It was well past mid-night before Alboim finally returned to his guest quarters in Okumn’s castle. Together, Bennit and Bassaros helped the lord out of his formal wear and into his night clothes. His valet carefully inspected the clothes, satisfied that he at least had not done anything uncouth like spilling wine on them. He left to hang them carefully in the Lord’s wardrobe.

  Bennit stayed behind. Alboim yawned hugely as he climbed into the bed, and only belatedly noticed that his bedwarmers were absent. He sat back up and stared flatly at his butler.

  “Something happened,” he deduced. “what is it?”

  Bennit bowed low, and answered forthrightly. “My lord, I have not been honest with you, from the first day Lady Elspith gave me to you all those months ago.”

  “And you are choosing now, when I am tired after spending seven hours pretending I am interested in marrying little girls, to spring this on me?”

  “I truly am sorry, My Lord. But my deception has come to a head, and I must discuss this with you in private. You deserve to know that I used you to get what I wanted. Well, I tried to in any case.

  “I have loved Suzsise since I was five years old.” he confessed. “Out of all the slave women in Brantle, there are several who would have been more appropriate, human girls who could at least have provided an heir if you had bedded her. And Suzsise, as beautiful as she is, is a little too young for a proper bedwarmer.”

  Lord Alboim looked stunned, as if a horse had kicked him in the gut. “You mean to tell me that you wanted me to have sex with the woman you claim to love? A complete stranger? God,” he cradled his head in his hands, the word emerging in a moan, a desperate plea for divine assistance. “is there any way for me to hate this world any more than I do now? I trusted you!”

  “I could not see any other way, lord.” Bennit’s voice quivered. “As your butler, she and I were in different households; and she would have been sent to a lord, eventually. That is what she was trained for. What her mother’s job was, and what Zinnise will be trained in. Lady Elspith allowed me to choose one bedwarmer for you, one! And I took the opportunity to keep her near me.

  “She knew. That night, I went to her and her mother, and she knew my plan. I had hoped you would tire of Suzsise eventually, that you would toss her aside like I have seen other lords do for my entire life. I clung to the thread of hope that is more than a slave like me can expect, that you would allow me your castoffs, and that we could be together. A butler had many privilages, and I intended to use that for all it was worth.”

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  In a smaller voice, “At the very least, I could at least be near her, support her in any way I could. I made the best decision for Suzsise—one man who would keep her close to her family. I do not regret that decision.” It tore his soul to send her to another man, but he did it anyway. And it tore him another way, to see the innate goodness of his master, refusing to use her like a tissue and trusting in his deceptive servants.

  “Suzsise knew, and and agreed to your harebrained scheme?” Alboim sighed; his anger evaporated. “So, why now?”

  “The rumor is, you intend to wed Lady Kalmira, and it is only a matter of time before the agreement is announced. Bedwarmers, especially regular ones like her and Lusmore, are almost always… disposed of… when a lord takes a wife. Suzsise is terrified that she will be sold off to ease the way for your wife.”

  Suddenly, Alboim looked twice his seventeen years. He rubbed tired eyes. “I understand.” he finally sighed. “And so you had them sleep elsewhere tonight?”

  “Yes, Lord.”

  “Do you have any other secrets you are hiding?”

  “No, Lord. It is your right to dismiss me as your butler. I have betrayed your trust. Say the word and I will present myself to Lady Elspith; she will sell me off or banish me to a distant estate for my crime. But please, do not punish Suzsise.”

  “Hell, no!” Alboim replied. “I get why you did what you did, even if I hate the logic; it makes cruel sense. I am not going to break in another butler. I forgive you. Go and fetch Suzsise.” he commanded.

  Alone in the room, Alboim threw on a light robe and sat in a chair, breathing in and out rhythmically. The meditation helped him calm himself. When his two slaves entered, he opened his eyes.

  Suzsise was as scared as he’d ever seen her since the lightning storm, and Bennit had to hold her by the shoulders to guide her in. He did not, Al noticed, drop his arm around her once they were before him.

  “Master!” she cried, and dropped to her knees before him. “I am sorry, Master! We betrayed your kindness. Punish me, not Bennit. He did it for me; I am the one who should suffer.”

  “Do you love him?” was all he asked.

  She stopped crying, shocked at the question.

  “Do you love Bennit?”

  “Yes.” she breathed. “I would do anything for him.”

  “You two did not betray me, only acted as best you could given what you knew. I cannot fault that. I am hurt, though, that you waited so long to confide in me. Didn’t you guys, of all people, know that I would not punish you for loving each other?” he asked, his words were void of rancor. I wish I had a love like that. Or maybe I do. Am I not giving up wealth and riches to return to Susan and Agatha?

  “Do you want to be together?”

  “With all my heart, My Lord.” Bennit replied.

  “Yes, Master.” Suzsise spoke over him.

  “We would like your blessing, Lord.” Bennit pleaded.

  “Then you have my blessing to get married.” Suzsise actually threw herself at his feet, kissing them and wetting them with tears suddenly turned from despair into joy.

  Bennit kneeled beside her, his dignity threatening to dissolve. “My Lord, Master—” he used the word to Alboim for the first time. “It is impossible to show my gratitude. I vow, for as long as I live, to serve you faithfully. I will never fail you again.” His voice trembled with joy as he grasped his beloved’s hand in his.