Two weddings and several revelations (18)

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Encounters (2): Boyhood friends in Seven Dials

Every so often Nat Barron liked to walk about his manor to see how matters went, to survey the scene, to have an eye out for himself as to any encroachments. While giving the while the impression of one that merely took an idle stroll. Business was good, but a fellow should not become complacent. There were ambitious young fellows looked enviously upon his position.

So he sauntered along the alleyways and streets, noting the deferential nods and the looks that shied away, the signs that he was still respected.

And was very surprized to observe, emerging from a pawnshop, his dear old friend Maurie. Who was surely in no state that he needed to go pop his valuables. Very elegant dressed: Nat inwardly sighed and wondered how that effect was produced, because somehow his own endeavours always tended towards the flash. A fine stick in his hand that Nat confided was no mere fashionable appurtenance but was either weighted with lead or concealed a sword.

How now, Maurie!

The slight dark figure started, turned, and smiled. Nat! How do you the day?

All the better for seeing you: sure has been some while.

La, indeed has been quite an age.

Have you no pressing business, let us go take a glass together.

Maurie grinned, lowered his long eyelashes and said, if you do not fear for your manly reputation –

Nat punched him in the shoulder and called him a cheeky sod. Come along.

Ensconced in a quiet nook with gin-hot in front of them, legs stretched out, Nat remarked that he hoped Maurie was not come to financial embarrassment?

No such matter: I was looking to buy. Sure, I go about to become a gentleman connoisseur, that has a collection - and daresay I may find what I look for in pawnshops and old clo’ shops –

Nat stared at Maurie. You do?

La, indeed, yes, I am about collecting antique lace and embroideries -

Nat shrugged. If that was what Maurie liked, it was harmless enough. He had never made the mistake of thinking that just because Maurie was a molly fellow who liked men he was at all soft. Apart from having a tongue that was sharp enough to flay skin, he was, at necessity, a usefully dirty fighter. Or had used to be.

Well, does any come my way, I will think of you.

Too kind, my dear.

Nat took a swig of his gin and said, do you hear aught of that young fellow Bert? Made himself quite the favourite.

Maurie raised his eyebrows. Why, has an excellent fine place these days, does very well for himself I hear.

It was a door shutting firmly against any further inquiry.

And, Nat went on, any requirement for the services of the boys lately?

Why, said Maurie, I fancy their reputation goes before 'em so well that serves as an excellent warning. Though indeed, I mind me, you will recall that fellow of the unusual pleasures –

Nat nodded. Can see that provided, he said.

They drank in silence for a while.

There was one thing, said Maurie at length. Do you know aught of the enquiry agent Dellamere?

Blimey, said Nat, he’s not poking after you, is he?

Maurie shook his head.

Because I shouldn’t fancy the chances of anyone laying hands upon anything he had locked up in his safe –

'Tis that he, or one of his men, has been making enquiries about the more respectable side of my family, one would like to know what’s ado.

Nat grimaced. Without I had the boys work over one of his men that knew the business – and even then –

Let us not proceed to those lengths, said Maurie, may turn out an entire mare’s nest. Another glass? My dear, he said, raising the glass to his lips, I hope you do not ever purpose to go burgle the Dowager Duchess of Humpleforth –

Oh?

- was obliged to go to her residence for a fitting – is very rich, father made a fortune in Bombay, where she was bred, feels the cold exceedingly so desired us to go to her rather than come out – keeps the place most extreme warm – but she keeps a bevy of the most inquisitive animals has ever been my misfortune to encounter, sure compared to 'em a cat is quite indifferent, go sniffing and chittering and poking and prying. Mongeese. Somewhat like unto a ferret, given out great ratters and will fight a snake as soon as look at it. Tiresome creatures.

I will be advized! (Not that he would consider burgling the houses of Maurie’s clients.) He looked at his old friend. There was something – different – about him. You did not rise to the head of a criminal enterprize and remain there as long as he had without noticing such things. But what was it, and what did it import?

Your hair, he said. For it had not been meticulously smoothed down but stood up in its natural curls.

Maurie fluttered his eyelashes. La, you noticed, he said. Sure I am flattered.

Nat narrowed his eyes. He knew Maurie too well not to recognize the shield of effeminacy. And that was not all that was different – there was something – not that there was any sign that he had gone soft – but less of a sense that he was keeping his feelings well-leashed against provocation to lash out, maintaining a most acrobatic balance –

Mayhap it was purely to do with his business doing well, after that trouble – and yet –

Hey, Maurie, have you found a fellow?

His eyes opened wide, his head went back, fortunately he was not drinking at the time. Fie, Nat, have you been having me followed?

Nat snorted. I confide you are too old a hand for such a contrivance to work.

Why, fellows such as I must school ourselves in discretion. But indeed you find me out – and he is a fellow of quite the greatest respectability, that is, save for that one little matter of his exceeding fondness for my lovely – Nat held up his hand. Some things he did not want to hear.

So you will not be introducing him around old acquaintance?

O, I think not, said Maurie with an expression of great amuzement.

But he’s – good to you? (There had been fellows before that Nat had been in some inclination to send one or two of his larger rougher boys to have converse with. That bloody painter…)

Entire beyond my deserts.

Nat looked at the suddenly transfigured expression and felt something that – it could not be jealousy, could it? Maurie was his oldest friend, and o, there had been a time or two when they were boys, but it was not –

La, Nat dear, I do not go give the cut to old friends because my circumstances change. Sure, we have somewhat of a prudential alliance that is of mutual benefit -

Nat nodded, grinning. He loved it when Maurie talked like that, good as going to the play.

- but there is antient affection in the matter as well. We would neither of us desire to see the other hanged or transported or clapped up in some model penitentiary.

Hope it may not come to that!

Well, my dear, I have plans made in case of necessity – sure there is a lawyer or two owes me a favour or so, but I should hope to evade any coming into courtrooms for either of us, better to lie low -

Sure you are well beforehand. Nat punched him lightly on the shoulder.

Maurie smiled demurely. But, he said, I must be about my ways. 'Tis entire delightful to see you, but indeed, we must be prudent about being seen together.

That was truth.

Nat grinned. Well, mayhap next time you might put on a gown and bonnet again – became you very well –

Maurie flapped at him with his gloves. That was a most particular emergency.

Comments

[kate_nepveu]

This was surprisingly sweet, considering!

[aedifica]

Yes, it was!

[violsva]

Yes, very!

[kore]

OMG, that really was sweet (I was kind of worrying how Maurice felt about it underneath, but he seems pretty relaxed). It is really nice for Nat to notice that Sandy is good for him.

[adrian_turtle]

I love that he notices Maurice is happy and relaxed, and then checks that his fellow is good for him. Very sweet indeed.



(I hope Abi is still well, and keeping in touch.)