Niall was more than interested. His hands and feet were swiftly going numb with excitement, and he was having a hard time catching his breath. “I am definitely interested,” he said.
“Then come along,” Blake said, gesturing toward the door. “I’ll even buy you supper afterwards.”
The corners of Niall’s vision went black for a moment. The most handsome and talented man he had ever met was offering to take him to supper and a concert. And no, it didn’t mean anything. How could it, considering they’d only just met? But that didn’t stop Niall from racing back across the room to gather his things with shaking hands and shove them into his own school satchel. Across the room, John winked at him and David nodded in encouragement. Niall’s face heated at his friends’ gestures, but he hardly had any brain left to think about it. All he knew was that he was about to have the night of his life with the man of his dreams.
Chapter 3
“I was lucky enough to hear Octavia Righetti when she sang in London two years ago,” Blake said as he and Niall strode across campus on their way to McQueen Hall. The spring evening was balmy and fragrant with roses that were just beginning to bloom in overflowing garden beds between the august buildings. “She has the voice of an angel.”
“She does?” Niall studied Blake’s rapt expression. Everything about him, from the sensual shape of his mouth to the way the late-afternoon sunlight lit his face with a golden glow had Niall’s heart beating faster.
“Absolutely.” Blake glanced to Niall with a bright smile that seemed to make his eyes warmer and kinder. There was so much life in those eyes, so much emotion, even though the two of them were merely walking to the concert. Perhaps it was Niall’s imagination, but Blake’s gaze seemed to linger on him for a moment, dropping to his mouth, before he went on with, “She was the talk of the season on her last tour. I’m amazed that the university was able to convince her to perform here.”
“You’ve been to London?” Niall cursed himself the second the question flopped past his lips. Not only was it a beat behind where their conversation had gone, he was certain it made him look like a rube.
But Blake laughed, his eyes crinkling and his smile widening. “Of course I’ve been to London,” he said. He swayed closer as they walked and nudged Niall with his shoulder. “Haven’t you?”
Niall’s entire arm tingled where it’d made contact with Blake’s. He wanted to lean closer to Blake and return the gesture, but knowing him, it would come off as clumsy. “I haven’t,” he confessed. “All of my money has gone toward tuition.” He cursed himself again for bringing up money and making himself look like a pauper. Blake was in line to be a duke. His family probably had more money than the royal family.
“But it’s where you’re heading after graduation, isn’t it?” Blake asked. “I mean, a playwright as talented as you must be in London. Every theater in Drury Lane will be clamoring to produce your plays.”
A flush of pleasure filled Niall from head to toe as they turned a corner and started down the promenade that would take them to McQueen Hall. He wanted to slow his steps so that he could make their walk last forever.
“How would you know if I’m talented?” he asked with a self-deprecating laugh.
Blake looked genuinely surprised at the question. “I saw the play you wrote last spring.”
Niall’s brow flew up. “That was just a lark some of the underclassmen put on for fun.”
“And it was brilliant,” Blake said, his smile genuine as he met Niall’s eyes again. For the second time, his gaze lingered longer than Niall expected. “And I saw you at the cabaret in the fall,” he went on.
Niall was out of ways to express surprise. His brow was already up, and he was certain his eyes bulged. “My part in the cabaret was miniscule,” he said. And how could he have missed spotting Blake in the audience? The crowd hadn’t been that large.
“Your part might have been small, but your presence was extremely notable.” Blake’s gaze dropped to Niall’s mouth again before he snapped his head forward as a pair of students passed. He dodged out of their way, which caused him to bump gently into Niall.
Niall raised his hands reflexively to protect himself and keep Blake from stumbling. The result was that he grabbed Blake’s arm before he could stop himself. He was reluctant to let go as they moved on past the other students, but he knew he had to. The signals he was receiving from Blake were confusing at best. There was most definitely an instant rapport there, but whether it was merely friendly or something more, Niall had absolutely no idea. He let his hand brush against Blake’s as he let go and continued on, though, watching Blake carefully to see how he would react.
“You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to being in your play,” Blake said as they climbed the stairs of McQueen Hall. The door was open, so they walked through into a semi-crowded lobby that echoed with other conversations. In spite of that, the genuine emotion remained in Blake’s expression. “I’ve wanted to try my hand at acting for as long as I can remember, but this is the first time I’ve ever been brave enough to audition.”
“I’m sure you’re always brave,” Niall said as Blake paused in an empty spot to one side of the door. He wanted to slap a hand over his face. How was it possible that he could write line after line of witty prose, but he couldn’t fasten together two sensible words to have a conversation with a handsome, intelligent, well-mannered, beautiful, warm, gorgeous….
He lost his train of thought when Blake laughed bashfully and lowered his head. “I’m not brave,” he said, a slight pinch of shame in his eyes. “Not by a longshot.” He lifted his head slightly, appearing to study Niall’s face. Something softened in his eyes. It made Niall’s heart run riot in his chest and his trousers feel embarrassingly tight.
“Lord Stanley. I thought that was you.” An older gentleman who was dressed far more fashionably than Niall could ever hope to afford to dress strode toward them from across the lobby. He stretched out a hand to Blake as he came near. “Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised to see a young man like yourself at Miss Righetti’s concert.” He winked as he took Blake’s hand.
“Lord Fairport.” Blake greeted the man with an open smile, seeming suddenly far more mature than his years. “It’s good to see you again. And I wouldn’t miss a concert like this for the world.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t accompanying Miss Righetti this evening,” Lord Fairport went on. He glanced to Niall. “This one never misses an opportunity to accompany a beautiful woman singing.” He chuckled and lifted one eyebrow knowingly.
Niall’s heart sank, even as he drew on every bit of his acting prowess to seem amused by the comment. So Blake fancied women after all.
“Lord Fairport, allow me to introduce you to my friend, Mr. Niall Cristofori, a playwright with an astounding future in front of him.” Blake stepped closer to Niall, touching a hand lightly to his back as he presented him to Lord Fairport.
Every bit of Niall’s awareness shifted to that touch, and his heart soared again. He nearly fumbled Lord Fairport’s hand when the man offered it to shake. “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”