Page 45 of Measure of the Stars

Chapter Ten

Port Redmason had justappeared on the horizon when Delauney heard raised voices in the dining room.

“I won’t have it!”Peter’s voice rang through the cabin as Delauney blearily untangled himself from Wes’ embrace.Wes shifted in bed, reaching for the warm spot Delauney had left behind.“How many years have you been in my service?And you can’t do thisonething for me?”

Delauney frowned, pulling on his trousers as he heard the muffled sound of Alain’s response.Peter never raised his voice.He was a quiet, private man, hardly making demands of anyone, even his servants.Delauney couldn’t remember seeing him more than mildly irritated in their entire acquaintance.

Delauney had just reached for the door when the sound of a hand striking flesh cut Alain’s voice short.Wes scrambled up in bed, scowling as Delauney pushed open the door.

Peter stood there, hand upraised, trembling with dawning horror in his eyes.Alain’s left cheek was pink, but they were looking at Peter with concern, hands up in a soothing gesture.Tears threatened to spill in Peter’s eyes as he stared at Alain’s face.

“Peter?”That was Ned, standing in the doorway of their shared quarters.“Was that you just now?”His voice lowered.“Or was that Auguste?”

Peter took a shaky step back.“I...I didn’t...Alain, I’d never...”He turned and tried to push past Ned, who wrapped him in his arms before he could run off.He covered his face with both hands, breathing shakily.

“I’ll handle this,” Ned said.“Delauney, can you speak to Alain?”

Delauney nodded.“Go on.”He approached Alain as Ned pulled Peter back into their rooms, but Wes reached them first.He guided them into one of the dining chairs before pulling out two more for himself and Delauney.

“Are you all right?”Wes asked.

“Yes.”Alain rubbed their cheek.“We’re only sad, that’s all.”

“Has this happened before?”Wes asked.Delauney eyed the door to Ned and Peter’s rooms, but if they were speaking inside, their voices were too soft to hear.

“No.”Alain sighed.“Not with Peter.His father...”Alain eyed Delauney warily.“His father, Baron Auguste, used to beat his servants.Not us, though.He knew better than to anger our master.But Peter was terrified of his father.He spent most of his summers with his uncle when he could, but even a stern tone can shake him now.This will hurt him dearly.We will have to watch him.”

“I didn’t know that,” Delauney said.Peter had rarely spoken of his childhood.If his father truly had been a monster to his servants, that might explain why Peter seemed so indifferent to the servants in his own household.It was as though he was trying to hide from them by avoiding all contact.

“If you need help, you know you can come to me,” Wes said, as Delauney caught the door to Ned’s room creaking open.

“We know,” Alain said, laying a hand on Wes’ arm.“You have been a true friend to us, Wesley.But Peter will not do this again.Our master will drag this ship into the sea if he does.”

Delauney shuddered.

Ned stepped into the dining room, looking weary.“Alain.Peter would like to apologize for his behavior.”

“If he won’t stop shaking, it helps to massage his hands,” Alain said, rising from their seat.They gave Wes one last, comforting smile before slipping into the room.

Ned paused before following them, his gaze resting on Delauney.

“We’ll talk later,” Delauney said.

Ned closed the door, and Wes put his head in his hands with a ragged sigh.

“I understand that feeling,” Delauney whispered.