James Ellis had never seen his father laugh. They had put him into a dark suit and cleaned him, so that the marks from the accident did not show. They had not put his whip next to him. While alive the whip had never left him.

James shivered. This place was full of dark memories. He wanted to be somewhere else.

Two days ago a messenger from his father’s estate had brought the letter to James’ military quarters near London. It had cost him almost half a day to take a prolonged leave of absence and to explain the change of events to his superiors. Finally General Leicester had grabbed his arm in a hard grip. . „I can understand that you have to go home right now, boy, but come back. We need men like you; you are a captain already - don’t throw away your career. You have friends here, after all."

He had thanked his superior in a tight voice; eyes shining with unshed tears, already knowing that he would not be able to return to service any time soon. Yesterday he had started his lonely trip home, and today had found him riding through the countryside, England’s early morning sun for once warming his face. He had enjoyed the long trip on horseback, exhausting for a lesser man and had even laughed at the poor women and men who were trapped in closely-packed stagecoaches that rattled along the country roads. Being in the military he was used to travelling with almost no luggage at all, so he stowed his necessities into saddlebags, and trusted his groom with the rest of his belongings to follow in a mail-coach. – The boy was the only one really looking forward to coming home again. This finally meant -as James had promised when the kid had volunteered to follow him to war -the end of his time as servant; Geordie would soon be getting married to Anabel, who had shown amazing patience until now.

The farther up north he traveled, the more he had reigned in Juliper. The heavy-limbed gray stallion was clearly not very happy that it suddenly was not allowed to gallop any longer, and fought being forced into canter. But riding up north meant coming closer to Raven’s Peak, James’ father’s estate. And although he knew that his father was dead, that being the reason for his coming home, he dreaded the moment when he finally had to face the family mansion again. Juliper had whinnied then, bringing him out of his musings, and they had rested a last time in the late afternoon sun.

When he mounted the stallion again, a peasant had passed by on the old road. The man had stared at him for a moment, then taken off his sweaty hat. „Master James, it’s real good that Master James are home ‘gin. And the missus and I want ta say we’re sorry, Master. But I’m mighty glad ta see ya, Master!"

It had been Geordie’s older brother of all people, the same age as himself, but already looking like an old man. At thirty-two, your style of living really made a difference in this time and age.

An hour later James rode through the large wooden gates of Raven’s Peak and caused a minor uproar when all the old servants and the two new ones dropped whatever they had been doing to greet the heir who had come home after almost ten years in the service. Juliper just snorted.

Finally old Mr. Burns saved James from all the well-meant attention and led him into the study. The butler had not changed at all during the last ten years. To James, the solemn man who seldom smiled had always incorporated his image of home after James’ mother had died when he was five. He had been there whenever young James spent holidays away from Eaton or the University while his father attended to business in London. After James realized that part of his father’s „business" had long legs and very red hair he hadn’t even regretted the man’s absence.

Now Burns poured James a glass of brandy in his fath...in his study, and for the first time James noticed that the old man’s hands were shaking. „Burns...Jeremiah -there will be changes in this household, but they will definitely not concern your or your wife’s status -this is your home more than mine," he added bitterly, staring into the golden liquid. „And I do not want to miss your services."

„I am very honored...and even touched Master Ja...Lord Ellis, and I know Mrs. Burns will be, too. In fact, I know that she has prepared duck a l’orange, and there’s something baking in the oven to welcome you over such a sad occasion."

Everything had been said with those few sentences.. His father had passed away, leaving a vast estate to his firstborn, and everybody was glad that the reign of terror the old Lord had held was over now. James sighed. Leaving the brandy untouched he went to the small chapel where his mother had been buried and where his father’s casket now stood.

This place was indeed full of dark memories, the few candles neither giving warmth nor light enough, but he had no problems seeing. An advantage during a fight, now a curse, providing his brain with all kinds of unwanted information. He could see where his father’s skull had been smashed when the old Lord’s horse had shied and thrown its rider off. He could already smell the first signs of decay, overpowered by perfume for normal people, but freaks like him could easily identify the smell of rotting flesh. The wooden benches cold to his touch, he knelt in front of the altar to say a prayer and almost tasted the dust in the air. Since his mother had died this chapel had never been used regularly. He took another look at his father. Even in his death he forced his will onto his son. Captain James Joseph Fitzjohn would have never returned home voluntarily; but Lord James Ellis had responsibilities. He sighed.

„Sir, I’m afraid Stephen is not going to make it. He is in India these days. The message has left London by ship only yesterday. Another son you drove away. But at least he is successful and does not have to deal with Raven’s Peak. But I don’t have the slightest idea how to turn into a squire.…"

A soft cough caught his attention. A middle-aged man, cap in hand, stood in the doorway of the small chapel. James got up and in leaving, led the stranger out. „You won’t have to, with due respect…turn into what you call a ‘squire,’ M’lord. I mean …" The man looked contrite and tried a grin. „I mean, I’m the steward. Your father hired me four years ago to do exactly that. I’m John Randolph, at your service."

„He never told me that he had help…no, he wouldn’t confess such a thing. Randolph? Is there anything of urgency? Because if there is not, I would like to put everything on hold until after the funeral."

„Of course, M’lord, Sir, nothing of importance. Everything’s running smooth, M’lord."

>

The funeral went well, considering that most people attending didn’t know how to express their non-existent grief. Not that James could blame them. The peasants and the people from the nearby village had suffered from Lord Ellis’ hard hand. The few country noblemen who had been arrogantly ignored by Lord Ellis. That left only some businessmen from London, members of the same club, who attended politely. Two of them took their leave immediately after the ceremony, suggesting a meeting in London once James had gained some insight into his father’s various enterprises. Finally, the only ones left were Rupert Whitley, his old school friend - dark-haired and dark-eyed, a ready smile on his face - and the old man at Whitley’s side.

„James, what a pity to meet under these circumstances after more than five years." Rupert hugged his taller friend, then tugged at the uniform James still wore. „Couldn’t stand to dress casually, could you, Fitz?"

„Couldn’t find anything that would fit - my clothes come tomorrow. Rupert, old devil, how are you?"

„Married. Meet my father in law, who happens......happened to be your dad’s lawyer. Mr. Whiting, this is my friend James Fitzjohn, now Lord Ellis."

And with those polite words, four rather exhausting hours started. But finally everything regarding the estate and the heirloom was said, and Whiting left, and Rupert and James retired to the study, a glass of port waiting for each of them.

„So, Fitz, what’re you gonna do? Stay here, or go back to war, or...."

„Hell, it’s my duty to stay here. Being Fitzjohn, a first born son, meant I was able to do whatever I wanted, but being Lord Ellis means a lot of responsibilities. I’ll try to modernize the estate, invite new ways of harvesting to our people. Maybe even breed horses again. My father’s stud-books are in the library, want to take a look?" James opened a door hidden in the paneled wall and grabbed a candelabrum, the estate’s old-fashioned way of dealing with nightfall.

The light of three candles did its best to conquer the darkness of the enormous room his father had used as his library. Maroon-colored draperies blocked any sunlight from large windows. But even in the candlelight it was clear that there were tens of thousands of books in long rows.

„My God almighty. James, this is the true treasure of this estate. Some of those tomes have to be ancient. Are they catalogued? Do you know what your father has collected over the years? This is.…"

„Rupert, I don’t have the slightest idea. I was never allowed to come in here on my own. When I joined the army, he gave me a horse - and he showed me the studbook, so that I could see it was of value. How ironic when it turned out to be valuable but not steady under fire. I sold it for a hot meal when I was stationed in France and I counted myself lucky." Another bitter smile graced the heir’s lips.

„But, to say the truth, I don’t think I’ll have the patience to sit here and write down the names of those tomes." James shook his head and scratched his forehead, then took off his white wig and loosened his tie, the port finally having warmed him. Short-cropped blond hair was mussed and James combed it with his long, elegant fingers.

„Fitz, you stupid, that’s no enterprise for you. Hire a librarian. One of those brainy boys who really love to spend their days in darkness and dust. That won’t even be expensive. I mean, you would have to offer him a room and three square meals, but aside from that I’d say a pound a year would satisfy every little bookworm."

„You wouldn’t consider taking this job, Rupert?" James knew he was joking but deep inside his heart he almost hoped his old friend would accept.

„Three years ago, gladly, James." Rupert suddenly was very sober. His tall friend looked as if he wouldn’t belong anywhere, the white-and-red dress-uniform a statement of lost glory, emphasizing that James Fitzjohn did no longer exist. „But now I’m married; Annie’s having our baby in five months, and my father in law is trying to lure me into his law-firm. I’m really sorry, Fitz."

Not really sure if he would be welcome, the dark-haired man stepped closer and drew his old friend into another hug. He was not surprised when, protected by the darkness of the vast empty room, this strong man finally crumbled and cried in his arms, grieving for lost opportunities and for lost lives - his father’s and his own.…

„Ssshhhh...everything is going to be all right again..." Empty words that echoed in an empty library, their only witnesses thousands of books, when Rupert started to pet the short-cropped hair of his friend.

The soothing touch seemed to help, though, and soon James had calmed down again. Reluctantly, he pulled himself back and straightened his uniform. His hands rubbed away the last traces of tears. Rupert watched as with every movement a little bit of control was regained. Then James bent his head and brushed a chaste kiss on his old friend’s cheek. „For old times’ sake, Rupert. Don’t worry. Thank you for being there for me."

Young Mr. Whitley had the grace to blush, then smirked up at him. „I’ll do even more, Fitz. I’ll find you a librarian, so that you can even locate those darn stud-books you can’t seem to find to show me."

The only reason he was not laughed at openly was due to his people’s acceptance of him. Everyone in the village trusted him -even those who didn’t know him yet. One day, he fired two of the farm hands because they had tried to molest a little girl. And even though the child was too young to stand up in trial, young Lord Ellis had listened to a sobbing mother and an enraged father, and finally crouched down and talked to the crying three-year-old.

Burns, who had brought some candy for the little one, had seen James cock his head and heard him sniff -and he instantly had distracted momma and dada Torrier, offering them each a glass of expensive wine out of his Lordship’s cellar - strictly for medical reasons, of course. Then Lord Ellis had risen with a grim face, his jaw-muscle dancing, and had given the girl ten shillings -a fortune of wealth. When the family finally had left, after expressing their gratitude over and over again, James had turned to look at the old butler.

„I smelled Rickards on her. What’s the name of this filthy friend of his? I’ve seen him hanging around with that guy; small, dirty, a scar on his cheek?"

„Johnson, M’lord; and if I may say so, M’lord, take care of what you are telling them."

The grim face relaxed a little. „I’ll do, thank you, Burns. Send them in as soon as they show up -and -give their names to the villagers. Let’s see it as an ordeal. If they still get away, they get away. The really sad thing is, I can’t prove anything."

They got away -barely. But the somewhat archaic sense of justice Lord Ellis had displayed opened him the hearts of villagers, peasants and country-noblemen. He showed a genuine interest in agriculture -even if he didn’t understand much about it first. But the noblemen who were accustomed to his father’s sarcasm and open hostility were surprised to find the young Lord inexperienced but willing. Whenever they happened to come by -and they happened to come by quite often after being hesitant at first - and Lord Ellis was home, he invited them in, and they talked. And soon they sometimes let him in on some of their secrets. Why was he growing corn on that special field near the wood? This would be perfect for turnips, but not for corn. Why was he wasting a perfectly fine meadow over there when he could grow oats there?

And twice a week he met with John Randolph, trying to learn as much as fast as he could so that those simple questions would not surprise him any longer. The meetings left him exhausted and more than having been on horseback for a week. His steward was of ultimate patience and tried not to confuse his embarrassed employer, but sometimes after those meetings James was sure that he was just not intelligent enough to learn everything he needed to know. James was drenched in sweat after those sessions and ordered a bath every time Randolph left. The maidens chuckled and shook their heads over his attitude, but they accepted it as the one peculiarity every rich upper-class man should have. And as long as their master did not get ill because of his daily baths, and didn’t force them to adopt this attitude, they thought they could live with it.

The only highlights in Lord Ellis’ very lonely life were Rupert’s weekly visits. Each time James heard the distinct clipclop of Whitley’s old horse, he felt relief that was almost overwhelming. Rupert was his only anchor to his past life, his lifeline to normalcy, providing a faint memory of days where friends and companions had surrounded him. Now he was alone most of the time, his only companions to his morose thoughts his servants, who didn’t understand him or his problems. But all his problems seemed to be smaller the moment the friend came bursting in and called him ‘Fitz’ again, the childhood name a reminder that there had been a time when he had been truly happy. With his old friend he could talk about his dream: breeding race-horses and selling them with a profit - if only he could find his father’s studbooks, with their valuable lists of horses, their pedigree and worth carefully written down.

And then Rupert was down in the hall. „I’ve found your librarian, Fitz!" he announced, while he was still on the staircase.

„What librarian? I don’t know I was even looking for one, you crazy hog!"

„We talked about it, James. At the funeral? Remember? I said, I’d find you someone to keep the library in order and you said ‘yes.’"

James honestly could not remember that he had ever said yes to this suggestion, but Rupert seemed so excited, so he grinned and nodded. „So who’s the lucky guy that is going to bury himself under tons of ancient dust?"

„Ahh, first, he’s the nephew of one of my father-in-laws employees. So, you’re not gonna be subjected to a total stranger. Second, he’s a genius. He’s only twenty-one and already teaching at Oxford. Well, part-time, at least. And third, he needs the money for his travels, so you don’t have to be afraid that you won’t get rid of him as soon as he’s through with his work. What do you say, Fitz?"

„I say he’s too good to be true. Why doesn’t he stay at Oxford?"

„He had a professional disagreement with a tenured professor. I asked some friends and they told me he didn’t back down, because he was right. But the professor in question is sixty-three years old and teaching there for twenty-five years, his reputation golden until now. So our little genius was right but fired and - being Jewish - he has some problems getting employed again. You don’t mind him being Jewish, do you?"

„I don’t mind - as long as he writes English...I couldn’t care less."

„I thought so. He’s going to arrive tomorrow via public coach. Be sure to send a carriage for him at noon. And - please, Fitz, - be nice to him - I hear he’s shy at first. And you can be intimidating, being tall and closemouthed and all. He almost didn’t want to come without your explicit permission."

„So, I’ll make nice, I’ll send a carriage at noon and I won’t intimidate him. By the way: does he have a name, or do I call him ‘Librarian?’"

„Oh, didn’t I tell you? His name’s Blair Sandburg, and he’s originally an anthropologist." Rupert saw the questioning look in James’ blue eyes and grinned. „He studies people in foreign countries. I looked this up before I left home. You’ll like him, believe me."

„I won’t see much of him, Rupert. Now tell me. How’s Annie these days?"

James hadn’t planned to pick up his new librarian in person, of course. But then his meeting with Randolph had taken longer than he expected and the much-needed bath afterwards had made him forget to give out orders. So at eleven, he went down to the stables in his cream-colored suede breaches, white shirt and suede brown jacket, to take Juliper out for a little exercise. The only one present was Lennard, the ten year old son of one of the farmhands who had broken his leg during an adventure including cherries and a tree, and had to wait until it healed before he was allowed to help his father again. The boy, however, was able to show Milord where ye olde sire had kept their carriages. James, never one to avoid hard work, managed to get the newest one out in the open and had a heavy cold-bloodied horse harnessed up in no time. With Juliper in tow - the stallion was not happy being tied to the carriage - James drove to Raven’s Inn, which functioned as post-station, and purchased a pint of bitter while waiting for the public coach to arrive.

The young Lord enjoyed some lazy minutes alone in the front garden of the inn. Juliper had found some grass to nibble; maybe he would forgive his master that he had been tied to a carriage.... James grinned and once again thought what wonderful colts this stallion would produce - if Randolph would finally accept breeding as the good deal it could be in James’ experience. Well, maybe he really was wrong, having no idea how to run an estate.…

He heard the rattle of the public coach even though it was still miles away. Half an hour later, six horses dragged an old yellow cubicle that didn’t deserve the name coach into the inn’s yard. While the animals were tended to, the postillion started to throw down sacks and packages from the roof of the coach.

„Laddy, I gonna need yer help with this one!" he yelled at James, who at first was startled to be addressed like that, but then just grinned and stepped closer.

„This trunk is too heavy to be lifted by one - the little professor took a whole library with him.…"

At that, James laughed out loud. After a bit of shifting and lifting he hefted the enormous trunk down and - thanks to the postillion’s friendly help - heaved it onto his carriage that seemed to sigh under the weight.

„This Lord Ellis, do yer know what he’s like? The little professor seemed terrified of him and I wouldna want to hear he was right. The young professor was very nice, ya know - till he got sick inside the coach, o’ course. But then the road was really bumpy the last couple o’ miles.…"

James tried not to laugh out loud again. Shrewdly he said, „Lord Ellis is quite young - and easy to deal with, I’d say. Nothing to worry about."

„Good, that’s good...oh, over there he is, the little professor."

The young man now climbing out of the coach was indeed smaller than the postillion, but then the tall man dwarfed even James with a bright red handkerchief slung around a thick neck. The young traveler was of average height, wearing a long black overcoat clearly too hot for this day, and a pair of fashionable long trousers James also favored, although the scholar’s pants had seen better days. Unruly long, hazel curls were tied at the back of his neck and the hand that still grabbed the vehicle for leverage was shaky and sweaty. This was a man of many travels? James doubted that, watching the young man who had just found a handkerchief in his pockets and swiped over his pale face. James cocked his head and listened out for this new member of his household, who right now took deep breaths of clean air to get some color back into his cheeks.

Then the young man looked around, dismissed the landlord and the few guests at sight, until he finally fixed his gaze on James. He straightened himself, then walked over to the man that had taken care of his belongings. „I am Blair Sandburg." His voice was pleasant, low and deep, more masculine that the wiry body would have suggested. Ocean-blue eyes took in every detail of the man that would bring him to Raven’s Peak, expensive clothing, leather boots and the one golden ring. When he looked up into the man’s face he grinned shyly. „And I think I am very honored that Lord Ellis himself is picking me up.…"

James had to smile at the choked sound the postilion hastily repressed. The half-cough alerted young Sandburg, though.

„Thank you for letting me sit with you, Raleigh. That really helped a lot!" Unselfconsciously, he shook the postillion’s hand, then turned back to Lord Ellis who smirked.

„Welcome, Professor. I’m indeed Lord Ellis - but you have to tell me some day how you knew. And is it true you brought your own library, in addition to the one waiting for you already?"

They shook hands, although Sandburg refused to let go and gently twisted the arm he still held until the golden signet ring glinted in the sun. „This gave you away, milord. And no, it’s not a library, just a few necessary books I need for my research." Then, almost as a panicked afterthought, he mumbled, turning pale again, „I own them, I didn’t take them away or something.…"

„I didn’t believe that. Soooo, what else is yours to pick up?" Together they loaded the carriage, two large bags and a small one containing all the possessions of this young man.

Sandburg noticed the questioning look, and shrugged. . „I do travel quite often - and the only things I really value are my books. I just hate closed coaches. To be locked together with people who use perfume instead of water…." The scholar shuddered, and for the first time James noticed that even though his new librarian was tired and sweaty his scent was a lot cleaner than any other man’s was.

„You know how to handle this carriage?" When Sandburg nodded, James continued, „I’ll take Juliper, then."

And the librarian passed his first test, when his hands showed to have strong wrists that were capable of steering the heavy coach-horse.

* * * * *

„So - you need a librarian?" his new employee shouted over the rumble of the carriage and the clapping hooves of two horses.

James already regretted that he rode up front. He could hear the young man of course; and found himself thinking. Rupert was right, I like him - but who said that guy was shy? Jame reigned Juliper in until he could answer without straining his voice. „Yes, my father left me thousands of books - and I have no idea what to do with them. Rupert - Mr. Whitley - suggested cataloguing them. He found you."

„Yes, he happened to know Uncle. I really hope my work will satisfy you. To be honest, I’ve never done such a thing before, and you pay good money for me."

„Don’t worry, I don’t expect miracles, just - I don’t know - tell me, what’s to keep and what’s to give away. Oh, and find the studbooks!" James laughed at Sandburg’s puzzled look. „That’s the reason we even talked about it, Rupert and I. I cannot find the studbooks but I need them to prove that breeding is not only a hobby but a good deal."

Now the scholar joined in the laughter. „You’re good friends with Rupert?" he finally asked tentatively, not knowing if he just crossed some boundaries.

„Yes, I’ve known him for ages. And even though he’s married now, he visits quite often, so you’ll meet him soon. Oh, by the way, are you hungry already? - You could join me over a light meal. Just some ham, roast beef, boiled eggs, homemade bread and tea. This has to last till dinner at seven."

Stunned blue eyes met cool ice blue ones, and it took the young man a while to ask, „You invite me to your table?"

The sun seemed to have affected the tall blond man’s skin, because there was a red sheen to it right now. Lord Ellis turned away from the inquiring gaze of the trained observer of human behavior, and said gruffly, „It sure beats eating alone... I mean...I didn’t mean it that way - you’re easy to talk to. Rupert told me you have traveled a lot." There was a sudden longing in his voice. „While I was in the service, I went to France. I’d like to hear about your travels, if you don’t mind."

There was a twinkle of laughter in the scholar’s melodic voice. „I love to talk about my travels. Just shut me up when I’m starting to be a nuisance."

The young librarian went still all by himself when Raven’s Peak came in sight. He slumped visibly on his seat, then risked a glance to the quiet, controlled man riding beside the carriage. „This is huge..." he sighed deeply, impressed. He missed the grim smile and the twitching jaw-muscle on James’ face.

„Four generations of Ellis’ and some not very gifted architects have created this." As they got closer, the young Lord pointed out details. „The main house in the middle - guest rooms, two ballrooms, my quarters, bathrooms - we have indeed bathrooms." For the first time something like pride showed in Ellis’ voice. „To your left leading away from us, the stables and the coaches. In the back - you can’t see it from here - barns and granaries, and behind that more stables for cows, pigs, and a chicken-roost. It takes a very hot summer and the wind blowing from the wrong direction for one to actually smell it. To your left the servant’s quarters, kitchen and bakery. Behind that, the chapel. It’s a bit overwhelming - most of all at times when you have to rebuild the roofs."

That did make Sandburg laugh, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was stepping into some kind of a royal court. „This is marvelous, like out of a fairy tale, though. I am not used to this kind of wealth. I always lived in towns - small apartments, sometimes only a bed to sleep in. In Oxford I had a cubicle next to the dorm... And while I travel," he shrugged carelessly, a bit ashamed, „most of the time I sleep under the stars, to put an uncomfortable fact into a romantic setting. I’ve never been inside.…" An all encompassing wave of his hand startled Juliper into a whinny.

They drove through the main gates, where two servants were already waiting to get the horses and apologizing that Milord had had to take care of things himself earlier. James just laughed and heaved the two larger bags off the carriage.

Burns stepped out of the main door - in all his black-dressed, white-haired intimidating glory.

„Burns! This is Professor Sandburg. He is going to be a guest in my house. I hope he stays long because he has promised to take care of our dust-covered tomes. I want his quarters near the library."

„The blue apartment, then, Milord." Burns bent his head in greeting, throwing a curious glance at this new member of the household who seemed to have stirred something inside his restrained Master. Then he added a little accusingly, „And I want to apologize because it has not been prepared in advance. A minor problem, Sir, that Mrs. Burns got under control."

Blair Sandburg was still just standing there, staring at the butler with big eyes, involuntarily making a small noise in the back of his throat.

James grinned when he heard it. He knew that he had just started the ‘minor problem’ Burns referred to; Sandburg’s quarters had been prepared in the servant’s building. But James had been drawn to the quick wits of his new librarian, and although he didn’t know the young man at all, he wanted to be close to him, looked forward to talking and spending time with him. And Burns seemed to sense this, too, suggesting the blue apartment.

„Fine, Burns. Take your time. I apologize to Mrs. Burns. If there is anything I can do, I’ll help gladly. We’ll just have a small, cold lunch, maybe in the study? Oh, and Burns? Please don’t forget to add some roast beef for Professor Sandburg, here. He might not want to eat ham." He handed over the large bags to another servant.

Sandburg clung to his small last bag like a lifeline. He looked at it in disgust but didn’t let go, then followed his employer into the house. It was then that it occurred to him how much this young nobleman already took care for him, thinking about his preferences in food. After that thought, though, even his mind was silenced.

Impressive, indeed. A large wooden staircase led to the first floor and almost directly to the door of the study, heavy furniture but cozy nevertheless. On the broad desk were papers neatly stacked into piles, various lamps indicating that the room was used during late hours, too. Two upholstery chairs and a chaise lounge, along with small tables, indicated that at least at one time this was a place where somebody had enjoyed reading a book or paper.

„This used to be my father’s favorite room. It still amazes me that it is my favorite room, too." Lord Ellis’ voice was almost too calm to be heard, and the scholar decided that he would ignore the comment for now. „I’m afraid I’m remiss in my duties as a host. Would you like to use the facilities? I’ll show you your new home." The smile on the tall man’s face was a little sad, and Sandburg wondered briefly if it was just the old Lord’s death that had cost that deep a pain, then he was lead out of the door again.

A hand appeared on the small of his back for a few heartbeats, then gone again. „Behind this here," Ellis pointed at the paneled wall as they walked along the hallway, „is the library." And with a contrite grin, he added, „I wish you luck, you’re going to need it."

Finally there was a door at the end of the hallway and James pushed it open. Blair thought this would be the entrance to his work place, but he was wrong. Blue draperies graced large windows, rich blue carpets on the floor, a blue comforter on a light blue couch.

„God, I hope you like this color. I didn’t remember that everything is blue in here. That’s your salon. Over there, the bedroom." Another door opened, another shade of blue enveloping a large four-poster bed, furs on the floor and yet another blue comforter. „And the next door is your bathroom. You have to set a fire under the heater to take a bath." Again James looked contrite. „Sometimes I bathe twice a day.…"

Then he snapped his mouth shut. He didn’t understand this sudden need to talk. He never had been fond of chatting but now he felt as if sharing his life’s secrets with this young man would impress the scholar and lure him into staying. He didn’t understand his need to keep this man, to become his friend. But then - he didn’t understand that much at all these days, so he just turned and went out again. „If you want to...I’ll wait in the study."

„Oh my god, I hope I don’t get lost in this house. I am so sorry, my Lord. I’ll hurry." And with that, young Sandburg ran into the bedroom - his bedroom, he corrected himself happily - and bounded into the bathroom. This was too good to be true. This apartment was many times as big as his room at Oxford.

He took care of business, while looking around in the bathroom. Clean, simple, with an enormous bathtub. He buttoned up and flushed the toilet - ahh, the miracles - when a servant came in fresh towels. This was paradise. He washed his hands, then decided to get rid of his road sweat and took one of the fluffy wash towels.

Twenty minutes later, wearing a clean though crumpled new shirt, he knocked at the door of the study.

The door was opened as soon as his knuckles had touched the wood but his Lordship just stepped back inside to laze back into one of the big chairs again. One of the tables was covered with trays full of meat, fruits, eggs, bread and homemade mustard, and Sandburg, suddenly looking even younger than his true age, couldn’t help when an angry growl emanated from his stomach.

Blushing deeply, he chuckled. „Again I am sorry. It seems that I am more hungry than I thought." But still he just stood there in the middle of the room, until James came out of his dark thoughts.

„Then why aren’t you sitting down and grabbing a bite? Help yourself," his Lordship said gruffly.

Sandburg shamed him by stating lowly,„Because you did not invite me to, Lord Ellis." He sat and piled roast beef on a slice of freshly baked bread. Even though the bigger man was moody, this still was almost paradise.…

„You know, the last time something smelled that good I was in Spain - I was searching for a certain monograph I hoped to find at the University of Madrid, - when I was captured by some marauders. It turned out that they were more or less harmless. Once they found out that I didn’t have any money and was a scholar, they fed me - and believe me," he finally took a bite and chewed blissfully, „it wasn’t even that good."

„They were marauders and they didn’t kill you?" Disbelieving James sat up.

Sandburg shrugged. „I think they liked the story of Robin Hood I told them. I mean, they really had a knack for taking from the rich, giving to the poor. Although that didn’t go as far as donating money to me." He laughed again, still not wanting to see the danger he had been in then. Maybe that was the key. Maybe not seeing the danger meant ignoring it - something a bunch of lawless thugs would appreciate in a man.

„So, did you find it?" The young Lord seemed to thaw a bit again and Sandburg smiled around another large bite of his bread.

„What? Oh, the monograph! Yes, I found it." He shrugged carelessly. „The Dean of the University finally gave it to me - I proved it to be wrong. There were numerous false assumptions in it, which made it worthless. I can show it to you later, it’s a nice fairy-tale, but except the one basic theory it had been woven around, nothing is of value in there."

„They believed you? How old were you, then?"

Professor Sandburg swallowed and licked mustard from his fingers before taking another bite - this sandwich was vanishing fast. „I was sixteen. And once I pointed out the weak spots, they checked and found me to be right. Come to think of it, they were kind of embarrassed." He grinned and finished his meal, longingly gazing at the large piece of roast beef. „Can I have another one?"

He looked so much like a hungry ten-year-old; Lord Ellis had to laugh.„I would not want my librarian to starve before he even had a chance to see his future working place! Help yourself!"

„Yes!"

And his Lordship smiled again. This was a meal so different from anything he remembered - he thought back to the times when his father had held ‘court,’ as they had called it, in the large dining room that was now blessedly unused. He and Stephen weren’t allowed to speak, so their meals had been silent events, the only sound the clatter of a fork or a spoon. Ellis shuddered and tuned into Sandburg’s easy chatter.

„So there I was, standing at the harbor, trying to get back to England, and the only ship leaving anytime soon was a vessel heading for Italy. So I decided to offer my services as a secretary to the owner to see the birthplace of the Roman culture. I think I paid too much, though - the ship’s captain let me write love-letters to his three ladies of the heart. I’m still shuddering. But then I got to see Rome, so I shouldn’t be ungrateful."

„Didn’t you have any obligations back then?"

Suddenly all the good humor vanished from young Sandburg’s face. He put back the last bite of his second sandwich and instead started to toy with the grapes.

„In fact, no. Nobody waited for me. My father had long died and my mother was on her way to some relatives in Russia at that time. At least I think so. My only obligation was and is my research. And I found an essay in one of the libraries in Rome…" He got animated again and Ellis was glad to see the spark coming back into those intelligent eyes. „It was almost an epiphany. I copied it - no way they would give it to me - they didn’t even leave me alone in the same room with those papers." He laughed again, now enthusiastically stuffing himself with the sweet grapes. „These are good!"

„We grow them in our vineyard. They are the first of this season. The wine should be wonderful, you would think, but we don’t seem to be able to do it right. Randolph, the steward, says we can’t sell it. Oh, well, just another one of my minor problems, though." They fell silent again, while Sandburg finished off the last of the grapes.

„So you’ve seen Universities all around the world, then?" James really wanted to hear his voice again, wanted to reestablish the light stream of funny words, and Sandburg complied mischievously.

„Not just Universities; I have been to at least one historical building per land, too." He chuckled. „No, as a matter of fact," he bragged a bit, „in Rome one of the students I lived with took me to the brothels of the town. I barely escaped with my health intact. It was so disgusting. The women, even the youngest ones, were blistered and dirty - and it was one of the more expensive so-called pleasure houses. A pleasure, indeed!" The young man grimaced and shook his head in denial, while Lord Ellis laughed. „Don’t mock me, my Lord. Being in the service once, you should have seen those things, too."

„Indeed I have. I really do understand that you did not want to get involved with this kind of twisted pleasure. - Oh, would you like more grapes?"

„No, thank you. Now that you have fed me - how about you show me the library - I didn’t find an entrance in the hallway and already thought I had gotten lost. It’ll take me some time to get used to this large house."

„That’s why it took you so long to come back?"

Sandburg nodded contritely. „Yes, I’m afraid so. After cleaning up a bit, I headed the wrong way. I mean, it is really funny - I never get lost while on the road. But I never seemed to be able to find my way through Oxford’s hallways."

„They are kind of...vast; I spent some years there, too. Now, there is no entrance to the library except from this room - at least as far as I know. Over on that paneled wall, push.…"

The hidden door swung open and revealed the impressive room behind.

„And here you go."

And gone Blair Sandburg was. The scholar took a deep breath and vanished inside; fumbling for his glasses while he tentatively stepped deeper and deeper inside this wealth of wisdom.

„I’ll leave the door open for you," James said, in an attempt to get Blair’s attention again, but received only a vague gesture from one expressive hand. He grinned at the enthusiasm that had encompassed the young professor and decided that he would stay at the study, in case the young man had a question. Almost without realizing it, he listened for the librarian, silently laughing at the muttered cut-off remarks that floated through the shelves from time to time.

And for the first time since he had set foot in his father’s house after years of absence, he completely missed Rupert’s arrival, and was startled when his friend just stepped into the study.

„You were right, Rupert - I’m glad you found the professor."

„So how does the prodigy look like? Already white-haired, spectacled and somehow mousy?"

„Look for yourself - Professor Sandburg? I want you to meet my friend Rupert Whitley."

At the mention of his name the young scholar had emerged from behind one of the numerous bookshelves and tentatively drew closer. Now he smiled brilliantly, completely unaware of the dust that covered his hazel locks and made it seem powdered like one of those out-of-fashion wigs. He removed his glasses and left a smear of dirt on his nose doing so. When Rupert extended his hand, he shook it enthusiastically.

„So it’s you I have to be grateful for all this? I am glad you thought of me - this is a wonderful opportunity - aside from a few cheap novels, that surely have been purchased at too high a price there are so many treasures in there. Oh, sorry, I did not want to judge your father’s taste!"

He cast a weary glance at Lord Ellis, but the tall man just huffed a laugh. „He most likely bought them to fill some empty space. I don’t remember my father reading anything beyond the turf yearbook and the local paper.

„And the studbooks," all three men concluded.

„Which reminds me of my duty to find them soon." Professor Sandburg grinned and retreated back into the library, disappearing behind tomes again.

„Well, he sure doesn’t seem shy to me!" Rupert sobered as he turned back to his old friend. „Why don’t you ask me.…" He stopped and took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. „…How Annie is?"

„What happened, Rupert? Oh, my God.…"

„Fitz, I don’t know what to do. It’s her sixth month now and she was fine all the time. And now she has fits, cramps, and wakes up every night crying and in pain. We had a doctor over from Bath - but he said she would lose the baby - it’s just a matter of time. There’s one doctor - he’s one of this new specialists - in London but I don’t know..."

„Is it a matter of money, Rupert, old friend?"

„No, not really - I am just so afraid the trip could be too much for her - she’s so weak already, like you wouldn’t believe."

„What if you take the big coach I have in my stables - the one with the additional set of carriage-springs - and I’ll send it over to your place with my team of horses? They could use the exercise. You would be doing me a favor. You even could use my father’s townhouse. I know it’s in no way a palace, but there are servants there and you could bring your own maids. I’ll send a messenger so they can prepare everything. How about that?"

„I don’t know what to say, Fitz….."

„Say ‘yes’ and keep me informed. I expect you to write.…"

For a short moment it seemed as if Rupert would burst into tears, then he recovered and just grabbed his friend’s shoulder in a crushing grip. „Yes it is, then. Thank you."

James spent the afternoon with preparations of his late father’s coach that had been bought just to make the tiring trips to London more comfortable. His team of four horses had been brought home just two weeks ago and were already restless, so he asked Geordie, his own groom, to play coachman despite the fact that he was going to marry Anabel in a fortnight. Geordie, who had already heard the rumors about an illness , which had befallen his Lord’s best friend’s wife, just pointed at the heavy coat he had brought. Then he mounted the high seat and drove the coach-and-four to Whitley’s place, while a messenger was sent on his way to the capital.

The sad news had dampened the good spirits of both Lord Ellis and Professor Sandburg. When the young scholar finally emerged out of the library at lunchtime, he was invited to join the young Lord in the study, but neither of them felt much like talking. But although they ate in silence, somehow the quiet did not consume them. Each drew comfort from the presence of the other until they finally nursed a last glass of port while the dishes were taken away. Then Blair Sandburg rose, stretched, and turned to slip back into his library.

„You don’t have to work night-hours, you know. It is your first day here, you know!"

The Professor grimaced self-consciously. „Oh, I forgot, you probably won’t like me roaming around your house when no one is around...." His voice trailed off and he blushed a little, feeling miserable all of a sudden.

„I trust you, Sandburg. I just wanted for you to get some rest - you must be exhausted. Hell, I am exhausted after this day, and I didn’t travel through the country in a public coach.... But if you really want to collect some more dust - feel free to do so. I’ll be in my room. Oh, feel free to knock at my door - it’s opposite your room - if you need something." Embarrassment made James’ voice gruff, but his young employee felt the notion behind it and smiled brightly.

„I’ll go collect some more dust, then. Thank you and good night."

„Good night. My breakfast is served here at 7.30 if you would like to join me..."

Lord Ellis was already out of the door of his study when he heard the scholar’s heartbeat increase and a mumbled, „Do I ever like...,floated after him. James smiled to himself. He was actually looking forward to breakfast.…

With a goofy, crooked little smile on his lips, Sandburg retreated back into his world of books and - admittedly - dust; and with renewed vigor proceeded his quest. Finding ‘those darn studbooks’ that had to hide somewhere. Halfway through the afternoon, the Professor had been forced to decide that James’ father had not left them lying around openly so that they could be found easily. So now he was looking for hidden shelves, roaming through old editions of the local newsletter and rearranging large tomes in order to get a glimpse of what lay behind them.

His search did produce an item he would not have thought to find in a library, much less behind a hopelessly outdated encyclopedia. The riding crop was about thirty-five inches long and seemed to have been pretty well used, if the sweat-stained leather was any indication. He still held it in his hands, puzzled, when Burns silently entered the room and coughed. Sandburg jerked, but recovered quickly. „I found this in here.…"

„I see." A deep sadness made the butler seem even older than his true age. „Sir, if may I say so. You would probably not want to show this to young Lord Ellis. I can take care of it, if you want me to."

„Thank you. I’ll close down in here in a minute. Just - would you be so kind to wake me at seven, please. I don’t want to be late for breakfast."

„It will be my pleasure, Sir." A gentle smile, almost too small to be noticed, graced Burns’ sad face as he retreated, hiding the horrible whip in his jacket. When he closed the door to the study he still heard the soft rustle of books being removed.

James was already drinking coffee and looked up when the young man stepped inside, hands hiding behind his back.

„Sandburg! Good morning! I didn’t think that you would want to join me this morning - I heard you were stuck in the library till three in the morning."

Sandburg shot an accusing glance at Burns who brought a second cup of coffee for him.

„And it hasn’t been Burns who told me." James grinned and got even more curious while the Professor clumsily sat down into the comfortable upholstery chair.

„Oh, I wasn’t stuck in the library - I found something the other night." A spoon clattered as it slipped out of Burns’ grip, but Sandburg was oblivious of the near panic he just had caused. The young man continued happily, „Guess what, Milord? Your studbooks. Tahdaaah!"

Like an announcer at a fair, he presented the five books he had been hiding behind his back to his stunned employer. „They had somehow slipped behind some other books in the very last shelf in the back of the library. I thought you would like to see them right now." A smug little grin made him look even younger, and he watched as Lord Ellis took them eagerly and leafed through them. They didn’t notice that Burns left them alone after no one paid attention to him and his breakfast any longer.

Finally, after flipping through page after page, a frown marring his clear features, James exclaimed,, „I knew it - he had colts, of course. Now I just have to find out where they are now. According to this they haven’t been sold - but they are neither in the stables nor at grass. Here, look for yourself." And he shoved the latest book over to Sandburg, who tried to find his way through long columns of figures and abbreviations.

Soon he saw for himself. Dozens of horses should have been still somewhere on the estate. They hadn’t been sold - because old Lord Ellis had been extremely meticulous about writing down even unimportant details in his little gray books. He would not have forgotten something vital as the market value for his high-prized colts.

„They could have been sold shortly before your father died. And he just didn’t have the time to write it.…"

Long, elegant fingers captured his mouth and startled the professor into silence. Then Lord Ellis ripped the little gray books out of the young man’s hands and shoved them into his desk, carefully locking it with a small key which he put into his wallet.

„So, how’s your progress with the contents of the library, Professor Sandburg?"

To give him credit the scholar didn’t flinch. Smoothly, he produced an answer out of nowhere and explained the values of outdated encyclopedias from a historian’s point of view.

A curt knock stopped him, and then Burns opened the door.

„Mr. Randolph is here, milord."

James sighed. „I’m sorry, Blair, my private tutor is here to teach me how to run this estate. Maybe we could talk later."

If Lord Ellis hadn’t noticed that he had just used Sandburg’s first name, the professor surely had. He blushed, nodded. „I would like that." And he got up when Randolph entered.

„Professor Sandburg, this is John Randolph, the steward of this estate. Randolph, meet Professor Sandburg, my librarian." Lord Ellis watched in puzzlement as Blair Sandburg fumbled for his glasses, scrunched his eyes closed and wiped his hand before vaguely extending it in the general direction of the manager. He mumbled something that would pass as barely polite and then hastily retreated into the safety of his library. The hidden door slid closed without a sound. Mentally, James shrugged and concentrated on the task at hand.

An hour later he was drenched in sweat and as desperate as Randolph, no closer than sixty minutes earlier to solving the problem of selling corn at a price that would not cripple the estate.

„Well, M’Lord, there’s still one more option. Being the squire you could always raise the taxes. Your father had done so in the previous years and our peasants still pay less than your neighbors’ do. I don’t say you have to do it, but think about it, please. Gotta go now - there’s still plenty to do." With that, the sturdy man stood and tipped his head with one finger, unnoticed by Ellis. He was already out of the door and on the stairs, when James murmured his good-byes.

The Lord sighed again - he did a lot of sighing during those sessions of humiliation with Randolph. „Sandburg, decide: either close that door at last, or come in. I hate it when you just stand there, hiding from me."

A small cough answered his plea. „Come on in, Professor, I can hear you behind this door, after all."

„How could you possibly hear me?" Silently the young man stepped forward, pushing the only half-closed door open at last.

„You were there, I was right, wasn’t I?"

„Yes, but how did.…"

„Enough with that, Professor," Lord Ellis interjected. „I hope you enjoyed listening in to a totally clueless, uneducated squire who is not able to do anything right nor to understand what his steward tells him." Bitterness and hurt tinged his voice, and with an impatient shove he pushed at some sheets of paper, causing one to slide to the hardwood floor and land gracefully at the feet of one very stunned Professor Sandburg. Who slowly and very carefully, as if treading on cracking ice, bent and picked up the paper, contemplating the smeared, desperate attempts at accounting, taken down in small neat figures that grew bigger at the end of the page.

„In fact, Lord Ellis, from where I was standing I didn’t get the impression that you did not understand." Sandburg smiled a crooked little apologetic smile. „I got the impression that every time you seemed to get close to understanding, your steward got impatient and changed the subject. He is not a teacher after all - but just look - there.…" He stepped closer to the desk and leaned in, pointing at one column of numbers. „You remember what that was about?" At James’ nod, he went on. „Well, you were right - and there, at that point you turned left instead of right, figuratively spoken, Milord, of course. And voila!"

With a triumphant little gesture, the Professor changed a plus to a minus and started to explain, when James suddenly laughed and took over in midsentence, ending the lecture with a relieved, „This is so easy, all of a sudden!"

„Well, Lord Ellis, I wouldn’t want to say that - it took me two years of studying to understand that, but if you say so...."

„No, no, don’t say that - this gets so much clearer now - I just thought…." The tall man suddenly sniffed, then grimaced a bit. „How can you stand this stench of mine? I don’t know, these teaching-sessions always leave me drained and in a stink. I go take a bath; but after that - would you maybe consider teaching me? I know that this was not the reason why you came to Raven’s Peak and isn’t your profession at all, but just...think about it." Lord Ellis, used to getting whatever he wanted by ordering his subordinates to do so, stammered and blushed. „Maybe if I raised your payment...?"

„No, don’t...I mean, of course, I’ll take more money - there is a whole new world to explore across the ocean." The young, enthusiastic voice took on an almost dreamy quality. „I meant, in fact it is my profession - to teach. That was what I did at Oxford, to be able to study. I’d be honored if you’d let me teach you. And maybe you could answer a few questions that I have.…" At James’ puzzled glance, he added, „About how you heard me while I was standing behind the door a little while ago. Or how you managed to hear Burns and Randolph approaching before I could hear them.…"

Lord Ellis shrugged almost carelessly. „I never wanted this to become public knowledge, but you’re right, I can hear quite well. And see better than any man I know of. And although this gave me an advantage while I was in service, it made me a freak in my father’s eyes, too. And if he couldn’t understand this condition, how could any of the peasants? So I kept it a secret. I got quite good at hiding it. Only Burns knows about it, but he’s almost family and watched me growing up. I cannot imagine how you would so easily find out."

„Because I care about you." It came out in a rush and the young man blushed furiously, his heart hammering in his chest. This was a feeling he definitely had not wanted to advertise. He cringed, fearing that this wonderful position had just been yanked away under his feet on his second day of employment. He saw himself on the streets again, without any income and - what hurt him most - rejected by the one man who had come to mean so much to him in such a short period of time. Hastily he scrambled on, desperately trying to placate a probably furious employer. „And of course this is my turf, so to speak. As an anthropologist I came across ancient scripts telling stories about men who watched out for their tribe with extraordinary developed senses. They were born with this gift, and an accompanying curse, but I would not want to annoy you with my ramblings.…" Unhappily he trailed off, shoulders slumped, a picture of defeat.

„This explains it, then." Quietly Lord Ellis got up and left for his apartment. Minutes later, maids lit a fire to the new-fashioned water-heater in the master bathroom.

Meanwhile, Blair Sandburg fled into the library he had already come to think of as his, and hoped that his expellation was set out for now.

The hot water felt like the embrace a lover might feel and James fondly thought back to the times before he had joined the army. Almost twelve years ago - he had been so young, and Rupert had been his best friend for more than a decade by then, at first sharing a room at Eton, then staying together at Oxford. And finally, all their not-acted-upon passion and wet dreams had led to some discoveries and fooling around. They had enjoyed each other as much as they had enjoyed the physical relief that came after some touching. Neither of them had been heartbroken when James left for adventures and wars, and Rupert took on an academic career as a lawyer; his father, not of noble birth, no longer able to support him financially. Although they had known each other for the better part of their lives, and had even shared their passion at one time or another, Rupert never had indicated that he noticed a difference in his best friend.

They had been so close, yet never close enough for Rupert to realize why his titled friend was so successful at the shooting range, or in finding out when the Dean was likely to come by. But a stranger with incredible, blue eyes barged into his life, and two days later this secret was discovered.

The water slowly started to cool down - which was fine by James, because while contemplating his young houseguest his cock had started to wake up. It had filled and now rested heavily on his left thigh, waiting to lift out of the water at the slightest provocation. With a lazy hand James petted the large organ until he finally decided not to indulge himself. He would have dinner with Blair instead. His cock raised its head in interest. James got out of the water and while the chill in the air sent shivers down his broad muscled chest, he started to rub himself dry vigorously.

Over this makeshift desk the young librarian crouched, taking notes until the Lord’s voice startled him.

Sandburg cast an almost frightened glance at his employer, then looked back at the stack of books and sheets of paper. He tried valiantly to hide the mess he had made in the middle of the library. „I’ll put everything back as soon as I’m done for today.…"

„But why have you done it, at all?" Ellis asked incredulously.

„There was no desk in here, and you had so much going on with Randolph, and the studbooks, and most of all Rupert - and I thought, I’ll improvise, and it won’t hurt the books, and I’ll put them back and - " The young man stepped back and sent one of the tomes crashing to the floor in a flurry of paper.

And to his own amazement, Lord Ellis just laughed. He jumped in to rescue the small candle, then knelt down to help the suddenly very quiet young man collect his papers.

„Are you going to throw me out now, Lord Ellis?"

The loneliness and desperation in that small voice strung a chord in James’ heart. This young man knew the same feeling of being an outcast like him, though for different reasons. Being a prodigy must have made it very difficult for Sandburg to get accepted. Lord Ellis patted a dusty shoulder in a gesture not solely brotherly, accidentally brushing against one wayward lock that had escaped the leather string that held it back. Like the caress of a lover’s hand, he mused, then cleared his throat.

„I shall not evict you - not now, not ever. I would like to..." - to become your friend and maybe more, his mind and his heart finished the sentence, but out loud he said, „...to invite you to dinner. And please, use the second desk in the study if you need to - or we could put up a high-desk in here, if you’d prefer privacy."

As if he hadn’t heard the second part of the sentence, the young man perked up. „You would not mind if I’d work by your side in your study? I’d like that very much, indeed!" Then he blushed and hastily added, „I would be able to ask you right away if I would need further information.…"

„Right. So be it, then. Dinner is served. You must eat something." Ellis got up and held out his hand to help Sandburg out of a crouch that had to be uncomfortable. Gracefully Blair accepted the hand without needing help and clung to those elegant fingers for long moments. Neither man seemed to notice the intimacy of the small gesture.

The two hungry men had demolished most of the meal when Sandburg finally dared to ask one of the questions that had burned on the tip of his tongue for too long. „When did you find out that you had this wonderful gift of your senses?"

„Do you know that you are the first person ever who sees my condition as a gift, Blair? My father looked upon me in shame. My brother Stephen, when he saw that I could hear or see so much better than he, as soon as he was old enough he couldn’t put enough space between us. He lives in India, you know. And Burns, I think he pities me. Sometimes he gets this sad look in his eyes, and then I know he feels pity for me. But at least he helps me in keeping this a secret."

„But it is a gift - you said so yourself - it helped you survive in the army. It helped you to stay alive." For me, he wanted to add, but he bit his tongue before embarrassing himself even more. „So, when did you first notice?"

Lord Ellis’ nervous fingers fiddled with a napkin; when he looked up again, his eyes shone brightly with unshed tears. „After my mother died. I don’t remember her much, I was too young when she... Anyway I do remember that my father called me, and told me that she was gone, and I had asked him when she would come back. He said never, and dragged me into our small chapel where they had put the coffin. It was cold and damp in there, and I asked my father why Mother didn’t have a woolen blanket like the one I had for the cold nights. He said ‘because your mother doesn’t need it any more.’ Then I ran away. I escaped into the wood behind the hill before they realized what had happened. And when they finally followed me on horseback, I heard them and saw them, I even smelled them, before any of the birds in the trees could give alarm. I tricked them every time they came close. I didn’t come home for five days, when hunger forced me to come back." He fell silent and distractedly looked at the napkin in his hands, now knotted and twisted and crumpled.

„How old were you then?" Not even the low voice of Blair Sandburg could truly break his musings.

„Four years. A couple of months older, maybe. My father beat me with his riding crop till I bled. It hurt like hell, but then, even the fabric of my shirt itched like never before."

Ellis looked up and met the blue eyes of his young friend, suddenly burning with rage and frustration. „What is it? What happened?" And he looked around to find the incident that had caused Sandburg so much discomfort.

„Right now I would like to use that riding crop on your father, but he is dead and I hope that the god he believed in has the proper punishment for him waiting."

„It was a long time ago, Blair. It happened to another person in another life. It’s over now." A sad little smile tried to be reassuring for the young man’s sake, but Blair Sandburg was not one to be fooled.

„I still can feel your pain, James. It is there in the backs of your eyes, and right now I would give one arm to make it go away." He no longer cared if he was offending his titled employer with his daring words. To be quite honest he hardly knew he had said them, compassion and rage battling inside him, consuming him.

„Look closer, Blair. It receded the first time you called me ‘James.’ Maybe...if you do that again...the pain goes away for good.…"

Suddenly the scholar grinned, eyes twinkling, a sweet blush staining his cheeks. „Oh, it’s a test of sorts. I am good at that, James - and now you tell me if there have been moments in your life, where you seemed to stop sensing anything at all. One of the Greek scripts described it as delving into a gray night, but I do not know if this was just a poetic exaggeration or the truth."

„For me, it is the truth. And a very to-the-point description it is. Everything fades away till all that is left is a gray fog. A loud sound can bring me back -or if someone pushes me. Thinking back - most of the time it happened I was at Raven’s Peak, trying to act inconspicuous in front of my father."

„It must have been the way you felt obligated to suppress what was normal for you that brought you into this state, James. I could not think of any other reason.…"

„So you say there are more like me around?" A small trace of hope worked its way up to the surface when James asked this question.

Sandburg felt devastated when he found he could not lie to this man sitting across the table, drinking in every bit of information he was able to provide.

„At least there were people like you living. They were called...well, ‘Sentinel’ comes closest in our language. I know of watchmen in Egypt and Greece, Roman textbooks refer to them, too. Roman soldiers seemed to have found one in Ireland, although this could be a fairy tale. I mean, they also say that Romans built a wall to protect Britannia from the Celtic peoples, and no one has ever seen such a wall. Hadrian’s Wall, said to be up north, indeed."

„My mother was of Irish nobility, Blair."

„And then this could be true, too. Caesar was known for his exact descriptions." Sandburg hadn’t even missed a beat at this truly amazing revelation. Eagerly he grabbed for his glasses, then fumbled for a pencil and a piece of paper. „Would you mind me taking notes, James? I’d like to write everything you told me down so I don’t forget any of it."

„I don’t mind, but you don’t seem to be able to keep your eyes open. Blair, it is already ten o’clock and you haven’t had too much sleep the previous night. Go to bed. You can ask me again in the morning - over breakfast."

The gentle urging was Sandburg’s undoing - a huge yawn split his face and he apologized contritely.

„I guess you are right." He stood, not knowing where to look at until Ellis nudged him good-naturedly out of the study and almost shoved him in the general direction of the blue apartment.

When the door closed behind Blair, the Lord turned to enter his own bedroom. But he kept listening to his young guest, reveling in the soft rustle of clothes as Sandburg undressed and the creak of the mattress as he slipped into his four-poster bed. He heard the small, contented sigh just as he thought Blair had already fallen asleep...

„James.…"

And Lord Ellis slipped into sleep while he still heard the heavy breathing that turned into soft snoring as the young, exhausted man that lived on the other side of the house sank deeper into the land of dreams.

James was out of his bed, in his nightgown and shrugging in his robe in no time. He cursed at himself for not keeping a loaded pistol near the bed, as he had done while in service. Now he didn’t have the time to fetch the weapon, so he grabbed the sword that hung next to his dress-uniform. Leaving the scabbard behind, the blank sword in hand, he ran silently down the hallway to Blair’s apartment.

The door was closed. He concentrated fiercely to hear anything beyond the soft snoring of the sleeping man but the harder he tried, the less he heard. Like a hound dog he sniffed the air, but the only scent he smelled was the young scholar’s clean scent that blotted out everything else. Still - he knew he had heard the sound of a nearby door opened and closed, so he took the risk. He took a deep breath and slowly, silently pressed the handle.

The door slid open without a sound. Noiselessly, he stepped into the dark living room that was now filled with Blair’s belongings scattered everywhere, the young man’s books covering every flat surface, the door to the wardrobe hanging open a crack. Now that he finally was able to take a look around it took him only a second to confirm that the apartment was empty aside from the personal mess and the small, sleeping man responsible for all the disarray.

Just when Lord Ellis tried to convince himself that he had probably been wrong to break into the young man’s quarters, a cool draft hit his face and the door of the drawer, that had been left slightly ajar, swung open with a noisy creak. Sandburg stirred in his bed, his sleep disturbed by the obnoxious sound, and tossed under the bedcovers. „...James..." The boy was still asleep and yet his mind happily relived the past two days, if the soft moan was any indication.

With sudden ease James let his hearing reach out through the empty living room to the drawer. He found it lead straight into the library, because there it was - the sound of the soft tap-tap of somebody’s feet and the rustle of heavy books moved. A stranger had violated his home, and - even more terrifying - the place he had given Blair Sandburg, thus endangering the young librarian who had already crawled inside his head and more importantly had invaded his heart, too. Ellis made a decision. He wanted to catch the intruder, but he knew that doing so without first waking Sandburg would endanger the young man. If he woke up too early, he might come after James at the wrong moment - if he didn’t wake up at all, the burglar, if he managed to run, could take him hostage. And a cornered rat was most dangerous.

So James slipped into the sleeping room and crouched down next to the large bed, holding away the right arm where he still held the sword in case a waking Sandburg would start to flail about. With gentle fingers he stroked the stubbled cheek and smiled when the young man followed the simple touch with his whole face, trying to increase the sensation. Then a frown marred the youthful features and blue eyes flew open. To stop any of the obvious questions James covered the already open mouth with his left hand. „Ssshhhhh!"

The burglar chose this particular moment to rustle with yet another book, and Sandburg stopped breathing while he nodded in understanding. James lifted his hand from those lush lips and for a second there he swore that they had just tried to kiss his palm. At the thought alone Lord Ellis blushed, and he felt a sympathetic stain spread on Sandburg’s face.

„I want you to enter the study, make some noise - the hidden door is locked. - He can’t get out there -. Stay out of it, you’ll.…"

„...Chase him your way," they both whispered under their breath. The professor grabbed for an old robe that had been draped across the bed to cover his short nightdress. Then he slipped out of his apartment without another question, like a shadow.

Seconds later there was the banging of a chair scraping over hardwood floor that cut the silence of the night. James positioned himself in front of the drawer door while he still listened to Sandburg who, now in the study, loudly muttered in his staged search for matches to light a candle.

Suddenly the drawer door burst open, almost hitting Lord Ellis in the face. A dark figure jumped out of the darkness, stumbling over something on the bottom of the drawer and barging into Ellis. Caught unaware by the sudden attack, James stepped back to make room for a proper swing with his sword-hand but the burglar flailed and now attacked for real. Ellis threw away the useless sword and caught the crook straight in the face with a right uppercut. The intruder crashed back into the drawer, then sank to the ground and slipped out of Ellis’ grip, leaving a piece of a dark shirt in the enraged Lord’s hand.

The crook was out of the room and into the hallway in a flash, but he was nowhere near safe because there stood the small professor, the bookish genius, and the small blade of a letter-opener awaiting in his hand. The burglar decided to overrun the obstacle, but - as quite a lot people before - he underestimated the young scholar. Blair Sandburg took the first blow to his stomach with a protesting „Oooof!" then swung his knife hand upwards and caught his attacker with full force at the shoulder. The slicing of a shirt hissed loudly through the night, then the muffled impact when steel met flesh and bone was accompanied by a suppressed wail. The burglar jerked away, ripping the letter opener out of Blair’s grip. Sandburg stumbled, trying to keep a hold on the opener, but was pushed out of the way. The attacker ran down the stairs and out the side-entrance.

James was at Blair’s side, steadying the young man and checking him for injuries. It had happened in mere seconds; none of the servants sleeping in the next wing had been alerted.

„Are you all right, Blair? Did he hurt you? Why were you waiting for him? I thought I had told you to stay in the study!"

„Yes, Milord, you have. He didn’t hurt me - in fact I think I hurt him - I caught him in the left shoulder with your letter-opener. By the way, I am afraid he took it with him," Blair added with not so subtle irony. „I did not want him to get away." With dignity, the young professor righted his disheveled robe and straightened up. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. „But I guess, he did get away after all. I really wonder what he was looking for in the library. Do you have a hidden safe in there that I have not yet found?"

„Not that I know of. But then I didn’t know about the secret drawer door, either. This is my house, for god’s sake, and it seems to hold more secrets by the minute. But you’re shivering. It’s the shock.…"

„It is not, Milord. I’m cold. I did not have the time to put shoes on and those hardwood floors are cold at night. You know, during my travels I have encountered a few unpleasant creatures but the only time when I really was terrified was in Sicily." Blair started for his apartment, followed by an almost mesmerized Lord Ellis, who longed to hear the story but did not dare to interrupt Sandburg’s musings.

„In Sicily there was this dog with rabies. And I admit when that large animal started to attack I really was frightened to death - one bite would have cost my life."

He couldn’t hold back any longer. „What happened?"

Blair entered his apartment, lit a candle and scrutinized his possessions with a critical eye. „Well, I’m still around - I got it first," he mumbled, then continued with conviction, „...The burglar didn’t take anything - well, but then we wouldn’t have thought that, would we?" He scuffed into his slippers that were still next to the bed then said, „How about we investigate the library now?"

James followed his librarian through the secret entrance and said with a little smile, „You are not phased by this event at all, aren’t you? You are supposed to be a scholar, a nervous wreck by now!"

„I am, James - a scholar, I mean. But I am also an explorer. I have been travelling my whole life. I have seen half the known world and have been to places my mother would not like me to see, in my quest for knowledge. I’ve found friends in the most unfriendly of places but I’ve also been forced to pick up some skills to keep alive. It’s a dangerous place out there, as you very well know. And as for the dagger-fighting, Sandburg put down the candle and positioned himself in the middle of the small patch of light. Like a professional announcer he spread his arms wide and intoned, „Meet the Incredible Sarroni, the youngest boy ever to throw a knife.…"

„You say you ran away with the circus?"

„No, not really. I was ten, then - and some exhibitors came to Verona where my mother had taken me. I was fascinated."

„I bet you were"

„Yes, and they were very kind. When they saw me sneaking around they invited me in and showed me some of their tricks - and because I was so eager, they even showed me some tricks that come in handy during a fight. I seem to have some talent for the knives so one night they even let me perform - the Incredible Sarroni was born. That was the first and only time my mother hit me." Blair laughed ruefully. „Poor woman. She slapped my face after she came out of shock, while watching me perform. We left Verona soon after but I kept practicing. Six months later I killed the rabid dog. She never scolded me for finding strange friends after that.…"

One slap in the face. It was the one sentence that branded itself into the back of James’ brain. One slap in the face. He briefly thought about his scarred back. The welts were almost non-existent now, but they would stay with him, engraved deeply in his mind, still bleeding in his soul. The whip had been his father’s only educational method, his only tool to subjugate his free-spirited freak son.

He brought himself back to the reality of an escaped burglar by force of will only, and looked around in the library. Since Sandburg had started to work he had been in there more often than James had in his life, but he still was not able to see the difference in the arrangement of books.

Sandburg on the other hand frowned and then muttered, „This is quite interesting. That’s...here - the burglar dislocated the tomes over here. You know - this is where I found the studbooks and the...... Never mind." He trailed off, blushing, his heart beating suddenly twice as fast.

Of course Lord Ellis was aware of the changes. „What else?"

„I did not take anything of value, Milord."

„I do not indicate this. What else?"

„A riding crop. Burns saw me with it and promised to take care of it. I guess it must have slipped down the shelves because quite close nearby I found the books you were looking for some time later. I just wanted to keep my word I gave to Burns. Please don’t be upset with him."

„I won’t. I am not. I just...I did not know that he had been hiding it in here."

Blair shrugged, then looked into the eyes of his friend, startled by the suddenly haunted look in them, and he felt a compassion for this man that startled him.

„The old Lord, I already told you about him. He ordered me to deny my senses. When I couldn’t and later wouldn’t, he’d call me into the study for punishment. Afterwards he would send me to bed without dinner. There was a time when I didn’t get much to eat at all, but Burns smuggled food into my room. He tried to take care of me." James just stood there, eyes cast down to hide the pain and the fear still lurking in his soul, and his hands were not quite steady.

Blair closed his eyes, then with a deep breath took a step closer to this man who bore wounds no surgeon could ever treat but that could kill you nevertheless, and offered his arms for an embrace.

„I do not need pity, Professor."

„And pity you will never get." Sandburg’s arms were still open and with a small sigh Lord Ellis stepped into the embrace, tentatively reaching around the smaller man, then finally surrendering to an urge stronger that his tightly woven control. He soaked in the heat coming of the lithe body in his arms and the rapid tattoo of a racing heart.

„I will not crush you." He smiled into the unruly curls. „You do not need to be afraid."

„I know you won’t hurt me." The quiet conviction of those few words had James sighing. „But this is all so very new to me. For the first time in years I do not even have book-knowledge about what you could be expecting from me. This, I admit, is something I am terrified of.…" Blair chuckled unhappily, then almost purred when James started to play with his hair.

„Professor, tell me - what do you think this is?" Lord Ellis sounded as terrified as his younger companion now - the strong shoulders tense, although he still groomed those lovely locks with gentle fingers.

Sandburg froze. What if he had assumed the wrong things? What if he had been mislead by his dreams, oh so vivid dreams, that the affection, even love he had been feeling for this man from the moment they met, had been returned? He tried to slip out of the embrace but James’ grip did not falter, and so Blair finally stopped struggling. Miserably he whispered, „I - that is, the problem, I do not know - I thought, maybe this could be - what they call...love?" His voice was so low and muffled by Lord Ellis’ robe, that sentinel hearing was needed to understand the words.

„Good." There was so much relief in this one word. „It is not only me. I really do feel strongly for you, Blair. I - I would like to be part of your life.…"

Well, it was not the declaration of love Blair had hoped to hear, but then his only standards of comparison were the badly written love-novels he had confiscated from his pupils from time to time. And maybe in the real world - and between to men - there were no roses exchanged or vows of undying love. He felt the strong arms that held him in a secure grip and suddenly had to think that this came close enough to any vows for him to be happy.

He turned his face and smiled up at James, whose head came closer, when it suddenly occurred to him. „Oh, my - the studbooks! The crook was after the studbooks. And he knew not only about the secret entrance but also where the notes had been hidden. Do you think it was one of your servants?"

Somehow Lord Ellis looked both amused and frustrated at the same time, and Blair couldn’t think of a reason for that sudden change of mood. But then Ellis sighed and released the young man. „I don’t think so - I would like to try something but you have to help me." Eagerly, Blair nodded. „I want to concentrate on scent, maybe I can smell the burglar - but the moment I start to, I don’t know, seem to become immobile, far away. You have to talk to me or shake me, or even slap me. This is important, do you understand the reason for it?"

„Of course, James. You do not want to gray out or zone, and I am the one you trust enough to bring you out of it at the first signs. I am very honored and I shall do my best."

And so for the first time knowing what was going on, Blair watched as the tall man started sniffing. A little self-consciously, he took a step back because suddenly it occurred to him that he was sweaty and probably reeking. The sentinel stopped him and murmured, his concentration never faltering, „No, stay close, your scent sort of anchors me - and you smell good..." While Blair was utterly pleased by that almost involuntary confession, James didn’t even seem to realize what he had said.

„Yes, there it is - it was none of our servants. I do not think that I have smelled that scent before."

They left the library, Blair carrying the candle and trying to keep up with the man on the hunt. Then in the hallway, James grinned a dangerous smile. „The wound you inflicted is bleeding profusely. He will need help soon. Good work, Sandburg." Not once did the sentinel slip into that dreaded gray zone, but Sandburg clung to James’ arm nevertheless. Then the investigation was done. A stranger with knowledge of the house - this would indicate help from inside - who had not found what he was looking for.

Blair spoke first. „They’ll come again."

And James nodded. „As soon as Ran...the unknown traitor gives the signal again. So we’ll have to keep them busy. I’ll instruct Burns to keep a close eye on the library while we are not in the house."

They had come back to Blair’s apartment. James closed the secret entrance and the door of the drawer that had almost come unhinged during the fight. Blair just watched, then came closer to demand another embrace. James smiled while he listened to the soft, regular beating of Sandburg’s heart, finally deciding to try again. He tilted Blair’s head up until he could look into those incredible sea blue eyes and drew a pattern of circles on the smooth neck to distract the too nimble mind of.

Sandburg shivered and breathed a passionate „Ooooh," while his eyelids drooped. Then Lord Ellis took advantage of the half-open mouth of his young love, and kissed those lush lips that had beckoned him to ravage them almost from the moment he had met this man.

The taste was almost overwhelming, sweet and strong, and it blended in perfectly with the slightly salty scent of Blair’s sweat and the wonderful softness as James touched the silky curls again. With another shiver Blair surrendered and let himself be ravaged, yielding, as a hot tongue invaded his mouth. Tentatively he kissed back - not sure if his Lordship would approve this arbitrariness , very aware of his own inexperience, but he seemed to do something right because Ellis moaned deep in his throat and coaxed Blair’s tongue into his own mouth, the erotic dance further inflaming him.

With a start Blair became aware of his arousal, his penis already hard and hot. Full of shame, he tried to hide his need. He was not used to this kind of bodily reaction, had experienced it only in his dreams and gotten quite good at washing embarrassing stains out of his sheets. Then he had found out that exhausting himself before sleep helped against this involuntary response - and he had gotten quite good at boxing. But now there was no way to will away his erection, although he squirmed a bit in the loving embrace to at least hide whatever...this was.

Finally James broke the kiss, cuddling the smaller man even closer - and now Blair waited for the disgust or the rejection or whatever was the appropriate feeling when his Lordship encountered such a humiliating condition in another man.

So Sandburg was quite taken aback, when James growled lowly again - a really arousing sound, Blair thought dizzily - and whispered into the mass of curls, „God, Blair, this is beautiful - is this what I do to you?" And when the scholar did not answer, Lord Ellis shifted his stance and revealed the condition he was in since first tasting the lips of his love. The heat of his hard length burned through his robe as he rubbed himself against Blair’s belly, causing the young man to finally look into his eyes again.

„You are not repulsed by it?" The scholar sounded so young and innocent that James almost choked on all the love he felt for him.

„How could I be repulsed by anything connected with your body? Oh, Professor, if you would only let me, I’ll make you feel so good. Do you know what I am asking for?"

Contrite, Blair slumped. „Quite frankly, I do not think so. I have to confess, I have never - not in my whole life - even been kissed like that before. Not by a woman and certainly not by a man. I don’t have any idea what.…"

„Are you repulsed by the fact that I am a man?" - Had he interpreted everything wrong?

Barely hidden terror colored Blair’s voice, as he hastened to correct that terrible error. „No, James! I have read everything about it - in ancient Greece and Sparta love between men was even encouraged to increase their fighting-power. In Sparta, it was said, that a warrior might run when confronted with superior force but that he will never yield if his male lover is holding his shield. I am just afraid that I could disappoint you - having no experience at all.…"

„Professor, Professor.…" He tried to stop the flow of desperate words that rapidly turned into a lecture on ancient history and ad the effects of cold water. „Don’t be afraid - this only means that for a change I shall be able to show you things. So during the day you tell me how to run the estate and at night I make you feel good," he crooned, slowly walking the still uncertain young man to the four-poster-bed. He knew that he was probably rushing the innocent scholar but yet he decided to kiss him once more.

Again Blair surrendered immediately to the tender caress, as if he had been waiting for this kind of love his whole life. This time he could not hold back a small moan as he - very tentatively - rubbed against the tall, hard-muscled body that enveloped him. He felt the sweet ache in his penis and testicles, felt it increase with the motion and got braver when Lord Ellis’ large hand rubbed his back in long caressing strokes.

So when they broke their kiss this time, the professor tugged at his Lordship’s robe until the expensive garment hit the fur that covered his bedroom floor, and carelessly shrugged out of his old dressing gown. He climbed onto his bed and held out his hand for James to join him - in whatever his Lordship had in mind, his need for anything, something, already almost overwhelming. And James did join him, covering the smaller man with his body while he kissed him again. Then the tall man settled beside his young lover so that he would not crush him and carded his hands through Blair’s locks that were already spread over the pillow.

Sandburg let his hands roam over the magnificent body of this man who was built like a statue, a truly marvelous piece of art - or at least so he thought. His sense of touch was not even half as developed as Ellis’ and his caresses were still impeded by the nightgown.

„Blair, please. I do not want to scare you but I really would like to take off that shirt of mine." He tugged at the offending fabric. „And I would love to touch your skin without the hindrance of that short.…" Another tug at the well worn linen of Blair’s nightdress.

Sandburg’s heart started another frantic pattern, then he murmured, „You go first? Please?"

„Same time? I’m afraid, too..." The white lie accomplished its task, the frantic beating of Blair’s heart calmed down and young Sandburg smiled shyly. Then both men scrambled out of their shirts, finally getting a first good look at each other. James’ organ curved upwards, pointing at a washboard stomach, in a crooked bow to the left that could have been funny, hadn’t the organ been that large. Sandburg mused with an almost desperate sigh that this penis most likely was just too heavy to point straight up. An almost hairless chest rippling with smooth muscles under clean skin begged to be kissed, and the two small, dark nipples already hard. And Sandburg thought, defeatedly, that he himself looked like the funny little pony one kept for his child, while this statue of flexing strength could be compared to a rare racehorse.

Blair’s cock was long and small - and cut, Ellis noticed with a shiver of lust. It was beautiful, elegantly curving and pointing at the belly button of a heavily furred chest and abdomen. He wondered if the hair that hid those sweet nipples was as soft as the locks he already had the pleasure to touch. Perfectly proportioned, the lithe body radiated youth and grace. Ellis swallowed, his dry throat clicking with the effort. „Professor, you are so graceful, strong yet lithe. Like one of the racehorses my father used to breed; I am sorry, my words can never do you justice. And now I really am afraid..."

„But you are perfect, James. I have never seen such perfection in a man." He reached out with his hands, longing to touch, but afraid to shatter the dream, so he painted that marvelous body with his palms, an inch away from the skin. But he hadn’t thought that he was making love to a sentinel.

The tall man moaned, his head bent backwards, arching into a caress only he could feel. „My god, Blair, this is torture. Touch me for real, please." James could not remember having ever sounded so needy. And when Blair finally rested the palm of his right hand on his chest, where his heart was beating, James shuddered violently and groaned again.

„Let me touch you, too, Professor, please?" He very carefully, very slowly embraced the young man, giving him enough time to break free if he wanted to. But it seemed as if the scholar was now past the point of hesitation–. He tugged at James until the tall man once again sank back onto the bed to lay beside him.

With tiny licks Ellis tasted his way down from the tip of the closest ear to the stubbled jawline, reveling in the squirming and moaning of his young lover who was already openly panting, the scent of his sex almost alive in the air around them. „Oh, my god, James, I’m sorry.". He blushed deeply. „I cannot stop this liquid.…"

Blair’s cock drooled precum; the glistening drops a first offering to passion.

„Don’t think any more, Blair, please. You are so beautiful right now. Just let go - let me catch you." And with that, James kissed one hard nipple. In the process, he found out that the rich chest hair was indeed as soft as Blair’s locks; then he reached down to fist the long, slender organ in a sure grip and started a gentle pumping, all the time monitoring the enthusiastic responses of his panting lover. Casting a fast glimpse into Blair’s face - bent backwards in passion, eyes on half-mast, unseeing, the lower lip captured between his perfect teeth in rapt concentration, - James was almost overwhelmed by his own need.

Then he felt the minute tremors that would precede the scholar’s orgasm - he would be the first to make him come. The first to show him lovemaking. Blair’s moans grew stronger, became little cries of passion. Again he suckled on a pebbly hard nipple, stung it with a tender lovebite and soothed it with his hot tongue. Sandburg’s thighs were trembling now as if he had participated in a race. James did no longer hold back and took those enticing, moaning lips in a consuming kiss, thrusting his tongue into Blair’s mouth in time with his pumping. This muffled the harsh bellow, a startled outburst, when for the first time in his life a lover made the young man come. Hot jets of seed bathed the two men while the young scholar no longer participated in the passionate kiss that had brought him to completion.

Worried, James stopped - his young lover just lay there. A couple of tears had seeped into his pillow and he was still panting heavily.

James’ inactivity brought him to again. With large, almost luminous eyes he stared at the man looking down at him and he tried a smile again. „I never thought it would be this way. I heard about it, but I never knew.... I’m so glad it was you…so glad, it was someone I really loved. Not that cheap woman back in Rome."

James’ smile was smug to say the least. The tall man shifted a bit to make room for his own rampant erection, trying to cover that which had not yet been satisfied but afraid to impose himself on his new lover, who seemed to be so happily content.

He could not hide a piece of evidence that large from a scholar as perceptive as Blair. The young man blushed at the sight of James’ swaying cock and murmured, while he stroked the strong flanks of his lover. „I will need my first lesson, now, Milord, for I have no idea how to pleasure you. Teach me?"

And although the words were spoken in all innocence, to James they sounded more seductive than the sweetest love-poem. „We’ll do it together - so that you can see that I like what you like."

The soft light of the candle flickered and cast golden shadows over their skin, when James touched the still half-hard penis of his eager student and started pumping again. The organ lengthened, its head turning dark-red and shining with cum and precum again. „Now you, Blair, touch my nipples, pinch them a bit."

James jerked when the young man complied and Blair let go immediately as if he had been burnt.

„You look like it hurts, James."

„Oh god, believe this: it does not hurt at all, please..." Ellis couldn’t help a heartfelt groan escape his throat and he prayed that his young lover wouldn’t think he had injured his lover again. He bent his head down and nuzzled the silky hair away from one ear to finally whisper, „Blair, I like to be touched - on my nipples or - " He hesitated, not sure if it was already the right time to say things like that. „...Or on my behind."

„Where?"

„My ass - I’m sorry."

But then Blair’s left hand had already sneaked to Ellis’ flank and reached around to cover one globe, to knead it, this way bringing their bodies even closer. Now it was James’ turn to writhe and moan, his hand dancing over the scholar’s dick almost on its own. Suddenly Blair, a fast learner all his life, managed to free his right arm where James had trapped it between them, almost bumping into the impossibly large penis, and tentatively, waiting for James’ reaction he stroked the organ with the back of his hand. The response was amazing. James huffed and jerked into the touch, mumbled something that might have sounded like „touch my dick." So the scholar gripped one third of that ‘dick’ and pumped, at the same time kneading the ass like he had been told to do, finally slipping on sweaty skin and sliding into the crease between the twin mounds.

James shivered, every muscle suddenly tense. He came in hard spurts, involuntarily clenching his grip on Blair’s cock, and the young man didn’t need more than that to fall over the precipice a second time, a little bit more of his semen mingling with Ellis’ offerings.

The tall man finally collapsed in a heap on the bed. He gathered his exhausted lover in a tight embrace on top of him. Blair seemed on the verge of sleep, when James finally untangled himself and got up. Smiling into the questioning eyes, he kissed the tip of his lover’s upturned nose and said, „Lesson two: clean up after lovemaking or stick together like birdlime. Stay on the bed, don’t move."

They rested for another hour then, snuggled together under the comforter, exchanging kisses and softly murmured endearments, but finally James got up again. „I’ll go to my room before anybody wakes up, love. I’ll see you over breakfast. Then we’ll discuss our next steps."

He kissed the sleepy scholar and left - and Blair almost melted into the mattress. He had been made love to by the most wonderful man in the world - a sentinel and a Lord. A man built like a statue. And he had given pleasure to this man, and touched his dick, and made him find completion. He sighed deeply, then hugged the one pillow that still carried a little bit of the faint smell of his lover. He was already half asleep when he realized that he had just been invited to the hunt for a criminal.

go to Part II
go to Part III