another piece of regency story

[maderr]

Alexis sipped his champagne without enthusiasm, though it was of the finest quality, barely resisting an urge to check his pocket watch. If not for Henry, and his own friends, he would be as far away from the soiree as he could get.

He glanced around the ballroom, shooting Henry a warning glare for good measure. Bolton had arrived just a few minutes ago, but so far the two had shown the good sense to stay on opposite ends of the room.

"—Lex?"

"Hmm?" Alexis asked, looking back at his friends as he realized they'd been speaking to him.

Bart rolled his eyes, while Maitland only smirked in amusement.

"I said," Bart said impatiently, "are you game for spending a week at my house? Should be a lark, we can sail and gallivant about the countryside, and just generally be disgraceful."

Alexis laughed. "Aren't we too old to be disgraceful?"

"Lord knows you and Lord Cat here prefer to act like it," Bart retorted. "Though, you've mellowed a bit since taking up with royalty," he continued thoughtfully, smirking at Maitland.

Maitland rolled his eyes, and did not dignify the comment with a reply.

Alexis laughed. "So what week is this, Bart?"

"Two weeks hence," Bart said. "I thought—I say, who is that? What an exotic fellow. Is that the Dragon my sister and mother have been having hushed conversations about when their husbands aren't around?"

Alexis turned, surprised. Surely not—but it was Linwood, plain as day.

Though plain was hardly a word he would ever apply to the man.

"I wonder what draw him out," Maitland said thoughtfully. "The Earl has never attended any social affairs before, to the best of my knowledge."

"No idea," Alexis replied absently.

He truly did cut quite the figure all dressed up, at least as striking as he had been the previous night. He wore full formal black, head to toe, with only his stockings and the gold-threaded lace at his through to provide relief. The bare touches of gold drew out the dark whiskey of his eyes.

"Like what you see?"

Alexis startled, then turned to glare at Bart, who had murmured the words in his ear. "Indeed. As you said, he is quite exotic. I was only noting how different he appears now, as opposed to when I visited him last night."

His friends looked at him in amusement.

"What?" Alexis demanded irritably.

"Lex, the last time you stared that hard at someone, it was Charles."

Charles

Alexis stiffened, grip on his champagne flute tightening. "Then it's a good thing I'm not that stupid anymore," he said tersely.

"Bah," Bart said. "You could stand to be that stupid more often. It was almost fifteen years ago, after all."

"For once I'm in agreement with Bart," Maitland said. "No doubt I will regret the words, but for the moment they are true."

"Just what you trying to say?" Alexis asked. "I did not come here tonight to be lectured."

Bart jabbed him in the chest with one finger. "I'm saying he is awfully pretty, which is precisely to your taste, and that delightful Oriental hint probably does not hurt in the slightest, hmm?"

"Remind me again why I associate with you?" Alexis asked, pushing him back just far enough there would be no more jabbing.

Maitland snorted. "Bart never gave us a choice in the matter, as I recall. He is rather stunning," he continued thoughtfully. "He's looked over here three times now." He smiled, something catlike in the expression. "At you, to be precise."

Alexis shrugged, refusing to say anything, because no matter what he said it would be used against him. Lord save him from bored friends.

"Hmm, looks like he came for young Bolton," Maitland said. "Braced, perhaps, for another duel?"

"If they try it, I'll kill them," Alexis said, and finished off the last of his champagne.

"Are you going to introduce us?" Maitland asked.

"What?"

Bart rolled his eyes. "Introduce us to your dragon."

Alexis glared. "He is not mine, you damnable—"

"Off we go, then," Bart interrupted, and grabbed his arm to half guide, half drag Alexis across the ballroom to where Linwood had tucked himself into a corner, sipping a glass of dark red wine.

Silently plotting revenge, he summoned a friendly smile and sketched a polite bow. "Good evening, Lord Linwood."

"Good evening, my lord," Linwood replied, looking almost stunned for a moment before he recovered himself. "I hope you are not here to inform me I missed the issuing of a challenge by mere minutes."

Alexis laughed. "Good lord, no. My friends desired to make your acquaintance. May I present to you Lord Bartholomew Ford and Lord Kyler Maitland, the Marquis Lovett. Gentlemen, Lord Haven Linwood, Earl of Chelsea."

"You look nothing like a dragon," Bart said cheerfully, shaking Linwood's hand. "Then again, they call Mait here 'Lord Cat' and he's more like a fox, really."

"Strange," Maitland retorted, "everyone says you look like a brat, and that suits perfectly."

"Do shut up, both of you," Alexis said, quelling them with a look. He turned to Linwood, smiling. "You may tell them to shove off. I often—"

He was drowned out by the sounds of shouting from the balcony.

And groaned as the voices registered. He took his eyes off them for five minutes!

Linwood was already halfway across the ballroom. Alexis chased after him.

They reached the balcony just in time to avoid their charges coming to blow, each grabbing his respective youth and hauling them apart.

He clapped his hand over Henry's mouth in the middle of an issued challenge.

Linwood merely looked at Otis, who wilted into a pile of defeat and guilt.

"Impressive," Alexis murmured to himself. He released Henry's mouth and gave him a stout clap upside the head.

"Don't you even think about it," he snapped, when Henry started to bellow in protest. "You do not want to dare try and start a fight with me."

Henry closed his mouth with an audible click.

"That's more like it," Alexis said, shaking him for good measure. "Now, what is going on here?"

"Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere," Linwood said.

"Perhaps we should let them kill each other," Alexis muttered, but led the way back inside and through the ballroom, catching Bart's eye briefly and receiving a nod. "This way," he said, leaving the ballroom and making his way through the Ford house, stopping at what he knew to be Bart's office.

"Now," he said, once they were all inside and the door closed. "What in the devil is the matter with the two of you?" Like he didn't know the answer. He wondered how long it would take them to figure it out.

In reply, he received only two sullen glares.

Rolling his eyes, he tried again. "If you are both in such a hurry to get shot or stabbed, I will be more than happy to have at you."

Silence."

"If I do not get a response," he said very slowly and precisely, "I am going to lose my temper."

"He started it" Henry blurted out.

"I did not, you—"

"Oh, for the love of—"

A sharp, rough, strange sounding noise cut through all the shouting, and after a moment Alexis realized it was actually a word, or words, and that Linwood had spoken them. He looked over at Linwood, who coughed in embarrassment.

"Now, then," Linwood said, when they were all watching him. "Shouting will solve nothing. Talking might, if we can keep our tones level? One person at a time, I think. Master Young, who truly started the argument?"

Henry scowled at Linwood, but after a moment dropped his gaze and replied, "I didn't mean to start it – he just took it wrong is all."

"You said maybe I wasn't so stupid after all," Otis snapped. "How was I supposed to take it?"

"Not the way you did," Henry snarled.

Alexis lifted his eyes to the heavens.

Nearby, he heard Linwood just barely smother a laugh.

"That's enough," he said. "Why not both apologize and let the matter end?"

"I'm not apologizing to that—"

"He's not getting an apology from—"

"Right, then," Alexis interrupted. "I'll just let your fathers deal with you."

Both boys looked abruptly stricken – but neither could quite bring himself to speak.

Linwood laughed. "Well, I suppose I could still act as Otis' second, and extend on his behalf his most abject apologies for any unintended slight."

Alexis nodded. "Then I will act as Henry's second, and likewise convey his most humble apologies for all misunderstandings."

Henry opened his mouth, looked at Alexis, and shut it again.

"Then I believe this matter concluded satisfactorily?" Linwood asked.

"Quite so," Alexis said. He glared at Otis and Henry. "If anything else happens tonight, or any other night, I will lose my temper. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, my lord," the young men chorused.

"Good. Now apologize for putting us to so much trouble."

They grimaced, but obediently muttered 'Sorry, my lord' to the rug.

Alexis lifted one brow. "Your apologies leave much to be desired," he said critically. "However, I know when to retreat. Off with you, then – and behave!"

"Yes, my lord," the two said over their shoulders as they bolted.

Alexis pinched the bridge of his nose.

"They got off lightly," Linwood said, mouth curved in amusement. "I once had it out with a friend of mine. We were, oh, all of sixteen, I believe. Right in the middle of an important dinner party. His mother got a hold of us and beat us right there in the middle of the room 'til I swore I would be black and blue for a month. We nearly to tears by the time she stopped, and all the more for it being in front of our friends and all. We never again misbehaved in such fashion – at least at his mother's dinner parties."

Alexis snorted. "I rather like the idea. Unfortunately, if I attempted it, I believe many a person would take a switch to me, which I do not fancy. We shall simply have to keep them apart, or find some means of forcing them to get along." He motioned to the door, and together they left the study, headed back toward the ballroom.

Linwood sighed. "I guess this means I shall be spending more time out and about, then."

"Certainly I will be glad when I can leave Henry to his own devices," Alexis said. "If you and Otis are not already promised elsewhere, what do you say to joining Henry and I for a ride in the park? Perhaps we can force them to act civilized."

Again Linwood looked surprised, but then he smiled faintly. "Certainly, if you are sure you would not mind the company. The sooner they get along, I sense, the better for all parties."

"Precisely," Alexis said. He slowed his steps as they reached the ballroom, seeing Linwood hesitate. "Are you returning to the ballroom?"

"No," Linwood said. He nodded to the entryway. "I see Otis lurking, and think I should probably tend him before it becomes the source of another squabble. I bid you goodnight, my lord. It was an honor to meet your friends. I hope your gods let you sleep tonight."

Alexis smiled, but before he could reply, Linwood had turned and walked away, too far off now to hear whatever Alexis might say.

Frowning, he at last shrugged it off and went to go give his friends a tongue lashing.

Comments

[stoplightgodess.livejournal.com]

I worship thee?

[dameange.livejournal.com]

{claps} love this! love everything about this! and, {ducks head} i know you're not even finished with this one yet, but could you write one for bart and kyler too?

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Maitland's story is this one: http://maderr.livejournal.com/933239.html#cutid1

And Bart's story is The Highwayman which for now at least I keep strictly to the Regency book I put out. His is actually a novella, and probably my favorite. I may start posting it in a few more months, I'm not sure.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

hee hee <<333

[vera-dicere.livejournal.com]

^__________________________________________________^ ilu!

your regency tales are most definitely some of my very favorite of your stories. i just adore all of the polite [and not so polite] banter and just the ambiance you create with these stories.

also, i'm waiting anxiously for my copy of your regency book so i can read bart's story, as i finally conned a friend into buying it for me.

[dameange.livejournal.com]

oh! {smacks self} thank you for pointing that out. and i definitely need to start saving up to buy your novellas. thanks again {runs off to read}

[mordred-risika.livejournal.com]

Awww love it! ^_^ And I keep seeing my name attached to a lovely earl, who is part Asain, I think I shall swoon!

[macteague.livejournal.com]

Loved this. Your characters are so much fun! :)

[lady-ocean.livejournal.com]

Oooh. My favorite 'verse.

Yay! New shiny to read!

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

I thought it was gelato instead of ice cream.
HHHHHmmmmmmmmm more Regency. I foresee a locked room with 2 young lords inside told to just get over it or they're not getting out til they do and can be civil (at least) towards each other. The beating in front of friends was a nice touch. Parenting can be so trying.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_calex_/]

I do so adore your Regency stories, and these two are proving to be quite delicious. And I love Otis and Henry's unsubtle teenage lust for each other. ^_^

[avalon13.livejournal.com]

BARTY-WARTY. AND LORD CAT. AND SPAZZY ALEX, OH I LOVE YOU ALREADY. <333

[spurious-sanity.livejournal.com]

*reads mood* no, we do not scream for ice cream, we scream for REGENCYYYY~~~~~!! (of course, that kinda ruins the pun......)

mmmmm, they are so pretty, and obviously, Otis and Henry aren't the only ones who should be locked in a room until they're..... friends....

....very good friends.... *lecherous cackle*

but your Regency stories should come with smelling salts! I'm feeling faint! *Swoon* (but oh man, that would be sooo cool! limited edition dead tree version with smelling salts...... *_______* ..sorry, that was random...)

so so so so so pretty, yus. <3<3<3

[jayriel.livejournal.com]

Random, I know, but I was dicking around on your website and realised that the Rainbow/Paradise fics were gone, or maybe I just couldn't find them... If they are gone, how come?

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

They are so cute, damnit XD

[vettithoughts1.livejournal.com]

Hi,
Came to you site by LJ jumping. Went through all the stories in your website in a few days. Just wanted to say that you write wonderfully and I have added your LJ for the websites I read during my morning coffee........... and then during lunch time and.......... before I go to bed :)
Waiting to read more about Alexis and Linwood.

Thanks
VT

[alice_montrose]

Ooooo, this new shiny is great as well! Did I ever mention that I love your regency stories? They are much better than the other romances I've read set in that time period, and have of course the added benetif of m/m couples which is just awesome. I also love the links between characters in this universe. It makes me feel like we're getting insights into families and circles of friends that the outside world is oblivious to, or does not get to see.

Much love! ♥

[(Anonymous)]

Hello my dear, I hope you don't mind me friending you :) I've started reading your stories only recently, but I can honestly say they're some of the best fiction I've read in a while. I can't really decide which one I like best XD but I'd really like to do some fanart of some, if you have any preferences?

As for this story, it reminds me of running around old historical houses when I was younger. My family and I still play a game called 'spot the Goddess of Mercy', because a lot of families in the Edwardian/Victorian period collected eastern treasures, especially statues of the Gods. I like to think Haven has one or two :)

[blackstarart.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that post above was me. LJ hates me it would seem >:

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

<3<3<3<3

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Hi-- editor of bb_shousetsu here. Sorry for the OT! I know you're a member of the comm, and would just like to let you know that your name came up several times independently in the recent author suggestion box poll. ^_^ I hope you'll consider participating one day - on a personal basis I'd love to see that as well, as I've enjoyed a great number of your stories.

Cheers,

Sabina

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I've actually been close to trying more than once ^^; Craziness, I had no idea people would do that. If I've missed this go 'round, I'll give it a try the next one. Thank you.

whee!

[cornporngirl.livejournal.com]

hehe, I love your regency stories, all those proper tones and stuffy outfits which can be so damn sexy ^_^ it's going to be interesting to see how long it takes Henry and Owen to pull their heads out of their respective asses, or if Alexis just ends up knocking some sense into them first.