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Percy gave a small nod. “Just so you know, what you said before,” he said quietly. “It’s not a weakness. Not being able to read. It’s not a weakness, Albie. It’s just that some folks aren’t spared the opportunity. There’s a difference.”
That made Albie smile. Percy was so thoughtful, choosing his words carefully when many men didn’t care. “True. After my mother died, I’d spend my days outside with no objections from my father. He was so busy, and he did try and make me read at night, but I wasn’t interested. I should have listened.”
Percy smiled sadly. “If I was given the choice to spend my days outside with the animals and exploring instead of being forced into a school desk, I’d have done the exact same.”
Albie wasn’t sure he should ask, but he was so curious. “Were your parents strict?”
“Oh, yes.” His smile turned wry. “I caught the end of a belt many times.”
“I’m sorry.” Albie wasn’t sure what else he could say.
“My parents are...” Percy frowned. “I was born into opportunity and privilege, and I’m grateful to an extent. But when I hear you speak of your father, with such admiration and love, I realise how vastly different we are. My father is more like McAllister.”
“You said he lost a lot of money.”
Percy nodded. “It was my mother’s family that had money, sheep graziers and the like. My father never felt adequate—I’m sure my grandfather made it known—so when he’d heard of men making a fortune in the goldfields, he...”
“Gold?”
Percy sighed. “Gold fever got hold of him and it almost ruined him. They almost lost the farm. My mother’s father bailed him out of trouble, but he tried to save face by securing a deal with a new business partner.”
“By you marrying their daughter.”
Percy nodded sadly. “Yes.”
Albie sighed. He wanted to touch Percy. To hold his hand, to rub his shoulder, but he stopped himself and his hand burned with the loss of it.
“Do you miss them?”
Percy looked across the room, but Albie could only guess he was seeing memories in his mind. “Yes, and no. I miss them, of course. I miss my brothers and sisters, but I don’t miss what they insisted I become.”
Albie knew parents arranged marriages all the time. It wasn’t uncommon that they pushed courtships to see if romance blossomed. But what did Percy say?
It was no more than a business deal and I wanted no part of it. I would never marry someone I didn’t love... couldn’t ever love... my dreams are not filled with the likes of her.
And Albie had dared to ask what his dreams looked like. Perhaps they matched his own. And from the flicker of knowing and the flash of fear, Albie was certain of it.
And then Percy had said something that tilted Albie’s whole world.
If I had to choose between her bed and yours, I would choose yours.
The way he’d looked at Albie’s mouth, into his eyes... exposed and vulnerable.
Honest.
But then he’d retreated and had told him several times since that he appreciated his job, that he needed this job, fearful that Albie would fire him.
Albie would do no such thing.
In fact, Albie wanted to do the opposite.
He was desperate to know. Desperate to hope...
“I should get going,” Percy said, standing up, his chair scraping the floor.
“Wait,” Albie said, not sure what words would follow. He licked his lips and got to his feet. “Can we do this again tomorrow night?”
Percy wouldn’t look at him, but he gave a nod. “Of course.” He went to get his coat, so Albie followed him to the door.
