Extract 1 (pgs 148-149)

“Do you want to know if I’m a bugger?”

She winces at the crass word, but then says, “It seems a fair question, considering I’ve seen
your hands all over Richard Peele and Theodosia Fitzroy.”

“Oh, dear Theodosia, my girl.” I collapse backward into the sofa cushions. “I remain
inconsolable over losing her.” […] “Why does it matter who I run around with?”

“Well, one is illegal. And a sin. And the other is also a sin, if you aren’t married to her.”

“Are you going to give me the fornication without the intention of procreation is of the devil
and a crime lecture? I believe I could recite it from memory by now.”

[…]

“What was the question?”

“Are you—”

“Oh yes, am I a sodomite. Well, I’ve been with lads, so . . . yes.”

She purses her lips, and I wish I hadn’t been so forthright. “If you’d stop, Father might not be
so rough on you, you know.”

“Oh my, thank you for that earth-shattering wisdom. Can’t believe I didn’t think of that
myself.”

“I’m simply suggesting—”

“Don’t bother.”

“—he might ease up.”

“Well, I haven’t much choice.”

“Really?” She crosses her arms. “You haven’t a choice in who you bed?”

“No, I mean I haven’t much choice in who it is I want to bed.”

“Of course you do. Sodomy’s a vice—same as drinking or gambling.”

“Not really. I mean, yes, I enjoy it. And I have certainly abstained from abstinence. But I’m also
rather attracted to all the men I kiss. And the ladies as well.”

[…]

“But humans are made to be attracted to the opposite sex. Not the same one. That’s how
nature operates.”

“Does that make me unnatural?” When she doesn’t reply, I say, “Have you ever fancied
anyone?”

“No. But I believe I understand the basic principles of it.”

Extracto 2 pg. 164

Cuando eres un muchacho a quien le gusta acostarse con otros muchachos, tienes que
desarrollar una habilidad para saber quién toca tu mismo instrumento, porque de lo contrario,
hay probabilidades de que te encuentres en la horca de un verdugo. Y si este tipo y yo nos
encontráramos en un bar, ya le habría comprado una bebida y le estaría lamiendo los dedos.
Es un riesgo. No estoy llegando a una conclusión, sino más bien corriendo caprichosamente a
ella, pero de alguna forma, lo sé.

When you are a lad who enjoys getting other lads in bed, you have to develop a rather
fastidious sense for who plays the same instrument or there’s a chance you’ll find yourself at
the business end of a hangman’s knot. And if this fellow and I had met at a bar, I would have
already bought him a drink and put his fingers in my mouth. It’s a great risk—I’m not so much
jumping to a conclusion as vaulting haphazardly to it—but, somehow, I know.

Extracto 3 pg 171

Estoy consciente de mi cuerpo de una manera que no me sucedía unos segundos atrás; siento
cada temblor y cada pestañeo, la forma en que los hombros están cubiertos por esta chaqueta
enorme, el movimiento que hace la garganta cuando trago con fuerza, cada parte de mi silueta
que él toca con la mirada. El amor puede ser algo grandioso, pero, maldita sea, ocupa más
espacio dentro de un hombre del que debiera.

Podría decirle. Aquí, ahora, ponerlo a la luz. Percy, debería decir, creo que eres la criatura más
hermosa en el mundo verde de Dios y me encantaría encontrar un rincón escondido en esta
ópera para comportarnos de una forma que solo puede describirse como pecaminosa.

Percy, podría decir, estoy casi seguro de que estoy enamorado de ti.

I’m suddenly aware of my body in a way I wasn’t a moment before, every twitch and blink, the
way my shoulders sit inside this too-big coat, the bob of my throat as I swallow hard, every
point of my silhouette that his gaze touches. Love may be a grand thing, but goddamn if it
doesn’t take up more than its fair share of space inside a man.

I could tell him. Right here, right now, let it out in the light. Percy, I could say, I think you are
the most beautiful creature on God’s green earth and I would very much like to find a hidden
corner of this opera house and engage in some behavior that could only be termed sinful.

Percy, I could say, I am almost certain that I am in love with you.

Extracto 4