Chapter 65: Chapter 65 – Sweet home

Although in first instance the expectation was to return home, this was not done immediately.

Having made that last visit to Thomas's gallery, thus confirming some of the suspicions he already had, Oscar thought it might be worth taking another look at the shady business. That is, looking at it this way and with the pen issue resolved, the blackmail couldn't go any further. Not in the near future, at least.

Remembering Thomas had taken care of sending a letter to his parents explaining his leave of the university, it could be said that both were on a par in terms of credibility and evidence. Because well, even if Albert could report the robbery, providing evidence and witnesses for his cause, would it really be convenient for him to do so?

If it were said that the wicked cousin had gotten his hands on the Northrop family fortune while the Northrops were away, it would make some sense to get the authorities involved. But having extracted a mere writing instrument, and being himself a lifelong neighbor of that family, perhaps it would have been too much of a scandal. Besides, why involve the police when the pen could be recovered?

If on top of that Oscar went to his aunt and uncle with the evidence that Thomas had dropped out of college, wouldn't they end up as the bad guys in the movie?

Because the cousin had enough talk to get away with it and, without any evidence to put about his misdeeds, in the end it would be the word of one against the other.

"There should be a way to wreck Thomas's business," Oscar mused aloud, one of those days when they hadn't yet left for Snodland, "but in a way that don't involve us in the mess directly.”

"Is it necessary to do it?" Albert asked in turn.

At the time, Oscar gave him a detailed summary of what he witnessed in the gallery while he was away, and, certainly, the villain agreed that there was something that did not fit in the whole picture: Where did Thomas get the money from to remain so carefree despite the fact that his business remained so devoid of customers?

But, it was likely, getting in where no one was calling was just what Thomas expected them to do. Why couldn't they just let it go for now? That's what Albert must have thought, in his usual pacifist mood. And it is that, discounting that outburst that he had before the thief, he continued without wishing any harm to his neighbor. As long as they didn't mess with him or his people, the villain wouldn't lay a finger on anyone. No matter how twisted he was the person in question.

Surely, it was a pity that Oscar was not the same.

"I think we'll both agree that Thomas wouldn't go back to town to make another blackmail attempt," he murmured thoughtfully. “That business that claims to be so profitable needs his full attention and, after this confrontation we've had, it wouldn't be convenient for him to face us again for a while. However, I am concerned about something Dianne mentioned when he was visiting.” Though he paused for a moment, pondering what would come next, Albert didn't interrupt but waited patiently for him to continue. “Oh, I know what I'll do! How about we both give in a little? We will not let go of the business issue, but neither will we seek a new confrontation.”

"As long as we don't have to go back to that gallery…" Albert began. “I absolutely do not want to have to continue wasting saliva with people who are not worth it.”

"It won't be necessary to go back. What's more! We won't need to talk to Thomas at all. My idea went more towards other ways...”

“I´m listening”

"How would you like to stay in Oxford for a few more days? Oh, it's not what you think. Just like you don't want to go back through the gallery, I don't want to play spy with Thomas and his friends. When I suggest staying, I do so, largely, with no other motivation than to act as simple tourists on vacation.”

"Didn't you say you didn't want to let the business go?"

"I've said that I don't want to run into certain people while I'm walking the streets, but I've never mentioned anything that I wouldn't want someone else to do for me. That's what I meant.” With a mischievous grin, Oscar suggested. “Why not let a professional take care of this, instead of getting our hands dirty?”

It sounded like he was plotting to employ a hit man to break Thomas's legs and burn down his gallery on the way. But no, Albert knew that the shots were not going that way. It may be that the goal was a similar one, but the way in which it would be carried out would not contemplate any illegality.

"If we're not going to get into unnecessary trouble, I wouldn't mind staying a couple more days… And leaving the research work to someone else," Albert conceded, but without letting go of a tone of concern, he added. “Although, won't you create a problem with your uncles? I mean, because of the letter Thomas sent them. If it arrives before the documents you were thinking of giving them, it could create another misunderstanding.”

"That's true, surely Thomas has invented some new calumny. Something like he asked me to keep the secret but, on top of that I didn't want to do it, I went straight to Oxford to check on him because I didn't trust him...” After barely ten seconds, in which he pretended to think about it, he concluded. “You know what? I do not care. Even if I were to tell my uncles everything, presenting the evidence gathered before Thomas's letter arrived, the result would still be the same. His word against mine. So, the options are: Go back a little earlier and create an awkward situation ahead of time, or stay in the city, in your only company, enjoying a well-deserved vacation without paying attention to third parties. What do you think sounds more appetizing to me?”

It was obvious what the answer would be.

Therefore, and with Albert's approval, they agreed to extend their time at Oxford. And although the villain was somewhat tense at first, due to everything they had been through in the last few days, he gradually relaxed, until he almost forgot the problems that had sent them away from home.

In truth, discounting those days in which nothing was solved yet, the two enjoyed the outing. In this way, the day it was time to take the train back, they wanted escapades like this to be repeated from time to time and in the same company. What they lived in those days was an idyll and, like all pleasant dreams, it could not last forever.

Returning to Snodland, they ran into a reality that didn't quite fit for either of them; in the city, at least, nobody knew them and, at least, they could act as good friends. Without having to worry about appearing too close to third parties.

In the town, since everyone considered them master and servant, they had to be careful how they behaved in public. And this not only had to do with displays of affection, but in a more general area. Since Oscar belonged to a lower-middle class family and had not yet managed to climb socially to consider himself something else, even behaving towards Albert with the affability of a lifelong friend could be frowned upon by the most conservative inhabitants of the village.

If it were a 21st century English town, Oscar would have given a damn about appearances. Well, although that relationship was still frowned upon by some, the vast majority would not have cared. And, therefore, the consequences of finding out would have been negligible.

Here, on the contrary, it was not known what could be more scandalous; if the fact that it was a relationship between two men, or that these two men belonged to disparate social classes. If it were only for the "what will they say" I would still have a pass but, at a time when tolerance of homosexuality was still dormant, the consequences of this matter coming to light could be fatal.

This is why, while Oscar and Albert were able to stay true to themselves in the city, when they set foot in Snodland again they had to resume that facade of indifference towards each other. At least while they remained on the streets. What they did inside their respective houses, away from the eyes of third parties, would be another story.

"Tomorrow I'll have to go visit my aunt and uncle," Oscar had decided, once the diligence began to travel through the familiar central streets of the town. “Today is too late to get into lawsuits.”

And he said this because, after a day of crossing since dawn, when they finally arrived at the inn where he was staying, the sun was already beginning to set.

"Do you want me to come with you to talk to them?"

“I don't think it's necessary, anyway I didn't plan to stay to talk. My idea is to explain four basic things, deliver the papers and go back to work.”

"You're always so cold," Albert said reproachfully, although he didn't add anything either to try to convince him to settle things with his uncle properly.

Perhaps at another time it would have been useful to say what he was thinking, but at this time and circumstance, after they had talked at length on the subject, he knew it was better to let Oscar act as he saw fit with his family. There would be time to intervene, if things went wrong.

"Cold, me? How can you say that? Oscar protested, though he didn't seem bothered by the comment. I remind you that the idea of ​​sleeping in the same room was mine. You wanted everyone to have their own room… Although, I'll give you this, you changed your mind amazingly quickly when I said I didn't mind sharing a bed.”

"T-that was only because we were in a hotel! What would have happened if someone from room service had shown up?”

“At eleven p.m? Strange time to show up, unless you voluntarily wanted to join a night session.”

“All I'm saying is that there were risks to be taken into account. We were in a strange city, staying in a place where we didn't know anyone... And maybe the room service guys weren't working at such hours, but those people wake up early to start their work.”

"Knock on the door then, isn't that the protocol? Anyway, I did what I had to do: I ruffled the blankets on my own bed, to make it look like I slept there every night without fail.”

"Yes, I already noticed that mess.”

Perhaps imagining that scene, Albert smiled. Something completely understandable, because even Oscar himself would be willing to admit that it happened: Not even sleeping alone in his own bed was he one of those who bothered the blankets so much.

"I'm sorry for whoever had to remake the beds, although it's not like they didn't plan on doing it, either," After a moment, having remembered something, he added. “In any case, it would be worse for whoever has to clean the sheets, I really wouldn't want that job.”

"It's not like you have to pay attention to those details, surely it's not the first time anyway... Ah, are we there yet? The trip has been short.”

Sure enough, the carriage stopped, and Albert's embarrassment hadn't lessened one bit. Both were aware that, in those days in which they remained in Oxford, solving the issues that had brought them there and carrying out the relevant tourism was not the only thing they were doing.

Oscar just laughed, thinking that he could do him the favor of pretending that it hadn't been a crude change of subject. Then, before heading to the door and opening it, he turned to plant a kiss on the villain's lips. It was an action done with such brevity that before the villain had a chance to process it it was done.

The coachman's voice had been heard, from outside, announcing their arrival and therefore they both knew that one of them would not be able to stay on the coach much longer.

"We'll see each other tomorrow afternoon," Oscar said in a good mood, getting out of the carriage and taking the travel bag that the driver held out to him. “I'll drop by Thornfield, if my uncles calm down enough to put me on parole.”

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“I´ll be waiting.”

Albert smiled as he said goodbye, perhaps tempted to do something else. For an instant he wanted to grab the other by the wrist and drag him back into the car, perhaps as a silent request to accompany him to Thornfield that very night. But such a thing could not be done.

It couldn't because Peter Northrop had already returned from London, and what would he think if he unexpectedly brought a guest after an exhausting journey? No, more than that, wouldn't he find it strange that said guest was the same one who had already spent the last three weeks with his son?

Also, by the time Albert placed his hand on the door handle, he still didn't know whether to close it or to lean on it while saying a few final words of farewell, he heard a voice calling him.

It was possible that he would regret later that he had missed his opportunity to say goodbye to Oscar in a more affectionate way, but the moment he recognized that voice, he had no problem letting himself be considered a coward.

For, after hastily apologizing to Oscar, he instructed the coachman to immediately set off for Thornfield. He slammed the car door and drew the curtains on a small window through which, although no one could see him due to the dim light at that hour, they could imagine that whoever was inside was attentive to the surroundings.

Oscar stood there, in the middle of the road, with a superior smile on his lips.

“Who's the cold person now, huh?” he wondered, already plotting how he would joke with Albert about it when they met again.

But Albert had run away for a good reason, that much was clear. Oscar didn't even need to turn around to find out who that annoying voice that had scared him belonged to, so she simply stood in front of the building where she lived, with his luggage in hand, while he watched the stagecoach drive away and an unwanted person ran towards him. .

"But why has he gone?" Madeleine exclaimed, with a hint of frustration, as soon as she caught up with Oscar, also glancing in the direction the carriage had disappeared. “Didn´t he listen to me? I've been trying to get his attention ever since I left the house, and yelling like that isn't even ladylike!

"Maybe he's tired from the trip," Oscar suggested. “Or he may have selective hearing.”

“No, I can see that he does listen to you. I don't even want to imagine what the two of you have been doing alone in…!” The protagonist stopped but not to think about how she would continue, but to hit the other one on her arm, with such force that Oscar was about to drop his bag.

"Now what the hell is wrong with you?!" He inquired offended, bringing his other hand to the sore spot.

"What's wrong with me? First you don't tell me that Mr. Northrop was already interested in someone else, ridiculing me as I tried to get close to him, and then that damn letter! Who do you think you are?!”

“Apparently, someone he holds in higher esteem than you… Ah, don't hit me again, I can see all your intentions! If I didn't tell you about Albert before, it's because he never gave me permission to do so. It would have been a violation of his privacy,” Oscar concluded, deliberately omitting his own involvement in it all. “How was I to know that you wouldn't give up even though he told you explicitly, and on several occasions, that he didn't want to go out with you?”

"Well, you should have known, since you know me well. I'm not one to stop short of getting what I want!”

“And about the letter… You deserved that one. Your own missive was so rude that you could almost say you were looking for a response like the one we sent you.”

“It is not true! I treated you both with the respect you deserved… Well, with the respect due a noble knight and his simpleton servant, no less. But let's put that aside, I didn't want to talk to Mr. Northrop to reminisce about past incidents! Much less to recriminate the poor thing, who must already have enough with that bad taste to find a partner.”

“That's good, so you just called to hit him?”

“Nonsense, I would never do something like that to a person as illustrious as him. He may have terrible tastes and not be right in the head, but I wouldn't dare lay a hand on him.”

“But I do, or how is it?”

“You are not illustrious, nor a gentleman… Besides, you go around seducing men of considerable fortune for your own benefit! If they were still women...”

"If they were women, you and I could sympathize," Oscar sneered.

“Of course not, I'm with Patrick for love!” Madeleine wasn't throwing a tantrum by now, but it was just as well that no one was out on the streets, for it was obvious to anyone watching that this wasn't a friendly conversation. “Anyway, if I wanted to talk to Mr. Northrop it was to deliver my wedding invitation.”

"Is that still going on?"

"Why shouldn't it?"

"Well, you'd better give it to him another day," he recommended, since he wasn't going to start arguing about other people's flaws when choosing who to drag to the altar. “What was the rush?”

"Why, are you coming? Weren´t you avoiding me? The day after I got that rude letter (which, by the way, I don't know how Mr. Northrop let you send such a thing) I went to Thornfield to pay a visit - but no one was home. I waited a few days, until the invitations were made, and nothing either!”

"Didn't they tell you we were in Oxford?"

"They did, that's why more than holding a grudge against Mr. Northrop I feel sorry for him. Pity for having had to be away from his home thanks to the tricks of the manipulator that he now has as his lover! Because listen to what I'm telling you, I don't believe that about falling in love. The Northrop family has always been most respectable, there's no way they're willingly involved in sodomy! There is no doubt that he was duped. But he will realize in the future, he loses care.”

"My, if you put it like that I'm going to feel like a most unpleasant human being, leading Albert down the path of evil... And what little sense of self-preservation he must have too, allowing himself to be seduced like that, without putting up a fight!" Oscar quipped. “But Madeleine, tell me, have you been talking to Dianne? That "lover" thing I don't think you've pulled it off on your own.”

“Don't talk to me about Dianne, she already sensed what was between you two and she didn't say a word to me. It's horrible, almost as if she was complicit in this strategy to humiliate me!” Before the other had time to realize that the protagonist herself had brought misfortune, he added. “Though you and Mr. Northrop must know that I don't mind your random deviations. I know that this is something temporary, a stupid strategy to get rid of me. Oh well! Contrary to what my beloved Patrick and my family think, I am willing to forgive you for your wrongdoing and invite you to my wedding. That hasn't changed even after nearly three weeks of ignoring me and the poison missive.”

"Although I won't deny that creating a plan to get rid of you is somewhat tempting, don't you think that this supposed strategy is somewhat risky?" Oscar would have liked to ask. But Madeleine was so engrossed in her own fairy tale that he didn't even seem to want to give a single full thought to the rest of her actions.

Ergo, it was better not to add anything to it and instead say:

"So I'm still included in that invitation? That's nice of you! I might even forgive you for hitting you earlier just for this. But what about my invitation? You're already late in giving it to me.”

Oscar used his best fake smile, which only had to unnerve Madeleine. Well, as soon as the other had finished saying this, she confirmed with annoyance:

"I have no invitation for you. After everything you've done to me in the last year, the only reason I even considered inviting you was because you're in business with the Northrops. And because, as shy as Albert seems to be, it's likely that if he can't take you with him he won't agree to come.”

“It's incredible that you finally say something half right about his character. Did you hit your head or did the conversation with Dianne reach a higher level of depth?”

"I just have an invitation for Mr. Northrop," Madeleine went on casually, "which specifies that he can come with you if he wants to. And no, don't come to suggest that you deliver it to him yourself, I have to do that. Because you see, the wedding is in a little less than a month and there will be a banquet in Lilac Hall. So I need to know how many people will come!”

“I don't know about the others, but if Albert decides to go, I'll go too. As aggravating as our letter may have seemed to you, that has not changed in this time either.”

"But I have to hear that in his own words because I don't trust you!"

Oscar sighed. It was all too obvious that Madeleine's problem wasn't that she didn't trust him to deliver such a simple message and respond on behalf of an employer she might even get along too well with. No. What ate at the protagonist was not being able to show off her commitment to the only man who rejected her. 

"In that case, go see him some day," Remembering something, Oscar advised. “But send a note before you show up at Thornfield, lest it be and when you turn up by surprise you find a trench and a moat full of alligators in front of the property.”

“Of course I'll do it! And when I do, you better be grateful to me for the consideration I have shown you. Knowing how you are, not many people in this town would want to invite you to such an important event.”

Saying this, Madeleine began to walk home at a fast pace, without saying goodbye and without letting Oscar inquire further about the opinion that the villagers supposedly had of both Albert and himself. Did they think ill of them? They had always been treated with respect and, since Oscar at least transmigrated, he had never had serious problems with anyone.

Anyway, not that he was going to attach importance to it at that moment; at that time she just wanted to have a quick dinner in the inn's small restaurant and go to bed early.

With that idea in mind, Oscar entered the building.

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