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charlie_cochraneThe e-book can be bought here.
Excerpt:
Dinner was a quiet affair for everyone, conversation subdued, beds sought early. The only really happy note for Coppersmith was the downturn of the barometer and therefore the distinct possibility that bathing couldn’t happen on Wednesday. The two eminent fellows of St. Bride’s lay in bed listening to a gentle summer shower caress the window panes. There was no question now of sleeping apart again this fortnight, irrespective of what else happened in the bed. Their affection had gone far beyond sole reliance on physical delights—the intimacy of body and soul had become indivisible. Coppersmith reclined on his front, elbows on the bed, chin in hands, reading a book on calculus which Jonty had hidden fifteen times but which had still mysteriously made its way into their luggage.
Stewart was supposed to be communing with ‘The Moonstone’, an old favorite which he regarded as an immense comfort. Instead he was admiring Coppersmith’s shoulders. “When I was a young boy I used to be taken to the Museum of Natural History. It was my favorite treat, even more so than the zoo—of course I was too young for the theatre then. I adored the glyptodont carapace. I had visions of being a renowned paleontologist, going off to find equally amazing fossils to delight children with. I would caress his back, it wasn’t as smooth as yours, Orlando, then tell him all sorts of secrets. Now please don’t laugh because I’ve never told anyone this before.”
Orlando had begun to giggle at the mention of the words ‘glyptodont carapace’, not exactly the sort of expression he expected to hear from the mouth of his lover. “Who do you tell your secrets to now, Dr. Stewart? You don’t seem that keen on the iguanodon down with the other geological specimens at the museum, so he can’t be privy to your innermost thoughts.”
“Don’t have any secrets any more. I’ve got you and I tell you everything.” He began to caress Coppersmith’s back, as if the man were as prime a specimen as any nine year old budding zoologist could desire. “Don’t want to try to seduce you tonight, Orlando; want to rub your back while you read your book and daydream a bit. No beds like this back at the college, so I want to make the most of every moment.”
Coppersmith smiled affectionately, then assumed his more usual concerned look. “Shame about this murder business, though. Hasn’t got you too worried?”
“Strangely enough, given the events of last February, the answer is no, Orlando. Exhilarated I would say, rather than frightened. The thrill of the chase and all that.” Stewart’s eyes lit up. “As close as we came to death last time, the thought of applying our brains to another mystery stimulates me.”
“Would you be happy if we got involved?” Orlando was still concerned. The death they’d had such a brush with might have been by razor stroke in Jonty’s room, horrific yet meaningless.
“Are you saying that you wouldn’t want to get mixed up in this, because I don’t believe it for one moment. You’d want to poke your rather attractive nose in, too!”
Coppersmith blushed, having been fathomed out again. “You know me too well.” He looked up, held Jonty’s gaze. “ I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time, though. You’re not to put yourself into danger.”
“I promise. I won’t let anyone in the room, bar you or the chamber maid—so I hope she isn’t the culprit. I’ll avoid all people with sharp objects, even Mrs. Tattersall with her knitting needles or the manager with that ghastly tie-pin.” He laughed, returning to doodling with his finger on Coppersmith’s back, while the man in question returned to his beloved numbers.
And in stop press news, looks like Lessons in Love will be getting a new, adorable cover, too.
Excerpt:
Dinner was a quiet affair for everyone, conversation subdued, beds sought early. The only really happy note for Coppersmith was the downturn of the barometer and therefore the distinct possibility that bathing couldn’t happen on Wednesday. The two eminent fellows of St. Bride’s lay in bed listening to a gentle summer shower caress the window panes. There was no question now of sleeping apart again this fortnight, irrespective of what else happened in the bed. Their affection had gone far beyond sole reliance on physical delights—the intimacy of body and soul had become indivisible. Coppersmith reclined on his front, elbows on the bed, chin in hands, reading a book on calculus which Jonty had hidden fifteen times but which had still mysteriously made its way into their luggage.
Stewart was supposed to be communing with ‘The Moonstone’, an old favorite which he regarded as an immense comfort. Instead he was admiring Coppersmith’s shoulders. “When I was a young boy I used to be taken to the Museum of Natural History. It was my favorite treat, even more so than the zoo—of course I was too young for the theatre then. I adored the glyptodont carapace. I had visions of being a renowned paleontologist, going off to find equally amazing fossils to delight children with. I would caress his back, it wasn’t as smooth as yours, Orlando, then tell him all sorts of secrets. Now please don’t laugh because I’ve never told anyone this before.”
Orlando had begun to giggle at the mention of the words ‘glyptodont carapace’, not exactly the sort of expression he expected to hear from the mouth of his lover. “Who do you tell your secrets to now, Dr. Stewart? You don’t seem that keen on the iguanodon down with the other geological specimens at the museum, so he can’t be privy to your innermost thoughts.”
“Don’t have any secrets any more. I’ve got you and I tell you everything.” He began to caress Coppersmith’s back, as if the man were as prime a specimen as any nine year old budding zoologist could desire. “Don’t want to try to seduce you tonight, Orlando; want to rub your back while you read your book and daydream a bit. No beds like this back at the college, so I want to make the most of every moment.”
Coppersmith smiled affectionately, then assumed his more usual concerned look. “Shame about this murder business, though. Hasn’t got you too worried?”
“Strangely enough, given the events of last February, the answer is no, Orlando. Exhilarated I would say, rather than frightened. The thrill of the chase and all that.” Stewart’s eyes lit up. “As close as we came to death last time, the thought of applying our brains to another mystery stimulates me.”
“Would you be happy if we got involved?” Orlando was still concerned. The death they’d had such a brush with might have been by razor stroke in Jonty’s room, horrific yet meaningless.
“Are you saying that you wouldn’t want to get mixed up in this, because I don’t believe it for one moment. You’d want to poke your rather attractive nose in, too!”
Coppersmith blushed, having been fathomed out again. “You know me too well.” He looked up, held Jonty’s gaze. “ I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time, though. You’re not to put yourself into danger.”
“I promise. I won’t let anyone in the room, bar you or the chamber maid—so I hope she isn’t the culprit. I’ll avoid all people with sharp objects, even Mrs. Tattersall with her knitting needles or the manager with that ghastly tie-pin.” He laughed, returning to doodling with his finger on Coppersmith’s back, while the man in question returned to his beloved numbers.
And in stop press news, looks like Lessons in Love will be getting a new, adorable cover, too.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 07:57 pm (UTC)And the cover for LiL - while not dreadful, I didn´t think the original cover really did it justice. I like the cover for LiD much better. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 08:52 pm (UTC)I like the new covers (as you might have guessed). The new one for LiL will be a corker. (IMHO)
yayyy!!!!!!
Date: 2009-02-02 03:24 am (UTC)I'm glad Lessons in Love will get a cover to go with Lessons in Desire's gorgeous new one.
Re: yayyy!!!!!!
Date: 2009-02-02 10:54 am (UTC)Might be able to post that new cover in a mo. :)