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fear settle inside his body like a trapped butterfly. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t.
Hugh stood up. “It’s quite late. I think we should retire. I don’t snore, and I’m sure you’re far too
well-mannered to keep me awake. This will be fine. You’ll see. I used to sleep with my
manservant all the time, you know.”
“You, uh, did?” All eloquence had fled from Finch’s mouth.
“Oh, yes. Before hotels were common, I often shared an inn room with my valet. And while
you’re not my valet, since such things aren’t necessary anymore, you do serve me in many of
the same ways. So this is quite correct. We are two men, sharing a bed. And yes, I’m your
employer, but I’m also your friend.” Hugh smiled at Finch brilliantly.
“Yes, sir. I… well… I suppose we should go to bed.”
This had terrible, awful idea written all over it. Finch really should have insisted upon the sofa.
It looked tolerably comfortable and was markedly void of attractive, clueless reptiles. But
somehow he’d let Hugh talk him into it, and now he was in the position of sharing a bed with
his employer.
It might be the best and worst night of his entire life.
He’d be sure to get absolutely no sleep at all.
“Lead the way, then,” Hugh said. “It’s quite late.”
Finch nodded, unsure what else to say, and opened his door to show Hugh his tidy bedroom
with its neatly made bed.
“Hm,” Hugh said. “It seems awfully small.”
“I’ll just go sleep on the sofa, then.”
Hugh removed his banyan and threw it haphazardly on the floor. “No, no. We’ll make do. It’ll
be like an adventure.” He pulled back the covers on Finch’s side of the bed and lay down.
“An adventure, yes.” Finch bent to pick up the discarded robe and hung it on a hook on his
wall, then turned off the light and made his way by memory to the other side of the bed. He
slotted himself between the sheets, laid his head on the pillow, and tried to keep his body still
and as close to the edge as possible without falling off entirely.
“Goodnight, Finch.” Hugh rolled over and squeezed Finch’s shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
“Yes. Goodnight, sir.”
There was silence after that, interrupted only when Hugh grunted in his sleep. The heat from
