists," Dave finished. "James had to tell her something, so he said that you two were working on that little seat thing down by the lake."
"I don't know anything about art," Howard said, his eyes a little wild. "I just... what if I have to prove it?"
"If we're working down there together, I can do the work and you can pretend you're supervising," Vince suggested. He had a good eye; he could draw and paint. He realised he'd never really mentioned it to Howard. It was what he did before... It was how Vince the manservant relaxed. Vince the lover... well, he didn't know what he did yet.
"Good," Howard nodded. "That's good. Now what about getting rid of her?"
"There's a meeting of the Kit Kat Club here next week," Dave continued. "James is hoping to get someone to take her back to London."
Another week? Vince felt a bit like sobbing. He didn't want to pretend that Howard wasn't his for a day, let alone a week.
"Fine," Howard replied. "Now... James?"
Dave blushed. "The Duke, I mean... meant to say."
"You kept the act up for Sissy and Jasmine," Howard noted.
"I figured Vince would tell you," Dave replied. "We do talk about things like that."
"Of course," Howard agreed. "Take things slow?"
"Do you think?" Dave asked.
Howard nodded. Vince nodded, too, and smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging way.
"But you don't think...?" Dave blushed. He looked at Vince, then Howard, clearly willing them to add two and two and make six.
"If James loves you, he won't care about your background," Howard told him. "If he doesn't, he just won't care. I don't want to say that, but would you believe a lie?"
"No, sir."
"Dave," his master said, stroking the back of Vince's hand. "I don't want you hurt, you understand? You're your own person, but you're also my responsibility. I won't have you hurt without warning you. Even if that involves being a little... tactless about my best friend. Vincent keeps telling me you're my family. I believe it. I won't have my family injured. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do," Dave agreed. "And if James... the Duke, if he asks...?"
Vince looked at Howard expectantly, loving him, knowing that he would be a gentleman.
"I will tell him that he isn't to hurt you, and that he could scarcely do better."
Vince reached up and kissed the side of Howard's neck. Howard's blush spread so fast it reached Vince's lips in seconds. Dave giggled, standing and heading towards the door.
"Thanks, Dad!" he said with a chuckle as he left all too rapidly.
"Dad?" Howard said, his jaw opening.
Vince threw one leg over his lap and sat on his knee. "Shush. Just think, if you're Dad, what do you think I am?" He kissed Howard through the older man's laughter, hoping their happiness would continue to last, despite the intrusion of Lady Dodington.
*#*
The New Inn, Stowe, 12th May 1748
"Oi, yer bleedin' poofter, you spilled me beer!" Thomson stood, knocking his chair to the floor. He strode across the small bar area of the inn towards a pale, dark-haired lad who was backing up quickly but clumsily.
"Don't hurt me!" the lad squeaked. "I'm only here to bring you a message."
"Daon I know you from somewhere?" Thomson pulled his puzzled face.
"Of course you do, my glorious ruffian!" The voice boomed out from behind him and Thomson turned with surprise. Then, chuffed, he walked up to his friend and gave him a squeeze before shaking his hand.
"Well, if I'd'a known you wuz 'ere, squire, I'd'a bin much niocer," Thomson said, making his accent even cruder. He winked. "Sir Stephen, you naughty fackin' bastard."
"I say," Sir Stephen replied. He grinned with pleasure, his cheeks stained with a faint blush. There was something about a gent like Sir Stephen that made Thomson a bit poetic. "Now, best behaviour, and that includes you, the lovely Mr Bainbridge. I'm about to introduce you to a very charming couple, the parents of Captain Howard TJ Moon?"
Thomson nodded. He remembered Howard, right enough. He was one of the few toffs around who actually treated blokes like him with a bit of respect. He was alright in Thomson's book, even if he was clearly boffing his valet. Bainbridge had stood when Sir Stephen had mentioned his name and greeted the taller man with affectionate mock servility. Sir Stephen was good for a laugh.
"Oh, and the Moons have brought their servant, Le Roy, with them. Remember him?" Sir Stephen grinned.
"Bloody Leroy? He's not still doing the mock French thing, is he?" Bainbridge shook his head, smiling.
"Yes, he bloody well is, Dixy, old chap," said Le Roy, who appeared from behind Sir Stephen. His tone was more mannered - not so much as Sir Stephen, but then, the Sir was a proper gentleman. A noble man. Leroy was just a twerp with a Vicar for a dad and a teacher for a mum who thought he was a bit above it, like. But really, he wasn't all that. "Thomson," Le Roy nodded at him. "It's been a while."
"It 'as an' all," Thomson agreed. He softened a bit. Leroy was alright. Though you wanted to lock your door at night. He had a horrible habit of nicking people's trousers.
"Now, has the lovely Christopher over there relayed the information about Eleanor Dodington being present at the house?" Sir Stephen asked, impatient with the social la-de-da.
Christopher shook his head. Thomson looked at him and snarled a bit. He was Rochester's bit of fluff, Thomson knew that right enough. It was just that you were careful with a man's beer.
"The Lady Eleanor has deposited herself at the main house. Some excitement over a carriage, which the valiant Captain Moon was unfortunate enough to distinguish himself with.” Sir Stephen winked at Bainbridge. “Howard has told Lady Eleanor his name is Greville - please, note that, gentlemen. In the meantime, we are to protect Miss Rochester and her amant lesbienne. We must also, of course, keep the delightful Vincent safe - Captain Moon's valet."
"Bum-boy more like it," Bainbridge grumbled.
"You're only jealous," Le Roy quipped with a wink.
"Never thought you'd offer," Bainbridge smiled.
"Later..."
"Can we possibly organise our sodomy programme at a later time?" Sir Stephen looked at them both with an amused expression. Bainbridge and Le Roy looked at each other guiltily and giggled. Thomson sighed.
"Vincent is a man close to many hearts," Sir Stephen continued. "We protect Howard's love because we protect our freedoms in a country where liberty is indellibly scorched on all our hearts. Gentlemen, do not forget that we are part of a titanic struggle politically, for our King, our country and what we believe. I trust that you, of all men, know this. Even you, my delightful cockney sparrow."
"Is that what he is?" Bainbridge asked.
"Shut it!" Thomson retorted.
Sir Stephen sighed. "Just... shut up. Now, you must make yourself ready to elope with Lady Eleanor when I tell you to. We should not use the good lady in our plan for any longer than we need to." He shook his head. "Is that acceptable?"
"Aye, sir," Bainbridge replied.
Le Roy bowed.
"You bet yer arse, me ole' china," Thomson said with a nod. "Now, 'oo's goin'a' get me a new flaggon 'o' grog?"
*#*
Gothic Temple, Stowe, 15th May 1748
Vince was up and working when Howard awoke. The smell of breakfast filtered up the stone staircase to where Howard was sleeping. He threw his robe around him and stumbled down the narrow stone spiral staircase to the lower floor. He passed through the living room across to the bathroom first and then to the kitchen.
"You're early," Howard mumbled. He'd been getting up earlier than Vince whilst they'd been residing at Stowe. It pleased Howard. It felt like he was beginning to worm beneath the man who was his valet. For Vince to revert to type was... frustrating.
"Lady Eleanor wants to see you," Vince told him. He turned, gave Howard a warm kiss and then turned back to the stove where he was frying fresh eggs and bacon. "I thought that it might be best to behave as we're supposed to."
Howard saw Vince's lower lip pout out a little as he finished speaking. He knew Vince hated the pretence. He hated it too. He often wished he had the money to build a grand house like this, with gardens and land enough to keep them both safe and give them the freedom to be who they were.
So far, they'd managed to keep away from Eleanor. Howard had been to the main house to have tea a few times and she'd given Vince a filthy look from a distance, but, by and large, she hadn't intruded into their lives. Really, Howard wanted it to stay that way. Civility meant it couldn't.
Howard moved forward and kissed the back of Vince's neck. He breathed deeply against the skin as moved to one side, lapping the lobe of Vince's ear into his mouth.
"Are you listening to me about... behaving?" Vince whispered. His voice was husky and beautiful.
"Only whilst there's daylight," Howard said breathily. "At night, you're mine." Howard felt Vince shiver. As he put his arm around Vince's chest, he could feel the already swollen, nubs of Vince's nipples standing erect.
"Go, bathe, dress..." Vince said, his voice wavering and unconvincing.
"Later..." Howard murmured, grinding his crotch against Vince's backside.
"Yoo-hoo!" came a husky female voice from the front room.
"Fuck," Vince groaned.
Howard bit back a sob. "Sorry," he whispered. He turned and strode back into the main living area. "Lady Eleanor, you catch me indecently dressed."
"Not as indecent as I'd like, Greville," Eleanor told him, gnashing her teeth a little. "I've heard about you."
"All lies and scurrilous gossip," Howard told her heading towards the stairs. "Please, be seated. I'll dress and return. In the meantime…" Howard raised his chin and increased the volume of his voice. "Vincent, would you make tea for my guest?"
"Yes, Sir," came a professional, cool voice from the kitchen.
Howard turned and ran back up the spiral staircase before Eleanor could see his expression. It burned to have Vince so submissive, so... much like his servant. For the first time in his life, Howard wished he and Vince could swap places. He didn't feel worthy of being a sir, not today.
***
Two hours later
"And around the edges, there will be astrological s ymbols, runes, ancient scripts." Howard waved his arms around. Eleanor nodded and leaned against him a little more. She squeezed his bicep.
"You're so strong," she told him. "I'd love to have you come do some art for me..."
Howard bit back his emotions and acted the part. "Well, perhaps... I always love a new..." He leaned in toward her. "Commission." He jumped as Vince dropped his trowel.
"Sorry, Sir, I need to make some more muck." Vince's face was a picture of cool, sharp anger. He began mixing his plaster-like wall covering. Howard was, inwardly, blooming with pride at the intricate design Vince had created from coloured stones set into the stuccoed walls. Howard had searched for stones - sneakily stealing many from a gravelled section of the driveway - whilst Vince drew the design for the curved structure. It was small, a place to sit under shelter and gaze over the lake. Vince was making it into something altogether more special. The two men had managed to hide there from Eleanor's advances until today.
"Humph," Eleanor murmured, looking at Vince with no little sense of disdain. "He's really not the one I'd like to see getting all mucky." She wrinkled her nose and batted her eyelashes. Howard resisted the urge to run.
"Vincent is a master at these sorts of things," Howard told her. "I really couldn't do without him."
"I'm sure we could make a whole lot of mess together, even if he weren't..."
"Muck, Lady Eleanor," Vince interrupted. "It's a slang term for building materials. Mess... isn't."
"Was I talking to you?" Eleanor replied. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Vince.
"I'm dreadfully sorry. It's getting rather warm and Vincent will be in need of something to cool off." Howard widened his eyes at Vince over Eleanor's head, hoping the younger man would take the hint. "Shall we go and fetch some lemonade?"
"You squeeze my lemons, and we'll make whatever you want," Eleanor said with a purr.
Howard led her away before Vince got tempted to set her into the wall rather than stones.
***
An hour later
Vince let himself fall back on the grass. He was thirsty, hot, fed up of waiting for Howard to come bring him a drink, and fed up. And, after that was all sorted, he was a bit more fed up.
"He wasn't joking when he told me to hurry, was he?" The voice was Buckingham's and approaching rapidly.
Vince sat up, squinting, feeling a bit light-headed.
"C'mon," James said, pulling Vince to his feet. "Under here." He sat Vince down under the shelter he had been decorating, letting him flop against already-dry plaster. He felt his forehead. "Just a bit overheated, I would imagine. Have a drink of this." He raised a carafe of water to Vince's lips and held it whilst he drank. After a few seconds, Vince took it off him, and smiled politely.
"Thank you, Sir," Vince told him. "Howard was going to get me a drink, but he is in the company of Lady Eleanor and... Well, they must have got distracted." A bitter tinge coloured the last words.
"Nonsense," James said lightly. "Howard told me to bring you a drink when he began struggling with Eleanor's wishes. Well, wishes... Not quite. She met Jasmine."
"Oh, well, that's rather..."
"And I did have to ransack the house looking for this fella." James motioned to the jug. "I was hoping to find a flask, but then I remembered the dreadfully strange French writer chappy who used my favourite flask last. I suppose I should have expected the outcome considering the fact that the flask was slightly phallic, but you just don't expect..."
"Er, Sir?" Vince interrupted. "Is Jasmine alright?"
"Oh, yes, right as rain." James stood and began inspecting Vince's work. "Lady Eleanor is going to be her and Sissy's guest tonight. Although, I think they‘ve commandeered my house for the occasion."
"So Eleanor doesn't...?"
"I don't think so, no." James traced the outline of some of the shapes Vince had painstakingly set into the wall of the grotto. "Sissy's got a bee in her bonnet about it, of course, but, I tend to think that Jasmine had the right way of going about it." James stood back, admiringly. "This really is wonderful, Vince. I have a few other places in the grounds which could do with your expertise."
"I haven't finished this yet," Vince said, looking a bit bemused. "Do you really like it?"
"Very much." James took a few dry biscuits from his pocket and offered one to Vince. "When Brown told me that you had some artistic flair, I thought he might be exaggerating. He's not. This really is very lovely."
"You and Dave seem quite close," Vince mentioned, carefully regarding James' face.
"Yes," James said simply. He smiled and sat down next to Vince. "It's rather a pleasure to have real people here rather than gentlemen."
"It's not the men I'm worried about," Vince admitted.
"Eleanor?" James asked. He had a look of utter mystification on his face. "Oh, come on."
"She's more his class than me," Vince sad softly. "I wouldn't have thought twice had he not just left me here. I'm being daft, aren't I?"
"Not daft," James told him. "You're just aware that she's a danger. Temper it, though, Vincent. Know that what Howard is doing is his best to keep you both safe, and not impress Lady Eleanor. But let me watch out for you both?"
Vince nodded. He knew he was pouting but didn't care much. He gave himself a mental shake, determined to lighten his mood.
***
6pm, Stowe House, 15th May, 1748
Howard stood in an archway below the driveway. He'd nipped outside to see if he could find a servant - anyone's would do - to send Vince a message. Howard hadn't returned to the Temple all day, unable to escape Eleanor's side for more than a few moments. She had nagged him relentlessly about Vince's manners and he'd tried hard to control his temper. Right now, though, he was furious. There was no one to be seen. All he wanted to do was curl up in bed with Vince and forget that Eleanor Dodington even existed.
"Howard, my lump of man-fruit." Eleanor's voice filtered down the staircase. He'd hoped to avoid her here. This was the servants' domain; surely, she couldn't be serious?
Knowing that there wasn't a second to spare, Howard took off towards the Gothic Temple at a run. He ran up the ramp, through the coachman's entrance, around the side of the mansion, heading out towards the valley which would bring him to Vince.
"Don't even think of it. " Eleanor stood before him. "You're mine tonight, Greville, all mine."
“I’m not sure you should be out here, Eleanor,” Howard said, coming to a stop. “Never know what might be lurking out here.”
“Oh, I have this.” Eleanor withdrew a small gun from her evening bag. “A small little man with a turban and a monkey gave it to me. He told me all about… my husband’s betrayal. I just hope my little weapon doesn’t go off. Now why don’t you come inside so you can keep me safe?”
"I need to just nip home and discuss a few matters with Vince and..."
“Let me play with your monkey?” Eleanor suggested.
“I just have to let Vince know where I am and…”
"Who's the master in your relationship with your valet, Howard?" Eleanor asked. "I'm worried about you. I suspect that your manservant is... well, I saw he and the Duke cuddling up to each other earlier. I dare say he'll be trying to get a job here and leave you in the lurch. I think James has already stolen your coachman. Well, part of him at least." Eleanor laughed. It was disconcerting how she seemed to know so much and... what did she mean about Vince and James cuddling?
"Vince and James don't get along," Howard told her. "I need to check in. That's all I want to do." And ask why Vince was cuddling James, he added mentally.
"Are you sure your name's Greville, Howard?" Eleanor gave him a sceptical look. "Has Vincent got some other type of pull on you? If he has, well, you can trust me, Howard."
"Of course not," Howard wanted to shout. He needed a drink, or an entire bottle. "What did you mean? James and Vincent? I would be... concerned if they were involved."
"I'm sure it was nothing," Eleanor regarded Howard carefully. "Just a little comfort. I think... I think it's best that you come back to the house with me. Let me... take your mind off things."
***
9pm, Gothic Temple, 15th May 1748
Vince was in bed when he next saw Howard. His master staggered up the stairs, calling Vince's name. He was drunk.
"Vince! Vincey! Vincey-kins," Howard called. He slipped on the stairs; Vince could hear it. He stayed in bed. The bed in the spare room.
"Vincent?!" Howard yelled again.
Vince put his head under the covers.
"Vincent Black!" Howard's voice seemed to bounce of the walls. He had made it up the stairs. "Vince?" He stomped around the balcony towards the spare room. "Vince? Why are we sleeping in here?"
"We're not," Vince said simply, his head peering over the covers. "I am. Go to bed, Howard."
"No." Howard slumped to the floor in the doorway. "This isn't happening."
"It is." Vince sat up. "I'm angry at you. I had no idea where you were. Mrs Gideon came and cooked. She went back and I sat alone, not knowing where you were, except that you were with her and not me. I trust you, Howard, but I'm angry, too. And tired. Go to bed."
"No," Howard said again. He struggled to his feet. "I didn't want to not come home. I had to, Vincey. I couldn't say that I had to come back in case my valet was worried."
"Valet?" Vince repeated. "I don't really care what you told her, Howard. I care that when we're in the same bloody estate, you couldn't come and tell me what was happening. You didn't only tell her I was your valet, you treated me like it. In fact, you treated me worse. You never made me stay up waiting for you before."
"Oh, come on, Vince." Howard sat on the edge of the bed. He stroked Vince's foot. Vince moved it. "I can't always treat you the way I want to."
"Why?" Vince asked. "Why when you're not even treated as well as one of your staff."
"It was one evening, Vince." Howard stood, stumbled and sat back down.
"Yes," Vince agreed. "It was. And, in good time, I will calm down. But now isn't that time. I want you to give me the time to calm down."
"No." Howard shook his head. "I want you in my bed and sucking my cock. Well, at least if you hadn't had your fill with James earlier."
Vince couldn't speak. His jaw dropped.
Howard blushed but carried on. "What? Forgotten that I'm in charge? Lady Eleanor hasn't. She thinks you're above your station. Maybe you need to be reminded." He lunged at Vince, who rolled out of his way and then pushed him back. Howard slipped off the bed, falling into a heap on the floor.
"How dare you, BOY!?"
Vince knew that voice. It was the one that had, once, made him run to his master's side after his evening amusement had ended. It was arrogant. A demand that Vince should clean up after Howard had taken another lover. Howard looked up and caught Vince's expression. Fury welled up in the younger man's eyes.
"Shit, Vince, I'm sorry," Howard said. "Nothing happened and... fuck, I'm sorry, I don't mean..."
Vince hopped out of the spare bed and dashed towards the room he and Howard had been sharing.
"Come back, please, Vince! Let me explain."
Vince didn't answer. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it. He waited for Howard to try the door, for him to talk to him. He wanted Howard to know he was being an arrogant prick and apologise.
He waited.
And waited.
Then, finally, Vince crawled into bed and wondered how everything had crumbled so fast.
*#*
Genre: FPS - AU (very!)
Pairing: Howard/Vince overall
Rating: 18
Word Count: This part: 4,981
Warnings: Male/male sexual activity
Summary: Set in England during the 1740's. Howard is a gentleman and Vince his servant. A libertine and an innocent-sh lad... At Stowe, the Dodington's re-enter the fray, and Howard's long-held secret is revealed.
Author's notes: Betaed by the wonderful waqaychay , with hand holding and consulting by monooccularcat . Awesome header by emptyheaven . Thank you also to my flist for putting up with me talking about this relentlessly. And to everyone reading; I was convinced everyone would have been bored by now. Thank you my lovelies. Sorry, I'm early again...
Names and dates have been tampered with to protect the innocent. This is particularly true in terms of West Wycombe house and park, which wasn't complete by the dates given. However, in terms of the look of the house and property, I have tried to stay as true as possible to the landowner's plan. Please note that there was no Duke of Buckingham during this time period. ALSO, the inspiration for this was Fielding's bit-part in Plunkett & Macleane. I liked it so much, I stole Rochester.
Previously in Hellfire: The Earl of Rochester is reunited with his sister after his mother's death. Sissy - the sister - is in love with a prostitue, Jasmine, who Vince gets to know. As lovers, Howard and Vince spend time in West Wycombe, where Howard tells his parents how he feels about Vince. They take it well; concerned only for their son's happiness and the security of he and Vince. They travel to West Wycombe for a meeting of the Hellfire Club, where Vince loses his virginity and becomes friendly with the Hellfire Club. They turn on Dodington, who is trying to ruin the Moon family, and send him fleeing from the caves.
Howard and Vince go into hiding at Stowe. It's here, Vince comes to realised Howard has a secret; one that James - The Duke of Buckingham - is implicated in. Howard tells Vince the secret, whereby James' lover from the army, Shaw, turned out to be a traitor. Howard, trying to rescue James, was forced to kill Shaw. The incident had a long lasting impression on them both.
In the meantime, Fossil has been shipped abroad. Bainbridge and Thomson, our series henchmen, are also on the way to Stowe for a meeting of the Kit Kat Club. But who should arrive? The fair Lady Eleanor, and she has her sights firmly set on one Howard Moon Greville.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
Part Fifteen
Part Sixteen
A Pub, 10th May 1748
Lord Dodington awoke under a table. It was dark. He shivered.
“Lights,” he whispered. He could just see a few glowing embers in the grate of what had been a roaring fire. He crawled towards it. The shadows couldn't reach him as long as he clung to the warmth and the light.
All he had to do was fulfil his destiny. And then, Lord Dodington decided, he would be free. No matter what the shadows had told him.
*#*
Stowe, 10th May 1748
Howard and Vince were snuggled up in the Gothic Temple when a knock came on the door. Howard answered it, much to the surprise of Sissy, Jasmine and Dave who stood on the other side. He waved them in whilst Vince put the kettle on. When they were all present in the large main circular room, Sissy prodded Dave to speak.
"Ow," Dave said, rubbing his side.
"You said you needed to talk to us all..." Sissy rolled her eyes. "It must be about that woman."
"Ye-es." Dave looked a bit worried. "As you know, Lady Eleanor has arrived. She's staying at the main house. The Duke had considered moving her to the inn at the edge of the grounds, but... he decided that it was better that we keep an eye on her."
"And why, for heaven's sake, isn't throwing her out a reasonable alternative?" Sissy demanded. Vince noted that Jasmine looked a little... angry.
"Because she 'as no carriage," Jasmine said, angrily. "Because if James throws 'er out, she can walk around the grounds and creep up on us instead. Because ignoring 'er and pretending she does not exist is not a good thing to do. If she wants to find me, I say, let 'er find me. I can protect myself. She won't be the first man's wife I 'ave 'ad to keep calm."
"This is slightly different than a woman walking into a brothel, dearest," Sissy said. Vince winced at the tone, as did Sissy. She was a firebrand and, sometimes, her propensity was to push a little beyond her control.
Jasmine stood. She pointed at Howard. "You once told me you lectured 'im about not giving Vince the credit for looking after 'imself. What do you think you're doing now? Hmm?" Before Sissy could answer, Jasmine left the building. Everyone looked at Sissy.
"What?" she said. "I'll go after her in a minute, just hurry up, coachman." She glared at Dave.
"Excuse me?" Vince questioned. He looked at Howard, who was already leaning forward, giving Sissy a questioning look. She looked at Vince, blushed, then scowled at Howard.
"Look, all of this is... it's not helping me and Jasmine at all. I don't mean to be harsh." She looked at Dave and stretched out her hand to squeeze his. "I'm sorry. I just want all this to be over. Just... tell me what the plan is."
Dave squeezed Sissy's hand back and sat forward a little. "Okay, she's here, but it has been decided that we should act in as normal a manner as possible. However, the Duke has had to make up a few stories. First of all, he wasn't going to tell her that you and Jasmine were here, but then Rochester burst in asking if his sister was home."
Sissy looked skyward and shook her head.
Dave continued with a sneaky smile. "So, the story is that you are staying in the Ladies Temple with your maid, m'am."
Sissy arched her eyebrows. "That'll go down well," she said sceptically. "And if Eleanor starts anything?"
"Well, yes," Dave said diplomatically. "That's an issue. The Duke wasn't sure whether to suggest that either your brother was to stay with you...?"
Sissy's eyes widened in horror.
"Or, well, the other alternative was for someone else to stay. A man... Someone who could, well, that is to say, just provide a little bit of a..."
"Who?" Sissy barked.
"Well, that's open for discussion. The suggestion was that, well, I mean... well, what... Er... who, well, there's, er..."
"You'll do nicely," Sissy said with a thin smile. "I wouldn't trust my brother to keep a cat safe, but you... Yes, David. I would be very grateful if you would stay with us."
"Oh! Right," Dave blushed. "That's perfectly fine, and I'll be round a bit later, m'am."
Sissy squeezed his hand again. "I'll go and tell Jasmine."
The men stood as Sissy left, then sat as soon as the door was closed behind her. Vince spoke first. "Did you mean to suggest that you stayed with them?"
"Not really," Dave said ruefully. "I just knew she wouldn't like the alternative, so I figured she might as well make up her own mind."
Vince chuckled, as did Howard after a few moments.
Dave grinned at them both. "Sorry, sir," he offered. "I'd not do that to you, of course."
Howard raised his eyebrows and smiled. "So what's the decision on Vince and I? I take it we're under orders, as well?"
"You're staying here with your manservant," Dave told them. Vince tried to keep the disappointment out of his expression, but knew he'd failed when Dave continued. "Sorry, Vince, it's just that Lady Eleanor's got a bit of a crush on Howard. She wanted to know where he was as soon as she arrived. Looked for you all over the grounds." Dave's cheek stretched as he pushed his tongue firmly against it. "Reckoned there was a naughty pair of ghosts over at the Temple of Venus."
Howard laughed uproarously and Vince choked slightly. He recovered himself to question Dave further. "She's got a crush on Howard?"
"It does happen, you know, Vince," Howard replied with a disgruntled air.
"But you're... She must be..."
"Older," Dave finished. "She is. Maybe. She's younger than her husband."
"Really?" Vince said, nodding. "You clearly made quite an impression on her." Vince looked at Howard and squeezed his knee, making the older man jump slightly.
"He did," Dave agreed. "She was going on about the man who saved her life all afternoon. Said that she had left Dodington to meet a true man like Howard Greville...?"
Vince turned and looked at Howard. The name was a blast from the past. It was one that Howard had used with some of his other suitors. It kept the gossips away from Howard Moon if everyone knew that Howard Grenville was a complete cad. "Greville?"
"It just came out," Howard said with a shrug. "You know I wouldn't dream of going anywhere near her. Don't you?"
Vince didn't reply. He believed Howard; it was just that Howard's past made him suspicious. Why use that name?
"So I'm his servant and..."
"And you're both artists," Dave finished. "James had to tell her something, so he said that you two were working on that little seat thing down by the lake."
"I don't know anything about art," Howard said, his eyes a little wild. "I just... what if I have to prove it?"
"If we're working down there together, I can do the work and you can pretend you're supervising," Vince suggested. He had a good eye; he could draw and paint. He realised he'd never really mentioned it to Howard. It was what he did before... It was how Vince the manservant relaxed. Vince the lover... well, he didn't know what he did yet.
"Good," Howard nodded. "That's good. Now what about getting rid of her?"
"There's a meeting of the Kit Kat Club here next week," Dave continued. "James is hoping to get someone to take her back to London."
Another week? Vince felt a bit like sobbing. He didn't want to pretend that Howard wasn't his for a day, let alone a week.
"Fine," Howard replied. "Now... James?"
Dave blushed. "The Duke, I mean... meant to say."
"You kept the act up for Sissy and Jasmine," Howard noted.
"I figured Vince would tell you," Dave replied. "We do talk about things like that."
"Of course," Howard agreed. "Take things slow?"
"Do you think?" Dave asked.
Howard nodded. Vince nodded, too, and smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging way.
"But you don't think...?" Dave blushed. He looked at Vince, then Howard, clearly willing them to add two and two and make six.
"If James loves you, he won't care about your background," Howard told him. "If he doesn't, he just won't care. I don't want to say that, but would you believe a lie?"
"No, sir."
"Dave," his master said, stroking the back of Vince's hand. "I don't want you hurt, you understand? You're your own person, but you're also my responsibility. I won't have you hurt without warning you. Even if that involves being a little... tactless about my best friend. Vincent keeps telling me you're my family. I believe it. I won't have my family injured. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do," Dave agreed. "And if James... the Duke, if he asks...?"
Vince looked at Howard expectantly, loving him, knowing that he would be a gentleman.
"I will tell him that he isn't to hurt you, and that he could scarcely do better."
Vince reached up and kissed the side of Howard's neck. Howard's blush spread so fast it reached Vince's lips in seconds. Dave giggled, standing and heading towards the door.
"Thanks, Dad!" he said with a chuckle as he left all too rapidly.
"Dad?" Howard said, his jaw opening.
Vince threw one leg over his lap and sat on his knee. "Shush. Just think, if you're Dad, what do you think I am?" He kissed Howard through the older man's laughter, hoping their happiness would continue to last, despite the intrusion of Lady Dodington.
*#*
The New Inn, Stowe, 12th May 1748
"Oi, yer bleedin' poofter, you spilled me beer!" Thomson stood, knocking his chair to the floor. He strode across the small bar area of the inn towards a pale, dark-haired lad who was backing up quickly but clumsily.
"Don't hurt me!" the lad squeaked. "I'm only here to bring you a message."
"Daon I know you from somewhere?" Thomson pulled his puzzled face.
"Of course you do, my glorious ruffian!" The voice boomed out from behind him and Thomson turned with surprise. Then, chuffed, he walked up to his friend and gave him a squeeze before shaking his hand.
"Well, if I'd'a known you wuz 'ere, squire, I'd'a bin much niocer," Thomson said, making his accent even cruder. He winked. "Sir Stephen, you naughty fackin' bastard."
"I say," Sir Stephen replied. He grinned with pleasure, his cheeks stained with a faint blush. There was something about a gent like Sir Stephen that made Thomson a bit poetic. "Now, best behaviour, and that includes you, the lovely Mr Bainbridge. I'm about to introduce you to a very charming couple, the parents of Captain Howard TJ Moon?"
Thomson nodded. He remembered Howard, right enough. He was one of the few toffs around who actually treated blokes like him with a bit of respect. He was alright in Thomson's book, even if he was clearly boffing his valet. Bainbridge had stood when Sir Stephen had mentioned his name and greeted the taller man with affectionate mock servility. Sir Stephen was good for a laugh.
"Oh, and the Moons have brought their servant, Le Roy, with them. Remember him?" Sir Stephen grinned.
"Bloody Leroy? He's not still doing the mock French thing, is he?" Bainbridge shook his head, smiling.
"Yes, he bloody well is, Dixy, old chap," said Le Roy, who appeared from behind Sir Stephen. His tone was more mannered - not so much as Sir Stephen, but then, the Sir was a proper gentleman. A noble man. Leroy was just a twerp with a Vicar for a dad and a teacher for a mum who thought he was a bit above it, like. But really, he wasn't all that. "Thomson," Le Roy nodded at him. "It's been a while."
"It 'as an' all," Thomson agreed. He softened a bit. Leroy was alright. Though you wanted to lock your door at night. He had a horrible habit of nicking people's trousers.
"Now, has the lovely Christopher over there relayed the information about Eleanor Dodington being present at the house?" Sir Stephen asked, impatient with the social la-de-da.
Christopher shook his head. Thomson looked at him and snarled a bit. He was Rochester's bit of fluff, Thomson knew that right enough. It was just that you were careful with a man's beer.
"The Lady Eleanor has deposited herself at the main house. Some excitement over a carriage, which the valiant Captain Moon was unfortunate enough to distinguish himself with.” Sir Stephen winked at Bainbridge. “Howard has told Lady Eleanor his name is Greville - please, note that, gentlemen. In the meantime, we are to protect Miss Rochester and her amant lesbienne. We must also, of course, keep the delightful Vincent safe - Captain Moon's valet."
"Bum-boy more like it," Bainbridge grumbled.
"You're only jealous," Le Roy quipped with a wink.
"Never thought you'd offer," Bainbridge smiled.
"Later..."
"Can we possibly organise our sodomy programme at a later time?" Sir Stephen looked at them both with an amused expression. Bainbridge and Le Roy looked at each other guiltily and giggled. Thomson sighed.
"Vincent is a man close to many hearts," Sir Stephen continued. "We protect Howard's love because we protect our freedoms in a country where liberty is indellibly scorched on all our hearts. Gentlemen, do not forget that we are part of a titanic struggle politically, for our King, our country and what we believe. I trust that you, of all men, know this. Even you, my delightful cockney sparrow."
"Is that what he is?" Bainbridge asked.
"Shut it!" Thomson retorted.
Sir Stephen sighed. "Just... shut up. Now, you must make yourself ready to elope with Lady Eleanor when I tell you to. We should not use the good lady in our plan for any longer than we need to." He shook his head. "Is that acceptable?"
"Aye, sir," Bainbridge replied.
Le Roy bowed.
"You bet yer arse, me ole' china," Thomson said with a nod. "Now, 'oo's goin'a' get me a new flaggon 'o' grog?"
*#*
Gothic Temple, Stowe, 15th May 1748
Vince was up and working when Howard awoke. The smell of breakfast filtered up the stone staircase to where Howard was sleeping. He threw his robe around him and stumbled down the narrow stone spiral staircase to the lower floor. He passed through the living room across to the bathroom first and then to the kitchen.
"You're early," Howard mumbled. He'd been getting up earlier than Vince whilst they'd been residing at Stowe. It pleased Howard. It felt like he was beginning to worm beneath the man who was his valet. For Vince to revert to type was... frustrating.
"Lady Eleanor wants to see you," Vince told him. He turned, gave Howard a warm kiss and then turned back to the stove where he was frying fresh eggs and bacon. "I thought that it might be best to behave as we're supposed to."
Howard saw Vince's lower lip pout out a little as he finished speaking. He knew Vince hated the pretence. He hated it too. He often wished he had the money to build a grand house like this, with gardens and land enough to keep them both safe and give them the freedom to be who they were.
So far, they'd managed to keep away from Eleanor. Howard had been to the main house to have tea a few times and she'd given Vince a filthy look from a distance, but, by and large, she hadn't intruded into their lives. Really, Howard wanted it to stay that way. Civility meant it couldn't.
Howard moved forward and kissed the back of Vince's neck. He breathed deeply against the skin as moved to one side, lapping the lobe of Vince's ear into his mouth.
"Are you listening to me about... behaving?" Vince whispered. His voice was husky and beautiful.
"Only whilst there's daylight," Howard said breathily. "At night, you're mine." Howard felt Vince shiver. As he put his arm around Vince's chest, he could feel the already swollen, nubs of Vince's nipples standing erect.
"Go, bathe, dress..." Vince said, his voice wavering and unconvincing.
"Later..." Howard murmured, grinding his crotch against Vince's backside.
"Yoo-hoo!" came a husky female voice from the front room.
"Fuck," Vince groaned.
Howard bit back a sob. "Sorry," he whispered. He turned and strode back into the main living area. "Lady Eleanor, you catch me indecently dressed."
"Not as indecent as I'd like, Greville," Eleanor told him, gnashing her teeth a little. "I've heard about you."
"All lies and scurrilous gossip," Howard told her heading towards the stairs. "Please, be seated. I'll dress and return. In the meantime…" Howard raised his chin and increased the volume of his voice. "Vincent, would you make tea for my guest?"
"Yes, Sir," came a professional, cool voice from the kitchen.
Howard turned and ran back up the spiral staircase before Eleanor could see his expression. It burned to have Vince so submissive, so... much like his servant. For the first time in his life, Howard wished he and Vince could swap places. He didn't feel worthy of being a sir, not today.
***
Two hours later
"And around the edges, there will be astrological s ymbols, runes, ancient scripts." Howard waved his arms around. Eleanor nodded and leaned against him a little more. She squeezed his bicep.
"You're so strong," she told him. "I'd love to have you come do some art for me..."
Howard bit back his emotions and acted the part. "Well, perhaps... I always love a new..." He leaned in toward her. "Commission." He jumped as Vince dropped his trowel.
"Sorry, Sir, I need to make some more muck." Vince's face was a picture of cool, sharp anger. He began mixing his plaster-like wall covering. Howard was, inwardly, blooming with pride at the intricate design Vince had created from coloured stones set into the stuccoed walls. Howard had searched for stones - sneakily stealing many from a gravelled section of the driveway - whilst Vince drew the design for the curved structure. It was small, a place to sit under shelter and gaze over the lake. Vince was making it into something altogether more special. The two men had managed to hide there from Eleanor's advances until today.
"Humph," Eleanor murmured, looking at Vince with no little sense of disdain. "He's really not the one I'd like to see getting all mucky." She wrinkled her nose and batted her eyelashes. Howard resisted the urge to run.
"Vincent is a master at these sorts of things," Howard told her. "I really couldn't do without him."
"I'm sure we could make a whole lot of mess together, even if he weren't..."
"Muck, Lady Eleanor," Vince interrupted. "It's a slang term for building materials. Mess... isn't."
"Was I talking to you?" Eleanor replied. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Vince.
"I'm dreadfully sorry. It's getting rather warm and Vincent will be in need of something to cool off." Howard widened his eyes at Vince over Eleanor's head, hoping the younger man would take the hint. "Shall we go and fetch some lemonade?"
"You squeeze my lemons, and we'll make whatever you want," Eleanor said with a purr.
Howard led her away before Vince got tempted to set her into the wall rather than stones.
***
An hour later
Vince let himself fall back on the grass. He was thirsty, hot, fed up of waiting for Howard to come bring him a drink, and fed up. And, after that was all sorted, he was a bit more fed up.
"He wasn't joking when he told me to hurry, was he?" The voice was Buckingham's and approaching rapidly.
Vince sat up, squinting, feeling a bit light-headed.
"C'mon," James said, pulling Vince to his feet. "Under here." He sat Vince down under the shelter he had been decorating, letting him flop against already-dry plaster. He felt his forehead. "Just a bit overheated, I would imagine. Have a drink of this." He raised a carafe of water to Vince's lips and held it whilst he drank. After a few seconds, Vince took it off him, and smiled politely.
"Thank you, Sir," Vince told him. "Howard was going to get me a drink, but he is in the company of Lady Eleanor and... Well, they must have got distracted." A bitter tinge coloured the last words.
"Nonsense," James said lightly. "Howard told me to bring you a drink when he began struggling with Eleanor's wishes. Well, wishes... Not quite. She met Jasmine."
"Oh, well, that's rather..."
"And I did have to ransack the house looking for this fella." James motioned to the jug. "I was hoping to find a flask, but then I remembered the dreadfully strange French writer chappy who used my favourite flask last. I suppose I should have expected the outcome considering the fact that the flask was slightly phallic, but you just don't expect..."
"Er, Sir?" Vince interrupted. "Is Jasmine alright?"
"Oh, yes, right as rain." James stood and began inspecting Vince's work. "Lady Eleanor is going to be her and Sissy's guest tonight. Although, I think they‘ve commandeered my house for the occasion."
"So Eleanor doesn't...?"
"I don't think so, no." James traced the outline of some of the shapes Vince had painstakingly set into the wall of the grotto. "Sissy's got a bee in her bonnet about it, of course, but, I tend to think that Jasmine had the right way of going about it." James stood back, admiringly. "This really is wonderful, Vince. I have a few other places in the grounds which could do with your expertise."
"I haven't finished this yet," Vince said, looking a bit bemused. "Do you really like it?"
"Very much." James took a few dry biscuits from his pocket and offered one to Vince. "When Brown told me that you had some artistic flair, I thought he might be exaggerating. He's not. This really is very lovely."
"You and Dave seem quite close," Vince mentioned, carefully regarding James' face.
"Yes," James said simply. He smiled and sat down next to Vince. "It's rather a pleasure to have real people here rather than gentlemen."
"It's not the men I'm worried about," Vince admitted.
"Eleanor?" James asked. He had a look of utter mystification on his face. "Oh, come on."
"She's more his class than me," Vince sad softly. "I wouldn't have thought twice had he not just left me here. I'm being daft, aren't I?"
"Not daft," James told him. "You're just aware that she's a danger. Temper it, though, Vincent. Know that what Howard is doing is his best to keep you both safe, and not impress Lady Eleanor. But let me watch out for you both?"
Vince nodded. He knew he was pouting but didn't care much. He gave himself a mental shake, determined to lighten his mood.
***
6pm, Stowe House, 15th May, 1748
Howard stood in an archway below the driveway. He'd nipped outside to see if he could find a servant - anyone's would do - to send Vince a message. Howard hadn't returned to the Temple all day, unable to escape Eleanor's side for more than a few moments. She had nagged him relentlessly about Vince's manners and he'd tried hard to control his temper. Right now, though, he was furious. There was no one to be seen. All he wanted to do was curl up in bed with Vince and forget that Eleanor Dodington even existed.
"Howard, my lump of man-fruit." Eleanor's voice filtered down the staircase. He'd hoped to avoid her here. This was the servants' domain; surely, she couldn't be serious?
Knowing that there wasn't a second to spare, Howard took off towards the Gothic Temple at a run. He ran up the ramp, through the coachman's entrance, around the side of the mansion, heading out towards the valley which would bring him to Vince.
"Don't even think of it. " Eleanor stood before him. "You're mine tonight, Greville, all mine."
“I’m not sure you should be out here, Eleanor,” Howard said, coming to a stop. “Never know what might be lurking out here.”
“Oh, I have this.” Eleanor withdrew a small gun from her evening bag. “A small little man with a turban and a monkey gave it to me. He told me all about… my husband’s betrayal. I just hope my little weapon doesn’t go off. Now why don’t you come inside so you can keep me safe?”
"I need to just nip home and discuss a few matters with Vince and..."
“Let me play with your monkey?” Eleanor suggested.
“I just have to let Vince know where I am and…”
"Who's the master in your relationship with your valet, Howard?" Eleanor asked. "I'm worried about you. I suspect that your manservant is... well, I saw he and the Duke cuddling up to each other earlier. I dare say he'll be trying to get a job here and leave you in the lurch. I think James has already stolen your coachman. Well, part of him at least." Eleanor laughed. It was disconcerting how she seemed to know so much and... what did she mean about Vince and James cuddling?
"Vince and James don't get along," Howard told her. "I need to check in. That's all I want to do." And ask why Vince was cuddling James, he added mentally.
"Are you sure your name's Greville, Howard?" Eleanor gave him a sceptical look. "Has Vincent got some other type of pull on you? If he has, well, you can trust me, Howard."
"Of course not," Howard wanted to shout. He needed a drink, or an entire bottle. "What did you mean? James and Vincent? I would be... concerned if they were involved."
"I'm sure it was nothing," Eleanor regarded Howard carefully. "Just a little comfort. I think... I think it's best that you come back to the house with me. Let me... take your mind off things."
***
9pm, Gothic Temple, 15th May 1748
Vince was in bed when he next saw Howard. His master staggered up the stairs, calling Vince's name. He was drunk.
"Vince! Vincey! Vincey-kins," Howard called. He slipped on the stairs; Vince could hear it. He stayed in bed. The bed in the spare room.
"Vincent?!" Howard yelled again.
Vince put his head under the covers.
"Vincent Black!" Howard's voice seemed to bounce of the walls. He had made it up the stairs. "Vince?" He stomped around the balcony towards the spare room. "Vince? Why are we sleeping in here?"
"We're not," Vince said simply, his head peering over the covers. "I am. Go to bed, Howard."
"No." Howard slumped to the floor in the doorway. "This isn't happening."
"It is." Vince sat up. "I'm angry at you. I had no idea where you were. Mrs Gideon came and cooked. She went back and I sat alone, not knowing where you were, except that you were with her and not me. I trust you, Howard, but I'm angry, too. And tired. Go to bed."
"No," Howard said again. He struggled to his feet. "I didn't want to not come home. I had to, Vincey. I couldn't say that I had to come back in case my valet was worried."
"Valet?" Vince repeated. "I don't really care what you told her, Howard. I care that when we're in the same bloody estate, you couldn't come and tell me what was happening. You didn't only tell her I was your valet, you treated me like it. In fact, you treated me worse. You never made me stay up waiting for you before."
"Oh, come on, Vince." Howard sat on the edge of the bed. He stroked Vince's foot. Vince moved it. "I can't always treat you the way I want to."
"Why?" Vince asked. "Why when you're not even treated as well as one of your staff."
"It was one evening, Vince." Howard stood, stumbled and sat back down.
"Yes," Vince agreed. "It was. And, in good time, I will calm down. But now isn't that time. I want you to give me the time to calm down."
"No." Howard shook his head. "I want you in my bed and sucking my cock. Well, at least if you hadn't had your fill with James earlier."
Vince couldn't speak. His jaw dropped.
Howard blushed but carried on. "What? Forgotten that I'm in charge? Lady Eleanor hasn't. She thinks you're above your station. Maybe you need to be reminded." He lunged at Vince, who rolled out of his way and then pushed him back. Howard slipped off the bed, falling into a heap on the floor.
"How dare you, BOY!?"
Vince knew that voice. It was the one that had, once, made him run to his master's side after his evening amusement had ended. It was arrogant. A demand that Vince should clean up after Howard had taken another lover. Howard looked up and caught Vince's expression. Fury welled up in the younger man's eyes.
"Shit, Vince, I'm sorry," Howard said. "Nothing happened and... fuck, I'm sorry, I don't mean..."
Vince hopped out of the spare bed and dashed towards the room he and Howard had been sharing.
"Come back, please, Vince! Let me explain."
Vince didn't answer. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it. He waited for Howard to try the door, for him to talk to him. He wanted Howard to know he was being an arrogant prick and apologise.
He waited.
And waited.
Then, finally, Vince crawled into bed and wondered how everything had crumbled so fast.
*#*