Page 38 of The Songbird of Wychwood

“That sounds exciting,” I said snuggling into his hairy chest.

“I wonder, how would you feel about permitting me to publish your songs?”

I pulled away and sat up. “You think my songs are that good?”

“Of course they are! The audience adores you, and I could see those songs well received all over the Empire. I’ve checked with my banker, and another music publisher, a friend of my father, who said it could be a very lucrative enterprise. I would, of course, ensure everything is above board when it comes to contracts. There would be an advance, and a royalty payment for each manuscript sold.” Percy said in a rush. He stopped talking and I didn’t respond because I couldn’t find the words.

“Sorry, I’m running ahead of myself. I’m just… rather in awe of you and your talents. We haven’t known each other long at all, and I understand you love to perform at the Middlesex. Forgive me if you have no plans to further your career in this way but I want the world to hear you sing,” he said passionately.

I reached out and placed a finger on his lips to silence him. I did want to branch out, to see the world, and make a living for myself outside of the Music Hall. The Middlesex was my training ground, but there was a big wide world out there and I wanted to see it, to travel, to sing in other theaters. With the responses I got from the punters, and from Grayson’s talk of sending me on a tour one day, I knew I could find an audience outside of Covent Garden. But the thought of someone in say, Australia playing my songs in a music hall…well, I didn’t know what to think about that. These were my song and they went with my characters. I felt protective of them. I wanted to be the one singing them and doing the entertaining.

I lay on my back looking at the ceiling. “This is all very sudden,” I said. “Can I take some time to think about it? It’s not that I don’t trust you, I do! But our friendship is so new and it kind of scares me how much I do trust you! I think I’d like to get to know you better first, if that’s alright?”

Percy mirrored me, lying flat on his back. He covered his face with his hands, “Of course, of course. I understand this proposition seems rushed, and I’m making a god-awful muddle of it,”

I turned my head to face him, “No, no, it’s fine, it’s just…fast,” I pacified.

We watched one another for a long moment. “Thank you for believing in me though, it means a lot.” I pulled Percy down with me under the covers to where it was toasty warm. I kissed him, open mouthed, hungry, and desperate. Our tongues explored, and danced, nipping and sucking until we broke apart frantic for air.

My pego was as hard as a poker, and I so desperately wanted to slide it into Percy’s heat and fill him up with pleasure. I wondered if he would let me.

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