Less Than All

Less Than All 

Regency M/M Romance 

From Lee Brazil 

And

Silver Publishing

REVIEWS

• Review: http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=6429

·         Less Than All is one of the best gay historical romances I’ve read this year and I’m looking forward to reading more books written by this author in the future. Highly Recommended! Reviewed By: Gabbi

·         Less Than All by Lee Brazil was a well written love story from the past that reminds us all how much we must continue now and in the future to appreciate and support the rights of those who choose to love under the colors of the rainbow. – Reviewed by Sammy at Joyfully Jay

·         LESS THAN ALL by Lee Brazil is a beautifully touching story about forbidden love. Set in the early 1800s in England, this lovely story will carry you away to another time and place. – Reviewed by Romance in Review at The Romance Reviews

• I highly recommend this book for those true romantic that can’t seem to find enough historical romance with two hot men and a new love on the horizon.- Reviewed by Kevin For Hearts on Fire Reviews
• I knew immediately that I was going to like this book. I’m always looking for the next book that’s going to grab me and not let go until I turn the last page. I’m so happy to have found another one with Less Than All. I love it when I quickly connect with characters and their story draws me in. Not only was I feeling that connection with them individually, but I was feeling the pull from them as a couple too. – Reviewed by Andrea at Jessewave
• "beautifully written with characters that stole my heart and stayed with me" (see the full review at The Romance Reviews) http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/less-than-all-by-lee-brazil/

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Blurbs:

Nicholas Danville doesn’t trust his lover, certain Victor cannot share the depth of his attraction. With him only for now, Victor must marry to fulfill his duty to his family. Surely that will mean the end of their liaison?

A youthful indiscretion leads to a humiliating encounter between Nicholas Danville and Lord Victor Ware. Nicholas returns home in disgrace, and Victor continues life in the Ton. Years later Nicholas's reproving parents send him to town to attain a degree of polish before he prepares for life as a member of the clergy.

A chance encounter with an old friend leads to a new confrontation between Nicholas and Victor. This time, the attraction between them burns brighter, Nicholas is old enough to know his own mind, and Victor is done with self-denial.

From ballrooms to gardens and opera houses, Victor sets about proving that a passionate liaison between two men is possible even under the narrow gaze of the Ton.

EXCERPT 

Prologue

The English Countryside

1813

Lord Ware lifted his head from the ledger of accounts he studied. They were, as always, meticulously kept. He set down the pencil he'd been using and gazed unseeing out the wide expanse of windows that looked over the rolling green lawns of his country estate. The family lands were vast, the responsibilities that went along with the title equally so. Ware hired competent men and women though, to handle his business, and try as he might he could find nothing else to do to keep himself hidden away in his office.

The bright sunshine and field of green grasses called to him, and cursing himself for a fool, Ware decided to take his brother up on his invitation to accompany him and his houseguest for a long ramble. What could the young imp get up to on horseback after all? It was Peter's eighteenth birthday, and Victor had spent little time with his brother this visit.

Of course, the fault for that lay directly with the imp of Satan that Peter had brought home with him from school for the occasion. Nicholas George Danville, third son of the Baron Danville of Kent, was destined for the clergy, and a more inappropriate career for the little brat Victor couldn't conceive.

At every turn, Victor found himself the subject of intense scrutiny from huge blue eyes, and when the brat wasn't eyeing him scornfully he was mocking him with his rapier sharp wit. Turning your brother's bosom friend over your knee and spanking him was not a singularly hospitable act, and in self defense, Ware had taken to his study, pleading business of the estate.

Pushing his chair back from the desk, he rose and headed for the stables. If they had indeed left for their ride, then he should be able to catch up to them relatively quickly. His Phaedrus was a strong, fleet stallion, and young Danville hardly gave the appearance of a bruising rider. Victor snorted derisively.

Victor Ware strode through his empty stables, idly tapping a riding crop on his thigh. Dust motes glittered in the warm afternoon sunlight, the strong earthy aroma of horses and hay filled the space. The grooms and stable master were out exercising the horses. The grizzly old stable master had informed him that his brother had not yet left for his ride. Victor had entered the stables thinking to find them right away, but the two young men weren't to be seen.

A youthful giggle from the loft attracted his attention, and he tucked the whip under his arm as he mounted the ladder. He smiled indulgently as he heard the young men's high spirited laughter in the recesses of the hay loft. Away from the formality of the house, the two sounded like young boys playing hooky from the school room. The two schoolmates were so absorbed in their wrestling match that neither noticed his approach and he decided to leave them to enjoy their youthful pursuits without his dampening presence. He knew as soon as Danville realized Victor watched, the joie de vivre would fade from his expressive face to be replaced with sardonic spite. There was a time not too many years before when he'd have sworn Danville worshipped the ground he walked on. He wasn't quite sure what he'd done to alienate the young man, but his constant sniping and defiance were wearing.

He was at the ladder beginning his descent, thinking to ride alone through the park land, when a change in the tone of the laughter attracted his attention. Stiffening slightly, he crept back up the ladder and made his way across the hay strewn floor. The hay muffled his steps, but from the looks of things neither of the young men would have noticed his approach in any case. By the time he was close enough to peer around the bales of hay at the two young men on the floor, the laughter had turned to moans that caused the hair on the back of his neck to prickle and his cock to stir.

He caught his breath at the sight that met his eyes. Peter had wrestled young Danville onto his back, and held the blond's arms tightly stretched out above his head. Danville didn't seem concerned by the vulnerability of his position. Instead of struggling to escape Peter's grip, he shifted restlessly beneath Ware's brother. The two writhed and strained together, fully clothed, thank God, but to a man of experience there was no doubt what they were about.

Victor cursed silently. He was as familiar as anyone with the games schoolboys played, but it was long since time that Peter should have given up such pastimes.

Nicholas Danville was too damned pretty for his own good at the best of times. Now, his eyes were luminous with passion as he stared up at Peter, his cheeks flushed rosy, his plump pink lips parted.

Victor stifled a groan as his cock responded in his trousers. Much as he knew he should leave the two to their youthful games, maybe speak to Peter in privacy later, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the way they looked, the way Nicky looked, writhing beneath Peter's broader, stronger form.

"Kiss me," Danville whispered huskily, flicking his tongue over his lower lip. Victor couldn't blame Peter for giving the little brat exactly what he asked for. He'd have done the same damn thing.

If it were possible, he'd gladly have traded places with his half brother in that moment, when Peter's mouth covered Nicky's and they rolled together.

Cursing again, Victor squeezed his rampant erection tightly and forced himself away. He'd made it back to the ladder, was on his way down when a sultry low cry and Peter's triumphant groan drifted through the afternoon sunlight.

Six more days young Nicholas Danville would be visiting at the estate. Victor didn't think he could stand it. The last nine days of teasing glances and accidental touches had nearly driven him insane. He'd been able to fool himself that the young man didn't know what he was doing, didn't know what he was inviting. So Victor had adopted a distant mien, hiding himself away in his study, pretending the work of the estate kept him busy. It had been done in the interests of preserving his sanity, in the interests of preserving Nicholas's innocence.

But seeing the object of his lust with Peter, it was clear Nicky was no naïve innocent.

* * * *

Nicky smoothed his hands nervously over his perfectly neat attire. Lord Ware had demanded his presence in his study, the smirking footman had informed him. Something inside Nicky leapt in excitement at the words.

For years he'd idolized Lord Ware. His dark handsome style, his saturnine wit had seemed the very epitome of aristocratic manhood to a young country boy. Then as he grew older, Victor Ware's presence had made him nervous, made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin. Whenever the man was near Nicky felt short of breath and ill at ease.

These last few years at school, he'd realized what these feelings meant, and he'd despised himself for wanting something so impossible. Accepting Peter's invitation to visit for his birthday revels had caused Nicky hours of guilty confusion, because he knew that in part he accepted solely to be in Victor's presence again.

And now, Lord Ware waited to speak to him privately. Nervous excitement thrummed in Nicky's blood, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know what the sardonic man had to say.

"You wanted to see me?" He forced the words out, hoping his voice remained its newly pleasant tenor instead of screeching as it was apt to do still under moments of stress.

"Danville." Lord Ware didn't look up from his position behind the massive mahogany desk. He appeared perfectly at ease and comfortable in the masculine surroundings, a fact Nicky resented greatly as he felt his cheeks heat and knew he was blushing.

He hated that his presence had no effect at all on the man, resented that Victor Ware had only to step within a hundred feet of him, and his blood stirred, his senses sharpened. He could smell the man's cologne from the doorway, feel the heat of his body as though he stood inches away rather than feet.

Nicky crossed the room to the front of the desk and threw himself into the comfortable leather guest chair. His hackles rose as they always did when Ware seemed to ignore him, and miserably, he wondered if the only way he could get the man's attention anymore was by behaving like a spoiled brat.

When he crossed his ankles and intentionally allowed his feet to bump the desk, Ware looked up from his work. He deliberately put down his pen and pushed his papers to the side. "I noticed your entry, Nicholas. I just needed a moment to reconcile myself to what I need to say."

That was ambiguous enough to set Nicky's heart pounding and force him upright in the chair. "Just say it, my lord."

Ware steepled his hands, and peered intently at Nicholas. Nicky shivered a bit under the intensity of that gaze. "I changed my mind this afternoon and decided to accompany my brother on his ride. The stable master informed me that though you had entered the stables, you had not yet returned. I went in search of Peter. Do I need to tell you what I found, Danville?"

Chill wrapped round him, Nicky froze, perched like a guilty child on the edge of the seat. If lord Ware had gone to the stable in search of Peter, there was only one thing he could have seen that would have caused this meeting. Any forlorn hope he might have fostered of earning Ware's regard dissipated like so much smoke in an evening breeze.

He opened his mouth, not sure what to say, but Ware waved him to silence.

"Danville, Nicholas," Ware's voice softened just the slightest, but his look was sternly condemning. Nicky looked down at the carpet, unable to meet the censure in his idol's eyes. He'd thought he wanted Ware's attention, that any attention from the man was better than none. He'd been wrong. His heart ached, and his eyes burned with the need to shed tears.

"What you and Peter did, in the stable, isn't acceptable to society." Ware seemed to be choosing his words carefully, and there was a degree of sympathy in his voice that pushed Nicky even closer to weeping for the first time in years.

"I…"

"You understand, I'm sure, if I say that I think under the circumstances it would be best to cut your visit short? One of the footmen is packing your belongings, the traveling carriage is waiting out front. I've a letter of explanation here for your father, but I'm not giving details."

Nicky nodded miserably, unable to speak.

"Nicky," Ware's sympathy was too much to bear, and Nicky bolted from the chair, racing from the room. He slammed the door behind him. He couldn't tell whether the resounding crash of shattering glass was a result of the vibrations of the heavy mahogany settling into its frame , or if Ware had thrown something across the room in his disgust.