"I didn't expect to get a message from you so soon." John put his glass down on the table.
"And I thought you'd be happier to see me."
"I don't know, Ollie. Meeting you usually means trouble."
"Oh, come on. "
"Well, that's why people stay away from you. "
Oliver made a face even though he knew his friend had been joking.
"Sorry, that was a bad one. But you just bring bad luck, mate."
"Since when?" Oliver asked and crossed his hands.
"Since that time they almost killed us in, where was it?..."
"Manchester?"
"No, Manchester was not that bad. "
"Yes, true." Oliver said thoughtfully and John frowned.
"I'm sure it must've been better than Liverpool."
"Anything is better than there. Forget it, it's in the past now. "
"Aye, is it really? "
Oliver waved a dismissing hand. "It is. Let's talk about something else."
"Yeah, you're right. "
"So, how have you been doing?"
Oliver had decided to use his day off to meet his friend and they were now sitting at a small, dark tavern, not far from the city center of London. It was still the late afternoon and most people hadn't started coming in, so they could talk freely. Or at last relatively so.
"I don't know, you tell me. You disappear, then appear out of nowhere. Emma says you're working for a lord. What did you tell her?"
"That- I'm working for a lord now."
John snorted in his mug "As a what? A mercenary in his private army?"
"Shut up, you know I'm not a soldier anymore."
"Yeah, obviously."
"You're still mad with me for leaving the cavalry."
"Nah, I'm mad because you didn't listen to me. I’m not the best example of right doing and wrong doings, but still"
"I didn't have much of a choice. "
Jonh moved in his chair and looked at the table.
"You did what you had to, I know mate." Jonh paused "Right, I don’t want to bring that one back. “
“Thank you.“
“A “thank you”. Are you learning manners now, Ollie?”
“Fuck off, John. “
“Aye, you do yours I do mine. “
He laughed and asked
“And how is it, working for the rich now?"
"Same as serving the country. "
"The one who pays better wins?"
"Exactly."
"Not much different, then. " John smiled. "But you probably sleep in a clean bed."
"One of the good things."
"One of the good things? Ollie, what's the bad thing about having a bed and knowing they won't shoot you at any given moment?"
"Knowing that they might stab you in the back."
"But even I'd stab you for more money."
Oliver laughed at the open admission of his friend, even if it was meant as a jest.
"Hah, well, yeah. Fair enough."
"You know I'm only messing. But, serious now -you're at the Fernsby's? The Minister?"
"Yeah, that one."
John whistled "I'll be damned.”
“We’ve been for a while now. “
His friend’s expression turned more serious, humour gone completely from his tone when he spoke.
“Be careful, Ollie."
"Yeah, I know. "
"I just...things get weird when there's politics involved and all that... It's, you know- fighting on a different level. "
"I know, I don't have any part in this. I'm just doing my duties."
"Keep it so, I hear stuff and all..."
Oliver took a sip from his beer.
"What stuff?"
"Oh, come on- you probably knew before I did. They say people are getting ready for strikes."
"Because of the planned raise of taxes?"
"Yeah, folks are pissed. And the radicals are supporting the Opposition, of course."
"As expected, they're most affected from all of this, after all."
"Besides when was that Fernsby's government elected?"
"Not long ago, why?"
"Exactly, it's too early for all the raises they do.”
“But the old Fernsby has been in politics since he was…” Oliver gestured around “since he was born, probably. “
“But not as a Prime minister. He’s not that popular now, that’s all. “
“I know, it’s all over the papers. “
“Besides, the changes they want…It's just profits for those blasted lords."
"John..."
"I know, I know. You won't call the good old folks from the police, now, will ya."
Oliver shook his head "No, they'll directly hang you for treason."
"Or any past crimes. "
"Or that. "
John waved with a hand.
"Yes, but if they haven't hung you for screwing men yet, I'm safe."
"Don't even joke with that." Oliver said half- serious and pointed a finger at John.
"Nay, I''m not saying anything .You are you."
"It's ...”
“What?”
“It’s just different now. “
“What do you mean?”
Oliver looked at his friend blankly and wondered how he could change the whole conversation they were having. He couldn’t believe he’d just let that slip out if his mouth.
He should’ve just shut it.
Oliver had never discussed any personal matters with his friend. Most likely because he’d never had any “personal matters” of the kind to talk about.
Another reason was men like them never had the time or the mind to discuss anything of the sort.
But seeing John, sitting opposite him, half- worried, half expecting Oliver thought it was better if he just let it go.
“No, nothing.“
"How? No, wait, wait. " His friend said, “Wait. “
John kept looking at him.
" Don't tell me you've fallen for some of the little lords, there."
Oliver got busy with his glass.
"You. did. not."
John had always been the only person who knew Oliver's preferences and had always kept his secret and that was that.
"I didn't," Oliver. said and clenched his hand around his mug.
"I'll be damned, twice over." John ran his hands over his face, "Right. " Then he looked incredulous at Oliver, eyes widening "You aren't actually screwing one of them, are you."
"What?No!"
"But you want to. I know you. Which one is it?"
"John..."
“Which one? ”
“Why are we even talking about this?”
"It's the youngest one, isn't it. " When Oliver didn't reply, his friend laughed.
"Oh, my God, Ollie. I knew you were stupid and never cared about your life, but this time you're outrunning yourself. "
"I never touched him." Oliver hissed.
John leaned forward and lowered his voice "Are you completely insane?"
"I said I never did anything. Besides, he's...he's almost engaged. "
John slammed his hands on the table then, startling Oliver. "Of course he is! Or if he isn't, he soon will be. This golden lordie -boy is one of the richest men in England, what did you think?"
"I didn't..."
"You didn't think, did you..."
"Look, I know. And I didn't do anything."
"You can't even pronounce their names. I can't believe you!" Oliver tried to protest, but John stopped him.
"Just don't. That's different from fucking a guy in a dark alley when you know you'll never see the guy again. "
"I'm not a kid. I know."
"Yeah, kids are way smarter than you are."
"Thanks."
"Always, mate. Just keep your head clear is all I'm saying. "
"I know, Jonh. "
"Good. Keep it that way.”
Oliver shook his head and said.
“There’s nothing to be careful about, it’s…he’s different, but...”
“No, don’t.”
Oliver said simply.
“I know where I’m standing. “
“I hope so. “
John took a long swig from his drink and said “So, I know you probably don’t pay them any mind, but tell me about the maids. "
Oliver laughed, thankful for the change of topic and told John what the manor was like , about the numerous items decorating the whole place, the food and all he had learned about the different positions and duties in a household, big as the Fernsby's estate.
John was listening with interest, even though his friend had never tried to hide his dislike for the upper-classes.
They finished their beers, Oliver, seriously trying to avoid further talks of the threats behind the whole madness he'd gotten himself into.
They were just getting up to leave when Oliver said.
"I need one more thing to ask,"
"Always. "
He handed Jonh an envelope. "Can you give this to Emma? "
"What's that?"
"I promised to write to her and there's some money in it. I don't know when I'll be able to meet her again, so if you could give it to her... "
"Right, no problem. I know you can’t. “
“Yeah, not really. “
“What do you want me to tell her?"
"That everything's been going well and that I'm fine."
"That's all?"
"That's all. "
Jonh nodded. "Just stay alive, all right?"
It was their old good luck greeting from the time when they were in the army together. And after the army, they’d quickly found out there wasn’t much point in wishing each other anything, but they still kept saying it for the old times’ sake.
"Stay alive, John."
Oliver went out of the tavern on the chilly rainy evening.
It was soon going to be November and the weather was only going to get worse. He had one more thing to do, though, before going back to the manor, so he braced himself and stepped on the muddy road.