Chapter 23

“I brought toast and coffee. Brownlow said you don’t eat much in a morning.”

Milo glanced at the table. There was enough toast for an army. “Are you attempting to feed me up?”

“No, thought if I brought enough you’d share.”

Milo had to put a hand over his mouth to stifle the laugh that bubbled up. “I regret to inform you that valets do not eat with their masters.”

“Ah, but most masters don’t want to fuck their valets.”

The laugh bubbled free and Robert laughed, too. “Sit and eat, you insolent wretch.” Robert pulled up a chair and together, in the warm morning sun, they ate and drank in companionable silence, passing the marmalade back and forth. Milo could not remember ever eating such a comfortable breakfast with another man.

Robert swallowed his toast and dabbed his lips with his napkin. He had very good manners. “Might I ask a personal question?” he said.

Milo rolled his eyes. “I suspect you will ask irrespective of what I say.”