Nathaniel was rather surprised when Henri treated him as if nothing had occurred between them the following day. Henri didn't show the same discomfort Nathaniel himself felt and that had kept him awake half the night. He wanted badly to speak to Henri about why he had fled, to assure him that it was only out of fear and not that he had any issue with Henri himself. In all honesty, the more he considered Henri's words, the more difficult it was becoming to ignore his own desires. Perhaps a closeness with Henri would give him some moments of peace, even if it was something else to be discovered by those who might cause them harm.

"I'm not allowing you to cook!" Marie declared from the kitchen.

Nathaniel glanced up from the latest paper he had been staring at but not reading. The argument Henri and Marie were having was a mix of English and French, and Nathaniel waited for a few minutes before he chose to disrupt them. When he entered the kitchen he found Marie glaring at her brother, hands on her hips. Henri returned her glare from across the room, arms crossed over his chest.

"What is this?" Nathaniel questioned.

"She doesn't want me to cook," Henri replied, glancing at Nathaniel with a clearly offended expression.

"The cooking has always fallen to me," Marie explained. "You can assist me as you have been, but you won't be deciding what to serve."

Nathaniel looked between the two of them. "I don't mind who cooks, as long as someone does. If it will satisfy you both I will do it."

"Absolutely not!" Marie exclaimed. "You can hardly cook beans!"

Nathaniel shrugged. "I've improved when you allow me to learn. I'm sure people will eat regardless of what is cooked or who cooks it. The food will still be better than at Ezra Cooper's house."

Marie laughed and shook her head. "There isn't much to compare to there, but I won't let my reputation as a respectable cook be tarnished by my own brother."

Henri sighed. "I didn't want to feed the chickens in the cold."

Nathaniel felt himself smile. "I can do that. No sense in me lazing about while the two of you work. With a second employee there's less for me to do."

Henri waved him off and retrieved his coat from the hook near the bar. "No, don't fret," he said with a smile as he turned back to Nathaniel. "You Englishmen are sensitive to the cold. I won't want you taking ill."

Nathaniel found himself laughing. "Yet you always need to be close to the fire at all times," he teased.

Henri donned his hat and smiled again. "I've been led to believe I will eternally burn in fire one day, so I must become accustomed to it. Now, I have chickens to feed. Good day."

Nathaniel shook his head in amusement as he watched Henri slip out the kitchen door to the yard.

Marie sighed. "He is impossible. Brothers are wonderful and terrible."

Nathaniel nodded. "They are," he agreed. "At times I wish mine were here. Other times I'm thankful they are not."

Marie looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry."

Nathaniel shook his head. "There is nothing to apologize for." He took all three small purses John had given him the night before from his pocket and offered them to her. "John and those he works for were pleased with the latest information you gave to them. He didn't tell how it would help, but he brought this payment last night after you had gone to bed."

She took the purses and frowned. "All for me? There are three here."

"Henri and I both saw you with that particular soldier," Nathaniel explained. "We felt you deserved all the payment for the information."

She shook her head and held one purse out for him to take. "I've no issue taking my brother's money, but you are due some payment for the use of your establishment."

Nathaniel hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly took the purse. "Thank you."

Marie returned to her cooking, smiling. "Spend it on yourself, Nat."

"I have everything I desire here already," he replied, realizing that it was the truth. There was only one thing left to ask for.

The night passed without event. Marie's soldier was still smitten with her, but seemed to give her no more information to pass to John, who gave her an extra nod when he arrived for the night. Henri seemed to have as little luck with his gambling companions. He was continuing to treat Nathaniel as if the events of the night before hadn't occurred, therefore it must have been all in Nathaniel's mind that their eyes connected more often than usual.

Marie went to bed as soon as the tavern was closed, just as she always did so she could rise early enough to prepare for the following day's coffeehouse customers. Nathaniel bolted the doors while Henri began to clean for the night.

"Henri," Nathaniel said quietly.

Henri stopped wiping down the table he had been cleaning to give Nathaniel a concerned look. There must have been something unintentional in Nathaniel's voice to cause that concern. 

"What is it?" he asked, setting aside his cloth completely.

Nathaniel cleared his throat. "I want to apologize for last night."

"There is nothing for you to apologize for," Henri assured him. "I was the one who was wrong."

Nathaniel shook his head and drew a deep breath. "You caught me off guard. Truly, I would like to take you up on your offer. If you think me worth your affections."

Henri smiled. "I'm not sure I could find anyone more worthy of my affection."

Nathaniel smiled and shook his head again. "For that, you amaze me. In this great city full of men you want only the most convenient of them?"

Henri frowned. "If I preferred convenience I wouldn't have made the suggestion of the man I work for. A few of those soldiers I play with most nights have made offers. That would have been easy and convenient if lust was all I felt. You are deserving of more than that. I may not be the best man for it, but with the yearning I feel that is far stronger than lust I wish to try to give you all that I can."

Nathaniel was a bit overwhelmed by Henri's words, though he knew deep inside that he felt very much the same. He moved closer, until they were almost touching. "Henri," he murmured. "I would very much like to do the same for you."

Henri gently cupped Nathaniel's face with both hands. "Let me show you my affection," he breathed, then pressed his lips gently to Nathaniel's.

A soft sigh escaped Nathaniel and he pressed his hands against Henri's waist. The sweet kiss grew slowly in intensity, both of them pressing for more and more.

Finally, Nathaniel pulled slightly away. "My room," he breathed. "Please."

Henri smiled. "Lead on."