"Margery is having a fit. Who did you meet yesterday?" Low was sitting up on his chaise by the window as Derry sat next to the other side of the window in a large wing chair.

"Just some relatives. It was no big deal. It is just so easy to tease that young lady." He scoffed at the young man who eyed him with a kerchief tucked in his hand.

"Alright, but it is rather annoying when the girl comes in here to harass a poor sick man with her endless questions." He yawned even though he wasn't awake more than a few hours before they had been sitting there. Being sick took a lot out of the lad.

"Apologies. I will have the servants distract her next time with some juicy local gossip instead." Derry replied with a wink. Low rolled his eyes at the man and then looked absently at the tea tray that was situated on the table next to him.

"Should I order more hot water? I feel like I will be made of tea if I drink any more of it." He grumbled.

"It is fine. Tea is good for you when you are sick. The honey will also help your sore throat you... know." He mentioned as he covered a half-yawn with the back of his hand.

"Why are you so tired?" Low asked with a raised brow. Derry chuckled.

"I was up reading far too late last night. Will you take a nap with me later?" He raised a brow back and then snickered when Low blushed a furious shade of red.

"Don't tease a sick man." He grumbled at his brother. Derry shrugged and leaned towards him.

"Who said I was teasing?" He whispered across the small distance between them. Low stared at him for a moment, but the red nose and watery eyes failed to convey the passion he was feeling properly.

"If I can't do anything about the suggestion, it is most definitely teasing." Low griped as he flopped his head back on the chaise with a sigh. His throat bobbed as he gulped carefully, then he yawned blearily.

"Are you sure you don't want me to leave you to sleep?" Derry asked with a concerned look.

"No. Stay with me. It is too boring all by myself." He replied quietly. His eyes fluttered shut and he snuggled into the blanket that his brother had carefully tucked around him when he first sat down. Then Derry sat back in the other chair they had pulled into the comfortable corner with a creak of the wood, and they simply enjoyed each others company.

Low found that the warmth of the sun from the window, and the company that had him so relaxed, soon put him in a sort of doze. He let his head flop to the side on the padding, his breathing evening out as his conscious took to meandering. He could smell the beeswax that was used to rub the furniture, the scent of tea that still hovered in the air, and a hint of some masculine spiciness that made his heart feel warm.

"Is he asleep?" A soft feminine voice asked in a very quiet way.

"I believe so. Have some soup sent up in about an hour. He should eat again to keep his strength up." The warm, deep voice of his brother sent a little shiver down his back. His mind wandered to his dreams with little hesitation. Now however, they were punctuated with the reality of the lake. You are the only man I love. He could virtually feel the hard muscles beneath his hands as they twitched.

His breathing picked up a little and he shifted as his gut churned at the memories. I love you, Low. He could almost feel the firm lips and hot tongue as it swirled inside his mouth. He licked his lips. The warmth was surging in his body, but it was a different kind of burn than his fever had been. This was like that brandy which had burned from the innermost of his chest outwards.

"Low? Are you alright?" He blinked open his eyes that were moist with passion to see his brother hovered over him with such a stern and worried look upon his face. His hands reached out unconsciously to feel the strong chest he had been pressed against only a few short days ago.

"I'm alright." He croaked out of his dry mouth, licking his lips and blinking up at Derry to dispel the feeling that was pushing at him. His brother glanced at the door, and then leaned forward, but Low stopped him. "You'll get sick."

"I won't." His brother whispered against his lips. Then he felt them against his slightly chapped ones. He closed his eyes and moaned gently at the delicious feeling. A large hand stroked his face gently. He took in a shuddering breath when Derry pulled away.

"Nap with me after lunch?" He begged in a pleading voice, holding the man's jacket with one fist. His damp eyes and red lips were too tempting.

"Of course... if you eat all your soup." His brother conceded with a gentle smile. Low nodded quickly.

"I promise." His voice was interrupted by the sound of clattering from the sitting room, and Lord Hart backed away to sit in his chair as the footman brought in a tray with food. They glanced at each other as the young man set everything up on the table next to Low. Not a word was spoken but to thank the lad as he left.

Lord Darian rose to ladle a bowl from the covered serving dish. Low watched his arms flex and his firm hands move with the grace of practise. He smiled and put out his hands to take the saucer, but his brother refused to hand over the dish to him. He crumpled his brow at the man when he took up the spoon and blew on it, only to offer it to him.

"I can feed myself Derry." He grumbled as he sat staring at the spoon. Lord Darian shrugged and smiled.

"I know. I want to pamper you." Was his reply. Lord Low opened his mouth after a sigh and allowed it. Spoonful after spoonful, the soup disappeared. He was feeling nice and warm from the hearty broth. The pieces of vegetables and grains of barley were carefully chewed and swallowed. His brother watched closely with narrowed eyes and a closed expression.

"I'll have a biscuit with butter too." He said with a pleading glance. Lord Derry raised a brow, but conceded to his wishes. He slathered a good amount of butter on the warm biscuit and offered it to him on a small plate. Low took it with eagerness and demolished it quickly. It was always better when they were warm and fresh. Lord Darian sat back with some food for himself and he watched him eat it in silence.

"Are you okay?" He asked Low between bites. Lowell nodded seriously.

"Yes, I am alright. I didn't think I would be, honestly. I fought with myself a lot before I gave in, you know." He looked down at his lap in memory of those tough weeks. A hand lifted his chin to look up at Lord Darian.

"I know. I can't say I am not pleased you did give in. I will admit it is my innermost desire that you would feel even a part of what I feel for you." His deep voice and impassioned eyes made Low's heart stutter in his chest. He smiled, in a pained way, and grasped onto the man's wrist.

"But what of it? What shall happen between us? You will be forced to leave and I will be forced to marry some woman our father has chosen." He said with an aggrieved tone. He bit his lip and looked away from the handsome man before him.

"Then come with me. If I must leave, then I will take you to the ends of the earth alongside me if it should make you happy." Derry was on his knees before him now. His face was cupped tenderly and the older man pressed their foreheads together. He looked into those serious eyes and blinked.

"Do you promise, Derry? You won't leave me here alone again?" He whispered. His older brother smiled and nodded fiercely.

"I promise."

1411