PART ONE
CHAPTER EIGHT
LOVER BOYS

Upon leaving the Featherington estate Charles headed immediately in the direction of the bachelor pad Arthur Rollings was staying in. He could not contain the need to inform the other man of the little positive progress he had with Paige during their discussion in the garden. 

Knocking upon the heavy door, Charles knew he did not have to wait for long. Arthur barely held any staff in this accommodation he way staying in, maybe a handful of three members of staff at most, but the house was much smaller than the normal estate the Duke stayed in. And therefore, the knocking would bounce around the house. And depending upon the time of day it was quite often Arthur himself who answered the door, something Charles was wishing would be the case this time around. After all, he found himself always very dejected when he was greeted by a member of staff and not the man he was coming to see. 

"Charlie" A rough but ever so familiar voice greeted him and Charles felt himself brighten even more at the sound of Arthur's voice. Such a brightened emotion and persona did not match the darkness he emitted from his looks. Yet it matched perfectly the person he was around the man he loved. 

"Art." If times were different Charles would have openly brought his lover into his arms at the front door. But he knew that it would not be as accepted even if people thought they were just two incredibly close friends. Rather he allowed Arthur to step aside to allow him inside, the heavy door closing gently behind them before he brought his arms around Arthur. Charles was quick to place his arms around Arthur's shoulders tugging the slightly more built man into his chest. 

"My love, what do I owe the honour of your arrival?" Arthur went through his mind trying to recall if the pair had planned to meet at this time of the day. But he came up blank, not that he was upset about the surprise meeting, but panicked that perhaps he had missed something. 

"I missed you." Charles mumbled out, feeling a little strange for having stated those words aloud, that wasn't exactly the reason he had come calling, however now he was here the words were ever more true. 

"I missed you too Charles." Arthur went to pull away slightly though found his movement limited by the remaining harsh grip of his lover. 

"I also went to see Paige this morning." Charles did finally pull back, but only so there was a mere few inches between the pair, and so that he could see Arthur's eyes as the pair spoke. The Duke was much more clearer to read upon looking in his eyes. He could not clearly lie with his eyes, his tells more than anything. 

"Shall we take this into my office." Arthur suggested, clearly not wanted the nosey members of his household staff to overhear. And Charles would not deny it, considering just hearing those words make him feel just a little bit dirty. 

Arthur's office was one that Charles had seen become more and more put together over the previous few years. It had gone from the basic office of which the previous Duke had used, and was very much horrible to look at, headache inducing if one was to truly describe it. To an office which was much more... Arthur. Gone were the shelves and shelves of books, replaced with just a few here and there. Art work littered the walls, art of which showed beautiful countryside views. And hanging in the middle of the wall, and the main reason not just anybody was allowed within these office walls, was the painting of the two men together. A painting often reserved for a married couple. That took centre stage. 

Arthur let Charles sit in his main chair, something they had been doing for quite some time now, considering Charles himself would never hold a title of which required him to need such access to a chair. And because the slightly younger man had picked the chair out many months prior. Usually Arthur would sit on the chair on the other side of his desk so the pair could hold eye contact as they spoke. Though he felt more daring, and took to perching on his desks at so the pair were truly facing one another. 

"Tell me." Arthur started his tone not demanding but it was clear that he wanted to know answers, and he wanted them quickly. "How did it go?" 

"Well she was less freaked out than I expected upon hearing us both wanting to court her at the same time." Charles explained deciding it was not worth including anything not about the topic he knew Arthur was focused upon, and slightly freaking out about.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she was more concerned for our friendship being ruined." Charles emphasised the word friendship as he spoke waiting for the chuckle he was expecting, and when Arthur let one out he knew he had reached his goal.

"Do you think she'll be spooked when she works out there's much more than friendship going on here?"

"I'm not sure if I'm being honest."