“I have many faults, but I try not to be a fucking hypocrite,” Wesley said. “I was keeping the same secret, wasn’t I? And they were barely eighteen, so obviously enamored of each other. They should have been schoolboys in love, not suddenly armed in those hellish trenches and told to kill Germans.”
“Did they make it?” Sebastian said quietly.
“I don’t know,” Wesley said honestly. “I’ve always assumed they did not; that would be far too kind of the war and the world. But I’ve never checked, so I’d never have to know. Cowardly of me, but there it is.”
“Reyes,” Sebastian repeated. “Was he from a Spanish family? Is that what Langford meant by the dig abouta soft spot for Spaniards?”
“Without a doubt,” said Wesley. “He’ll never let it go. But then, in fairness, look at me now.”
That put a tiny smile on Sebastian’s lips.
“Speaking of soft spots, I’ve apparently gone soft enough to notice that your clothes are soaked,” Wesley said. “I’m certain your tropical arse is freezing. Go put on something dry.”
“Yeah, okay,” Sebastian agreed, turning toward the bedroom with a shiver.
“You’re not going to argue?” Wesley said dryly. “You’re actually minding me? How refreshing.”
“If that’s what you want to tell yourself, Wes,” Sebastian said sweetly, without a backward glance, in the easy tone of a man who can’t be rattled because he knows he has nothing to prove.
The door to the bedroom closed behind him, which was probably good, because Wesley’s fingers were still twitching for a smoke and he wanted to think about anything else besides the war years. Sebastian’s self-assured attitude had sent a pulse of interest through him; his handcuffs weren’t always for other people, after all.
But he needed to make the call first. He sat on the edge of the settee and picked up the phone. The operator put him through to the Horseman Inn. “I’m trying to get in touch with a friend of mine,” Wesley said to the woman on the other end of the phone. “I’ve been informed by his brother that he’s staying at your establishment. Arthur Kenzie is his name.”
“I’ll get the innkeeper,” she said. “The name was Kenzie? With aY?”
“No, with anI-E.” Wesley heard steps from the bedroom, and looked up. “It’sK-E-N—oh.”
Sebastian had swapped his wet clothes for Wesley’s deep green, monogrammed full-length robe. It was a little looser on Sebastian’s shorter, sleeker frame, but could have passed for the right size to someone who didn’t realize the bastard was now wearing Wesley’s initials.
“It’sZnext,” Sebastian said, sincere and helpful.
“What?” Wesley said dumbly.
“Kenzie,” Sebastian said, as he perched on the arm on the other side of the settee. He put his elbows on his knees, and the sleeve slid down to show the lion tattoo. “K-E-N-Z-I-E.How did you forget how to spell your ex-lover’s name? You don’t forget anything.”
Wesley narrowed his eyes, lowering the phone. “You—”
“Sir?” The innkeeper’s voice came, tinny and distant, from the earpiece.
Wesley pursed his lips. “We’re going to talk about this,” he said to Sebastian, and then put the phone back to his ear. “I’m looking for one of your guests, Arthur Kenzie. May I speak to him, please? It’s urgent.”
There was a sound in the innkeeper’s background. “Just a moment, sir—can you hold?”
“Yes,” he said grudgingly.
“Talk about what?” Sebastian said.
Wesley moved the receiver away from his mouth. “Are you wearing anything under that too-big robe?”
“It’s notbig—I told you, you’re not that much taller than I am,” Sebastian said, which was really not the important part of the question. He traced the embroidered, intertwinedWCover his heart. “And it’swarm. I’m going to get one for the times we go to England.”
Wesley blinked. “You’re planning to come to England again?”
“Of course,” Sebastian said. “You came to Paris and America with me. You’re coming to the Caribbean and maybe we will go to Spain. Why wouldn’t I also come with you to England? Or wherever you needed or wanted to go?”
Wesley blinked helplessly.
“If we’re in London, I can visit Crumpet and Flan,” Sebastian went on. “I bet your cook’s daughter is taking good care of her cats. We will work out the travel, yes? Figure out how to stay together?”
