~A

Because I am in pain and Daisy Goodwin has ruined me, I decided to finish this little drumfred drabble where everything is fine and nothing hurts.

Drummond visited him at night.

If anyone asked – though that was rather doubtful given the circumstances –, Alfred would very much like to say that he had not, in fact, been anxiously waiting for him, with his ear against the door in the hope of hearing the soft thud of Drummond’s feet against the floor. He would like to say that he was calm, sitting in his chair with a cup of tea in his hands and a quiet heart beating in his chest.

But his mother had not raised a liar and Alfred had been almost too desperate.

“Good evening,” said Drummond as soon as he entered the room, closing the door behind him and locking it. When he did that for the first time, Alfred had been seized by a sudden anxiety, feeling trapped in his own chambers with a man who, being taller and stronger, could very much do as he pleased. But Drummond, dearest Drummond, had explained that it was to make sure no one would caught them in a compromising position. With a door locked, they could attempt to create a modest façade while the invader waited outside.

It was illegal after all, to engage in a romantic relationship with a person of your own sex, but Alfred didn’t care about the law. As long as he had Drummond by his side, he was happy.

“Good evening,” he answered, trying not to sound too excited. “How was your day?”

He felt silly whenever he asked those questions, too wife-ly for his taste, but they would make Drummond talk and he loved Drummond’s voice. It was like a song to his ears.

“Stressful,” said Edward, taking off his coat and laying it gently on one of the chairs in the room. “Yours?”

“Quite good.” Alfred sat down, hoping to have Drummond sat by his side. When he did, a grin took the lord’s lips. “The Queen was a in a mood but she did not tell us what’s wrong which isn’t new at all. Willhemina and I decided to spend our time playing card games together until the Duchess could calm her majesty.”

“In a mood?” repeated the man. “Is she expecting again?”

Alfred snorted.

“Hopefully not, she’s always angry after birth.”

They laughed, enjoying the quiet company of the other. Outside in the world, it seemed like every little touch would reveal their secret to the society so they refrained from doing that. But now, being together was more important than kisses.

Drummond sighed, laying back on the seat. He seemed relaxed, in a way Alfred had never seen in public, and almost happy. He reached to the side and grabbed his lover’s hand between his own, lacing their fingers together.

“I wish I was a lord so that I could play cards and gossip all day long,” he admitted, blinking his brown and tired eyes. There were a few candles lit and the night was cold. “I could stay with you the whole day too.”

Alfred’s eyes widened “With me?”.

“Yes, with you. Who else would I rather be? With the Duchess of Buccleuch or Baroness Lehzen?”

Sometimes, after stressful hours dealing with the whigs, Drummond could get quite irritable and lashing out to the people near him but never to Alfred, to Alfred he was always kind and loving. Though some cheeky comments were normal and expected.

“You like my company then?” Alfred asked, feeling very amused.

Instead of answering it with words, Drummond kissed him. Affectionate and loving, it was impossible not to moan against his lips and get closer in an attempt to get rid of the existence between them.

They separated far too quickly, in Alfred’s opinion, and their foreheads touched as Drummond sighed contently.