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For him, Hugh had given up on his dream, and for Hugh, Finch would do anything. Even share
his secret. “Hugh?”
“Yes, sweet?” Hugh kissed Finch’s shoulder.
“My name. It’s not Finch. Or, rather, it is. But it’s my first name. Not my last. I had it changed
when I moved to Aurora. I petitioned to have it done through your brother, Geoffrey.”
Hugh looked puzzled. “You’re just Finch,” he said. “Last or first, you’re my Finch.”
“Yes, but…” Finch forced himself to say it. “My real surname is Drake.”
Hugh looked more puzzled. “What are you going on about, Finch? I don’t understand.”
“Your second cousin once removed, one Calvin Drake, is my sire, sir.” Scene set, the secret
came rushing forth before he could lose his nerve. “I am, and always have been, a Disgrace.”
Hugh
The notion was so preposterous that Hugh laughed. Finch, a Disgrace? Certainly not.
But when Finch didn’t laugh along with him, Hugh fell silent.
“Finch?” Hugh asked apprehensively. “You’re not laughing.”
“I’m not joking, sir.”
“So it’s true?” Hugh hesitated. “You’re a Disgrace?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A Drake by birth? By blood?”
“Yes.”
Hugh’s head spun. It didn’t seem real.
“I don’t understand.” He brushed sweat-dampened hair back from Finch’s forehead, searching
Finch’s face for answers he wasn’t sure he’d ever find. “Your name wasn’t on the list. I
devoured every word of that folder, top to bottom… you were nowhere to be found.”
“I didn’t think it right to include myself.”
“That… that’s absurd. I would have chosen you then and there had I seen your name amongst
the other candidates. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.”
At that, Finch closed his eyes and mournfully tucked his head to his shoulder. “Which is why I
didn’t want you to know.”
Hugh watched Finch’s expression for a moment. The pain in it was visceral, and it struck Hugh
in a deep and uncomfortable place that made his stomach clench and his erection wane. Why
