Page 103 of Liberated

“Very possibly,” George agreed. "Aurelie certainly thinks it’s a boy. Something about losing her sweet tooth.” He shrugged, happy but unconcerned. “We’ll see.”

Though he was still legally his father’s heir, George no longer felt the heavy weight of that duty upon him. His home was Blackfriars now.

Sometimes, Theo thought about the future, long years distant, when he and George were older. Perhaps one day, they would step back from farming themselves. By then, Morgan would own his farm outright, but perhaps one of his children would want to rent Theo’s land, or another potential tenant might emerge. Perhaps he and George would decide to take a much longer trip one day, and leave Blackfriars to someone else entirely to manage, while they explored places neither of them had ever been. Sicily. Athens. The Greek islands.

Perhaps. One day. It was impossible to know what the future would bring. But Theo knew one thing, at least, and he knew it with utter certainty. His future—whatever it might turn out to be—was sitting here, in this carriage, with him.

Theo set his hand on George’s knee, and George smiled at him, his dark gaze content.

His lovely, dreaming boy.

No longer a hazy memory, but a here and now presence in his life. Solid and real, at his side.

Now, and for always.

The End