Chapter 23Vincent and Eiji passed the ride back to their townhouse in a silence that was a few shades short of companionable. Eiji fidgeted, for his part, and could not seem to choose whether to look out of the window or at a spot within the carriage; and Vincent was struck with a profound sense of loneliness, after having seen the two men he loved most in the world, behind Eiji, so happy in each other’s arms.
Thankfully, it was a relatively short journey, and once again Vincent let Eiji take the footman’s hand to descend first. “I am for a drink before bed,” Vincent announced; he needed something to cut his sudden despair and make it possible for him to sleep at all that night.
“I will join you, if I may,” Eiji said, to Vincent’s surprise. Vincent nodded, and led Eiji through the house
