Brimsley and Reynolds

Chapter 15 Pt. 2

A/N: This chapter is still in Reynolds' POV. 

Reynolds slipped out of his room, taking one last look at Brimsley's sleeping form before he found The King, already working in his observatory. The King's mind had been up and down recently. On one hand, his wife had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, something that clearly made him overjoyed. However, there was also his speech that he had to give to parliament. Reynolds had noticed immediately the small changes in him, shaky hands, shorter temper, seeming often distant. 

King George smiled as he saw Reynolds entering the room. "Reynolds! How are you this fine morning?" He asked, grinning. So today was a good day. The speech was to be given in three days time, and Reynolds held tightly to the hope that his days would remain good throughout his speech. 

"I am fine Your Majesty, and you?" He asked in the usual serious tone he took when he was working. 

"I am wonderful! The sun is shining, I have a beautiful baby boy, and all is splendid," he rambled. Reynolds nodded cautiously. These high moods of The King always made him feel wary, as they were usually followed by a crashing low. 

The King had been sorting through stacks of celestial maps when he suddenly set them down and took a seat, facing Reynolds. "Say Reynolds, how often do you think I talk of my wife, daily?"    He asked in a bemused tone. 

Reynolds tilted his head, "Ummm, I do not know that I can say Your Majesty. Quite a few times I suppose." He stuttered. 

The King smiled slyly, "So why is it that you never speak of your lover?" He questioned.

 Reynolds didn't understand where this was coming from. "I am here for you, Your Majesty, it is not my place to speak of such things." The King, however, did not leave it at that.

"What if I ask you to speak of such things?" He continued.

 Reynolds stayed silent for a long time before replying slowly, "I don't know what there is to say on the matter,"

 The King paused, his eyes fixed on Reynolds'. "Why don't you speak of Brimsley?" He asked it carefully, as if were he to say it wrong, Reynolds would shatter like glass. 

That's exactly how he felt. His breath caught in his throat, and his mind went hazy."How does he know?"  It was his only thought, the only words that formed in his head. His mouth was parted, words frozen on his tongue. He pushed hard for them to make it through, "I.....I don't know what you mean," he stammered out.

The King's smile faded slightly. "Reynolds, I saw you go into the same room the night The Queen moved to Kew-" he began. 

Reynolds interrupted quickly, "That was nothing, he had....borrowed something of mine and was only returning it," he rushed. 

The King shook his head, "It's not just that Reynolds, I see the way you look at each other. I see how you smile as soon as he enters the room. I will say, for a while I thought it was The Queen you were infatuated with, the way you grinned every time she entered the room. It took me a while to realize it was The Queen's man that had you acting so giddy. When I saw the way you talk to him, the way you allow your hand to brush against his as you walk together," 

Reynolds was shocked into silence, but The King just kept speaking, a warm smile now on his face. "Reynolds, Brimsley is the only person I have ever seen make you laugh, his every movement draws your gaze, you watch him every time he leaves a room and it looks like you are watching a piece of you leaving. You love him Reynolds," The King was standing now, his eyes unwavering. Reynolds' mind still felt as if it was frozen, unable to understand exactly what was being said, or how it was being said. He began to react in fear.