James POV:

Spring and summer were the busiest period for the business I was managing with Henry. We worked in the woolen industry, specifically fabric made for clothing, which was at its peak with the ball season that had just started. 

I had a trip to London planned for the next day, and was packing some belongings for a couple days' stay, when I was suddenly reminded that I had forgotten important papers at Henry’s mansion. Shaking my head annoyingly at my own absentmindedness, I hurriedly put a coat on and asked my chauffeur to prepare for the small carriage. 

I arrived at the Montgomery demesne an hour later. The sun was now completely set in the horizon and rain was starting to pour down on me. I rushed up the front steps and was greeted by Henry’s butler.

“Hello lord Ashbrook! What brings you here at this hour?”

“Haa… I forgot some receipts and other documents in his office…”

“Please help yourself my lord. Mister Montgomery is with a… guest at the moment, so he will not be able to meet you this evening.”

“That’s fine, I will not be long.” 

I climbed the volley of stairs that led to the first floor and strode along the corridors towards Henry’s office. The moment I passed by his bedroom, I heard laughter rise from behind the door; among which I recognized a feminine tone. I stopped in my tracks and slowly approached the wooden frame of the door. I pressed my ear in and could only hear unclear mumbles; when suddenly the voices sounded more articulate. 

“Would you marry me, Jane Whitman?” I heard Henry say. 

I paused and frowned at the words.

‘What is he doing…?’ I wondered, confused. 

Then, a few moments later, the lady’s voice erupted, “Yes! I will marry you, Henry Montgomery!”

I took a few steps back from the door and slowly resumed my motion towards Henry’s office. A chuckle escaped my lips as soon as I entered the room. I moved to the desk and searched for the document I needed. Henry’s voice echoed in my mind with the proposal, and I burst into laughter. 

‘Is the world going to end tomorrow?! Ha, ha!’ I asked myself. 

If there was one thing I did not expect Henry to do is propose to a woman one day. He was such a casanova that even his mother had given up in trying to set him up… How amazing was that lady Joan to catch the infamous heartbreaker into her grasp? 

It was at that moment that I remembered a bet passed between me and Henry a few weeks before. I gasped and put a hand over my mouth. 

‘Surely, he did not…’ I pondered, speculating whether my friend was insane enough to propose to a woman over a wager.

Still incredulous and laughing, I gathered the papers and made my way downstairs. 

I turned my head as one of the house maids walked past me, and my eyes caught the curtains marking off the lounge in the far end. I hesitated, then sighed. The wooden floor creaked as I came closer to the piano that was placed in the right corner, near the windows; and my fingers brushed the ivory keys. 

This very piano was one of the reasons I liked visiting Henry. Being my childhood friend, he knew my love for music, and had purchased the musical instrument years ago for my personal use only. The gift had moved me to the core at the time, and had shaken my resolve to sever ties with Henry.

I closed my eyes at the recollection and sat on the cushioned bench. The feeling of the smooth keys was very sensual to me; and hearing the first notes always made my skin crawl with goosebumps. 

Keeping my eyes closed, the face of the lovely Lizbeth Whitman appeared in my mind, and I unconsciously started humming a random ballad. 

‘A proposal, huh…?’ I thought.

***

Henry POV: 

I had not planned to propose that day; but the words erupted before I could stop them. And now that Jane had agreed, I could no longer go back on my words… 

After having sex for a second time, I accompanied my now fiancée to the front porch to send her back home. I kissed the back of her soft hand and helped her hop in the carriage, then watched it drive away in the night. I remained still, blankly staring at the now empty space before me, and the events of the past day finally sank in.

I sat on the stone steps and rubbed my face with my hands as a long, tired sigh escaped my lips.

‘What the hell did I do…?!’ I groaned.

I certainly enjoyed spending time with the young Whitman lady, but going as far as to ask for her hand that night was not part of my plan…

My greed for winning any type of game had always been my main weakness, and the bet that I had set up against James had been the worst kind of trigger. 

‘Let’s see who can get married to a Whitman first! The winner can ask anything from the loser!” was the terms of the bet.

I sighed again.

After a few minutes, I got back on my feet and headed back inside. I wanted to grab something to eat in the kitchen, but was suddenly struck with musical notes rising from my lounge area; and realized it had already been playing when I was sending Joan back.

I made my way to the room and slided aside the heavy curtains that marked the threshold. A grin appeared on my face when I spotted the slim silhouette at the piano, and I leaned back against the frame of the door, arms crossed. The song was not familiar to me, so I guessed it was an original creation from my dear friend. I closed my eyes and let the notes in. I had always loved listening to James’ singing voice, which I used to hear all the time when we were younger. It was one of the reasons I had bought this piano, so that I could listen to him as often as possible.

‘Definitely a romantic tune…’ I thought after a couple of minutes.

My gaze was stuck on James’ slim back, as if hypnotized by the subtle movements of his upper body as he struck the piano keys. Then my feet started moving on their own towards him. 

I stood right behind him, towering his frail figure. His blond hair was tied up in his habitual ponytail, under which his slender neck was visible. 

‘Such a pretty neck…’ I thought again.

“Are you going to stay here for long?” James’ voice rose amongst the music. 

“Maybe!” I said, waking from my daydream. “I quite like it here!”

I raised my hand and played with James’ ponytail, twirling the silky locks between my fingers. 

“Please, don’t mind me and continue playing! I quite like this tune!” 

My thumb brushed against James’ pale skin, which startled him. He sprung up from the bench and stumbled to get away from my touch.

“Would you stop that?!” James shouted.

He was rubbing the spot where my hand touched him, which made me smile. I took a step to make James back against the piano, and leaned in closer to him. 

“Aw, aren’t you being too sensitive? There was a time when you liked when I stroked your hair…” I said with a pout. 

James scowled at me. “That was a long time ago! Can’t you just grow up?! Would your fiancée still be willing to marry you if she knew who you really are?”

“Ouch! Touché!” I said, mimicking an arrow shot to my heart. “Wait… How do you…?”

“I forgot to take the Emerson contract with me yesterday, so I came back to grab it. And I overheard your proposal to Miss Whitman…”

An awkward silence went on between us. I had not planned for James to learn it that way…

“Surprise! You were not expecting this, were you?” I joked. 

“Indeed…” James said with a frown. “I was not aware that you were so madly in love with that girl to even ask for her hand…”

“In love? Oh James, that romantic side of you has always amazed me.” I laughed. “Does love really have to come into the equation when speaking of marriage? I think you are the only man in this kingdom who thinks that way…”

“That’s simply not true! I just…”

“I do find her very attractive, if you count that as love.” I said. 

“How profound…”

“No need to worry, little James! You can rest assured that I will treat her like a princess, as one should!”

“Allow me to doubt that…”

“You hurt me, my friend!” I said as I cupped the side of his face with my hand. “Have I not treated you well enough before?”

James slapped my hand off and pushed me. His face was flushed red as he walked past me.

“Stop it!” he shouted. “Don’t even dare…”

 I smirked at his reaction and shrugged. 

“Alright, alright! I did not mean to upset you! Let us simply enjoy the wonderful news, shall we?”

James stopped and looked at me from the side.

“So you… really intend to marry lady Whitman?”

“Of course I do! I may be frivolous, but I always keep my word! You more than anyone else should know that!”

“…”

“Unless… you are mad that I am getting married before you!” I teased. “Did not know you were such a sore loser, Jamie!”

“Of course not! That has nothing to do with it!”

James started walking towards the main hall, and to the big double doors of my house. He called for his carriage and hurried to hop onto it. I stood on top of the stairs and was shaken by a chuckle. He was always so fun to tease.

“You better hurry, lad! Else I will win that bet!” I exclaimed at him as he was driving away. “And I already know what I want from you!”

I heard a distant “Shut up!” rising in the air and I burst into laughter once more. 

I returned to my room and sat on the armchair near the windows. I lit up a cigar, stared at the crescent moon in the night sky and grinned.

“I think it is time to pay the Whitmans a visit…”