Silas Is In Trouble
Byron Wright burst out the door, taking in few deep breaths. Even the fetid, wet air of the city streets were better than the stifling sensation he had inside the ballroom.
Obligation.
It was a simple word, yet it had become the center of his world and threatened any hope he had for a happy life.
He was obligated to help run the family business.
He was obligated to be an obedient son.
He was obligated to always put up a good front, so as to not disgrace his family name.
He was obligated to make nice with all the simpering, simple-minded wealthy and titled people whom his father wanted to impress.
Most of all he was obligated to find a rich, respectable woman and marry so he could sire heirs to carry on the family name.
It was the last obligation that weighed the most heavily upon him. For he would as soon lay with a woman as he would with his grandmother. Even as a child, he’d known that he did not yearn for the gentle touch and silken skin of a female, but rather the rough caress and muscular build of a man. Or rather, one man in particular. And, of course, that would never do as far as Bryon’s father was concerned for not only was Silas Brown a man, but he a poor one at that.
Father hated that Byron was even friends with Silas. Since his family’s wealth came from his father being a merchant rather than an aristocrat, the older man always stressed that they should associate only with the proper type of people. Silas and his family were not the proper sort of people either.
Silas and Byron had met by sheer coincidence. Byron’s father had needed a new type of steam-powered propeller for his boats and since Silas’s parents were well-known inventors, they had been hired for the job.
Byron had only been five, but he still remembered that day clearly. He recalled how Silas had clung to his mother’s skirts as they walked into the Wright family town home. Silas had been dressed simply, his brown hair cut in an unassuming, rough style, his plump cheeks rosy as his brown eyes widened at the grandeur surrounding him.
Byron, on the other hand, had been dressed in the best, his blond locks slicked back, not a speck of dirt marring his custom tailored clothing. He’d wanted to run out to the gardens to play, but his overbearing mother had forbade it. But as Silas gave him a shy grin, Byron felt happy over the forced confinement because he’d known he’d found an instant friendship.
Over the years, despite the differences in their social status, the two had only grown closer. Silas had become more handsome as the years passed and though he had gained several inches, he was still short with a thin build. No doubt his lack of stature was due to the times when his family had fallen on hard times and food had been scarce. Byron had tried to help the best he could, but due to school and his father’s domineering control, it had not always been easy to get away.
Byron could not quite pinpoint the time his affection for Silas had grown into something more, but now all he could think about was how he would love to know his best friend in every way possible.
He closed his eyes, wishing that he didn’t have those feelings. Not only would it make him the butt of jokes and the target of bullies, but his father would disown him. Plus, in all their time together, never once had Silas shown any indication that he returned Byron’s feelings. For all Byron knew, Silas probably had a fiancé somewhere and was just waiting for the right time to marry the miss.
It would break Byron’s heart when that day came.
Almost as if drawn in by Byron’s thoughts, Silas’ voice called, “Byron, is that you?”
Turning, Byron found Silas standing by the corner of the building, a fearful look on his overly pale face. A light misting of rain had started to fall, but even in the poor light, Byron could make out the small droplets of water that clung to Silas’ long eyelashes and hair.
He wore a long leather apron and simple work clothes, but no overcoat. Byron frowned, not liking the idea of Silas being cold, without the proper protection.
“Yes, it’s me. Why are you outside in this kind of weather?”
“I have been waiting for you.”
Silas moved closer and it was then that Byron noted a large bruise forming on his friend’s left cheekbone. Fury filled Byron that anybody would dare to lay a hand on the man he cared so much about.
Reaching out, he lightly touched it, pulling back when Silas let out a hiss of pain.
“Who did this to you?” Byron demanded.
“I don’t know. The men were all wearing hoods. They came into my parents’ laboratory and attacked us.”
“Why would somebody do that?”
Byron nibbled on his bottom lip as he gave a slight shrug. “I’m not certain, but I think it may have been some new invention they were working on. All I know is that father was excited because he claimed it would finally give him the recognition and wealth he deserved.”
That drew a wince from Byron, for it had been his own father who had stolen the patent for the steam-powered propeller that Silas’ parents developed. As a result, not only had it made his father wealthier, but it had given him an edge on his competition since his ships could travel twice as fast.
“Did the attackers hurt your parents?” Byron asked, his heart beating hard.
While his father had thought he was above the Browns, Byron had always liked the couple. They had shown him more love and affection than his own parents ever had.
“That’s why I came to you. I didn’t want to drag you into this, but I didn’t know where else to go. I can’t even go home for fear that the attackers will be there too. I just didn’t know what to do.”
Silas was rambling, something he only did when he was upset or scared. Going over to his friend, Byron grabbed Silas by the upper arms and gave him a gentle shake. “Calm down and tell me what happened.”
Gazing up, his brown eyes filled with anguish, Silas said, “They took my parents. I tried to stop them, but my father yelled at me to run. So, I did. Does that make me a coward?”
Byron so wanted to wrap Silas in a protective embrace, but he didn’t dare make such a gesture out in the open. “No, it makes you a survivor. There is nothing wrong with that. Do you know where they took them?”
Silas shook his head. “That’s why I came to you. I need your help. Will you give it to me?”
Byron didn’t even have to think for a second. He would swim the river Thames for Silas. “You know I will. Come, let’s get you back to my house. You can dry off and get into some dry clothes. Then we can decide what we’re going to do.”
Byron only wished he felt as confidant as he sounded.
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