Page 36 of Measure of the Stars

A smile tugged at Delauney’s mouth.“I don’t recall you showing any remorse.”

“Exactly.So we’re writing a letter to whoever’s in charge of studying astronomy in Arktos.The worst they can do is ignore us.”

“That could take months,” Delauney said.“You know how slow the post is here, let alone with whatever they have to do to get into Arktos.”

Wes blinked at him.“So?”

“So...”Delauney waved a hand.“Your contract with the navy will be done sooner than you think.You might miss their response.”

Wes hadn’t thought about that.If he left the navy, that meant leaving Delauney, his collection of formerly incomprehensible calculations, and their study of the stars.While he knew that it was safer to leave before the military council found a reason to penalize him for another crime, his mind stuttered to a halt when he tried to think of life after leaving theManatee.

“You could always stay on,” Delauney said.“Not as a sailor or a valet.As a...a guest.”That felt too much like being a noble’s kept pet for Wes’ taste.It must have shown on his face, because Delauney blushed furiously.“It’s only a possibility.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Wes said.Somehow, Delauney and the stars had thoroughly entrenched themselves into Wes’ life.He wondered if that was what it had been like for his ancestor, so focused on history that he’d been willing to write dozens of books on the subject.Did passion take over all at once for everyone, or was it a gradual thing, like the rising of the tide?How many other interests had he missed by being dragged into the navy?

“I should still thank you,” Delauney said.He looked down at his hands, his face troubled.“No one has ever taken it seriously before now.But I never really told anyone that Iwasserious about it.Not since I was a boy, in any case.People are usually relieved to have me around, because I’m...I’m easy.I don’t complicate matters, or bore people, or drone on about something no one truly cares for.”

“You don’t have to be easy for someone to like you,” Wes said.“Try it with Ned sometime.Tell him what we’re doing.”Delauney gave Wes a scandalized look.“Oh, noteverything.Just the bit with the stars.”

Delauney went quiet, picking at his mending.After a long silence, Wes took up the book where they’d left off, but Delauney still seemed lost in thought, brows furrowed.At last, he interrupted an account of an ancient astronomer’s attempt to hear the music of the spheres.

“Perhaps Ned can come to the throne tomorrow night,” he said.

Wes set the book down again.He had to admit that he felt a little protective of Delauney, even if telling Ned had been his idea.If Ned rejected Delauney outright, it would probably send him into an apologetic gloom, but there was always a chance that Ned would be reasonable.His husband seemed to be practical enough, at least, and that could havesomeeffect on the natural self-involved ego of a future earl.

“All right,” he said.“Tomorrow, we’ll take him to the throne and show him what we’ve been working on.And he’ll beimpressed,” he said, when momentary panic flashed in Delauney’s eyes.

“And if he isn’t?”Delauney asked.

“Fuck him.”Wes picked up the book again.“Or don’t, actually.Peter may not approve.”

“Partners generally don’t,” Delauney said, with a sly look at Wes.Wes sat up, finally abandoning the book.

“You haven’t been dallying with married couples, have you?”he asked.

“Not without their permission,” Delauney said, a hand on his heart.Then his innocent expression shifted.“Well.When I was young...the fellowdidsay that his wife gave him leave.I only learned that she hadn’t when she appeared on my doorstep.”

Wes covered his eyes with his palm.“That’s a nightmare I’ve had at least once before.”

“Did your nightmares end with the spurned wife seducing you?”Delauney asked.“They passed me between the two of them for nearly a year before they settled whatever argument they were refusing to have.”

“Ayear?” Wes cried, letting his hand fall.“Delauney,no.”

“I was young!”Delauney said, laughing.“I thought they would make me their third!And the wife had legs like...”He gestured broadly.

“No amount of shapely legs can make getting in the middle ofthata good decision.”

“I figured that I wasn’t being false if they both knew,” Delauney said.“At least I was already in the navy at the time.So if you think about it, I was barely involved.”

Wes groaned.

“And you haven’t made questionable choices?”Delauney asked.“The man who let someone put their hand in him on thebeach?Where the sand is?”

“Getting fisted by a group of strangers is hardly the same as being in the middle of a failing marriage,” Wes said.Delauney snorted.Wes put on the voice he used to take when he was mimicking his parents at their most snobbish.“I take umbrage with your judgmental manner, Delauney de Mazet.”

“Oh, did I strike a nerve?”Delauney asked.“How much sand is still inside you, Wesley Bradnell-FitzRoy Leonhart?”

“Brat,” Wes said.“It’s a marvel that your fancy whores don’t muzzle you.”