Page 18 of Love, Will

How could this happen to me? What point had led me to thinking such barbaric wants and have these strange sensations? I could not tell, but I knew what I had to do. I had to get away from him, from this place that had bewitched me into having unclean thoughts.

“My Lord, I must bid you farewell for the night,” I abruptly announced while rising from the chair. He seemed surprised and kept blinking, as if he expected me to make a joke.

“Already?” Henry looked uncertain.

“Yes, I must. Inspiration calls and I am merely a flowing vessel.” I knew this would settle him to let me go, as he admired my work.

“Of course, you must go then. Go follow the muse.”

Poor man, if he only knew that I needed toget awayfrom the muse. I walked with decided steps toward the inn, declining Henry’s offer to take a carriage as I wanted to cut all connections to him for the night and the cold air would help me clear my head.

How did I end up having these desires? Was I charmed by him, by his feminine appearance, or was I bewitched by his riches and lifestyle? I did not know, but somehow, I guessed the best thing to do in that situation.

“Ah, there he is, the golden boy, the poet of true love, the mage of….”

“Oh, shut it, Richard,” I said in a mood, struggling to find an empty seat at their table.

“Did you come from the dark of the night into the realm of us mortals?” he continued to mock me. “Does the great playwright need to wet his cock?”

That was it. That was what I came here to do. “Yes,” I replied.

Amina was free and friendly, so I discharged my fears into her for the rest of the night.

When I woke up the next day, my mind felt clearer and more contained. I realized a long time had passed since I’d been with a woman and I ended up creating passions in my head from lack of intimacy. Richard’s friend certainly helped me get rid of all desire and I now discerned myself renewed and ready to continue writing. After breakfast at the inn, I headed over to the theatre for the morning’s rehearsal, but I barely stepped on the stage when Master Burbage called me over into his chamber. I remembered I had left in such a hurry the day before that I did not receive payment, so I told him I would come see him as soon as we were finished rehearsing.

“Playwright and all, but this is still my theatre!” he snapped while thumping on the stage like an angry hare. “So you will come now or you can take your scribbled papers and be gone forever.” We all looked at him in shock and, realising the seriousness of the matter, I immediately followed him backstage.

He did not say a word or direct a look towards me until we reached the door to his make-up study. Then he turned and said, “I realize you have friends in high places and think you can set your meetings whenever you want to, but he has been waiting for over an hour and I have stuff to do in that room.” I blinked, unsure of what to say or whom the subject of this conversation could be.

“Make it quick and pass on my greetings and an invitation to tonight’s play,” he said while cracking the door open and taking a few steps back to leave.

Through the vertical gap, I spotted wavy blonde hair and my stomach dropped. The door opened further and Henry looked at me, a smile rising immediately on his face.

He stood and hurried towards me to, again, hug me. Only this time, I contained my temper and did not allow myself to feel anything but gratitude for having a highly positioned friend and the softness of his velvety cape.

“I made a decision, Will,” he announced excitedly. “And I wanted you to be the first person to hear it.”

“Me?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

“Yes, you, of course.” He smiled. “You are the person who inspired me to do it!”

“Are you going to write a play, my lord?” I thought that might be something I could inspire in someone.

Henry remained still for a minute, trying to understand whether I was serious or making a joke. Then he rested his hand on my shoulder and laughed.

“What a fantastic idea. I must certainly keep that on my list of things to do when my mind is wandering at night. Who knows what muse I could find?”

I contained the thoughts about what kind of muse I found in him only a few hours ago.

“No, seriously, Will. I decided not to get married.”

“You did?” I replied with surprise. I knew the Earl was still underage, so an official marriage could not take place yet, nor would his age allow him to deny such an arrangement.

“Don’t look so surprised. You are the one who inspired me to search for freedom!”

“I did?” I didn’t understand what exactly was happening or when did the Earl take inspiration for freedom from my advice.

“Yes, of course, Will. I may be only a spectator but I know how to find meaning in a man’s actions and last night, the way you ran from supper and chased your inspiration, it was…. inspiring, pardon me for putting it so modestly.”

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