Time passed and the sun was down. The candles in Noel's room had burned down to short stubs by the time the maids finished tending to him. The flames flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the walls and floor. Noel lay on his back in the large bed, eyes closed, face pale against the white pillows. His dark hair was wet with sweat, sticking to his forehead and temples.
His breathing was slow, like every breath took effort. The fever still held on strongly as his skin felt hot and dry when the maids touched it.
"Be careful," one maid whispered as she pressed a fresh cold cloth to his neck. "He's so warm."
"He looks weaker than usual," the other said quietly, wringing out another cloth in the basin. "Poor thing."
They had managed to get some medicine into him earlier... holding his head up gently and spooning it between his lips. He had swallowed most of it without waking fully. The cut on his forehead had been cleaned again and wrapped in a new bandage.
"That mark on his head," the younger maid said under her breath. "Everyone knows his father did it. That man threw something at him."
The older maid shook her head.
"The master is too hard on him. Always has been. The young master doesn't deserve it."
"If it were me," the younger one added, "I'd have run away years ago."
They finished smoothing the sheets and pulled the heavy duvet up to his chest. He looked small under it, thinner than he should.
"Sleep well, young master. We'll come back to check on you." one whispered before they picked up their things and left the room quietly.
The door closed with a soft click.
The room stayed silent for only a moment. Then the window made a small creaking sound.
A figure climbed through carefully, landing on the floor without much noise.
Bennett straightened up, brushing off his coat as he had walked in normally. He looked around the dark room, eyes adjusting quickly.
He repeated the maids' words quietly to himself.
"Treated harshly in your own home."
His hair was tied back loosely, a few strands loose around his face. He wore a dark green jacket that was fitted well but with some dust on the sleeves and boots from climbing. Dark trousers and gloves completed the outfit—practical for moving around at night.
He walked to the door first and hung a small bell on the handle, testing it with a finger. It made a light ring.
"That should work," he said to himself.
Then he turned to the bed. Noel looked different up close... paler and almost fragile.
Bennett sat on the edge of the mattress carefully. He reached out and touched Noel's forehead with the back of his hand. The heat surprised him.
"You're burning up," he muttered. "This is worse than I thought."
He fixed the duvet, pulling it higher and tucking it around Noel's shoulders.
His eyes moved lower and stopped on the faint red mark around Noel's neck. It had faded, but the shape was still clear... fingers.
Bennett smiled slowly.
"I guess this is Arthur's work," he said quietly.
He felt a small pang of something... regret, maybe. It could also be jealousy.
"Sorry about that," he whispered, even though Noel was asleep.
His hand moved again, fingers brushing Noel's cheek lightly. The skin was soft and warm.
Noel stirred.
His head turned toward the touch, pressing Bennett's hand against the pillow.
Bennett stopped breathing for a second. He tried to pull his hand back slowly, but Noel's head kept it trapped.
Bennett looked at the door, then back at Noel.
'Oh! Please, do not wake up,' he thought.
He used his other hand to lift Noel's head a little and slide his trapped hand free.
As he lowered Noel's head back down...
Noel's eyes opened.
They were hazel, unclear from the fever, but focused enough to see someone close.
Bennett pulled back fast as Noel blinked a few times.
"Who..." he started, voice dry and weak.
Bennett stood up. "Believe me. I'm not one important."
Noel pushed himself up on one elbow, groaning.
"What time is it?"
He rubbed his eyes hard.
"Fuck! My head is killing me. This fever sucks."
Bennett stared, confused by what was spewing from Noel's words.
"What?"
Noel looked up fully now. He recognised the face.
"You," he said slowly. "You're Ashford. You're one of the brothers."
Bennett sighed, knowing there was no escape now. He bowed lightly, one hand over his chest.
"Bennett Ashford," he said smoothly. "It is an honour to finally meet you, Young Master Noel. I hear you are quite humble."
Noel lowered his head politely.
'Humble my ass,' he thought. 'You just climbed through my window, you stupid, handsome pervert.'
Aloud, he said only, "You flatter me."
Bennett paused.
"I came to check on you," he said. "After the fight yesterday."
Noel frowned. "You saw that?"
Bennett smiled. "I took the pictures. And I fired the shot that finished the last man."
Noel sat up more. "I handled most of it myself."
"You did," Bennett agreed. "I just helped at the end."
Noel watched him for a moment.
"So you came here for thanks?"
Bennett shook his head. "No. Not at all."
"Then go," Noel said, pointing at the window. "Leave the same way you came in."
Bennett turned toward it. The bell on the door rang lightly.
Footsteps came down the hall.
"Maids? Your maids are back!" Bennett whispered. "I can't go now."
Noel sighed. "Fine. You owe me for this."
He stood up slowly, grabbed Bennett's arm, and pulled him toward the large wardrobe in the corner.
He pushed him inside and closed the door just as the maids opened the bedroom door.
"Young master!" one said, surprised. "You're out of bed."
"I'm better," Noel said, forcing a small smile. "Really."
They came over quickly, checking his temperature, and started asking questions.
Before he could stop them, they started helping him out of his sweaty nightshirt.
"Wait—" Noel said. "I can do this myself. I already said I can bathe myself."
"No," one said firmly. "You are weak and you need a cool bath since you're still too hot."
Noel glanced at the wardrobe and gritted his teeth. The door was open just a crack. One green eye looked out, clearly amused.
Noel looked away fast.
'Great,' he thought. 'Just great.'
He let them lead him to the bathroom. They helped him into cool water, washed his back, and changed the bandage on his head.
When they brought him back, he was in a clean robe. They made him sit while one went to get dinner brought up.
He was nervous as they kept roaming about the room with Bennett locked in the wardrobe.
Finally, he convinced them he was tired and wanted to sleep. Then they left and promised to check on him the next morning.
Noel locked the door behind them. He walked straight to the wardrobe and opened it wide.
Bennett stepped out, arms crossed, smiling too much.
"Why didn't you leave when you had the chance?" Noel asked. "We were in the bathroom and you should have used that opportunity to leave."
Bennett moved closer, putting one knee on the bed between Noel's legs, leaning in.
His voice was low.
"Tell me something," he said near Noel's ear. "Why didn't you react when the maids were touching you? They were undressing you and putting their hands all over you. Why aren't you hard?"
Noel went still. Bennett pulled back a little, watching his face.
"Maybe," he said softly, "you ended things with our sister because you don't like women. You like men instead."
"What are you...?"
Noel parted his lips and slammed them back. The room fell quiet immediately.