Hello lovely readers!

This week we are reading Chapters 9-12.

Here’s a recap for Chapters 4-8:

Christopher gets ready for bed after a long day of hiring a really attractive guy to live in his house and do nothing. He thinks he hears a robber sneaking around in the room adjacent to his, but when he goes to confront the villain, he finds only Harding. Harding has, as custom dictates, moved into the valet’s quarters just off Christopher’s dressing room. Christopher finds this rather silly, since Harding isn’t going to be dressing him, and also he needs his damned privacy. Now he can’t even undress in his own rooms without fear of being peeked at. He says he’ll allow Harding to use the valet’s quarters only if he agrees to remain in there until long after his usual waking hour every day, only emerging when Christopher is already dressed. Harding thinks this is weird as hell but consents.

Christopher tests Harding’s sincerity the next morning by making a worrying racket in the dressing room to see if he’ll come out without permission. Harding realizes it’s a ruse and asks through the door what the fuck is Christopher’s problem (politely). Christopher is ashamed at his actions but oddly touched that Harding stayed put as promised. He confesses to Harding that he sometimes has bad nightmares and doesn’t want Harding to check on him if he’s crying out in his sleep. They amend their agreement through the door: Harding can’t be expected to remain in his room if he thinks Christopher’s in actual danger, and Christopher will have to trust him to stay inside otherwise. Christopher then invites Harding out on his morning ride.

Montage where they get a little closer while on horseback! At one point, Harding even touches him. To keep him from riding into a ditch, but still.

Time passes. One dreary night when Harding is out enjoying his evening off, Christopher takes a long walk into the village. He sees Harding dancing inside the neighborhood pub with the local gals, and Harding catches him watching through the window. They acknowledge each other and Christopher leaves, feeling quite alone. If you’ve ever read the “it’s when they take away the glass” essay then you’ll recognize what’s happening here. I mean, it’s also a meditation on class, but let’s be real, it’s mostly this:

Some days later, Christopher and Harding are packing for the trip to London. Harding is saddened by the loss of a cuff link that’s gone missing. Christopher says it was probably taken by one of the Eden ghosts, which he believes in completely. Harding scoffs at ghosts because he knows he’s not in a gothic novel. More sexual tension occurs! They both touch this time, though still for safety reasons, ostensibly.

Finally we go to London! Christopher arrives ahead of Harding and runs into an old college friend, Horace Chesterfield, who promises to get Christopher an invitation to a ball soon. Christopher gets a tummy ache just thinking about being sociable. Harding arrives with the baggage, drawing a crowd with the commotion he creates. It turns out he planned it this way, as he wants everyone in town to know the rich, eligible Lord Eden is here. He’s REALLY trying to help Christopher get this wife. Christopher’s tummy ache gets worse.

And that’s a recap!

Want to chat with other read-a-long readers? Join the Discord server.

Kim in the Discord server asks: Christopher’s full name is so long and fun (I love the William Fitzwilliams part). How did you decide on the name?

I don’t remember completely but I THINK the “William Fitzwilliams” part is lifted at least a tiny bit from PG Wodehouse, who often named the Drones and assorted nobility things like Mortimer Little, Lord Bittlesham. Once you see a name like that printed in ink on paper, you simply go hog wild.