Lessons in Etiquette and Love

Chapter 3

Dinner was a quiet affair. Hadrian ate, but less than usual and Tom wasn't exactly tucking into his meal like he usually did. A valet came through the door right around when Hadrian was considering if he could stop eating without seeming rude and approached him.

"Lord Hadrian, a missive arrived for you." He took the letter and thanked the valet before opening it.

Lord Hadrian,

I do hope you have been well and have been studying quite vigorously for your manners to improve post haste. It has come to my attention that you are perusing the streets of London and have caught the eyes of the ladies there.

It is with this knowledge that I've decided to have a ball on your birthday. If you do not have anyone on your arm by then, you shall pick one of the lovely women that are sure to attend our home. Your betrothal to someone on this date will be announced at midnight.

Rest assured, if you cannot pick someone prior to the start of the ball I shall be choosing one for you. I've already got a few in mind that would make nice additions to the family.

Hadrian didn't need to progress further to know the letter was from his father. He resisted the urge to crumple it and instead simply put it behind the second one.

My Dearest Son,

Your father is on quite the project with this ball. He's even refusing to allow me to select the musicians! The beasts he's picked will surely ruin the entire night if their track record has any standing. But don't worry dear, I'll get him to change his mind to something more suitable before it's too late.

I know you must be terribly focused on your lessons, although your father seems to think otherwise. It's common practice for Professor Tom to send out his more experienced students into London during the day to wean them into social settings to practice their new skills.

I've been trying to get him to let you have some leniency with your time away. I know you'd rather marry for love; trust me, it's well worth it. Your father just doesn't understand that the way I do.

Please know that I will always love you-regardless of who you wish to be with. I know you don't exactly have the same proclivities towards women the way your father does, but don't let that deter you. He's already promised to allow you to bring home a man if you wish, although he'd never outright admit it to anyone else.

Severus has implored that I pass along his well wishes for you and asked me to tell you that he is fully capable and willing to serve both you and another master should you bring one home.

My advice to you is this: if you should find someone, be honest with them about the time frame you have. London is full of people and if they wish to wait and you spend most of your time with them then...well, your father won't extend the date of your birthday ball any further than your birthday.

With Much Love,

Mummy

P.S. And Severus as well. Even if he'd never admit that he was quite excited that I agreed to pass his message along.

Hadrian, unaware that Tom was watching him, jumped when Tom asked if something was the matter.

"Just..." he took a deep breath. "My parents. Father has told me that he plans on picking a bride for me by midnight on my birthday if I neglect to bring someone home to him prior to that." He wrinkled his nose at the thought. "My mother, on the other hand, has been nothing but supportive."

"When is your birthday? I don't think I've had the pleasure of knowing."

"The thirty-first of July. It's not too far off." Tom only gave him a calculating look before excusing himself from dinner.

Hadrian didn't see much of Tom the next day or the day after that. In fact, he had only exchanged a few words with him over the next several days. He was curious as to what the man was so absorbed with, but didn't bother asking. If he was meant to know, Tom would mention it in his own time.

Sure enough, Tom did come up for some evening tea about a fortnight after the letters had arrived. Hadrian hadn't gone out much since then, preferring to stay inside and hide away from the world. Tom, standing in the doorway, cleared his throat to catch his attention.

"May I join you?" Hadrian nodded and set his book aside.

"You needn't ask, it's your home after all."

"On the contrary, I felt it necessary. Actually, it isn't even proper for me to be here without a chaperone but I didn't think you'd much appreciate one." Hadrian tilted his head at this.

"Whatever would we require a chaperone for?" Tom chuckled at this and he felt his face flush.

"Because it's rather improper for people to think that I could be having my wicked way with you, wouldn't you agree?" It clicked then, what he meant. He was talking about the kiss that had happened all those evenings ago. All things considered, it was considered improper for the two to be left unsupervised.

"I came to ask you if you were adverse to what happened that night."

"No, not at all," Hadrian replied. He had a rather difficult time keeping his face from looking like a beet. Truth be told, he'd loved it.

Tom nodded and fixed himself a cup of tea from the ever present tray.

"Forgive me for making assumptions, but I rather received the impression that you might be interested in more?" Yes, yes a thousand more of those kisses please! Hadrian cleared his throat instead of saying what was on his mind.

"I wouldn't find myself adverse to the idea, if that's what you're asking." With speed Hadrian didn't know was possible, Tom was suddenly kneeling by his chair and holding his right hand in both of his. His hands were soft but strong, a combination that Hadrian found wonderfully tantalizing.

"Hadrian, would you allow me to court you? I know you're under a deadline set by your parents, but I'd like to think you'd be willing to consider me." His mind reeled even as the smile grew on his face.

"I'd like that. And I think you'd be happy to note that you won't have much competition. Even if anyone else was interested in me, I certainly wasn't interested in them. Pride seems to have rotted most of their minds and what little remains is focused on image and image alone." He gazed at Tom, soaking in the smile he was receiving, suddenly nervous about what he had to say next.

"But Tom...I don't think I could bear to remain in London all the time. It's terribly boring and the people here are insincere at best. I know you have a lot of students..." Tom visibly relaxed and took his chair once more although he still held Hadrian's hand across the small distance.

"My students can travel. I must admit that I'm not sure London has ever really felt like home. I've been considering cutting most of my fees and just having the students live in my home in the countryside when I've purchased one. I wouldn't have to pay anyone to keep the house and they'd receive their training much faster if they didn't have to travel daily. It's something I've thought about often over the years but never bothered to follow through with."

"I think you're forgetting that you wouldn't need to purchase a home in the countryside. My mother's already ensured that my favourite countryside manor will be transferred to my name once I marry. I think you'll quite like it, there's plenty of space to house your students and guests should we decide to host any parties or balls."

The two talked about what they'd like to do with their futures until Hadrian caught himself yawning. He stood and excused himself to bed but before he could reach the door, Tom grabbed his arm and pulled him close. Fingertips brushed lightly against his cheek as Hadrian attempted to not drown in Tom's eyes. He barely registered that his hands were on Tom's chest-and what a nice chest it was!-before lips brushed against his.

It was only a moment, but it was just as electric as his first kiss had been.

"Until tomorrow, my dear," Tom whispered. Somehow, Hadrian managed to get into his nightshirt and into bed before falling into blissful dreams of dark hair and bright blue eyes.