The Villain Duke's Butler Served Him Too Well novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Gloves

Tobias ate nine of the cook's lemon tarts, and nobody stopped him.

They had tea in the blue drawing room with the windows open on the garden.

The Crown Prince sat very straight in his chair, holding a cup he had not touched.

Leander sat opposite him, composed, with one hand resting on the arm of the chair.

Corwin stood at the sideboard in his tailcoat, because the habit of two years did not leave in a day.

"Sit, Corwin," said Dorian.

"Your Highness."

"Please."

Corwin sat on the edge of a chair beside the duke.

Tobias beamed at him with his mouth full.

"I have something to say," Dorian said.

"I've been trying to find the words for a week.

"I'm not good at this."

"He's terrible at this," said Tobias.

"Tobias."

"He practised in the mirror."

The prince went red from the collar up.

Then he put down his cup.

"Leander," he said.

"We were children together.

"I rode your pony.

"You taught me to cheat at cards."

Leander's mouth twitched.

"I think you looked at me, once, a long time ago.

"I think I saw it and decided not to."

Dorian stopped, and began again.

"For years you stood at my shoulder at every ball, and I looked at everything else.

"I was careless with you.

"I'm sorry."

The room was very quiet.

Corwin watched Leander's hand on the chair arm.

It did not move.

"I waited for you to look at me," Leander said at last.

"For a long time."

His voice was light.

"I used to count the dances.

"I thought it was the saddest thing in the world."

"Leander..."

"It was," said Leander.

"It isn't now."

He turned his head and looked at Corwin.

It was a plain look, and Corwin felt it all the way to his knees.

"I found out what it is to be looked at," Leander said, "by a man who warms the cup."

Tobias made a small noise and put a tart in his mouth to stop it.

Dorian paused, staring at him.

Then, to Corwin's astonishment, he laughed.

"You've grown up," Dorian said.

"I wasn't looking."

"No," said Leander.

"Now.

"What was it you came to ask?"

"That's the thing."

The prince took a folded paper from his coat.

It was sealed in white and gold.

"My father wishes to reward the house of Dauntrey.

"He told me to ask what you want.

"I told him I didn't think there was anything."

He looked at Leander.

"Is there?"

"There is," said Leander.

He rose.

He crossed the carpet and stood in front of Corwin's chair.

His hands were trembling, and Corwin stood up as well, because he could not do otherwise.

"Under the Old Charter of Aldermere," Leander said, "a peer may take a house-spouse with the Crown's leave.

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