Chapter 16: Chapter 16

The light coming from the fireplace was throwing a shadow over his pale face and it made his hair look darker.

It looked the same as when it was wet- like deep red velvet.

The lord was sitting directly on the floor, still in his full suit.

He was running his hands through Cian's thick fur and the white hound was resting peacefully next to its master.

Callum looked up surprised upon hearing the door open.

"Oliver?"

"Uhh, I heard something, so I came to check if everything's all right."

"Yes?"

"Are you all right?"

"Mhm, I... I stumbled.I wasn’t…drowning this time too."

Oliver noticed the slur. Now that he looked closer, he could tell there was something slightly off with the way Callum was sitting- he wasn't exactly hunching forward, but it felt like it cost him an effort to sit up straight.

The lord ran a hand through his hair, tousling the red strands and looked back down at the dog.

Cian followed his master's move and then got up.

"Hey, Cian."

Oliver said when the dog wriggled its tail at him. The hound jumped a few times, seeking his attention.

"I seem to be having the habit of breaking things," Callum said, watching them.

"And cleaning them when it's not part of the act."

Oliver said and patted the big dog as he entered the room. The lord relaxed back and laid down on the soft carpet, fixing his eyes on something on the ceiling.

His hair spilled around him, like liquid copper and Oliver's feet moved before his mind could react.

He was halfway in when he saw with this peripheral vision the empty glass on the table and paused.

Oliver picked it up and inspected its content.

The smell was bitter- it wasn't just the usual whisky or brandy.

But Oliver knew perfectly well what it was.

He'd known enough soldiers who had begun using laudanum.

Some of them took it to ease the pain after the injuries they had suffered; others had developed the habit of using the tincture on regular basis and mixed it with anything.

Oliver didn't even want to think what else was in there.

He clenched the glass with his hand, threatening to break the delicate crystal.

Cian patted heavily on the floor and nudged him with his nose.

"His name means enduring and distant, by the way. "

He heard Callum say

"There's a tale?"

Oliver approached, placing the glass back on the table.

"It says Cian was betrayed. Hah, not much of a surprise so far, right?"

"What's the tale, Cal?"

Oliver sat own next to him on the floor, the Lord still looking at the ceiling.

"It says he was mortally wounded by the three sons of some rival of his. Dramatic, isn't it? So Cian tried to escape by turning himself into a pig, but it was futile. And just... "

"Just?"

"And he was murdered." Callum frowned. "Do you think that's the price for trust?"

Oliver propped his head on the armchair behind him.

"It sometimes is. How much did you have, Cal?"

"You know, no one's ever called me Cal before. By the way, I haven't seen you in a while. “

Oliver laughed.

“Aren’t you supposed to undress me, maybe?” The Lord asked.

"Do you want me to take you to your bed?"

"I think the real question is whether you want to take me to my bed."

Callum turned his head then, his pupils were dilated, the black eating out his blue irises. Oliver moved closer carefully and took Callum's head, putting it on his thigh.

The Lord didn't make a protest or any attempt to pull back and Oliver felt him relax. There was a warm, comfortable weight where Callum's head was resting on him.

Oliver's heart was pounding, in contrast to Callum's slower breathing, because of the opiate.

He ran his hand through the thick red hair on his lap. His heart clenched.

"Why are you doing this?"

His voice was lowered to a whisper.

Callum didn't reply, but Oliver knew he wasn't sleeping.

Not yet.

"Which part of the things people disapprove of me doing?"

"Why do you take laudanum?"

"And why would ask something like that?"

"Since when?"

Callum didn't answer right away and Oliver wasn't sure if the Lord had heard.

"Did you really think I'm that stupid?"

Oliver's hand stilled.

"Cal?"

Callum took Oliver's hand then and placed it on his heart. He relaxed his big palm on the lord's chest.

He could feel the faint heartbeat under the layers of clothing, like a faint, rhythmic echo.

"I'd say I'm offended, weren't I in my current condition. Despite my questionable rationality, there are things easy to figure out. "

"What are you talking about, Cal?"

"I know why you are here and what you do for my father."

He said, all slur gone. He sounded perfectly sober and Oliver almost drew his hand back.

He remembered all the times Callum had sounded perfectly normal when he couldn't have been and tried to push away the question if all of that had been because of the Lord’s tolerance to opium. He wondered whether the reason behind his master’s actions was his habit, and if it was a habit.

Oliver didn't respond.

This was the first time the Lord was letting him so close to him, and it had to be like that.

Oliver looked at the dog which had spread itself next to the door, keeping them away from anything outside the room, or the rest of the world.

"I also know you were never a valet." the lord continued " You know less than me about clothes, how can anyone even think you were someone's assistant?"

He forced a laugh.

Oliver resumed playing with Callum's hair, there was no point in any arguing, or trying to convince him in anything.

At least not now.

"Did he send you to test me? If I still have inclinations and if I've been treated."

"You should get to bed. "

The lord continued as if Oliver hadn't said anything.

"I will never be the son he's always wanted. But then again, I don't have to be, right?"

"You have no idea what you're saying."

Oliver made an attempt to get up.

Callum ignored it and didn't move.

"He's always been ashamed of me. The worst part is if I were him, I would be too."

"Callum..."

"Did he ask you to be nice to me?"

The lord took Oliver's hand in his and kissed it.

"I wouldn't be upset if it's so. I hope it's at least worth the money. One thing is for sure, my father's generous. Too bad ....too bad he doesn't want me to be his son." he said, trailing off.

Callum's breathing deepened and Oliver knew he'd fallen asleep.

He bowed and kissed the top of his head.

"But you are, Cal," he whispered. "It's not you who isn't. "

****

Oliver woke up to the bright sunlight, peeking through the window.

He quickly sat up in the big bed to find he was alone in it. The time showed a little after eight and he hadn't heard when Callum had left.

Last night, he'd moved Callum to the bed and had decided to stay for a few minutes longer, just in case.

He must've fallen asleep, he had no idea how that had happened.

He had fallen asleep here, he repeated in his head.

What troubled him more, however, was that he hadn't felt Callum move or get up.

Oliver got up and ran a hand through his stubble.

He was still in yesterday's clothes and decided he desperately needed a shave. Once he was done he went downstairs to the kitchen, where he found some of the maids, who had finished their duties and were taking a break over tea.

Della blushed when she saw him and he smiled back at her. Jenny rubbed her back and said.

"Are you better now? Everything's fine now, we found it. "

"I know, I'm so sorry...."  Della said quietly and stole a glance at Oliver.

Percy saw him enter too and turned.

"Aye, hey, Oliver. "

The man smiled at him and continued speaking.  "It's all fine now.”

“It’s fine, yes. “

Della said, trying to compose herself. Percy leaned back in the chair and said.

“Anyway, but I hate the hunts. Only work for us. "

Oliver poured himself a cup of tea and joined them.

"What's so bad about them?" He asked.

The man shrugged.

“Everything, the fuss. The ball’s enough as it is. Master Callum hates them too. “

He was just about to say something when Thomas came to call him

"Mr. Abram, "

he said and everyone suddenly got up, trying to look like they were in a hurry to do some work and the break had only been a really, really short one.

"His Lordship is expecting you."

"Is Lord Callum upstairs?"

"Lord Callum left this morning. Lord Tennyson would like to speak to you."

"Of course. I'm at his disposal."

Oliver got up and followed Thomas, trying to ignore the fact he'd let Callum slip again. The other thing he was trying to not think about was he was clueless as to when the young lord might be back.