24 23: When He Carried Me Like A Bride
Beta'd by SnowyEgrett
Adrastus and Drystan roamed around the hall amongst the throes of guests, judging people as they passed by them.
“Those are definitely in arranged marriage with no love,” Drystan whispered to his companion. “Ugh, walking to meet your height is hard. I look weird as hell.“
Adrastus glanced at him, a cool expression settling on his face. “You do look weird.“ He nodded slowly. “And they—” he glanced at the couple Drystan pointed out “—are definitely in arranged marriage.“
“Finally,” Drystan sighed. “We are on the same page, hah. We have to find Eleni.“
“I know,” Adrastus insisted. Holding onto Drystan's waist just for the heck of it. “Pretend to faint, I shall take you to my room which is three rooms away from Eleni's. Then, you sneak into her room and run away through the window. I have a carriage and a coach man stationed out of the estate. Your route of escape will be clear.“
Drystan swept him an appreciative look and nodded. “That is a rather good plan. Though a coach man is hardly necessary.“
Adrastus looked at him, his expression shifting to a faint scowl. “Then, kick him out. He will keep his mouth shut, he is one of mine, after all.“
Drystan shrugged with a smile, “If it's fine by you. We can not risk being exposed too soon. You will have to take care of the scene here while I take her away. You must not let them find out that the bride is missing before sixty minutes from now. Understood?“
Adrastus nodded, “Sure. You can rest assured, Ms. Smith.“
Drystan gave him a delighted smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Without so much as an ounce of shame, he went right into the Duke's personal space and held his chin delicately. Slowly, he leaned in, opening his folding fan to block the view, Drystan dropped a kiss on Adrastus' cheek.
Pulling away, he flashed the stunned man a small grin and strutted away from him.
Adrastus barely contained the shock away from his expression. Placing a gloved hand on the kissed cheek, he felt warmth rush to his face before he was finally able to collect himself.
Springing into action, he strode after Drystan, who was standing in a secluded corner staring at him without showing any sign of shame from what he had just done.
Adrastus scowled, standing in front of him, he whispered coldly. “Faint.“
Drystan raised an eyebrow under the hat and tilted his head to the side. “Right now?“ He asked.
Adrastus nodded heavily.
“Okay.“ Drystan nodded elegantly and took the hand offered to him. “Let's go. More eyes we catch, more alibis we get.“
“I know,” Adrastus sighed, sounding tired as he led Drystan out of corner. “Time to socialise.“
“Oh god no,” Drystan groaned as his companion let out a snort of amusement at his misery. “I will really faint, I'm telling you.“
“Serves you right, My Lady.“
“Sod off!“
“All in due time,” Adrastus smiled, his voice oozing with sadistic glee as he practically dragged Drystan around to socialise with the guests who approached him.
Turning to the clearly annoyed painter, he whispered right into his ears, displaying intimatcy to the prying eyes. “I love to see you suffer, Marquess.“
“Marchioness in this case,” Drystan sighed with resignation. “At this rate you will never be able to marry me, Duke Esmeray.“ He mocked, looking at Adrastus with challenging eyes. His lips curled into a demure smile. “You are on thin ice, my good sir.“
Adrastus almost reared back if not for his excellent self-control, he might really have done that at the smile flashed to him by Drystan. Slowly, he shook his head, disbelief apparent on his face.
“And why would I marry you?“ He asked haughtily. “Do I lack suitors? If you do want to marry me you better get in line.“
Drystan showed him a tight-lipped smile, “One day, I assure you, one day you'll be begging to marry me.“ He looked away, raising his chin slightly. “I'm going, do not follow me.“
Adrastus let out a quiet snort as he watched Drystan strut away from him, his steps were measured as he walked carefully as to not damage the dress he was wearing.
Drystan glanced back at his companion over his shoulder and saw the blond male looking at him with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Fighting off a smirk threatening to spill on his lips, he took another step forward and then stumbled. His body tilting to the side in a powerless motion as he swayed.
Drystan let out a breath, silently complimenting his own dedication to the act.
Behind him, he heard the hurried footsteps of someone zooming towards himself. Just as he felt himself close to the floor, someone held him by his waist at the last moment, saving him from the tragic fall.
He let out a weak sigh, completely dedicated to his one man show.
“My Lady!” It was Adrastus who held him. His voice sounding distressed as he spoke. “Are you alright?“
Drystan shook his head as if that singular action took a lot from him. “My apologies,” he whispered in a soft, feminine voice. “For this spectacle, Duke Esmeray.“
Adrastus shook his head in actual distress, in front of all eyes present, he swiftly hooked his arm under Drystan's leg and the other on his back, holding the 'woman' close to his chest, he hurriedly carried her away from the hall in a bridal fashion as the 'woman' leaned her head on his chest.
Her hat skewed slightly and a part of her face was exposed to other guests.
It was her high cheekbones and gorgeous red lips.
One of the guests who caught the sight of the 'woman's’ face couldn't help the gasp that tore through him even as the Duke of Yorkshire carried her away, worry as clear as day on his face.
“What happened?“ A guest beside him asked.
“That lady... She's too beautiful, no wonder Duke Esmeray seems to be so worried for her.“
“Is that so?“
“Yes,” the guest insisted. “I didn't see much but whatever I saw is enough for me to know what's true.“
On the hallway, away from the prying eyes of the guests, Adrastus carried Drystan in his arms as he glanced at his still body from time to time.
“Hey, you twat!“ He hissed softly.
Drystan did not respond.
“Hey!“ Adrastus scowled, jerking the man in his arms. “Are you listening to me?“
He huffed, stomping as he walked to his room. Opening and closing the door of his room with a kick, he stopped dead in front of his bed.
“If you don't speak this instant, I will strangle you to death,” he hissed, ice in his voice.
Finally, the man in his arms showed some reaction, his shoulders shook slightly as his lips twitched in an effort to keep his laughter at bay.
Drystan slowly opened his eyes, his thick eyelashes fluttering as he did so. Blinking coyly, he finally gave into the laugh that tore through him, his laughter was deep, magnetic sound reverberating through his chest.
Adrastus' ears became numb as Drystan laughed, the man covered his mouth with his hand as he looked up at Adrastus through his eyelashes.
Adrastus just stared at him, neither asking him to get down from his arms nor dropping him onto the bed.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” Drystan gasped, breathless as he apologised. “But that was really funny! Your 'My Lady' sounded so genuinely distressed that I almost laughed right there.“
Poking Adrastus' bicep rather suggestively, he complimented. “You are pretty damn strong.“
Finally snapping out of his daze, the Duke immediately dropped him on the bed and whipped his head to the side, jutting his chin out, he sneered, not looking at his companion.
“That is because I thought that you really fainted. You,” he shot the man on his bed a glare. “Could have told me that you were going to act.“
Drystan shrugged, playing with the sheets under him. “Where's the fun in that?“ he asked gently. “Besides, that way, your reaction came across completely natural.“
“You really don't care, do you?“
Drystan wiped the tears — accumulated through laughing — from the corner of his eyes and sniffed. “Of course I care. But your reaction was too good.“
Adrastus raised a fist in front of him. “Are you looking for a fight?“
Drystan shot him a smirk and looking at him through hooded eyes, he leered. “Well, we could fight in a different way,” he paused taking in Adrastus' reaction. “And I would love to fight you that way, but right now, Eleni is more important. So let's schedule this fight for some other day.“ He gave the flushed Duke an exaggerated wink and stood up.
With their face barely an inch away from each other, so much so that had he moved a little closer the tips of their noses would have touched.
Overcome with a sudden and rare moment of shyness, Drystan was the first one to break the stalemate of their eyes and move to the door.
Holding the handle, he turned around slightly. Meeting Adrastus' eyes, the Marquess of Wales tilted his head to the side and he allowed himself to smile.
The corners of his eyes were crinkling slightly as he shot Adrastus a small, soft and rather genuine smile.
“Don't worry,” he said, his voice held real gentleness that came from his heart as he reassured the Duke of Yorkshire. “Eleni will be at the Temperance soon.“
Adrastus' stoic face seemed to melt away as he nodded slowly. “I know.“
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Author has something to say:
Eleni: This chapter was about anything but me.
Author: Hehehe [Gremlin grin.jpg]
Drystan: (Let's out a long suffering sigh)
Adrastus (rolling his eyes): He was heavy, why did you make me carry him?
Author: [Sweating.jpg]
+ My dearest friend, my beta is busy with Easter and can't beta other chapters for the time being. I will try to update soon
