“You can’t stay married because of the people of Simigile.”
“Well, I could if I thought I’d be given the opportunity to do some good. Unfortunately, I doubt that I’m even going to have a position here once the king dies.” Now that Winter had actually spoken to his husband, he was more worried about that than ever. “Rupert married me because he had no choice. The king told him he had to, so he did. I can’t see that marriage lasting once the king has passed.”
“That’s not strictly true – him being forced to marry you specifically, I mean. That’s what concerns me most,” August said. “Rupert could have marriedanybodyelse. Someone from Simigile, for example. By all accounts, he has numerous friends with many single members of society families - people he already knows, and has been or is relatively close to. Have you considered why he didn’t marry one of them instead?”
“I have been thinking about that,” Winter admitted. “It seems very out of character for Rupert to pick someone totally random, who he doesn’t know anything about, when he has so many others he could’ve chosen from. My only conclusion is that for some reason, despite having so many friends, Rupert doesn’t want to put himself in a position where any of his friends might learn more about him than they already do, perhaps? That could be a reason why he would choose a stranger instead.”
“He could’ve married Tristan, Lord of Middlethorp, easily enough.” August took a sip from his drink. “From what Pippin has found out that man has been the closest to Rupert for the longest time. It appears they share a similar love of hunting, camping, and partying, and neither one of them seemsinterested in running or ruling anything except their own appetites.”
“They’re perfect for each other, in other words.” Winter stared into the flames, cradling his glass in both hands. “We’re missing something. It definitely appears that as members of his inner circle have gotten married and started raising families of their own, they’ve tended to drift away from Rupert. And while there are new up-and-coming lords and ladies all there willing to entertain my husband, I’m not sure they actually have a bond with him that people his own age might have had.”
“That happens to all of us.” For some reason August sighed. “If you think about the friends we had when we were younger, we all shared common interests – well, for most royals that’s how things work – but then when it’s time to start taking responsibility, create families and the like, those that do those things stick together, while those determined to stay in the past form their own group.”
“Clinging to their past. Oh, I do remember those days.” Winter nodded. “I wondered if something like that applied to Rupert. Pippin has been running himself ragged, trying to find out why my dear husband hasn’t married before this. No one seems to think that’s even a question that needs answering. The only thing I can think, because there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer, is that something has happened at some point in Rupert’s life that has caused him to keep everyone near him as friends or acquaintances, but no more than that.”
“Watching him come down the aisle today, he definitely seems to lap up the adoration that he gets from his position. That’s hardly true friendship, though, is it?”
“It seems to be enough for Rupert.”
“That doesn’t augur well for your relationship, Win,” August said. “You’re essentially stuck with the man. The issue that’s keeping me awake at night is that if Rupert does discard you the moment his father is dead, what will you do then? You’ll have a title, but no position or authority to do anything.”
“I could set up a separate court, I suppose,” Winter said with a chuckle. “One would assume Rupert would have to assign me housing somewhere if he doesn’t want me in the castle. To be honest, I would expect him to dissolve our marriage the moment his father dies, but we don’t have a piss-off clause. He can’t get rid of me.”
“You may wish that he could,” August said bluntly. “When I saw the look of disgust he gave you when he stood on the stage in front of you, I wanted to smack that sneer off his face. I don’t know if it’s you he can’t stand, or what you signify in terms of the lack of choices in his life, but either way, that doesn’t bode well for a happy married life for you.”
Nodding because he’d seen the sneer as well, Winter said, “It was such a shame he didn’t appreciate the robe, even when he realized it was his father who gifted it to me. The king is such a gentle and kind man. It makes you wonder what it is that happened to Rupert to make him the way he is.”
Winter stared into the flames of the fire. “Is it possible that Rupert doesn’t even want to be king?”
“I don’t believe that,” August said, shaking his head. “He’s not the type of man who would submit to the rule of someone else. We can assume there is a second heir somewhere, especially seeing as it’s unlikely for you and him to have children. But it might be an idea to ask Sigmund to check with the World Council to find out who steps in, if Rupert steps down.”
“That could be a good idea,” Winter agreed. “From what I saw today that man is on the edge, ready to bust out…”
“I think that was because his robe was too tight,” August interrupted with a chuckle. “I’m not sure when the last time was that your dear husband put that on, but it had clearly been made for a smaller man.”
“Yes, well, that was on him then, wasn’t it, for not making himself available to the tailor.” Winter sighed. “As we have no idea what Rupert plans to do next, beyond leaving the castle as soon as possible, I’ll focus on forming new contacts in the area, and try to learn all I can, especially about the society families. That shouldn’t be an issue. I have no intention of intruding on Rupert’s events. From what I saw today, and from what he said, it will be better to give him some space, I think. I am confident that I will receive invitations to other society family estates over time.”
“Sigmund is probably receiving them as we speak,” August said. “The new title helps, but you’ve always been friendly anyway, so I am sure you will carve your own space here, with or without your husband.”
“For as long as Rupert chooses to ignore me, definitely.” Winter glanced down at his bare feet. His brother was probably the only one who’d ever seen them, apart from Pippin or Sigmund.
“I always thought that if I did marry, if I was ever in a position where I met somebody and there was mutual affection shared. If we were in a position where we decided to wed, and it was politically expedient for me to do so without impeding any of the work we do... I always felt that it would be wonderful to have somebody I could trust, to tell them what we do, to explain who I am, to be able to be my real self, even if it’s in privacy behindclosed doors. Instead, for some reckless reason, I decided on Rupert, and I doubt he can be trusted with any secret at all.”
“I agree with the secrecy aspect.” August shifted in his seat, putting his now empty glass on the table. “My bigger concern would be that he doesn’t give the impression of someone being interested in listening to you, let alone being trusted with our secrets. I was watching him over dinner, and I wasn’t impressed.
“You’ve also got to remember, brother of mine, that while I can appreciate that you feel a lot for the king and country here already – I’m not denying Simigile is a good country full of decent people - but you can’t burn yourself out trying to save this country if Rupert runs around countermanding everything you hope to achieve, simply because he can.”
“The country doesn’t need saving.” Winter chuckled. “Not yet, at least, and you know I’m not prone to melodrama. There’s a good chance that once the king has sadly passed, Rupert won’t change his ways at all. In which case, it will be up to the council here, and me most likely, to keep the country running as it is.”
“But you’re not sure, are you?”
Winter shook his head. “The unknown can be a mischievous mistress at times, teasing the brain with a dozen possibilities. Rupert’s not lazy, and while he might be headstrong and impetuous, he’s also not stupid.”
“Are you sure?” August asked. “In my opinion, he’s acting like a spoiled child. I don’t see anything redeeming about that.”
“I’ll concede my new husband could learn a lot about manners, decent behavior, and respect.” Winter frowned, thinking about what they knew. “Pippin distinctly heard Rupert mention just this morning that I can have the castle anyway, if I’m comfortable here. Perhaps he plans on spending as much timeas possible in neighboring estates, and never actually coming home, whether his father is alive or not.
“I guess we won’t know until it happens. I will admit, though” - Winter looked at his brother and grinned – “at the moment, I can cope a lot better with this situation when I think of my dear Rupert as though he were a puzzle. He’s a conundrum I’d really, really like to solve.”
