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Prologue
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2024-10-29 19:42:56London, 1852
The man sitting opposite William put the heavy tumbler on the table.
The expensive piece of furniture was conveniently placed next to the richly decorated sofa his companion was almost lying in.
He was dressed in a dark, well-tailored suit which most likely cost William's pay for the entire year.
Double, even.
Judging by his speech, he was someone from the upper classes, yet the nobleman’s behavior didn't match his noble origin in the least.
He'd untied his black cravat, spoke of books idly, and didn't seem to be interested in the game they were playing at all.
The man hadn't introduced himself when they'd met earlier and he hadn't been accompanied by a servant or another nobleman.
William was sure the place they were at wasn't even the man's main house.
This was more like an apartment where the nobleman invited his private guests; it was likely he didn't keep a regular household, as they were just the two of them and he hadn't seen a maid around.
William knew some men from the upper classes had the habit of privately renting a place, where they could invite whomever they pleased, far and free from the class norms their noble origin required them to comply with.
"Cigarette? " The nobleman offered and took one out from an intricately crafted box.
William saw letters he couldn't recognize written on it and assumed it had probably been imported from God knew where.
"Uhh no, thank you." He looked back at the cards he was holding and tried to find a way to feign indifference to what he was seeing.
And that was he had zero winning cards. William had no idea how that was possible.
"More whisky, then?"
A slow smile spread on the nobleman's handsome face.
This person was enough of a distraction as it was, he didn't need to try and talk to William right now.
His bright red hair made his cold blue eyes even more outstanding and attractive. And intimidating at the same time.
William was painfully aware he was being observed and that alone was enough to make him feel nervous.
"No, no. Thank you." He stuttered.
"Ah, I see there isn't much you want, then. Besides winning the money on the table, that is."
The gentleman gestured at the four cards on the table with the pile of money and a few jewels next to it. He leaned forward then and said lazily
"I know you don't have anything besides those two sevens and from what I've counted so far, those are your strongest ones." He took a sip from his glass and folded his own cards.
"How...?" William's hands began visibly shaking.
"You seem tense. This is only a game, after all?" the question hung in the air and the man leaned back again.
"I... this was my last money. If I lose them..."
The blue eyes lingered on William's face, then the man said
"Then, perhaps, we could settle the...this inconvenience in a different way. Because you very well know you can't just run away."
He had the upper hand and he knew it. More - he seemed to be taking pleasure in it.
"I... what other way?"
The red-haired nobleman smiled, this time it was almost viciously.
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August 1852He hated all of this. Absolutely any part of it in its entirety.He mostly dreaded the fact he had to sit through another of his mother's richly organized dinners now.At the same time, Callum was glad he wasn't the one expected to stay until its very end. He didn't even want to imagine how terrible that would be.He glanced at Liam- his older brother- who was talking to a sweet, petite blonde girl; her purple dress was covered in frills and ribbons as per the latest fashion.Callum's gaze lingered over the lace of her corset for a few moments longer than appropriate before his eyes moved up to the ivory clock on the wall.The time was showing 9:14.Good.Callum reminded himself not to check the time so obviously often and looked away, searching for a place to put his eyes on.The young lady sitting opposite him was still smiling politely, although Callum knew
Gentleman Code Chapter Two
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"And then the prince stabbed the big monster!" The child exclaimed, full of wonder and Jenny laughed."Percy, you are the monster my nephew's talking about? ""You ain't funny, Jenny. "Percy made a face at her and she pretended she didn’t see it and ignored him. Oliver hadn’t told anyone he’d seen them in the study, but he’d spent the day with Percy and the kid again, so he’d hinted they should probably be more careful. He’d saved the details around the fact he wasn’t the only one who had seen them that day.Obviously, the Lord didn’t care in any way for any of this, but Oliver suspected Thomas wouldn’t be so indifferent if he found out. And if the butler didn’t like something, that meant trouble for all of them.Oliver got up and said "Thank you for the dinner, Adelia. I'll be heading up. "
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Gentleman Code Chapter Forty Three
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Gentleman Code Chapter Forty Two
The sound of the music traveled in the quiet of the night. Callum put on a robe over his nightshirt and headed for the drawing-room. It was was past midnight and the entire manor was asleep. Besides his brother, obviously. He could never mistake the sound of his melody. Callum stood at the entrance and watched Liam play. Every time his brother was behind the piano, it was like he stopped being human for as long as the piece he was playing was going on. Liam was also in a nightshirt, although Callum was sure he hadn't even tried to sleep before coming here. Liam looked up from the keys and stopped immediately, startled. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I'd wake someone up. " "You didn't. I wasn't sleeping either. " Callum moved closer and took one of the nearest chairs and put it next to his brothers'. "I don't want to interrupt you." "You aren't. I should stop anyway. What time is it?"
Gentleman Code Chapter Forty One
Callum was in the sofa in the smaller library. It was the one Oliver occasionally found him in the evening, and not in his study. The Lord had said studies made him feel anxious for no reason and "Something that Liam prefers." Oliver had laughed then, but seeing him now, he thought the room indeed was more fitting to him. Callum was lying down on the small sofa, drowsing. He'd rested his head on his outstretched hand and it was dangling over the armrest.Oliver wanted to kiss the inside of his wrist, but he knew he can’t. Callum looked almost peaceful. Somehow warmer. Oliver walked in with a candle, but put it off when he saw the fire was still burning, its light drawing dancing shadows over Cal's face. Cian had curled in a ball close to the fire and the animal was most likely asleep too. At Oliver's approach, the dog only opened one eye and closed it back again. Oliver knelt in front of the ch
Gentleman Code Chapter Forty
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