"If you'll excuse us I need to check in at the Barque, I look forward to seeing you later, the table's booked for eight," Theo said standing up.
"Why Adrien?"
"Initially because he looked like a man who needed a friend, then I got to know him, you have an exceptional son Dorothy."
"Yes, we know, we've always been proud of him," Edward replied for both of them.
"I'll change at The Barque mum, save time."
"I'll arrange for a taxi to collect you and bring you home."
"He's sort of used to being in charge," Adrien chortled.
"I merely meant that if no-one's driving we can all enjoy a drink, you did tell me Jonah's has a fair wine list."
"We'll see you there then," Dorothy told them.
Theo drove to the hotel, having not returned the keys to Adrien; the only voice in the car for some time was that of the sat-nav.
"Adrien are you alright?"
"I don't know, I mean I've told my parents but what next, what do I tell people at work, do I tell them
anything
?"
"Go with the 'if they don't ask you don't tell' routine for now, until you decide."
"We're here, up on the left, the car-park's at the back but there's a space or two at the front for use until you've checked in."
The Barque was a fairly small family-run hotel and the locals would say the best in the area.
"Good afternoon, I have a reservation, it should be under the name of Callow Securities," Theo smiled at the pretty blonde receptionist.
She returned Theo's grin,
"I took the booking myself sir, if you'll give me a moment I'll call someone to help with your luggage if you'll sign here please," she turned the visitor book to face him.
"Thank-you Sally," Theo read from her name-tag, "would it be possible to have a bottle of champagne sent up, my partner and I have something to celebrate."
"There's a wine-list in the room sir, our cellar's my father's area of expertise he'll be happy to help."
"Are these your bags sir?" a young man asked as he approached.
"Most of them yes, there's a couple left in the car."
"Let me show you to your room then I'll bring them in and park the car if you'd like."
Adrien had spoken not one word since they'd arrived, he'd still been re-running their time with his parents in his head when he and Theo had walked into the hotel; he'd been about to mention that he'd left his luggage in the car when Theo had referred to Adrien being his partner and it had shocked him further into silence.
"She's thinking
business
partner, the room's in a company name," his logical brain told him.
"Why say it at all?" the part of him which had been hiding until recently asked.
"Which car am I looking for Mister," the young man began to ask as he opened their room door then stopped realising he hadn't been given either man's name.
"Richardson, it's the dark green Mercedes Maybach."
"I'll be as quick as I can sir, the wine-list's on the table by the veranda windows, press zero on the phone Sally will put you through to my father."
"Thank-you Will, you'll need these," Theo passed him the car-keys Adrien noted they were partially wrapped in a ten pound note.
Adrien waited for several heartbeats before he spoke after Will left before he spoke.
"Theo, downstairs you called me your partner, I know Sally will probably take it to mean business partner but you could've warned me when we were in the car that you were going to say it."
"I didn't know I would, when I did I too presumed Sally would opt for the business connection," Theo was clearly amused by Adrien's reaction.
"I was flabbergasted."
"Merely shocked flabbergasted or upset flabbergasted?"
The question made Adrien stop to think,
"Merely shocked, I think."
"So you don't find the idea objectionable?" Theo had come to stand close to Adrien.
"Obviously not."
"If you don't object to the idea does that mean you don't object to the long-term actuality?"
"Not in the least," Adrien spoke as if in a daze.
"Can I take it from that you'd have no objection to us being partners according to the rest of the world, eventually?"
"Er, you're not about to take out a half-page ad in The Sunday Times are you?"
"Actually that may not be such a bad idea, I can see it now, Mister Theo Jepson, businessman and, now that's something I don't know are you a Doctor or a Mister?"
"Professor," Adrien replied automatically.
"So it's Mister Theo Jepson, businessman, and Professor Adrien Leadbeater, cardiac surgeon, are pleased to announce that they are now a couple. All those with objections can keep it to themselves."
"You're crackers, do you know that?" Adrien was barely able to speak for laughing.
"What I do know is that I need to order our champagne, book a taxi for your parents
and
find time to run the bathwater."
"Hint taken, bathwater about to be run."
When Adrien returned to the main room, having undressed and donned a bathrobe, it was obvious that Will had delivered the last of their luggage.
"Champers is on its way, taxi is booked think that's everything."
"No, it's not," Adrien smirked as he crossed the room, when he was only inches away from Theo he carried on, "I think I'd like to actually be
asked
if I want to be your partner and after that there's something else I want."
"Which is?"
"Ah, no, not until I've been asked."
"Are you trying to get all bossy boots on me?"
"Not as such, I simply have certain expectations."
"You're flirting with me again."
"Maybe I am but unless I'm asked you won't know what's behind it."
"Professor Leadbeater, would you care to become my partner, my toy-boy and my lover?" Theo was smiling broadly.
"You know Mister Jepson I rather think I would."
"So what is it you want?"
"Just this," Adrien closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to Theo's, "oh and I wouldn't object to us fucking like rabbits before we go to dinner."
"Your mother was right you
are
incorrigible."
"I'm also horny."
The knock at the door made them both laugh.
"Your champagne Mister Richardson."
"Thank-you Will, I'll take it from here," Theo said as he took the tray slipping the young man another note.
They drank the little-known but eminently enjoyable champagne as they bathed,
"I may just have to lay some of this down at home," Theo commented, "remind me to have a chat with the owner about who his supplier is."
Adrien remained silent.
"Is it not to your taste?" Theo asked warily.
"Mmm, sorry what?"
"The champers, not for you?"
"Sorry I think I'm back to not being very good company, you stay here and relax I'll take myself off to the other room."
"You're worrying about your parents."
Adrien nodded his head.
"I won't stop you getting out but I'll say this, if you're really worried call them once they've had at least an hour to discuss it between themselves."
"I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that one."
"No, you wouldn't."
They were facing each other, Theo looking intently at Adrien for any sign he was starting to regret telling his parents.
"Go and call them if you must, personally I don't think you have anything to worry
about.
As a general rule if someone's going to go off about it they do it straight away.
"You never did tell me what you said to your parents."
"Unfortunately I couldn't get them on neutral ground, mum had had an accident and wasn't getting out of the house because she was on crutches. We'd had Sunday lunch my nieces were off with friends, Jeff and Lindy were sorting the dishes and we three were in the dining room. I asked what if anything they'd thought about Li-anne and I getting divorced. Mum asked if there was any chance of a reconciliation, that's when I almost bottled it but I managed to tell them there wasn't. She asked if either of us had had an affair, Lindy is definitely our mother's daughter," Theo huffed a small laugh, "from there it went much the same way as my talk with Jeff and Lindy. I told them that I'd known I was gay for years, that I loved Li-anne but not romantically that I fully expected everyone to take her part and that I couldn't live the wrong life any longer."
"How did they react?"
"Dad was silent, mum cried; she asked if I'd thought about how difficult my life would be, how it might affect my business, my social standing."
"Had you thought about all that?"
"Didn't care, I'd done all the hiding I was prepared to, besides who really cares these days? And it's not like I was about to be seen swanning in and out of leather-fag nightclubs with an endless stream of boy-toys. I think the fact that I've always kept my private life private helped my parents adjust. Were you aware that the sole owner of Thepson Holdings is gay?"
"I most definitely am now.," Adrien smirked.
Theo suddenly stood up, Adrien watched the water stream from his body following the contours of his well-defined muscles.
"Change of plan, you stay here, try to keep calm, happy place time; I'm going to track down any decent estate agents see what they've got on their books."
"You don't have to keep up the pretence that was for my parents."
"Not entirely, I think having a bolt-hole somewhere down here would suit us quite well but the drive here's a bitch how do you rate our chances of getting permission for a heli-pad if we can't find a place that has one already?"
"Us Theo, for