A Promise of Tomorrow Read Online Free Page A

bedchamber.
    Asmall part of himwinced a little in shame at the mewling tone of his thoughts. He shouldn’t have to grovel. He hadn’t really done anything wrong, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside. Things were just a little tense between them right now. Victor had a great many responsibilities weighingonhis mind, and allKyle had to do was trya little harder to be more understandingand things betweenthemwould get better again. The fact that this line ofreasoninghad runthroughhis mind all too often of late did occur to him briefly, but it was also quicklysmothered before it could take root.
What other choice did he have?
     
Chapter 3
     
J
AMES woke to the chime ofbells above his head and a sharp painin his neck.
     
What…? Where…? What time is it?
    It took only moments to answer his half-formed questions as he glanced about the roomand the clock on the mantle chimed a second time. He remembered now. He had gone to the library rather than his bedchamber after returning from his foray into the seedier parts of London. The rest of the family hadn’t come home yet from the ball, and the house had been empty and much too quiet. He’d been too agitated to sleep, so he’d decided to read for a while before turning in. He must have beenmore tired thanhe thought, for he hadn’t made it more thana couple ofpages into the book before fallingasleep.
    Now, unfortunately, he was wide awake, the house was still too quiet, and his neck was protestingthe abuse he’d heaped onit by falling asleep in a chair rather than his comfortable bed. He leaned forward in the chair and rubbed at his neck as the past few hours replayed inhis mind.
    His carriage had taken him directly to Madam Renard’s from the ball. His coachman knew the way quite well after so many years, and he also knew where to wait untilhe was sent for whilst his master “attended to his business.” His servants knew the kind of establishment it was, but even they didn’t know the particulars of the type ofcompanionship he procured there.
    MadamRenard was an extremely intelligent and canny woman who did not limit her services to any one type of depravity. If a man had a need and the coin to pay for it, she would see that he was satisfied by whatever means necessary, thus ensuring she had patrons fromeverygreat house inEngland and, consequently, would never be raided by anyone who wished to have a career afterward. It was one of the many reasons James patronized her establishment and hers alone.
    At his knock, the plump, motherly madam in her simple, if a little low-cut, bombazine gowngreeted himat the door and led himto a small parlor. She poured hima glass of brandy and, playing out the now-familiar routine, gently asked what else she might provide for him. It was a scene that he’d enacted with her enough times on his trips to London that he felt certain she could have spoken his lines for him, but he answered anyway, requesting his usual companion. In short order, he was led to his customaryroom, and he settled into the deep, comfortable chair to wait.
    Elias was prompt as always. After a quiet knock, he entered, closing and bolting the door behind him. Dressed only in a loose shirt and fawn trousers, he looked every bit as tempting as James remembered. Without a word, the young man crossed the few steps to James’s side and slid gracefullyto his knees next to the chair.
    James smiled and threaded his fingers throughElias’s soft blond curls, closing his eyes and enjoying the simple pleasure of it. Unfortunately, with his eyes closed, the warm silk of the Elias’s hair took on a decidedly darker hue in his mind’s eye. Blond became blue-black and blue eyes warmed to green despite his best efforts to dispelthe image.
    Frowning in consternation, James opened his eyes and focused his attentions at the young man by his side. Elias remained silent, on his knees, waitingpatiently. Theyhad beentogether enoughtimes that they were quite comfortable with one