The Long Summer of Monsieur Loiseau

Alex entered the dining room after the dinner had begun, and fortunately the baron's toast was just in the middle of it, and people's attention was on the host.Martha narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him, said nothing, and silently pointed to the seat where he should go.Alex's is at the front of the long table, to Lyra's right.George and his fiancée sat on the baron's left, and there was a couple Harry didn't know, probably the Viscount and Lady Hartford.The baroness was not there, and no seat was reserved for her.Harry was seated at the end of the table, not far from the band, between the two young officers.The two had been talking about the Soviets and Berlin all evening, and Harry knew too little about it to interrupt, but politely agreed, draining the wine from his glass and staring uneasily at the mural.This was the first time he noticed the fine reliefs and paintings in the dining room. In his memory, this room was always dimly lit with candles, and the four corners of the curtains were firmly fixed to strictly abide by the blackout regulations.That seemed like another century.

Harry didn't eat much, didn't remember what he put in his mouth, and just wanted dinner to be over as soon as possible.Once or twice, when Harry looked towards the front of the long table, Alex was looking at him, but looked away quickly, as if not to get Harry's attention.The skylark's sudden song kept echoing in his head, Harry could clearly remember the warmth and feel of his lips, and the tip of Alex's tongue tasted like granulated sugar, almonds and champagne.The dead leaves from last winter rustled, and the soft mulch on which the fig trees took root gave off a strong damp smell.

"...There is no such radar system, and it can't actually pose a real threat, don't you think so, Mr. Prudence?" The officer next to him said, Harry recovered, looked away, and said perfunctory, of course of.The waiter brought the next course, lamb in a thick gravy, and saved Harry from this futile conversation.

Dessert was strawberry panna cotta and sliced ​​fresh yellow apricots.The band began to play cheerful dance music, and some men left to smoke and drink a glass of whiskey in the side hall.Alex stayed for an extra ten minutes, chatting with the Viscountess of Hartford, neither of them seemed willing to let the other go.Then the young M. Loiseau said something, got up, kissed the back of the Vicomtesse's hand, opened the French window, and went out into the garden.Harry folded his napkin, put it next to his plate, and followed.

He finds Alex under the rose stand.There were no lights in the garden, and the only light came from the brightly lit dining room, but it only illuminated a small patch of grass and half a chestnut tree, and the rest were hidden in shadow.Alex lit a cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating his face before shrinking to a small quivering red spot.He handed Harry the cigarette.

"no, thank you."

"That seems to be the only answer I can get out of your mouth today, 'No thanks'."

"sorry."

"No, don't apologize, Harry, I'm the one to apologize. I thought." He didn't finish the sentence, took a drag on his cigarette, and let it out.The wind quickly blew away the smell of burning tobacco.

"You are right."

"Which part is true?"

"The 'you thought' part." Harry cleared his throat, his heart beating so fast he felt he could barely make a sound, "I'm just not sure if I'm part of yours, the game."

Alex dropped the cigarette and stomped it out, "What do you mean by 'game'?"

"Your 'friends' who came and went quickly at Oxford. I wasn't good at it - I mean, I didn't want to be them, and I wish I could keep you."

The long silence was filled with the uninterrupted chirping of insects.The air was slightly chilly, probably because of the sea not far away.Rose season is virtually over, and the remnants of the blooms are dying, exuding a rich smell reminiscent of decaying leaves and mud after a rain.When Alex spoke, his voice trembled.

"Harry, if it wasn't for your attention, what do you think I've been doing these past few months?" He took a deep breath and didn't give Harry time to answer, "Besides, you're too dull, no May participate in any 'game'."

"I don't know if I should be honored or offended."

"You should thank me."

They grabbed each other's hands, as if they were afraid that the darkness would suddenly rush over and wash them away.Harry kissed his friend carefully, first on the forehead, then the tip of the nose, and finally the lips.Alex now tastes like tobacco and white wine.There was a slight sound in the grass, and they separated briefly, panting, and hid in the deeper shadows under the rose stand.But the source of the noise was only a field mouse, or a hare, scuttling along the edge of the flowerbed.

"Now is a good time to invite me to your bedroom, Mr. Prudence."

"Thanks for reminding."

In order to get around to the west wing of the mansion, the two stumbled a long way in the dark garden, entered through a small side door used by servants, and walked quietly up the stairs.New wall lights had been installed in the hallway on the second floor, all of them were lit, but there was no one there.The sound of music came from downstairs, because the distance was too far, it was very vague, more like a hallucination after drunkenness.They crashed into Harry's room without turning on the light, fumbled to tear off each other's bow ties, unbuttoned them, and kicked aside their leather shoes and trousers.

With the curtains drawn, the shadow of the chestnut tree on the floor, and the dim moonlight just enough to distinguish the dark sheets from the pale skin, they spent a long time exploring each other's bodies, palms and tongues gliding across the warm, undulating contour.Alex whimpered softly as Harry sank into him, knees clamped around Harry's waist, fingernails scratching blood on his back.Harry leaned in to kiss him, bringing their sweaty brows together.The banquet music sounded again after a brief silence. The two intertwined violins climbed to the same high note, slowly fell back, and gradually merged into the gentle tone of the piano.

None of them noticed when the music stopped, and the silence that followed was as thick and warm as a blanket.The shadow of the chestnut tree moved with the angle of the moon, spreading on Alex's bare back. Harry reached out his hand and gently stroked the trembling tree shadow.

"I dreamed about it," said Alex.

"sex?"

"Yes, with you, in this room. It's just that it's raining outside in my dream. It may be in the afternoon or early in the morning. It's hard to tell."

"It doesn't sound too difficult to achieve."

Alex laughed, and Harry could feel warm breath on the side of his neck. "Harry, it's only fair that you tell me about an embarrassing dream too."

"I usually don't remember the dreams I've had."

"It's an excuse."

Harry tilted his head and brushed his lips against Alex's ear: "I once dreamed that I was standing in a drawing room full of plaster busts."

"It doesn't sound too embarrassing."

"I didn't wear any clothes, like those statues. One of the walls of the drawing room was a window, facing the busy street. I wanted to escape, but there was no door in that room."

"Exhibit: "Unfortunate Mr. Prudence."

"It should be Mr. Prudence, Confused."

"Because you're like an oyster."

Harry couldn't help laughing, "Why oysters?"

Alex answered something in a low voice, he was almost falling asleep, the words stuck together, and he couldn't hear clearly.Harry listened to his breathing, and it took a while before he kissed his forehead, and pulled the quilt over them both.

tbc.