“Oh, no.” Winter laughed as they made their way to the outer chamber. “August is terrible at cards.”
“I believe that’s why the king prefers playing with him rather than you, sir.” Striding over to the door, Sigmund opened it, turning back to Winter and bowing low. “Crown Prince Rupert is here to escort you to your engagement, Your Highness.”
“Don’t wait up, Sigmund.” Winter’s smile was still in place as he went over, taking Rupert’s hand. He wasn’t tall enough to air-kiss his husband without climbing his body, but he was pleased when, after a moment, Rupert bent over and air-kissed on either side of his face.
“You look very dashing, Rupert dear,” Winter said as Rupert straightened. “I’m extremely excited for this evening. May I take your arm, and we can be on our way?”
/~/~/~/~/
Rupert was quietly flummoxed. He had braced himself as he had strode down the long corridor to his husband’s room. He was sure he was going to see Winter in a similar sort of finery to what he had seen the previous two times he’d witnessed Winter at a social engagement – namely, the party he saw him at in the first place and their wedding.
So to be greeted by his husband, who was looking particularly debonair in his white robe with matching pants trimmed in gold that seemed to match the highlights in his hair, was the first surprise of the evening.
Having Winter willingly come toward him, smiling, taking his hand, accepting his greeting, and asking to take his arm, were the second surprises of the evening.It’s as if we were two men out on a regular date.
When Rupert thought back, he couldn’t remember the last time he had escorted someone out on a date. Traveling with Tristan and his friends really didn’t count, and nor did any of the casual assignations he’d enjoyed for an hour or so in an evening.I’m going to need to be on my best behavior.
Having made sure that Winter was comfortable in the carriage before taking the seat next to him, Rupert worried what they could talk about. To be frank, he had felt a little embarrassed about his outburst in his husband’s room the day before, once he’d had time to think about it. However, Winter didn’t seem to be concerned about that at all, mentioning how comfortable the seats in the carriage were, and how lovely it was to just take a break away from the castle for a short while.
“I’ll admit it’s a bit like us being in our own little world, sitting in a carriage like this, wouldn’t you agree? So much nicer than traveling somewhere on a horse, especially when we’re both dressed nicely and looking forward to a very sociable evening. It gives us a chance to chat without a dozen people hanging onto every word.”
“It is enjoyable, yes.” Rupert cleared his throat. The last thing he needed to think about was how intimate their setting was. “I visited my father yesterday afternoon and again this morning. He had many pleasant things to say about you.”
“That would have been lovely for you,” Winter said warmly. “Your father speaks of you so fondly when I visit. I like to call on him in the afternoon after I know he’s had a nap, just to see if there’s anything that he needs. He has so many stories about the wonderful things that you’ve done throughout your life. I always hear a genuine affection in his tone when you’re mentioned. That is rare in royal families.”
“Do you have a close relationship with your own father?” Rupert asked.
“We’re very close, yes,” Winter said. “I am hoping you won’t object to my visiting him regularly – he doesn’t leave Martingale very often. It doesn’t need to be too often. With so many siblings, and all of us grown, it is possible to go weeks without seeing him, even when I lived at home. Yet I was always aware he had company from at least two of my siblings.
“After my mother’s passing a few years ago, my siblings and I got together more regularly, and we make a point of ensuring at least one or two of us are at the castle at any one time, so that Father doesn’t feel lonely. He and my mother were exceptionally close and enjoyed a long and happy marriage for many years.”
Rupert felt a familiar pang in his heart. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said, more abruptly than he meant to. He tried to soften his tone. “I rarely discuss my mother. She died when I was very small. I understand from others that she and I were very close, although I don’t remember those times very clearly.”
“Rupert dear, I am certain you and your mother would’ve been close.” Winter leaned against Rupert’s arm for a moment before straightening. The carriage hadn’t even gone around a corner, so that meant it wasn’t an accidental bump. “I can imagine you would’ve been an adorably precocious child.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t know.” Rupert glanced out of the window and then back at his husband. Winter appeared contented, looking out the window closest to him, and then back in his direction again.I’m not sure what else I could say. What do people on dates talk about?
That feeling that Winter might be a seer came back when Winter asked, “Would it be possible for you to tell me a little bit about your friends, perhaps some of the people I’m expected to meet this evening?”
Winter’s voice was pleasantly bright. Rupert didn’t get the impression his husband was deliberately trying to alleviate any of Rupert’s discomfort, but it was working.
“I will confess that I don’t know a lot about the social families here in Simigile, although all the people I’ve met so far have been very friendly. However, I’m sure, the same as it would be in any other court, that there might be some families that are not as favored by the royal family.
“I have what some might say is an annoying habit of talking to anyone who talks to me…” Winter chuckled. “I’m sure you noticed that at the coronation in Monce. However, I was single then and a lowly prince. As a crown prince consort, and newlymarried, I don’t want to let you down or embarrass you in any way.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Rupert felt his cheeks heat for some reason. It might have been the married comment. “Well…Tristan, you’ve already met. I doubt we’ll see much of him this evening, although it is his home estate we’re visiting. However, if Lord and Lady Middlethorp are respectful of our position, I trust they will have excused their son from attending this evening.”
“That’s assuming they know what transpired between you and Tristan, and the reasons why you left the hunt early.”
Damn it.“I didn’t say anything to them,” Rupert said slowly, wondering if Winter thought he should’ve done. “I didn’t want to cause any unpleasantness when Lord and Lady Middlethorp were still entertaining guests. However, we have no idea what has been said since my departure from their estate.”
“That was very kind of you, not saying anything to Tristan’s parents. We wouldn’t want any unpleasantness, would we?” Winter leaned into him again, although that time it could’ve been because the carriage was going around a slight bend. “I do believe that one of the advantages of being from a royal family, especially the heir to the throne, such as yourself, is that we can expect people to be on their best behavior, don’t we?”
Rupert had to think about that. He wasn’t sure he’d ever considered his status in that light before, but he nodded in case Winter thought that he wasn’t listening. “I do have a wide circle of acquaintances,” he said, keen to leave the conversation about Tristan behind. He still couldn’t believe Tristan had been so blatant in his attempt to deceive his new husband.Feeling protective of Winter is another new sensation I may have to get used to.
“Lord Percy and Lord Bakersfield are both solid chaps. They are both keen hunters, so we have a lot in common.” Rupert had another uncomfortable thought. “There will be a number of couples there. I have been friends with a variety of people who married before I did.” He refused to think of the ones he might have dallied with who would be in attendance. “I will be happy to introduce you.”
“That will be very sweet of you, Rupert dear, thank you.” Winter’s smile widened. “I must admit to a touch of nerves, going to an event when it would be likely the only person I might have known aside from you was Tristan. I’m sure, after what you confided in me yesterday, that you’ll understand I will be barely civil to the man if he is present.”
