Page 16 of The Most Unsuitable Prince (Another Arranged Marriage #8)

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 newly married, 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. ”

“I’m sure if he is there, he will be exceptionally polite.” He’d better be, Rupert thought grimly.

“I’m well-versed in dealing with polite people. As for the rest, I will rely on you to steer me in the right direction as to who is suitable to speak to and who isn’t. Do you know a lot about your friends’ habits? Do you consider them very close?”

Somehow Rupert didn’t think Winter was referring to details like how far a person might shoot an arrow, or what they might be like in intimate settings.

“I make a point of not prying into anyone’s personal life,” he said.

“Once I became heir, my father suggested that I create some distance between myself and the families I’d been socializing with. ”

“My goodness, yes. There’s a lot of value in that suggestion,” Winter agreed. “We have to be so careful, associating with people who might behave in a manner unbecoming, for example.”

He chuckled again. It’s almost as though he’s enjoying my company. Rupert found he quite liked that sound.

“It’s always handy to know some things about the people around you, though. Wouldn’t you agree? When it comes time, and you become king, in the far distant future…”

Winter was being particularly kind. Rupert knew his father was in relatively good spirits, and had been since the wedding, but he still looked as though death was hovering over his shoulder.

“There’s going to come a time when you will be needed to form your own council.

In that instance, can you see where it’s important to know the little details about the society friends that you have around you?

For example, someone who might have a gambling habit.

Perhaps another person who isn’t as…how do I say this delicately? ”

This time it was Rupert who laughed. “Between us, I prefer blunt speech. Are you referring to those people who have a spouse in the home and a paramour in another house on the outskirts of town?”

“You read my mind, yes.” Winter laughed with him.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. And while that sort of behavior might be perfectly acceptable between friends, when it comes to ruling a country or being part of a council, we can hardly have anybody in that select group that might be subject to blackmail from a third party because of their misdeeds or their casualness with their finances. ”

“That is a very astute observation. I will keep that in mind.” This talking to his husband business really wasn’t as difficult as Rupert thought it would be. Winter was not only extremely good looking, he also had very sensible ideas. He started to relax.

“Tell me about Martingale,” he suggested, wanting to veer away from the idea that he would be king one day. “I understand it’s very handy to the Dragon Mountains. Did you see many dragons when you were there?”

“Oh, my goodness, yes. They are such fascinating creatures. Did you know, for example…”