That same evening...
The grand doors of Ashford House swung open the moment Arthur, Bennett, and Cedric stepped onto the polished marble floor. The waiting maids bowed in perfect formation, and the guards straightened as if witnessing the arrival of royalty rather than three exhausted young men.
Each of the Ashford brothers was followed closely by his personal butler. Their boots clicked in a steady rhythm.
Evelina's butler, Mr Hartwell, stepped forward with a worried expression.
"My lords," he said with a bow, "Welcome home. Mistress Evelina... She has locked herself in her chambers since the young master Noel departed."
Arthur stopped walking. His jaw clenched so tightly the muscles there jumped. He ran his fingers through his silver-blond hair, exhaling deeply.
"Good Lord..." he muttered under his breath. "Once I lay my hand on that person who made our sister fall apart like this....may heaven help that wretched soul."
Bennett quietly rested a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"Brother," he murmured, "Here is not the place to discuss such. There are too many eyes and ears."
Cedric nodded. "Let us discuss this where walls do not have ears."
Arthur inhaled sharply, then gave a stiff nod. The three of them left the grand hall and entered a private antechamber with thick walls, heavy drapes, and an old chandelier casting long shadows over the room's mahogany furniture.
Cedric dropped into a seat first.
"So?" he asked. "What did you find about that... Noel?"
Arthur sat down slowly, disappointment already draining his features.
"Nothing good. We cannot let our Eve marry someone like him."
Bennett leaned forward. "What is it about him?"
Arthur exhaled, crossed one leg over the other, and rested an elbow on the armrest like a tired monarch readying his decree.
"Noel," he said, "is a renowned Playboy. He is admired by half the noble sons and nearly all the noble ladies. He spends his nights in parlours and gatherings, and it is rumoured he changes partners more often than he changes his gloves."
Cedric snorted. "Charming."
Arthur continued, "He sleeps around. He flirts with anything in skirts. A man like that should never come near Evelina."
Cedric tilted his head with a thoughtful expression... A dangerous one.
"Should I simply kidnap him and chop his dick..."
"No." Bennett cut in, rolling his eyes. "You don't want to lose your doctor's license, do you?"
But Arthur smirked.
"It would certainly traumatise him. But there is something more efficient."
Cedric raised a brow. "More efficient than chopping something off?"
"According to the information..." Arthur's grin widened. "Noel hates men."
Bennett blinked. "Hates?"
Arthur nodded. "He despises them touching him. Perhaps even standing too close irritates him. He tolerates only one... his guard... Rowan. But still, he despises this very guard of his,"
Cedric leaned back, a slow, sinister grin building. "Oh, so he enjoys women but cannot stand men? Hah. Interesting."
Bennett narrowed his eyes at Arthur's expression. "What are you thinking, Arthur?"
Arthur placed the folded document on the table with a soft slap.
"A plan. A wonderfully traumatising plan."
Cedric rubbed his palms together like a child awaiting mischief. "Go on."
Bennett frowned. "What if the trauma stops him from getting back with Evelina at all?"
"Good," Arthur said with a careless shrug. "I do not wish that man anywhere near our sister. I will find someone better suited for Eve."
Arthur lifted an invitation he had tucked inside the document... a black embossed card with silver trimming.
"A bachelor party," he said. "Two days from now. And the best part? Noel will be attending the same gathering."
Cedric raised a brow. "So?"
"At this party," Arthur explained, "there is a game of dares. The host chooses the unfortunate participant. I will ensure Noel is chosen... and then, my dear brothers... we shall do as we please."
Bennett's lips parted slightly.
"Are you saying we are going to do 'that'?"
"Oh yes," Arthur answered, fully confident.
Cedric grimaced. "I am not interested in men. I prefer women. Soft, curvy, willing women."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "And do you think I am interested? This is for Evelina. For revenge."
Bennett sighed. "I am in. I want to see this Noel with my own eyes."
Both brothers turned to Cedric, who groaned loudly.
"Fine!" Cedric snapped. "But only once. After this revenge nonsense, I want nothing to do with that Noel."
Arthur clapped his hands once, satisfied. "Excellent."
Bennett asked, "When is the party?"
Arthur leaned back. "Like I said, in two days."
"I shall prepare for it then," Cedric spoke as he stood immediately. "I shall check on Eve. If she refuses to open that door, I will break it down myself."
"Well, summoning the repairmen in advance will be a good idea," Arthur muttered.
Bennett rose. "I will assist Cedric in breaking the door."
The moment they left, Arthur reached for the document again. He unfolded it with deliberate slowness and stared at the photograph tucked inside.
Noel.
Black hair that was as soft as silk. Hazel eyes speckled with gold, shimmering even through the paper. Sharp posture, elegant hands. A subtle ear piercing glinting like mischief itself. He looked refined... graceful... almost unreal.
"...Beautiful," Arthur whispered before he even realised he had said it.
He blinked.
Then smirked.
No, he purposely didn't show his brothers this picture.
'Let them meet Noel in person. Let them see the creature who had managed to make Eve sob into her pillow.'
Arthur folded the photograph again, leaned back, and whispered:
"I cannot wait to see this beautiful Noel for myself."
.
.
The next morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the Ashford estate. Noel wandered into the massive library just to find something... anything... to keep his mind from drifting toward tomorrow's party. He just couldn't wait for it to happen, and he kept fantasising about himself with tons of men. The number of times he did that was unhealthy.
Rowan followed two steps behind him as always... Just like a shadow.
"Rowan," Noel muttered without looking back, "I told you to take the day off since you're hurt."
Rowan only bowed his head slightly. "I must decline."
Noel sighed.
'Of course, he refused. He doesn't even listen to me,'
He brushed his fingers along the spines of the books as he walked through the aisle... blue leather, red cloth, gold-stamped titles. He finally spotted a book high on the shelf, just out of reach.
The ladder was pushed to the other end of the aisle. It looked heavy and annoyingly huge. It was also too far.
He stood on his toes, stretching his fingers upward. No use. His fingers couldn't even brush the book.
He glanced at Rowan... not that he planned to ask for help. But Rowan's expression was unreadable, as it always was. He could imagine Rowan telling him to piss off.
"Fine," Noel muttered. "I'll get it myself."
He gave a small jump, hand outstretched, but... no results.
Then suddenly...
A shadow fell across him. The presence pressed close behind him. It was so unexpected that Noel froze. A strong arm reached past him, brushing close... too close... to his side.
A low voice asked calmly...
"Is it this book you wish to take, my lord?"
He could hear the voice loud and clear but Noel wasn't listening to his words. Because something firm, solid, undeniably warm through his pants was pressed against him from behind.
At first, he thought it was a belt or a misplaced object. But it didn't feel like it. Then the realisation hit him like a slap.
'Is that Rowan's...?'
His heart flew up his throat as he slightly moved his waist to feel it more.
'Good heavens... And it is not even fully hard yet.'
His breath caught as Noel's cheeks burned red.
Rowan stood behind him, still holding the book in his hand... completely silent.
'Why isn't he responding to my question? Doesn't he need my help? Ah! I'm sure he might be disgusted with me touching him. After all, he hates men.'