It took the better part of a week for Low to feel better. When he did start to bounce back, he seemed like a man possessed to Derry. The shadow of the energetic youth which had met him when he first came was tempered now with the most determined flirt.

It was nearly enough to drive him mad. When he visited him in his bedchambers, Low wanted to cuddle with him. If he did indulge the boy, his wandering hands made things quite awkward. He was rather worried that the servants would notice something amiss.

But the youth was rather clever and convincing at playing the innocent. Nobody seemed to realise that the stray brushes of the lad's hands on his thighs were on purpose. Nor did they catch him when he sat upon his lap and stole a kiss.

It was good that Derry was strong or he would really have caught Low's cold that week. Instead he found himself trying to be strong for another reason. As innocent as his brother truly was, he could not just throw him down and ravage him like he was desperately desiring at the moment.

So instead he suffered, and sweated terribly as the lad cornered him in the library after dinner. Margery had gone to bed early with a headache, thus he was on his own with one very resolute Lord Low.

"We are alone, Derry. Stop worrying so much." He purred as he wrapped his arms around his brother's strong shoulders.

"I must needs worry because you do not. The house is not to bed yet, Low. It is dangerous..." He admonished the boy. Low laughed under his breath.

"It is not dangerous. Father is not home and the servants could care less." He shot back lackadaisical.

"Do you know that for certain? They are father's people after all. I worry for you." He patted the lad's hands gently and tipped his head back to look at Low.

"I don't have to know. I will only be here as long as you are here with me. He can rage all he wants when he gets back. It won't change anything." Low replied with a grin. Derry rolled his eyes and sighed.

"You are too simplistic. If there are too many servants on his side, then neither of us are safe. They will hold their tongues if father wishes to harm either of us." Derry reminded him.

"No, the servants love me more than father. They would not stand idle if he tried to hurt me. I have more of a hold on the estate than you presume." He shook his head and the soft hair that floated about his shoulders tickled Derry's face.

"Doesn't he pay them? Who would betray the man who pays them?" Lord Darian offered with a raised brow.

"No, I pay them. I raised the wages also when father handed things over to me. It was really too much how little he was paying them before." He commented with bite of his lip in consternation.

"Once a miser, always a miser. I cannot say I am surprised. He probably ran the place on a tight budget, am I right?" He grinned to himself.

"Indeed you are correct. I haven't the faintest idea why. We are completely swimming in money. We could live quite comfortably off the gains we make in a year alone." Low told him with a mystified face.

"It is just as well. If he spent it all then there would be nothing for either of us by the time we inherit." Derry pulled him around the chair as he stood up.

"But you said you wanted to get disinherited. Doesn't that mean I will get everything? Do you want me to be rich? I suppose I wouldn't mind supporting you if father did cut you off." Low chatted as Derry slipped away to close the door tightly and lock it behind him.

"You will be my sponsor will you?" Derry teased him as he took him into his arms.

"Of course! I wouldn't want to see you destitute just because of father's ire. I will use my allowance to support us until I do inherit." He added generously. Derry smiled down at him.

"You are a sweet boy, Low. I do love you." He told the lad gently, tucking some of the fluffy hair behind his brother's ear and bending forward to press his lips upon Low's. The boy responded eagerly to his kiss. He barely had to nudge him to open his mouth so he could devour him.

"Ahn." The soft sounds of pleasure escaped the untrained lad and Derry was glad he had waited and took precautions. When he pressed his body firmly against Low's, the boy's knees buckled a little. He held him tightly and pushed his leg between the unsteady limbs to hold him upright.

"Shh, quiet child." He murmured to Low. His brother protested the term with a shake of his head.

"Mm not. I'm not a child. Derry... please don't treat me like a child." He pouted as he looked up at Lord Darian. Part of the elder brother wanted to roll his eyes in exasperation. The part in charge however was between his legs, so he kissed him harder to shut him up instead.

Low's knees did buckle at that point, and Derry held him up in his arms as their tongues tangled. Lord Low's fingers grasped onto the fabric of his clothes and held tight. It was only when the boy's lips were red and wet with passion that Derry pulled away.

"Don't stop. I want more." He cried, thinking his brother was going to leave him.

"Hush. Not here. Come upstairs and dismiss your valet. I will be with you shortly thereafter." He breathed in the soft scent of lavender from Low's hair and then tried to straighten his clothes.

"It's fine. I'm always mussed." Low smiled and giggled to himself as he looked down at his rumpled jacket.

"Alright. Go on. I'll follow in a few minutes." He smiled gently at Low and then gave him an easy shove towards the door. He watched as the red-cheeked boy glanced back before slipping through the unlocked door.

He took a deep breath and stared into space, counting the ticks of the clock on the mantle as he waited.

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