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“He’s what?” Earnest tilted his head with that fucking sly smile as if he knew exactly what Adam was thinking. There was a reason that the four boys had become friends in the orphanage—they weren’t quite like the other boys—and no surprise at all to Adam that even Earnest, who was like him and had no sexual preferences, would end up falling in love with a man. But there was no way in hell that Adam was going to admit that he’d fucked the Earl and it’d been glorious, so he evaded the truth with another truth.

“I can’t decide if he’s just like his father, but a sneakier version who is better at hiding it, or if he’s an ignorant privileged empty vessel.”

Earnest clicked his tongue but said nothing, leaving a silence that Adam shouldn’t fill. He knew better than that...

“He’s friends with Edenwick, so he can’t be too bad.” Adam didn’t take his own advice, speaking into the quiet left by Earnest. He wanted to spill his feelings about how he’d felt when the Earl had dismissed Adam in the cupboard at White’s after they’d fucked ... and then ...

He shook his head. “I can’t make him out.”

“This is a problem, Adam.”

“What?”

“You must have spent a lot of time with him to have so many thoughts about him, but he’s the son of ...”

“Yes.”

“How much time?”

Adam shook his head. “No, I meant yes to the fact that he’s the Earl of Milnes-Wilkes.”

“Have you or haven’t you been spending a lot of time with him?”

Adam swallowed. “Not much time, no.” Technically they’d fucked twice and talked a few times; argued more than talked, really. Adam couldn’t help but be defensive around the man, even though the Earl didn’t know what Adam had done.

“Adam. If you haven’t spent much time with him, why does it matter what type of man he is?” Earnest’s insightfulness wasn’t helpful. Because ... No, he wasn’t going to admit that he wanted to spend more time with the Earl, not even to himself.

“Because of what we did, and he’s ... well, he’s the Earl now.” It was a weak response.

“Are you worried that he’ll work it out? How? You just called him an empty vessel.”

Adam’s shoulders were so tight that he couldn’t move. “I said maybe he is, or maybe he’s like his father.”

“Well, if he’s like his father, then we should all be worried.”

“Yes.” Adam managed to croak out a response. He knew, deep down, truthfully, that he didn’t care if they got caught—they’d ensured that caveat emptor applied so the Earl had no legal recourse against them, although society would crucify the four of them for daring to best a member of the peerage—he was worried that the Earl would know what he’d done and never want to ... He swallowed, trying to prevent his rambling thoughts from continuing. He wanted the Earl to kneel for him again, he wanted to do filthy things to the Earl, and the real truth was that he didn't want the Earl to know his role in the old fucker’s downfall because at the end of the day rich families always stuck together and then Adam would never again get to kiss the Earl. Fuck. He was so fucked.

“This isn’t good, Adam.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Maybe we should invite him to dinner and let everyone decide what they think of his character.”

Adam flinched. “How will that help?”

“I don’t know. I just hate seeing you like this, my friend.”

The reminder that his friends were there for him helped and his shoulders relaxed. “I’m not sure why this is bugging me so much.” Fuck, what a liar he was. He absolutely knew why.

“I know why.”

Adam held his breath. Surely Earnest hadn’t guessed, but then maybe Edenwick had said something to Lord Horden about that day in White’s when his hair, and the Earl’s poor attempt at buttoning his jacket, had made it really fucking obvious that they’d been together in the cupboard.

“It’s because this one matters. All the other ones, all those other women we rescued and men we conned, they weren’t personal. They were just helping people leave bad situations and start again. But this one matters. It was for Rose.”

Adam nodded, easing out a long breath. “Yes.” It was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth. If he told Earnest that he’d fucked the new Earl, Earnest would probably squeal or do something else completely loud and uncouth and erratic. He could never admit it, and he had to find a way to put it firmly in the past. Never again.

“Let’s go to Toddington’s ball tonight. His sister always throws a good party, and it’ll cheer you up.” Earnest’s heartfelt attempt to fix a problem that he couldn’t fix guilted Adam into saying yes. Would the Earl be there? He was a fool for hoping...