Jasper smiled. “Of course.”
Together, the friends came up with a letter requesting a tutor to instruct a pupil in reading, mathematics, and other general studies. Jasper promised to send the letter the next day by telegraph to London. He also offered to assist Heath with getting a firm grip on the estate and going over the ledgers with him. Heath was grateful.
“I also want to extend an invitation for dinner. My wife, Alice, would be upset if I did not ask you over.”
“I would like that very much,” Heath replied.
The letter written, the friends said their farewells. Jasper promised to return the following day.
Heath sank into the nearest chair, his leg and head pounding in unison. The top buttons of his collar had ceased to be fastened, and his jacket had long ago been thrown aside. His nerves were frayed, and perspiration saturated his shirt. Somehow, Heath fell into a light sleep. When he awoke, the sun had set. It must be close to dinner, by the rumbling of his stomach.
He rang the servant’s bell and within a minute, Mrs. Baum entered. “Yes, sir?”
“I was wondering when dinner will be ready. I find myself famished.”
“It should be ready in the next ten minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Mrs. Baum took a few steps towards the door when Heath stopped her. “Mrs. Baum, I wanted you and Jenkins to know that I am sending an advertisement to London inquiring about a . . .” Damn, he couldn’t confess. “For an estate manager. I am hoping to get a reply in the next few weeks.”
“Very good, sir.”
Perfect. Now he was a liar and not a very good one. He was a charlatan. The feeling was multiplied when he glanced at his desk, where an invitation lay for a dinner party taking place next week at a neighboring house. He and Jasper had found the invitation stuck in with Heath’s other correspondence. Now he would have to spend an evening pretending to be interested in not just the local gossip, but feign interest in the young ladies, when he had not the faintest interest in the fairer sex.
It was his darkest secret, and the one Heath feared being uncovered. He was a god fearing man and knew it was a sin, but over the years he couldn’t deny his attraction to other men, although he had never followed through on any of his feelings. He would carry on as he always did, with a shy aloofness which had, until now, kept him out of the clutches of matrimony.
CHAPTER2
Kane Badgely admired the countryside from the confines of the carriage. It was a pleasant change from the cluttered, bustling streets of London. Fresh air would do him good instead of the soot-saturated air he had breathed for most of his twenty-seven years. He clutched in his hand the letter from his new employer, Sir Heath Foster. The advertisement he’d answered had said little except there would be one male pupil and the position was near Dover at the baronet’s estate.
It would be refreshing to have a single pupil rather than the crowded classroom he was accustomed to. The last school where Kane had taught had left a sour taste in his mouth. Somehow, word had gotten around about his proclivity for male companionship. For the life of him, Kane wasn’t sure who had found out since he did his utmost to keep that part of his life private. Thankfully, one of his fellow teachers had told him that the headmaster had heard the rumors and was possibility going to bring charges against him, so Kane had quietly resigned.
Now he was over 75 miles from London, ready to start a new adventure. Who knew? Perhaps the country would agree with him. That last thought on his mind, the carriage turned onto a graveled lane which led up to a tidy country estate.
Very nice.
The baronet must live comfortably, Kane thought. Perhaps he would be permitted to ride occasionally. It had been forever since he’d sat on a horse. Kane had taught at a small school in Yorkshire for a few years and had learned to ride. When he’d returned to London, there hadn’t been time or opportunity to ride. The carriage stopped, and no sooner did Kane jump out and up the stairs. A servant opened the door and greeted him.
“Mr. Badgely, I presume?”
“Yes.”
“Follow me. Sir Heath is waiting for you.”
The servant led Kane into the large foyer and down a hallway to the left. Several pieces of fine art adorned the walls which Kane would have enjoyed studying, but it would have to wait. He followed the servant down the hall, their footsteps padded by flush rugs, until they stopped in front of an open door.
They stepped over the threshold, and Kane’s gaze immediately fell onto the tall gentleman standing across the room. If this was the baronet, he was younger than Kane had assumed. He would have to have been very young to have a child in need of instruction. His employer’s eyes rounded when they settled on Kane. Eyes the color of dark chocolate, which almost matched his hair. Kane instantly took in the man’s physique. His employer was neither too muscular nor too lean, with a square jaw, a nose that looked to have been broken a time or two, and the faintest hint of a beard. All in all, Kane would call him handsome.
What am I thinking?It wouldn’t do to admire his employer.Most unprofessional, Kane chastised himself.
“Mr. Badgely, sir,” the servant said with a bow.
“Thank you, Jenkins. That will be all.”
The door closed behind them, but Kane didn’t pay any mind. His attention was still on his employer. Then he remembered his manners and bowed his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Sir Heath extended his hand. As he came closer, Kane noticed the cane his employer used and the slight limp in his right leg. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Badgely. Please, sit.”