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It turns out that, for all the fuss that was made about it, this dance is actually very boring.
This is only just barely a surprise; any event that requires chaperones is an event that Lindsay generally doesn't look forward to. But it is true. Lindsay has had maybe a bit too much to drink, by now — he's accustomed to Bacchanal rites; the feeling is hardly unfamiliar — and successfully slipped away from his chaperone, and yet it is still boring.
A kiss, quick and almost chaste. "I imagine your family might have something to say about that, as much as I would love to have you."
He stands up. "My family would say 'finally, we don't have to support that completely unmarriageable submissive anymore.''"
"We can talk about moving you in. In the meantime, your excuse was that you were keeping me company while Ash was gone, and he's not gone anymore."
One kiss, two, and then Lindsay pushes Leo's clothes into his hands. "Home."
He watches him go, then turns back to Ash and holds him until they both fall asleep.
Over the next two weeks, Ash doesn't disappear without notice again but he does disappear often-- for afternoons, for evenings, once for two days straight. He usually can't tell Lindsay how long he'll be gone. The servants seem to expect this.
When he's at home, Ash is unfailingly charming and interested in Lindsay. Whenever Lindsay asks about him, he gently redirects back to what Lindsay has been up to. (One gets the sense that he used up his store of safe stories talking to Lindsay before they were married.)
Ash and Lindsay have quite a lot of sex. He doesn't finish.
He doesn't ask where Ash goes. After the first few times he stops asking about Ash at all.
He goes to a Society meeting when one happens; he's as enthusiastic there as he's ever been. He doesn't tell them about Ash, just yet. He writes to Leo every day, sometimes more than that.
He doesn't let Ash finish.
"Most of the things it could be," Leo says, one evening when Ash is away, "are bad."
"Yes," he agrees. "I'm aware. I just — he's not going to tell me whether I keep asking or not."
"I think it's better for you not to know, anyway. So if he gets hung for treason you can say you didn't know anything about it. --He doesn't act like an opium-eater, does he?"
"He doesn't." He isn't going to think about Ash being hanged for treason.
Leo kisses him. "My parents will give up and let me work soon. So I can take care of you if-- it catches up to him."
"Thank you," very quiet. He kisses Leo's lips, and then his cheeks and forehead and temples.
"Even though he's keeping most of his life secret from you, he seduced and ruined you, you've spent most of your time together having sex, and he's definitely going to wind up giving you the clap."
Leo kisses him.
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