Chapter Eight

Dominic sat opposite his father at the breakfast table. Richard Fairweather, the Duke of Richmond was in the middle of one of his regular lectures he liked to impart to his family. His mother was reading her correspondence and wasn't listening and his sister had learnt years ago how to appear to be paying attention but was entertaining herself with her own thoughts.

"I tell you, the country is going to the dogs. What say you, Dominic?"

Dominic had been preoccupied. Callum hadn't been too far from his mind since they had separated the morning before, and all he could think about was arranging to see him again. He couldn't for the life of him recall what his father had been ranting on about before he asked Dominic's opinion. "I'm sure you know better than me about these things."

"Perhaps you should stand for parliament. You couldn't be any worse than the current lot."

Under no circumstances was he about to be caught up in a political career. "I think I would be better helping to exert influence in the background, it is better to be subtle in such matters."

Richard seemed to be considering Dominic's words. "You may have a point. There are other ways I suppose, and it would not hurt the family's fortunes if we were to diversify some of our assets."

He could not believe his luck with the direction the conversation was taking. "I have several acquaintances I could target to befriend on a deeper level."

"I thought your friends were more into buried treasure than the Treasury. Is there someone in particular?"

Now was his chance. "I recently met a gentleman by the name of Callum Gething."

"Now that is an interesting acquaintance," Richard said, leaning in across the table. "I've heard he is every bit as sharp as his father. Dedicated too."

"We spoke about a shared interest in Egyptology, it would be relatively easy to get to know him better."

His sister seemed to jolt into action. "Oh, I met him the other evening. I was sitting beside him at dinner, and he mentioned you," Christina said. "I'm sure you had spoken about him before."

Richard clicked his tongue. "Is he married? Would he be a suitable match for Christina?"

He did not want that to become a suggestion that stuck, thankfully his sister had other ideas. "I am sure he is a perfectly fine fellow, but Lord Osbourne is a superior match for me."

"Oh definitely," Dominic agreed. "Gething doesn't have a title, you wouldn't want Chrissy marrying below her worth."

"Osbourne is indeed a fine young man. You should already have invited him for dinner, Christina, which leaves us still with Dominic befriending Mr Gething."

"I will invite him to have supper with me at my club." Which had been their plan for this evening. "To continue our conversation."

"Excellent idea, Dominic. I have always said you have this family's best interests at heart."

"It is no hardship, from what I had seen he is an interesting fellow." There hadn't been much of Callum he hadn't seen physically, but they had much to learn about each other beyond what they had shared in their previous life.

"If he's anything like his father, he'll be brilliant."

If he were being honest, he'd not thought of Callum in that way, they didn't know each other yet, and he realised he had done his lover a great disservice. He was quick-witted and entertaining, but he had not lingered on what it was Callum had done to earn his reputation as having the potential to fill his father's shoes.

"Then I shall take my leave and have a message sent requesting he join me later."

"Before you go, I saw young Wellin yesterday. He asked after you, I was surprised you'd not seen him for a while."

On the surface, Henry was meant to be one of his closest friends, their sexual pursuits known by only a handful of similarly minded individuals. "I've not seen him since before my last visit to Cairo."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "That long? Now, as much as I am for you making new friends, Wellin and his family have been allies of ours going back generations, so you'll need to ensure you keep up good relations."

He had no intention of keeping up the sort of relations Henry would want, and next time he saw him, he'd tell him straight. "I merely thought he was busy with his upcoming marriage."

He'd not cared that Henry would take a wife, had thought it was the perfect cover, but it had been because he was also taking his best man that caused the issue.

"You're attending the Marlborough's ball tomorrow, he said he'd be there."

Dominic wondered if Callum had been invited to the party to mark the duchess's fortieth birthday, Delia loved any excuse to invite people into her home, and her events were usually large and lavish. He should be able to avoid Henry amongst the crowds and instead find a quiet spot for him and Callum. As far as he could tell, sneaking away to a secluded place was how Callum had gained his experience with other men, and he had an overriding desire to replace those memories with their own. The jealousy had been a bit of a shock to him as Dominic, but as Baniti he had been a tad on the possessive side over Osahar, and it appeared that would now bleed into his feelings for Callum.

Back in his private rooms at the family property, he dashed out a message to be delivered to Callum. They had plans to meet but it would be better if there was a proper paper trail. He remembered sending notes to Osahar. He had fallen quicker for the younger man than he'd expected, despite having his choice of beauties at the court, no one had gripped him so fiercely.

The sun was low in the sky, Osahar lay next to him naked, a sheen of sweat across his body and wearing an expression of pure joy. Baniti had taken many lovers, some had meant more than others, but he'd never cared for someone as much as he did Osahar. He was a beautiful young man, but unlike many of his peers, he seemed unaware of how attractive he was or the way both men and women would look at him. From the first time he'd seen him, Baniti knew he had to make Osahar his, he'd been patient, friended him, brought him food and small gifts until he had made his move and had been delighted when it had been Osahar who had initiated their first kiss.

"You are happy tonight," Baniti said, trailing a finger around Osahar's belly button.

"I am here with you, I have every right to be happy." He bit his lip, his smile now gone. "Do you want me to leave? Have I displeased you?"

"Of course not."

He'd been incredulous at first when Osahar had told him he'd never known another's touch—man or woman. It had driven him to pursue Osahar further and he hadn't believed Baniti could want him, or at least want him for more than one night.

"I know I have much to learn, but you know I will do what you wish."

"I want us to do what we both want. Your pleasure is as important to me as my own." He leant over and kissed him. "I love you."

Osahar gasped. "You can't mean that."

"I have never said those words to another, and I mean every one."

They shared a deep kiss, Baniti pouring his hopes and dreams into it. Osahar was his and he would make him see how perfect he was.

Dominic blinked away the vision, at least now he understood what they were, even if they did seem to come out of nowhere. He suspected they would continue for a while as he remembered his past life, and wondered if it would be the same for Callum. As Baniti, he'd been an important man, and now Dominic was also well-respected. He might not be the next duke, nor did he wish to be, but he did have the title of Lord Fairweather.

There were other similarities. They were both educated and experienced men, in learning and as lovers, so he felt he could understand most of Baniti's motivations. He was still getting to know Callum, but from what he'd seen, there were many differences between him and Osahar. While Callum had dabbled a little with men, Dominic had been the first to claim him fully, just as Baniti had done with Osahar, but Callum didn't have the same naivety or reticence, and neither was he a meek man who didn't know his own worth. Callum might have more trouble with coming to terms with his past existence but Dominic thought he could help. He spotted a vial of oil on the nightstand and thought he had a perfect way to help him adapt.