Infernal Vices (Resurrectionist #3)

CHAPTER 19

OH DO TELL!

Monday 7th March 1898

Recommencing my familiar daily routine after nearly a week of feeling lovelorn brought new vitality to my countenance. I took my seat for breakfast .

“How are you feeling this fine morning, sir?” Mrs. Twigg asked brightly as she delivered a fresh pot of tea to the dining table.

“I feeling rather well, Flora. I believe my malaise has passed and I am full of vigor,” I beamed, for I could not keep the happiness inside me from bubbling up like the uncorking of a new cask of beer.

“Could I bother you to make a pot of coffee too. I shall be having a guest join me for breakfast.”

Mrs. Twigg put her hand dramatically to her chest. “Is dear Mr. Robins calling?” she gasped.

I nodded and was cheered by how Flora blushed delightedly then turned on her heels and and rushed back to the kitchen.

“Wilkins, a moment please,” I called. My houseman stepped into the dining room.

“If you’d be so kind as to lay another place. Mr. Robins will be calling and he is most welcome.”

“Very good sir.” I did not miss the wicked twinkle in my houseman’s eyes. I had been in a beastly mood these past days and I realized now how it had affected my entire household.

Wilkins set the table and not a moment later a rapping on the from door sent Wilkins hurrying from the dining room. I sat straighter and seemed to inflate in myself at the thought of seeing Sebastian again, even though he had departed out of the bathroom window the moment my valet knocked on my chamber door to alert me that my garments were now laid out in my dressing room.

Sebastian, or I should say Birdie, strode into the room appearing to be as happy as I, again, in one of my suits! It now pleased me that my garments were close to his skin. I’d decided this morning as I watched him sleep that would have to announce him as a house guest and alott him his own room. If it was agreeable to him, he could bring a trunk of garments over and come and go as he pleased.

“Ah, Benedict my dear. It is a most refreshing morning, is it not. Finally spring is in the air!” he said chirpily. I rose from my seat and strode across the room to greet him, clasping his hand and shaking it like good fellows do when they are reaquained after an absence.

“Marvelous to see you, dear friend. Mrs. Twigg is making a pot of coffee, please, help yourself,” I gestured to the credenza where the covered silver serving dishes were laid out.

I returned to my seat, and both Mrs. Twigg and Wilkins came in, Flora with the pot of coffee, and Wilkins with freshly toasted bread.

The next forty minutes were spent in amiable company, taking tea, eating breakfast, and discussing stories in the newspapers. On the front page of The Times there was one about a dreadful automobile crash, the first ever on a public highway.

“The automobile belonging to Henry Lindfield of Brighton ran away on a hill in Purley, Surrey and hit a tree, killing Mr. Lindfield instantly,” I narrated to my companion and shook my head. I had seen a few of the damnable contraptions about town, but as far as I could see they were primarily toys that rich men played with while at their country estates.

“The automobile is so expensive that owning one is far out of the reach of the likes of you or I. Unless the cost of manufacture drops considerably I cannot not see them taking over from a reliable coach and four,” I argued, but Sebastian disagreed.

“I have heard they are the next big thing in investments. The automobile is the vehicle for the new decade. There are new factories planned for St Albans, Birmingham and Newcastle. Everyone will have one in the twentieth century, and a telephone, you mark my words! I would even put money on it!” Sebastian grinned.

“Very well, we shall wager fiver pounds each, and in say, ten years, the winner shall reap their reward if the automobile is commonplace.”

Our eyes smiled as we both enjoyed the challenge and back and forth of our banter. “Agreed,” Sebastian put down his coffee cup and offered his hand. I gripped his hand and we shook on our wager.

“Now, if you would be so kind as to join me in my study, we have some business to discuss.”

****

It was half-past-eight and I planned to go into the office today and catch up on all I had missed during my malaise. The morning sun sent bright rays into my study. I stood at the window and enjoyed the warmth on my skin while watching passers-by.

“I think it would be prudent for you to have a room here and a key, so you can come and go as you please,” I began nonchalantly, and then turned to see Sebastian at the mantle, a bemused look on his face.

“You want me to move in with you?” he asked quizzically.

“Yes. We’ll have no more of you scrambling over the garden gate and up the drainpipe to visit me at night!”

“Dear heart, that was half the fun of it!” Sebastian laughed.

“Well, you are now welcome to be my permanent house guest. Please bring a valise of garments. I’d wager at this point many of them belong to me!” I said with a raised brow, my lips twitching to grin. I joined Sebastian at the mantle and gestured for him to take one of the two hearthside arm chairs.

“So, that’s it, is it? Am I now a kept man?” Sebastian mused fondly.

“Oh, I shall most definitely keep you!” I said offering a lascivious smile. “Our arrangement is exclusive. But I do not expect you to stay here every night, unless that is what you desire. I am sure you have your own lodgings and business to attend to. I just want you to know you are welcome in my home and always in my heart!”

Sebastian rose from his seat then and stepped in front of me. To my surprise and private delight, he sat on my lap and threw his legs over the chair arm. My arms moved to hold him close, and his long fingers caressed my cheek.

“You are the sweetest, most romantic man I have ever known.” Sebastian kissed me then and coffee had never tasted so good. We embraced passionately with the curtains open and my servants busying themselves around the house. I should have recoiled with the fear of discovery, but the taste of him, the softness of his lips against mine, the delicious beard brushing my skin—my heart was so full of love for this man; I did not care if a platoon of the Queen’s guards decided to parade through my study.

Sebastian pulled away first and his tawny eyes affixed on mine. “You are so very careful with my heart, Benedict, and I appreciate it. I am honoured to accept the key to your home. I will take good care of it!”

“I am glad. Now, up you get I cannot appraise you of the events that occurred during your absence if you remain so kissably close! Away with you, devil.” I gave his backside a firm slap, and Sebastian gasped with shock as I pushed him from my lap.

“I see I have unleashed a monster!” The lust in Sebastian’s eyes and bulge at his crotch were unmistakable. He found his feet and straightened his frock coat to give the impression of retaining a little dignity, and then he settled in the chair opposite, shaking his head at playful behaviour he had not expected of me. It pleased me that my lover seemed to enjoy rough handling from time to time. I filed that delicious snippet of information away to be utilized at a later date.

“Now then, what monkey business have I missed?”

“Rather a lot actually. In your absence Charles Ashe and I have become friends,” I revealed. The playful atmosphere evaporated in a blink of an eye.

“Is that so?” Sebastian observed me, his fingers steepled and pressed to his lips, hiding his expression.

“Not only is he an extremely talented artist, but he finally revealed how to use the mysterious red book that has confounded us both for weeks. It’s quite ingenious. I have my reanimated copy of it in my drawer,” I enthused.

“Reanimated?”

“Indeed. I shall show you what it’s all about later. But as for Charles, we discovered that we share common beliefs…greater than those of the cabal.”

“Such as?”

“A belief in human kindness, moral fortitude, and in honesty.”

“Please stop beating around the bush, dear heart, just tell me,” Sebastian grumbled impatiently, then held his hands up, “Sorry, sorry,” he said, ”It’s just, it’s clear from my observations that Ashe has quite the hunger for you. He is a hedonist at heart and does not care that you and I have an arrangement. Men like him seek pleasure and care little about consequence. You are a very handsome man, Benedict…”

Heat rose to pinken my cheeks. “I am aware he has formed somewhat of an attachment to me,” I said reluctantly, “but, rest assured I reject all advances. Trust goes both ways, my love.”

“Forgive me. It just vexes me that he is so clearly gaga for you. Please do be careful.”

I sighed in frustration, “My love, we are getting distracted. I have much to tell you, and would like to be in the office by ten o’clock. First things first, aye?”

“Very well,” Sebastian pouted. “I shall vanquish the green-eyed monster and button my lips! Tell me, what’s happened while I’ve was out of town?”

“My silver was returned to me.”

“Oh. Did Detective Inspector Dancer finger his man?” Sebastian wagged his brows in a comical manner.

“No. It was as you speculated. Euan sought out Blake and offered him the silver to earn his way back into the arms of the brotherhood. Blake saw the silver fish spice box and knew where Euan had pilfered the collection from. He then used his influence to have Euan sent to Colney Hatch Asylum for… treatment.”

Sebastian took in a pained inhale. “My God, the brute! He would have done Euan more of a kindness to slit his damn throat. I’ve visited several patients there in my days and I would not wish a stay there on my worst enemy. That asylum is hell on earth.” Sebastian said, mirroring my concerns.

“Agreed.”

“And what else,”

“Detective Inspector Dancer is a member of the brotherhood.”

“Is he now! Well, well, well, the hound is corrupt. That is the most interesting snippet of information,” Sebastian said flatly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I then informed of Leo’s imminent return and his wish for a girl to pretend to be his fiancée.

“This is quite the quandary! With Leo poised to return I suppose Blake is pushing ahead with plans for his so called great work?”

“He is. A country house was chosen as the location for the final ritual. All that is required is Leopold and the Greek phallus. That brings me on to another subject.” I paused to gather my courage. “I attended the Temple of the Muses soirée , and Ashe senior had a surprise up his sleeve.”

“Consider me intrigued!”

“Have you heard of the Secretum?”

“In the British Museum? Yes. It contains items too scandalous for the common folk to ever see for fear of mass hysteria. Us common folk are of delicate constitutions, don’t you know!” he jested.

“Well, I discovered that Henry Ashe is a covert pornography collector. He purchases erotic materials on his world travels and then sells them on, or donates them to the Secretum in the return for privileges and favours.”

“The filthy bugger!” Sebastian exclaimed in faux-outrage.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It is not for us to judge the sins of man!” I sighed. “Suffice to say, I was among a small group of men selected to view the Secretum. When inside the room, Charles led me to his father’s most recent donation, a particular book of homosexual pornography from Paris.” I rose and moved to my desk, opened a drawer and from beneath a stack of papers, took out the photograph and then returned to my seat.

“Within the book was a photograph that transformed Charles Ashe into a changed man.”

I passed the photograph to Sebastian. He took a glance at it and gasped in horror, a hand rising to cover his mouth. Understanding full-well that with his nude younger self draped over an older man’s lap, this was not a good memory for my lover I continued, speaking in a serious tone .

“It was the only one of you. I removed that photograph from the book after Charles discovered Lawrence Blake was a pornographer and also known as Nathanial Everett.” Sebastian held the photograph lightly, as if it would burn his fingers and he stared at the image of the young man he had once been.

“Charles was furious to discover Blake was not his real name and that he lied about his past. He revealed that he’d had his suspicions about Blake’s credibility for some time—that members of the cabal repeatedly spoke of small items of silver vanishing from their person, or their rooms.”

“Blake does not work and has no legal means of making money,” Sebastian informed. “He’s always been first-rate at manipulation and sleight of hand. When I was living with him, not a male guest left his rooms without Nathaniel retaining a memento. Even when he was flush, he had to steal something, a kerchief, a ring, a pocket watch.”

“Sounds like he suffers from Kleptomania?”

“Yes, yes, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Did he recognize me? Ashe?“ Sebastian asked, almost wistfully.

“No, I do not believe so. He didn’t mention the other man in the photograph. He was fixed upon the revelation that Blake was a charlatan. It enraged and terrified him. He’s invested a great deal into the brotherhood, and the betrayal was cutting. He realizes that we have all made ourselves vulnerable to blackmail and that Blake intends to bleed us of funds.”

My study fell silent for a drawn out minute, and I could hear the rolling creak of carriages passing outside, the footfall of horse’s hooves on cobbles, and the calls of newspaper boys.

“I…gods…I don’t even remember having this photograph taken. It’s like I wasn’t even…present…you know, like this boy is a different person,” Sebastian admitted in a small voice. I was heartsick at causing my friend such distress.

“I look so young, so innocent, and my eyes appear drugged.”

“I wanted to protect you. That is why I removed the photograph from the book. I could not be there for you when you were eighteen and in need, but I will do my damndest to protect you now.”

“Thank you dear heart. I appreciate it.”

“It is right and true that you should have a choice about what becomes of that photograph. Dash it into the fire if you will, or tear it in half to keep proof of Blake’s other identity. It’s entirely up to you.”

“This photograph has brought the most dreadful memories to the surface. I…I don’t know what to say. I wonder how many other photographs he took of me when I was under the influence. I hoped all photographs of me had been destroyed.”

I reached out, placed my hand on his knee and squeezed. “Forgive me, I did not intend to cause you pain,”

Sebastian held a hand up to still me, “No, you did the right thing. This, this, abomination makes me even more determined to spoil Blake’s great work once and for all.”

“Good. And on that note…Ashe and I have devised a plan…”

****