Convincing Leopold by Ava March Page B

sated prick into his trousers and doing up the placket. “And need I remind you that you are the one who made the introduction.”
     
    Thorn let out another one of those little noises of discontent. Judging by the rustle of fabric, he was repairing his own clothing. “I didn’t want you to spend the evening playing the wallflower,” he grumbled. “Much too handsome for that.” He sighed, then nudged Arthur’s knee with his own. “Come to Ramsey House with me.”
     
    “When?”
     
    “Soon. Next week. Within the fortnight.”
     
    “Thank you for the invitation, but it will take days to travel to Yorkshire.”
     
    “I can guarantee an enjoyable carriage ride.”
     
    “Of that I have no doubt.” An eager Thorn, willing to broaden Arthur’s knowledge of the most pleasurable ways to make long hours in a carriage slip by, had made their return to London quite enjoyable. “But I can’t afford to be away from the office for such a length of time. Perhaps by the spring Fenton will be able to manage on his own for a few days, and then I can join you. If you wish to take a holiday now or need to visit the property, please don’t hold back on my account.”
     
    Was that what Thorn needed, a bit of country air? It wasn’t the first time he had mentioned Yorkshire in the last month, though it was the first time he had outright asked Arthur to accompany him.
     
    But Thorn wiped away that possibility. “No. I don’t have a pressing need to escape London at the moment. Much rather wait for you.”
     
    The carriage slowed to a stop. Arthur lifted the shade to reveal a very familiar tidy brick building. They had arrived at his bachelor apartments. “Did you have a nice evening?” he asked, glancing to Thorn. Hopefully the opportunity to socialize with others besides himself had provided what Thorn needed. The man had been a tad…calmer on the carriage ride. Well, at least not as aggressive as of late.
     
    The streetlamp illuminated Thorn’s single nod.
     
    “Good.” The carriage shifted, the springs creaking faintly as the footman hopped down to see to the door. Arthur held Thorn’s gaze. “Tomorrow night. Yes. You have my word.”
     
    The smile curving the edges of his lover’s mouth told him loud and clear that Thorn understood.

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    Arthur rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension there.
     
    Did not do a damn bit of good.
     
    “Fenton,” he called.
     
    The young man materialized in the open door of his office. “Yes, Mr. Barrington?”
     
    “Did you pull the last contract we did for Mr. Newbourgh before drafting this one?” Arthur indicated the papers on his desk before him. The same papers Fenton had dropped off mere minutes ago.
     
    Shaking his head, Fenton stepped into the office. “No, Mr. Barrington. I made certain to follow the notes you gave me, though. I was quite careful to ensure I addressed everything you asked for.”
     
    Arthur let out a sigh, but it did nothing to ease the frustration stringing his nerves taut. “When I handed you the notes, I asked you to also pull the last contract done for him and use it as a guide. It was for the purchase of a property similar to this one. Mr. Newbourgh requires very specific language in his contracts.” They had just discussed the new contract yesterday afternoon, not twenty-four hours ago. How had Fenton forgotten? Arthur might have been slightly distracted, concerned Fenton would detect the scent of sex that had certainly still lingered on the air, but he knew without a doubt he had conveyed the request to the secretary.
     
    A furrow of worry pulled Fenton’s brow as he came to a stop at Arthur’s shoulder. “My apologies for the oversight, Mr. Barrington.”
     
    “Regardless of Mr. Newbourgh’s requirements, it is always good practice to check a client’s file before starting work on a new document.” Something else he had told Fenton before. More than once, in fact.
     
    “Yes, of