Read Online The Christmas Wager by Jamie Fessenden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jamie Fessenden
Tags: Romance, Gay, M/M romance, holiday, glbt, dreamspinner press, Novella, Historical--European, jamie fessenden
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never have, and it had cost him
dearly. The easy, affectionate friendship he‘d shared with
Thomas was gone forever.
He heard the faint sound of the door handle turning and
looked up to see Thomas standing in the doorway, looking
vastly uncomfortable, watching Andrew warily, as though
uncertain of his welcome. He was shirtless and his hair was
disheveled. Andrew had always loved the way the man looked
first thing in the morning. It was adorable, like a child waking
from a nap with his hair all tousled.
I really need to get thoughts like that out of my head.
―You needn‘t be frightened of me,‖ Andrew said wearily, as
he reached for a towel to dry his face.
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
67
―I‘m not,‖ Thomas said. ―Don‘t be foolish. I was hoping you
would help me shave.‖
It didn‘t seem appropriate, somehow. Not anymore. But
after a brief hesitation, during which he could think of no
practical reason for refusing, Andrew said, ―Very well. Come sit
down.‖
He draped the towel around his neck.
Thomas came in and sat in one of the wooden chairs at
the table. Andrew brought the washbasin and straight razor
over to the table and set them down, then took the towel from
around his neck and placed it around Thomas‘s neck.
―It‘s snowing,‖ Thomas said as Andrew slathered some
soap on his face.
―So I‘ve noticed.‖ Andrew carefully scraped the razor along
Thomas‘s cheek. ―Perhaps you should take Susan outside this
morning, before it stops.‖
―Are you saying you won‘t join us?‖
Andrew sighed. ―I don‘t think that‘s a good idea, Thomas.‖
―Stop being ridiculous. Susan will be tremendously
disappointed if you don‘t come out with us.‖
Andrew wanted to say ―no,‖ but again there was no real
reason to do so. Apart from the fact that spending the day with
Thomas would be agonizing, now that Andrew‘s terrible secret
had come out. Now that every look, every touch, would feel self-
conscious and fraught with danger. And regardless of what
Thomas might say now, Andrew knew their time together was
now limited. Once they returned to London, Thomas would no
doubt make a show of remaining friendly, but it was inevitable
that they would drift apart. No gentleman could remain friends
with a man of Andrew‘s sort for long.
―If you insist,‖ Andrew said, at last.
―I do.‖
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
68
TAKING Susan out in the snow proved to be a difficult
undertaking, as Katie fretted excessively about her young
charge catching cold. The nanny dressed her in boots and so
many layers of coats that it was difficult to see how she could
move at all. But Susan appeared not to mind. She was so
excited at the prospect of going out with her ―uncles‖ that she
could barely stand still as Katie fastened her into her bonnet.
And, by God, she was actually smiling .
―We must fetch Hew and Duncan!‖ Susan exclaimed, as
she scurried down the long hall to the stairs.
Thomas caught up to her to prevent her toppling headlong
down the staircase, and took one of her mittened hands. ―Well,
I suppose we can see what they‘re about. Perhaps they can join
us.‖
It was only as they entered the great hall that Thomas
remembered to stop in Edward‘s study. He was ashamed that
he hadn‘t thought of it earlier. Who better to take Susan on an
outing than her own father, after all?
In the study, they found Edward poring over business
documents at his desk, dressed casually in a smoking jacket,
without his cravat.
―Father!‖ Susan cried out, running to him. He looked up in
surprise, taking in the sight of his daughter and the motley
group assembled in his doorway. ―Come out with us! It‘s
snowing!‖
Edward looked much put out. ―Susan, I‘m very busy.‖
―But Uncle Thomas says we‘re going to build a man out of
snow! And a woman, too.‖
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
69
He frowned at his
dearly. The easy, affectionate friendship he‘d shared with
Thomas was gone forever.
He heard the faint sound of the door handle turning and
looked up to see Thomas standing in the doorway, looking
vastly uncomfortable, watching Andrew warily, as though
uncertain of his welcome. He was shirtless and his hair was
disheveled. Andrew had always loved the way the man looked
first thing in the morning. It was adorable, like a child waking
from a nap with his hair all tousled.
I really need to get thoughts like that out of my head.
―You needn‘t be frightened of me,‖ Andrew said wearily, as
he reached for a towel to dry his face.
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
67
―I‘m not,‖ Thomas said. ―Don‘t be foolish. I was hoping you
would help me shave.‖
It didn‘t seem appropriate, somehow. Not anymore. But
after a brief hesitation, during which he could think of no
practical reason for refusing, Andrew said, ―Very well. Come sit
down.‖
He draped the towel around his neck.
Thomas came in and sat in one of the wooden chairs at
the table. Andrew brought the washbasin and straight razor
over to the table and set them down, then took the towel from
around his neck and placed it around Thomas‘s neck.
―It‘s snowing,‖ Thomas said as Andrew slathered some
soap on his face.
―So I‘ve noticed.‖ Andrew carefully scraped the razor along
Thomas‘s cheek. ―Perhaps you should take Susan outside this
morning, before it stops.‖
―Are you saying you won‘t join us?‖
Andrew sighed. ―I don‘t think that‘s a good idea, Thomas.‖
―Stop being ridiculous. Susan will be tremendously
disappointed if you don‘t come out with us.‖
Andrew wanted to say ―no,‖ but again there was no real
reason to do so. Apart from the fact that spending the day with
Thomas would be agonizing, now that Andrew‘s terrible secret
had come out. Now that every look, every touch, would feel self-
conscious and fraught with danger. And regardless of what
Thomas might say now, Andrew knew their time together was
now limited. Once they returned to London, Thomas would no
doubt make a show of remaining friendly, but it was inevitable
that they would drift apart. No gentleman could remain friends
with a man of Andrew‘s sort for long.
―If you insist,‖ Andrew said, at last.
―I do.‖
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
68
TAKING Susan out in the snow proved to be a difficult
undertaking, as Katie fretted excessively about her young
charge catching cold. The nanny dressed her in boots and so
many layers of coats that it was difficult to see how she could
move at all. But Susan appeared not to mind. She was so
excited at the prospect of going out with her ―uncles‖ that she
could barely stand still as Katie fastened her into her bonnet.
And, by God, she was actually smiling .
―We must fetch Hew and Duncan!‖ Susan exclaimed, as
she scurried down the long hall to the stairs.
Thomas caught up to her to prevent her toppling headlong
down the staircase, and took one of her mittened hands. ―Well,
I suppose we can see what they‘re about. Perhaps they can join
us.‖
It was only as they entered the great hall that Thomas
remembered to stop in Edward‘s study. He was ashamed that
he hadn‘t thought of it earlier. Who better to take Susan on an
outing than her own father, after all?
In the study, they found Edward poring over business
documents at his desk, dressed casually in a smoking jacket,
without his cravat.
―Father!‖ Susan cried out, running to him. He looked up in
surprise, taking in the sight of his daughter and the motley
group assembled in his doorway. ―Come out with us! It‘s
snowing!‖
Edward looked much put out. ―Susan, I‘m very busy.‖
―But Uncle Thomas says we‘re going to build a man out of
snow! And a woman, too.‖
The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
69
He frowned at his
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