“I came to ask you the same thing! And don’t play the innocent with me Euan Ardmillan.” I reprimanded. “I know your games and manipulations far better than any man!”
“Hmmm, I suppose you do!” He relented, “Come along in Ben; take a seat by the fire.”
I entered his over warm bedroom, decorated with rich burgundy wallpaper, and luxurious gold velvet curtains with red fringing. His fire was double the size of the fire in my chamber and it threw out a furnace of heat, so much so that I was sweating within a minute of taking a seat and watching Euan stride to his drinks cabinet to pour a whiskey for each of us. I mopped my brow with my kerchief and looked towards his vast four-poster bed where on the side table I saw an inlaid timber bottle casket. It was the very same one that the Staff of Asklepios was kept in. I stared greedily at it, my hands itching to hold it and gaze at the intricate carving on the shiny black obsidian rod. So, it appeared Euan was true to his word in this matter at least and determined to have me carry out this sex ritual with him tonight. I had agreed, but I could always change my mind if the answers he gave me now were not sufficient.
My trunk was packed in readiness for leaving. I could hear the hustle and bustle of the suitcases and trunks of the other guests bumping along the hallway as they prepared to vacate the hall and catch the midday train from Fort William to Glasgow. No one wanted to chance getting stranded at the dismal, unseasonal Dunecht Hall in a country that did not even celebrate Christmas.
“Now what’s all this about?” Euan strutted to the lounge area holding two tumblers of whiskey.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That your father left a clause in his Will stating that I was the sodomite who led you astray, therefore I was not permitted to own anything from his precious damnable collection,” I said furiously.
“Ah!” Euan’s eyes sparkled guiltily.
“Who told you?”
“That is of no import. Is it true?”
Euan slumped languorously on the armchair opposite me and threw one leg over the arm. The position was jointly alluring and discomforting. He tossed back a deep swallow of whiskey and then let out a sign.
“He found out about us… about our games in the Billiard room… and on the Billiard table to be more precise!”
“He did?” I was flooded with a wave of deep shame. ”He didn’t… see us at it?” I recalled how bestial I became while taking Euan. My cheeks burned.
“Oh no. Apparently, we didn’t clean up well enough afterward. That same evening he was having a game of Billiards with Lord Viceroy. He took a shot and the… ball…well… stuck on the felt.” Euan smirked.
“No!” Now my shame was mixed with embarrassment. Lord Ardmillan must have been furious.
“Father called me into his study the moment your carriage had departed. He beat me and told me I was a disgrace to the Ardmillan family name. Then he pulled me by the ear into the billiard room and showed me the stains of our dried cum on the felt of his precious fucking table.” Euan said disdainfully.
“I feigned ignorance, of course, however, the then under-butler, Hamish Renfrew had quite the habit of listening at doorways. He admitted to my father that he listened to us partaking in…congress, as it were.”
“The bastard!”
“Indeed. My father then handed me an axe and said he would not have another soul play on a table that had been infected with sin. He made me chop that damnable billiard table into matchsticks and burn it in the garden.”
“I’m so sorry!”
“Not as sorry as I am. The bastard only made me burn it because we shot our seed over the felt. That table would have been worth two hundred pounds in today’s money!” Euan said incredulously.
I wished I’d have known of the abuse Euan endured after I’d left Dunlecht Hall. No wonder he was colder toward me when he returned to university in the New Year. Back then I didn’t understand his change of heart. We’d had such a wonderful time of exploring and loving, and then he was detached and cold.
“He demanded that I was to never see you again. I told him that it was a bit bloody difficult as we were on the same course of study and shared rooms. He told me that if I didn’t end it, he would. If I hadn’t snubbed you I was sure he could have seen to it that you were injured in some way, or at least removed from the university. That’s why I ended our relationship. I was trying to protect you!” Euan insisted.
“I thought you hated me and I was confused for such a long time, wondering what I’d done wrong!” I admitted. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The tumbler of whiskey was gripped by my shaky hand. Gods, if I’d have known all of this thirty years ago my life could have been…different. Euan’s disconnection wounded me so deeply that I don’t believe I have ever recovered. Even though this was painful to hear it was a gift of sorts—necessary to assist me in letting Euan go for good.
Euan never answered so I tried another question. “Why did you invite me here for the auction if you knew I would not be permitted to bid?”
“I need you for the ritual. I couldn’t just come out and say, Hello Ben, haven’t seen
