Rent Boy
by Kenovay
Orlando adjusted his hat a little, tipped it to one side slightly, and lounged a bit more against the wall. He stared blankly at the clock, the monotonous ticking filling the large hall, and twisted his gold ring around on his finger. He wasn't accustomed to waiting this long. He was paid by the hour, and most clients were aware of their money draining slowly into the gutter. But then, he supposed, this particular client wouldn't notice it.

He blinked as he heard footsteps on the stairs. Finally. He glanced around and tipped his hat a little, keeping his face glacial as quick eyes scanned up and down. Tall, brown eyes, a large smile. He looked nothing like the rumours had intimated.

The whole ton was awash with the rumours about the Rt. Hon. Joseph Fatone, the son of the Italian who had inherited the entailed estates of Southwarden. Orlando usually became quickly bored with rumours, but these were a cut above others - persistent, imaginative, and interesting.

And now he was in a position to investigate those rumours. The infamous Joseph Fatone smiled and stretched out a hand. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said softly, the rich accent lifting his words. "Shall we go?"

Orlando regarded his hand for a second. "In broad daylight?" he asked smoothly.

Joseph lifted an eyebrow. "It is maybe better than other stories you have heard?"

Orlando grinned, and took the hand. Walking down Oxford Street, at the height of the London Season, hand in hand with the heir to Southwarden. Sounded like fun.
Notes: Iconficlet for xoverau. The icon is by escapist_xbq, and is sharable if you credit her.
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