19. Happy Endings

‘When we met again at Ravenstag, did you think I was pursuing you?’

Hannibal turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. Surely, he thought, there could be no sight on earth lovelier than Will Graham in only breeches and shirt, head pillowed on slender arms, curvaceous bottom sticking provocatively in the air, biting a lip already swollen with kisses.

‘I would never have dared dream that I could be so fortunate. Besides,’ he chuckled, extending a finger to trace the length of the boy’s enchanting snub nose, ‘I was at the time convinced that you hated me.’

‘Hated you?’ Will frowned. ‘Not at all. Particularly after I had read your letter.’

‘Ah, the letter. At the time, I am sure I considered it perfectly reasonable, but in retrospect I am ashamed of having hectored you so. Did you destroy it?’

If anything, Will looked even more fierce. ‘Of course not! Hannibal, it was your letter that showed me how prejudiced I had been. How blind! I would that you knew how much it meant to me.’

Uncomfortable with Will’s defence of him, Hannibal sought solution in evasion.

‘I would that you were fully dressed again. You will catch your death if you remain so.’

‘Summer is barely over!’

‘It is the middle of autumn, Will.’

‘Tush.’ Will’s face took on a smug look. ‘Anyone would think that I had undressed myself. And there you are, looking as innocent as you please, with scarce a button unfastened. Shame on you, Mr Lecter.’

The only possible response to such insolence was, of course, a thorough kissing, which was brought to a hasty end by the sound of tuneless whistling coming from the woods just behind them.

Both jumped to their feet; and while Hannibal straightened his clothes and pushed back his hair, Will scrambled to redress, peals of laughter ringing out.

Hannibal folded his arms and endeavoured to look stern. ‘Will Graham, you have corrupted me utterly.’

But his heart had never felt so light.

***

The carp were no more co-operative after breakfast than they had been before it, though nobody could have been less concerned about that fact than Will. Indeed, if ever there had been a time when he had been happier, he could not recall it.

They packed away slowly; and when all was stowed in the phaeton, Hannibal went to untether the horse from beneath a nearby spreading oak. But on impulse, Will caught hold of his hand, staying him.

‘I thought perhaps you might like to take some exercise first, after standing for so long.’ And he glanced at Hannibal almost shyly. ‘These woods contain some beautiful walks.’

Hannibal’s lips curved upward and he touched Will’s cheek. The fleeting contact felt like a kiss.

‘I do not wish to part with you either, Will. By all means, a walk then.’

They followed a winding path which Will had trodden many times; yet with Hannibal beside him, everything seemed sharper, clearer. The leaves overhead tinted the sky in a fresco of ochre, and through them the sun shone benignly. It felt like a blessing.

‘How go your preparations for London?’

Hannibal’s question took Will by surprise. It had been many months since the subject had been raised between them. Not even at Ravenstag had they discussed it.

‘I must soon seek lodgings at Lincoln’s Inn, but my uncle will furnish me with the necessary books when he and my aunt visit for Christmas. He has insisted upon it.’

‘I am not surprised. Training for the law is no inexpensive business.’ After a moment, he added, ‘I shall miss you, Will. More than I can say.’

A short silence followed, during which Will wrestled with a multitude of emotions.

‘You do not plan on spending the winter in London, then, as you did last year?’

‘Last year, Mischa could not be at Ravenstag. And I could not be so far from Mischa.’

‘She was your inducement to stay,’ murmured Will bleakly.

He felt Hannibal’s earnest gaze. ‘I need no inducement to be wherever you are, Will. But duty demands that I tend to the estate for the foreseeable future.’

Will attempted a smile. ‘Perhaps we might write to one another.’

‘Perhaps? Will, you cannot think –’

The next moment, his hand was captured; and as they drew to a stop, he twined his fingers automatically with Hannibal’s, clinging with something akin to desperation.

‘I am not saying goodbye.’ Hannibal cupped his cheek, fingers warm against his skin. ‘How could you believe such a thing?’

Will covered Hannibal’s hand with his own, relief drawing the tension from him. ‘I did not wish to presume –’

‘But you should,’ returned Hannibal, almost imperiously. ‘I want you to.’

‘Why? Tell me why I should presume, Hannibal.’

A sound – half-laugh, half-groan – as his mouth was taken in a fierce kiss. When at length they broke apart, both were trembling.

‘Foolish boy.’ Hannibal’s tone was tenderly chastising. ‘Because I am yours, Will Graham. I have been since the day we met. I am yours completely and I am yours forever.’

The words – and the adoration in Hannibal’s gaze as he spoke them – rendered Will momentarily incapable of speech. He stroked back the hair from Hannibal’s forehead, eyes filled with wonderment.

‘You truly love me.’

Hannibal smiled. ‘Just a little.’

Will ignored the gentle tease, hungry to hear again the words which once he had rejected utterly.

‘Will not you tell me, then?’

Hannibal’s eyes darkened. ‘I did so once before, at a time when I was utterly unworthy of your regard.’

‘You had it anyway, you know. That very first day, I thought you the most beautiful man I had ever looked on.’ A helpless laugh broke from Will’s lips. ‘And then you spoke, and I thought you the most infuriating.’

At this, Hannibal stole from him another kiss, and eagerly Will returned it.

‘Tell me,’ he murmured as they stood twined together. ‘Please.’

‘Oh, my darling.’ Heart full, Hannibal pressed soft kisses to the curls at Will’s temple, the curve of his flushed cheek, the sweet uptilt of his lips. And with every kiss he sighed, ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’

On a sob, Will’s lips opened to him, and they kissed with all the fervour of new lovers.

Afterwards, cheek against Will’s temple, Hannibal whispered, ‘l meant what I wrote in my letter.’

‘Without agenda?’

‘Or hope of return.’

It had been a solemn vow then, as now, but Will pulled back to pin him with incredulous blue eyes.

‘Hannibal, how can you not know?’ And on a choked laugh, ‘I love you, you fool. I love you to utter distraction.’

For an instant, he ceased to breathe. ‘You never said so.’

‘For much of our acquaintance, you never gave me cause to say so.’

A tender kiss removed the sting from the words.

‘How long have you loved me?’ Hannibal pressed, greedy for details, gathering Will more tightly in his arms.

Far from objecting, Will gave a happy sigh and burrowed closer still.

‘It has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know.’ He put his lips to Hannibal’s ear. ‘But I believe I must date it from my first seeing your beautiful grounds at Ravenstag.’

This, of course, necessitated another thorough ravishing.

***

They returned to Wolf Manor to find the house emptied of most of its residents. Mrs Graham, Fredricka and Molly were out paying a call on the Prices, while Alana and Miss Verger had gone into town to order wedding clothes. Will endeavoured not to blush at this information.

‘Father must be in his library. Come,’ and he tugged Hannibal towards the dining room. ‘Take tea with me.’

They sat close together on the dining room sofa, knees brushing as they sipped for a time in silence.

‘When do you leave Hertfordshire?’ Will was proud of the steadiness of his voice.

‘After Christmas.’ Hannibal stirred his tea slowly. ‘Mischa will join us here next month, and we shall travel back to Ravenstag in January.’

Will slipped his free hand into Hannibal’s. ‘Then we have some time.’

‘Yes.’

A question, unspoken yet of singular import, hung in the air between them. Will heard it between thundering heartbeats; felt it in the possessive clasp of their fingers. He took an unsteady breath.

‘If I dared, I would ask to come with you.’

‘What?’

Hannibal’s usual grace appeared to have deserted him. He stared, swallowed, shook his head.

‘But – your apprenticeship.’

‘To speak truth, I suspect that my uncle takes me on more for my sake than his own. He certainly has no shortage of employees; and his practice takes up so much of his time, I wonder that he has any spare to train me.’

‘You wish to give up the law?’

‘Not at all. But I do wish to be of use in the world, Hannibal. Of value. Besides, London is not the only place where I might learn my profession.’ Will looked at him searchingly. ‘I would speak with my uncle first – I should not wish to act precipitously. But if my suspicion is correct – well, perhaps you might know of a suitable situation for me.’

Hannibal’s grip tightened. ‘Will Graham, are you asking me to marry you?’

‘You may wish to consider carefully,’ warned Will with a smile, though his eyes grew damp at the expression of heartfelt delight which suffused Hannibal’s features. ‘Living with me every day, would not you soon tire of my insolence?’

Hannibal removed both cups, placed them carefully on the table, and then took hold of Will’s hand in both of his and brought it to his lips.

‘Every day, forever, Will, would not be time enough. The separations we have endured this past year have been sufficient torment.’

‘Yet you would have allowed me to go to London without you,’ Will could not help reminding him.

‘I would not for the world have kept you from what you most desired.’

Will laid a tender palm to Hannibal’s cheek. ‘You are what I most desire.’

Hannibal laughed. ‘How perfectly amiable you are being. I must accept your proposals more often.’

‘You have not actually accepted.’

‘You have not actually proposed.’

‘Have not I?’ Will quirked a brow. ‘How very remiss of me.’

He moved to kneel before his proud, exasperating Alpha and found that he was shaking. He laughed softly, apologetically.

‘Forgive me. I do not think that I am very good at grand gestures.’

His gaze was snared by eyes glittering with emotion.

‘I need no extravagant declarations from you, Will. You have already made me happier than I dreamed possible.’

Will swallowed. He reached out, cupping Hannibal’s face between his palms.

‘Then will you? Marry me? Be mine for always?’

And just as before, Hannibal replied first with a sweet press of lips, murmuring after each kiss, ‘Yes, Will. Always. Every day. Forever.’

***

‘We should speak to Father before Mama returns.’

Drowsy, contented eyes looked down into his, and Hannibal tightened his hold around Will’s waist, pulling the boy more tightly against him.

‘Soon. At the present moment, I do not care to move from this very comfortable sofa. I wonder,’ he mused, ‘what your mama will have to say about this.’

‘I would worry more about your aunt than my mama.’

Hannibal smiled into Will’s hair. ‘Not at all. It was Lady Bedelia who gave me reason to hope that you might still want me after all.’

‘Then she called on you before returning to Kent. I suspected as much.’

‘She did. And dwelt most emphatically on your refusal to give me up. I knew that had you been absolutely decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Bedelia, frankly and openly.’

Will’s shoulders shook, and laughter coloured his voice as he replied, ‘Certainly you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that.’

‘I would have you no other way.’

Lips quirking, Will dipped his head until they were nose to nose. ‘I shall remind you of that when your aunt and half your relations have disowned you.’

‘What care I for that?’ Hannibal murmured, gaze falling to that beautiful mouth. ‘I want none of them. You are my family, Will. You and Mischa and Robert. I need no other.’

They shared another slow, deep kiss before Will pulled away and tugged Hannibal to his feet.

‘Come. I want to make this official before your aunt barges in again and demands that I unhand you.’

***

His father listened with nary an interruption as Will stood before him, Hannibal at his side.

‘And when do you wish to marry?’ he asked at last.

‘That we have not yet discussed.’

Will glanced uncertainly at Hannibal, a little unnerved by his father’s reticence, and seeking reassurance. But Hannibal’s attention was fixed on his prospective father-in-law.

‘I see.’ Mr Graham leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers beneath his chin. ‘Mr Lecter, would you have the grace to step out for a moment? I should like to speak with my son alone.’

‘Father?’

Hannibal turned to him then. ‘It is perfectly alright, Will.’ And bowing to Mr Graham, he slipped quietly from the room, closing the door behind him.

Immediately, Mr Graham rose from his chair and walked around the desk.

‘Will,’ he said earnestly, stopping before him, ‘are you certain that this is what you wish?’

Will’s brow crinkled. ‘I do not understand, Father. I thought that you would be happy.’

‘Because I have on occasion encouraged you to spend time with him, hm?’

‘Well, yes.’

‘It is true that I have been guilty of a little matchmaking. I saw that Mr Lecter cared for you, and I pushed you together.’ Mr Graham shook his head. ‘But marriage is a serious proposition, Will. He is a rich Alpha, to be sure, but is that enough to make you happy? My child,’ and stepping forward, he grasped Will’s hands, ‘what of your feelings for him? You could not be happy in an unequal marriage. Please, my boy, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life.’

‘I do respect him,’ he replied, with tears in his eyes. ‘I love him. So very much, Father. Indeed, he is perfectly amiable. You do not know all that he is.’

‘Then tell me,’ urged Mr Graham gently. ‘I want only your happiness, Will, you must know that.’

And so Will told him. Of Hannibal’s history with Matthew Brown; of the trust and intimacy that had developed between them during Will’s heat; and finally of the service Hannibal had performed in saving Abigail from ruination.

Once more Mr Graham listened attentively, but this time his expression was very different.

‘Well,’ he said at last, ‘you have succeeded in surprising me.’ And he threw back his head and laughed. ‘So the man whom the whole town scrambled to worship is a fraud, while the one they rejoiced in reviling turns out to be a saviour. My, my. How the world turns.’

‘Father.’ Will laid a restraining hand on his arm. ‘Please do not mention the money to Hannibal. It would do no good in any case.’

Chuckling, Mr Graham patted Will’s hand.

‘I promise to be the soul of diplomacy. And doubtless when I do offer to repay him, he will rant and storm about his love for you, as young lovers are wont to do. And there will be an end to it.’

***

In pensive silence, Hannibal waited for Will’s return. He was extraordinarily relieved by the brilliant smile that lit up Will’s face as he entered the dining room, and they sat together on the sofa for several moments before either spoke.

‘I should like to speak with your father myself, to assure him that my intentions towards his son are entirely honourable.’

Will curled his hand around Hannibal’s nape, and Hannibal allowed himself to be drawn close.

‘You may, provided that you do not think of claiming me, or any other such Alphan nonsense.’

Hannibal rubbed his nose alongside Will’s, amused.

‘You do not wish me to claim you, then?’

‘Formally?’ Will snorted. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘Hm.’

‘But in private?’ He smiled slowly, slender fingers wreaking havoc with Hannibal’s senses as they stroked through his hair. ‘Certainly. Provided, of course, that I may claim you in return.’

‘Dearest, loveliest Will.’ Eyes half-closed, Hannibal sighed his contentment. ‘By you I have been properly humbled.’

‘Now that I doubt very much!’

***

It was not long after Hannibal left, with a warm handshake from Will’s father and a promise to return the following evening for dinner, that the rest of the family returned. Anxious to share his news first with Alana, Will felt with impatience every slow hour that passed until night finally came and he could steal his sister away. Her reaction, as they sat together in her room, was just as he had hoped.

‘Engaged to Mr Lecter! Oh, Will. At last! He shall be as dear to me as you and Margot.’

‘There, you see,’ he grinned, as they embraced warmly. ‘You will not, after all, have to shake the sense back into me.’

Returning to his own room some minutes later, Will noticed that his mother was still at her dressing table, and he seized the opportunity to deliver the news to her in private.

The effect of his communication was most extraordinary; for, on first hearing it, Mrs Graham sat quite still and was unable to utter a syllable.

She began at length, however, to recover; and the fidgeting, chuckling and exclamations which followed made Will very glad indeed that he had chosen to speak to her alone.

‘Mr Lecter! Who would have thought it? Oh, my sweetest boy, how rich you will be! What carriages you will have! Alana’s shall be nothing to yours. I am so happy! Such a charming man! So handsome! Three children married! Ten thousand a year!’

***

Dinner the following evening was not as trying an experience as Will had feared. His mother stood in such awe of Hannibal that she ventured only the most timid of greetings. Fredricka and Molly were similarly bashful; while Alana, though perfectly friendly, was understandably preoccupied in discussing wedding plans with Miss Verger. This left Hannibal free to talk at length with Mr Graham, and Will was relieved to observe how easily the two men conversed.

After dinner, Will suggested a walk before Hannibal’s departure; and after strolling for some time in quiet contentment, they found themselves at the summer house.

‘Come.’

Will allowed himself to be tugged inside and down into Hannibal’s lap, although instantly he adopted a severe expression.

‘Really, sir!’

Arms snaking around his waist, lips pressed to Will’s throat, Hannibal murmured, ‘Is not this gentlemanlike enough behaviour for you, Mr Graham?’

‘Mm.’ Squirming against him, Will slipped his hands beneath Hannibal’s coat. ‘I have no complaints.’

But the reference to their terrible argument in Kent gave him pause, and he pulled back slightly to look earnestly at Hannibal.

‘What I said to you that day –’

‘Was wholly justified.’

‘Hannibal.’ Tenderly, Will kissed the taut plane of his lover’s cheek. ‘I was guilty of dreadful prejudice when I spoke to you so harshly. And I have long been ashamed of myself for it.’

A smile twitched at the corners of Hannibal’s lips. ‘You are entirely charming and I am sure I have done nothing to deserve you.’

Feeling suddenly playful, Will cocked an eyebrow. ‘I am still surprised that you ever wished to deserve me. What set you off in the first place?’

With feigned puzzlement, Hannibal shook his head. ‘I really cannot say. You befuddled me so, I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.’

In retribution, Will slipped his hand lower, fingers skating across the front of Hannibal’s breeches.

‘Now be sincere! Did you admire me for my impertinence?’

Hannibal growled, reaching down to still his teasing.

‘For the liveliness of your mind, I did.’

‘Ha. You may as well call it impertinence and be done. Confess and I shall allow a question in return.’ Eyes full of mischief, Will leaned forward and stole a fleeting kiss. ‘Quid pro quo, as we lawyers say.’

‘Oh, do you now?’ Hannibal smiled. ‘Very well then, appalling boy. I shall admit that I was very much struck by your impertinence.’

‘Because unlike the rest of the world, I did not seek to court you?’

But for this he received a light nip to his bottom lip.

‘Now, Will. Quid pro quo, remember?’

‘I am sorry.’ Will flicked him a flirtatious glance. ‘Please, ask away.’

‘Hm. Why were you so grave and silent when first I returned to Hertfordshire?’

Will’s cheeks heated. ‘Because I was embarrassed. Why did not you talk to me more when you came to dinner?’

‘A man who had felt less, might.’

With a sigh, Will laid his cheek on Hannibal’s shoulder.

‘I believe we must make a resolution to communicate more.’

He felt the soft press of lips against his hair.

‘Agreed. It might perhaps have been more convenient had at least one of us been better at such things from the beginning.’

‘Yes.’ Lifting his head, Will smiled tenderly. ‘But nobody thinks of that when they fall in love.’