Page 12 of Coming for the Champion
“I’ve spent twenty years as an expert horologist, of course I care.”
“But it wasn’t your first choice.”
“No. But you know how this world works, Tommy. The other interns got the first choices. They specialised in the arts and literature, and I ended up with the branch at Sothebys that no one else wanted. The sales of antique time pieces. And I was grateful for the work. I might not have the same enthusiasm as collectors like Lord Lawndry, but it’s not fair to say that I don’t care about my life’s work, Tommy. Not fair.”
“I just don’t understand it.”
“We’ve both been formed by Galforth. Would you be training the next generation of boxers without his encouragement to help you understand that you are a better coach than you ever were a boxer? This is the same. He saw my talents and he gave me an outlet and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Tommy frowned. “And this gratitude extends to all the ton?”
“They are my life, Tommy. Who do you think owns the watches and clocks that I assess and prepare for auction? My job, no, more than that, my very existence relies on their good opinion on me. We grew up in that world, Tommy, how do you not understand?”
Rory’s breath was hot on his lips as it dawned on him how similar Malcolm’s life was to his own, and also how incredibly different. For the moment, Rory needed the ton—well one of them—to invest in his land, and he was learning how much effort it took to get the people with money and power to listen to him; a mere Scottish Laird. If Malcolm worked for the ton, he understood them better than Rory could but there was also a similarity in that he approached them without the power they wielded.
“You could walk away.” Tommy’s simple statement befuddled Rory. If it was that simple, neither of them would be here.
“And do what? I didn’t marry someone who owned an inn. I need my job to pay for my rooms. And my job needs Bennington to like me. I know it’s not ideal, but what would you have me do?”
Rory would always have his land, even if he just farmed it himself and never opened his coal mines. He wouldn’t support the people who needed it, but he could support himself. No, he couldn’t be so selfish, he’d grown up being taught that he had a responsibility to his community.
“I don’t know. I just know that you can’t fight, and neither can your friend here.”
Malcolm shook his head. “I’ve made a commitment. I can’t shirk that.”
Rory cleared his throat. “At the risk of sounding naïve, why don’t we just explain the situation to Bennington?” He could sacrifice more of his selfish pride and be humble, couldn’t he?
“You’d tell him, a Lord and a stranger, that you tricked him into this deal and have no intention of following through?” Malcolm asked.
When it was put like that... “I was merely thinking that you’d already told him that you couldn’t fight, and we couldstart there.” Keeping Malcolm safe, from his own fists, was more important than his own desires.
Chapter 10
“Stop making this about me when it’s about what you need too.” Malcolm was tired of everyone else protecting him, tired of them deciding his life for him. Galforth saw his talents and nurtured them, but the opportunity he’d given him as a young man with Sotheby’s had slowly led him down a dead-end pathway. He kept getting overlooked at work, continually passed over for some young white buck with connections, and while the opportunity to relive his glory days was tempting, he knew deep in his soul that any fight would be his last. He’d not cared about that until today when he saw Rory’s fear, suddenly realising that if he fought and died, it wouldn’t just be himself who suffered. His opponent would have to deal with demons like the ones Rory had.
Rory was pushing his pie around his plate with his fork. Malcolm should be annoyed that he hadn’t responded to his statement. Why did he care so much for this man who’d stripped himself bare for Malcolm? The question contained the answer. The demonstration of vulnerability and trust made Malcolm want to protect Rory.
“Tommy, you are being a bad friend,” Gloria said.
“I am?”
“Your friend came here for help. He didn’t come here for you to tell him that his life didn’t meet your approval. No wonder he’s stayed away so long.”
Malcolm frowned. It wasn’t true, was it? He’d stayed away because he hadn’t wanted Tommy to know about his shakes, he hadn’t wanted him to fuss over him. He hadn’t wanted his pity. He’d wanted to be remembered as a Champion. They’d taken different pathways in life, and maybe, Malcolm was a little jealous that his friend had stayed immersed in the world of theirsport. It would explain the riot in his stomach and the bitterness he felt over his job, although it wasn’t fair to blame that on Tommy.
“I love you Tommy, but sometimes you are such a coach that you can’t just sit with someone. Sometimes they don’t need to be coached. Sometimes they just need a friend.” Gloria stood up. “I’ll get dessert.”
Tommy spread his hands wide. “What else am I supposed to do? People come to me for solutions. You came to me for a solution. It’s not my fault that you don’t like the one I’ve given you.”
Malcolm gritted his teeth.
“I’d say it’s more that your solution insulted Malcolm’s life choices. He isn’t you. A real solution involves listening to him.” Rory’s cheeks were red and his thin lips pinched tight, but Malcolm couldn’t even get mad at him for speaking on his behalf because it was true. And having Rory angry about it sent a pleasant warmth through his chest. Damn.
“So I’m supposed to encourage him to continue to bow to our overlords even when it’s bad for him?”
“Yes, Tommy. Yes you are.” Malcolm clenched his fists together, balling them in his lap, then slowly relaxed each finger one at a time. “I came here for an idea that gets me what I need, a proper solution, not to be insulted for making a choice that gives me a life that suits me. I get it. You resent Galforth and all he represents, but you also live a life that he chose for you. Don’t you see that I’m doing the same?”
“By hiding who you are? Do any of those people who work for know how great you were?”
