Sunshine and Roses

"William. . ." Robert nodded his head toward the edge of the forest. Justin looked up, saw Lowry. He felt his heart hardening. Robert de Grippe saw the stony, steel like tightening of the man's jaw. when his employer made no move to go to the ex-monk, de Grippe said softly, "Go to him."
"Tell him to leave, or I will have the sheriff arrest him."
"Tell him yourself."
Justin glared at him. "You are not indispensable, Robert."
"no, " came the agreeable reply. "Neither is love."
"Am I supposed to let him come back and wait until the next time he takes it into his head to leave?"
"You can always lock him in the dungeon." Justin gave him a sour look. "You can chain him to the bed. We kept Sir Richard's toys."
"Bastard!"
Robert de Grippe only laughed. He faked a yawn. "I am going in for an early tea." He turned his horse and rode off.
Justin followed his retreat for a moment before turning his attention back to Lowry. He saw the anguish on the other man's face and for one brief moment, he was glad. His own pain came rushing back. "Damn you!" he muttered. "Why did you come back!?" He rode after de Grippe.
At the edge of the forest, Lowry turned away. He did not blame Justin for turning from him. The ex-priest turned and began a slow, tired withdrawal. A horse's hooves sounded behind him. He pivoted. Justin reigned up only a few feet away. His white stallion reared but the ex-solider reined him in with hands of steel.
"Why did you come back?!"
"I had wanted. . . I had hoped. . ." Why was it so hard to speak? The words were there in his brain, swirling around. Why couldn't he get them back. He managed to say, "I love you."
"For how long?" Justin's voice was harsh, demanding. He rode closer. "For how long this time, Ray?"
"I do not blame you for being so angry with me. I deserve it."
"Damn right you do. I held nothing back, nothing. Did I chase you away when my servants found out we were having an affair?"
"no."
"Did I make you keep away when several of them became antagonistic toward me?"
"Nay, William."
Justin ran his hand through his hair. "I tried to make allowances for you."
"I know you did." Love bloomed in Lowry's features. His face glowed like sunshine. It revealed itself in the melody of his voice.
Justin felt his heart melting and hardened himself. <Not again, > he told himself. <Not again.> His eyes searched the woods, frantically searching for something to catch and keep his eyes away from the beautiful form at his feet. . .but he scheme failed and his gaze returned to Lowry anyway. His anger returned as well. . .
"I knew this was not going to be easy for you, but you ran. Damn it! You ran!"
"I thought I was doing the right thing."
"And the next time you decide it would be upright and moral for you to be elsewhere? What happens if you decide it would be the honorable thing to stay away from me? What then?"
"it will not happen again."
"Can you guarantee that?"
"I give my word of honor."
"If you ever leave again, I will not follow. Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
Justin studied the other man. There was no welcoming on his tanned, rugged face, none in his blue eyes. "Do you need a job?"
"I would like to work for you."
"My secretary is leaving at the end of the week. The job is yours. . .if you want it. You can sleep with the servants." 
Lowry flinched from the look of near contempt in Justin's stare. "As you will. . .Sir William."