Do you know Count Fourier?
Liam hadn't expected that turn. He'd hoped to take the suit home and try it on, but... He froze in indecision. Cal looked at him reproachfully and came over to take off his wrinkled jacket.
«I'll do it!» Liam took his hands off his clothes. He just didn't want him touching that rag with his flawless hands. But Cal snorted resentfully and stepped away.
Leaving him in his underwear, Liam turned a little pink with embarrassment. Cal turned and gave him a testing look, and then tsked his tongue. This brief evaluation made him feel quite embarrassed. The cold made him shiver and rubbed his hands together.
«I can't wait for this to be over!» he thought. An explosion of laughter erupted from somewhere in the distance and Liam was ready to fall through the ground.
Cal had already selected several costumes and was taking turns putting them on Liam, assessing his appearance. He liked the navy blue one best; it matched Liam's unusual hair color and eyes. He handed the suit to Liam and told him to try it on.
Tangling in the sleeves and pant legs, worried that such an expensive suit might be ruined by him, Liam soaked through the effort. Finally, he leveled himself and coughed delicately into his fist. Cal turned around and his face became unreadable.
«Is it that bad? Or will it go?» Liam tried to guess, but he couldn't figure out what Cal was thinking. Then the man walked around him and ruffled the young man's hair. Then ran his fingertips through his bangs and pulled his hair back, with an even bigger frown on his face.
«What the hell?» Liam was angry, «Either tell me I'm hopeless or let go already!»
«I think you could use a haircut,» Cal said. Then he told Liam to change back into his clothes and led the way.
He took him to an armchair in his room, threw a sort of cloak over his shoulders, and held up a pair of scissors. Liam huddled in his chair, but his delicate hands fluttered so lightly and gently that, contrary to his master's expectations, both of his ears remained intact.
After assessing his work, Cal was satisfied. Telling Liam to bathe in the evening, he gave him the suit and bade him farewell until tomorrow.
Before he went to sleep, Liam remembered how pleased he'd felt when Cal had carefully brushed and cut his hair, how gentle his hands had been.
Blushing to the roots of his hair, he hid under the covers, trying to escape his embarrassment.
The next day Cal picked up Liam at ten in the morning, and together they went to the annual ball. The drive was long and required one overnight stop. The men hardly spoke. Cal was passionately reading a book, and Liam was dozing.
Finally reaching a small town by nightfall, they went out to stretch their legs and eat. A strong wind brought black thunderclouds and a heavy, cold downpour poured from the sky, instantly turning the road into a disgusting mess. It was dangerous to leave immediately.
After supper at the inn, the men dispersed to their rooms. Rain poured outside the window, lulling the weary travelers. In the middle of the night, Liam heard footsteps in his room. When he opened his eyes in the pitch black he could not see anything.
This made fear shackle him, but he immediately bravely threw back the blanket and jumped up with a challenge, «Who's here?» Immediately he felt a blow to the back of his head and his legs buckled. The next room woke up, too. Quickly the door opened, and Cal appeared on the threshold.
A fight broke out, Liam didn't know how many assailants there were, but it went on for quite a while, eventually, he got another accidental blow to his wounded shoulder and his eyes went black... He woke up from feeling cold. His whole head was wrapped in a wet towel, like a turban.
He grimaced, then lifted himself and tossed it off him. He pushed himself upright and, sitting up stiffly, remembered the events of the night before. Where was Cal? Was he all right? Liam stood up, holding on to the bedpost, but as he took a couple of steps he felt violent nausea.
When he turned around, he saw the night vase, and he threw up in it. That's how Cal caught him with the innkeeper. He handed Liam some water and helped him up, and the servants quickly brought out a pot.
«You mustn't get up yet,» said Cal thoughtfully, as he sat him down on the bed, «the doctor said you might have a blunt head injury or even a concussion.»
«What happened? Where are those men that were in my room?»
«In the jail. We just came from the town manager, those scumbags are wanted for robbery, and yesterday was their last crime.»
Liam grimaced with a headache. Seeing his condition, Cal hurriedly tucked him in, and his host ordered lunch to be served to the man in his room. From that moment on, Cal never left Glinier's side again. He read to him or adjusted his blanket, and sometimes slept beside him if he fell asleep.
They were hopelessly late for the ball and had decided not to go, but suddenly a letter arrived from Count ***.
Cal unfolded the letter with surprise, sitting in the chair across from Liam.
«What is it?» Liam asked, «Is everything all right?»
Cal's face was just a little unpleasant as if he'd read some bad news. Cal put the letter aside and asked back:
«Do you know Count Fourier?»
«I...um, maybe.»
«He's calling us to his birthday party at the family estate.»
«Why?»
«I'd like to know. He knows from somewhere that you've been hurt and expresses his condolences. He also claims that the air on his estate is very healthy...»
«I don't understand. We shouldn't go?»
«On the contrary.»
Cal didn't say what he really thought.
Liam was just about in condition for the journey and they, after saying goodbye to the innkeeper, went to visit the Earl.
Feeling a burden, the young man endured the pain as best he could and did not complain of fatigue on the journey, but when they arrived the color of his face was an earthy gray. The first thing they did was to put him to bed in the guest room and leave him alone.
Liam thankfully fell asleep and slept for almost twenty-four hours. During that time Cal came to check on him several times and then returned to the Earl.
Liam opened his eyes and was finally able to see his room. Pretty good, it reminded him of his home in some way, perhaps all the locks were similar.
After lying down for a while, he got up and washed his face. The doors of his room opened into a gallery, from which there was a personal exit to the street.
The courtyard consisted of many stone statues and neatly trimmed bushes. It looked as if the owner had kept a strict eye on the manor. Nature was kept in a fierce grip, not allowing a single shrub to grow in the wrong place. Liam didn't mind; he preferred order and control.
Suddenly the cold air blew in, forcing him back into the room. The next time he went out for a walk with Cal. He got him a warm robe with a fur collar and a pair of mittens. Walking around in the stone garden, Liam felt strange.
The stone faces were a little... intimidating. Who would want to live surrounded by such statues? Finally, the master of the manor appeared. It was a young, blooming gentleman with a charming smile. «Most likely he and Cal are already best friends,» thought Liam.
In a few days, the Earl was planning a reception to celebrate his birthday. A lot of people had big plans for that evening.
At the very least, there was a group of like-minded people who thought young Mr. Glinier was unfit for celibacy and were preparing a tempting surprise for him.
Some were going to seek the favor of Mr. Cal Xavier (he had to take his last name, given his high position. The lone handsome tycoon deprived many people of sleep.
He was about to learn that tonight he would be the object of the hunt.
Only one and the other did not plan to bind themselves by marriage, so the evening threatened to be a real disaster, but not as everyone thought.
There was also a third party - the Count. He had a carnivorous look in Liam's eyes from the very beginning.
In his eyes, this tender juicy lamb would be the perfect complement to his aggressive wolfish appetite in bed.
When the long-awaited evening arrived, Liam put on his beautiful blue suit with the help of the servants. His hair was kindly done by Mr. Xavier. After making sure that his friend looked decent, Cal also went to get dressed.
At the appointed time, the three handsome men entered the ballroom, and a wave of delight overwhelmed those present. The flushed cheeks made the room look like an apple orchard. Had it not been for the shameful concealment of their faces, many a beauty would have betrayed their feelings.
Count Fourier gave a contented look around his party. He, too, was a tidbit for the ladies, but not so long ago rumors leaked out that the Count preferred men.
The camp of admirers was divided in two. One half continued to believe in the traditional tastes of the count and did not give up hope to attract his attention, the other half after a short despondency began to choose a suitable male partner for the count.
And in this camp there was a lot of fun, constantly betting and spinning a lot of money. The Count, naturally, was aware of all the events and enjoyed the situation immensely.
He wore an elegant white suit, which stood out like an eyesore against the colorful sea of ladies' dresses. The slightly arrogant and slightly condescending host greeted the guests and responded evasively to compliments.
Cal and Liam walked behind him and stuck together, disrupting the plans of half the ladies present.
«Count Fourier, would you do me a small favor,» the pretty girl turned to him, «please introduce me to Monsieur Xavier,» her cheeks flushed at this.
The Count decided not to break the girl's heart by refusing.