The Hunt Club Chronicles Bundle by Heather Boyd

separation of a few hours was agony. He missed waking next to him too, although Henry might not have enjoyed sleeping on the lounge as Nathan had done last night. Henry belonged in a bed, with luxury and every comfort he could offer.
    Nathan stood and stretched. He was getting too old to fall asleep just anywhere. He wanted to wake up in his bed. He wanted Henry to rouse him with kisses, but he had to endure his valet’s stark efficiency, not the comfort of a lovers touch. They could only manage that at the cottage.
    When the valet didn’t answer his summons promptly, he scowled at the door to his dressing closet. It was unlike the valet not to arrive promptly, so he stalked to the room and through to his valet's connecting bedchamber. The room was empty. Irritated anew, Nathan stalked back to the racks of clothes and considered his choices. His valet was neat to a fault. Country, evening, London splendor—he just had to choose the occasion.
    A few minutes later, after he'd selected a somber green to mark his wife's departure, the door to his bedchamber creaked open.
    "Where the devil have you been? It's well past . . ."
    "May I be of service, Your Grace?"
    Nathan looked up as the unexpected voice interrupted his rant. The butler returned his gaze, a bright flush brightening his features.
    "Where the hell is . . . ?” Nathan didn’t finish as his sluggish brain connected the changes of last night with his late awakening and the butler's obvious embarrassment. His valet had left with his wife. Nathan swung away from his servant. Of course, the sneaky bastard. There was no way Nathan would give that man a letter of recommendation when he left his service. Hell, he could leave it now. He refused to pay the man who fathered his wife's bastard child.
    Nathan glanced out the window, fighting the urge to reach over and throw something. It was one thing for his wife to cuckold him, another for a servant, and a personal one at that, to be a party to the mess. The servant’s would be sniggering behind his back. By his outburst, the butler would know that Nathan hadn’t a clue about his wife's treachery.
    Behind him, the butler cleared his throat, reminding him he had company. Without turning to see the pity in his servant’s eyes, Nathan spoke. " Bath , breakfast, and Henry. In that order."
    Nathan needed to cool his head before he faced his lover.
    "Henry, Your Grace?"
    Nathan shut his eyes. Of all the stupid slips. Henry wasn’t known by his given name, not to anyone but him. He'd have to exercise more care. He ground his teeth. "Mr. Stackpool."
    "Of course." The butler hurried off, leaving Nathan alone with his ill temper. Right under his nose the whole time. How could he have been such a fool?
    The door opened and closed behind his back but Nathan didn’t turn. Not even when the fast footsteps paused behind his back and a breath whispered across his neck.
    "You stayed?"
    Nathan turned, catching the dazzling smile on Henry's face. Nathan had never known him to appear so happy. He frowned. "Where else would I be?"
    Henry linked his hands together across his belly and Nathan covered them. He couldn’t do any more. Any minute now, servants would arrive with pails of water. But he had to connect with Henry. Had to touch him, feel the heat of his strong hands. Had to know that this odd love he believed was reciprocated.
    "Your wife left last night." Henry cocked his head to one side and his smile dimmed.
    "That she did. She couldn’t possibly stay. Henry, I need to add to your duties. I’ll need you to fill in as my valet.”
    Henry glanced around. “What happened to Jones?”
    “He ran away with his one true love.”
    Henry scoffed. "It's not possible for him to run away with himself. He must be cleverer than he looks."
    Nathan smiled at Henry's absurd observation. "Smarter than I am, at any rate."
    Henry clucked his tongue. “It is a pity Her Grace has already departed. She has strong opinions about the correct demeanour