Page 17 of The Most Unsuitable Prince (Another Arranged Marriage #8)
Winter had always prided himself on being able to get on with people from all walks of life – from the friendly chap who cleaned the ash from the kitchen fires in the morning before the cook got up, to kings from various countries.
He always trusted that if he greeted someone with a friendly smile and showed a caring attitude, most people responded positively.
A person’s title made no difference to him.
Winter went into any interaction believing every person had value until they proved otherwise.
Unfortunately, when it came to Rupert’s friends, they didn’t even try to be decent people.
Winter struggled to think of when he’d ever met a group of individuals who took pride in their misogyny, loud natures, and immaturity.
But that described the men who flocked around Rupert after dinner perfectly.
The women, wisely so in Winter’s opinion, were clustered around tables, chatting among themselves.
But rather than dance, which is what typically occurred after dinner at a ball, the men stood around on the dance floor, drinks in hand, sharing stories, and all trying to desperately one-up each other.
The loud tones had one advantage. Winter was under no illusions as to what Rupert’s friends thought about him.
Tristan’s absence caused more than one person to make comments within Winter’s hearing, although not to his face, that they believed that Tristan had been treated badly - not by Rupert, but by Winter.
The phrase “must be the new husband’s fault” had been uttered by at least four men who should know better.
Winter had been raised to ignore such nonsense. He kept a smile on his face and answered as politely as possible if spoken to directly. But inside, he was cataloging information – the men weren’t discreet – and keeping an eye on his husband.
On their arrival, Lord and Lady Middlethorp had greeted him warmly, both of them showing the respect due to his new position as a crown prince consort.
That was a first for Winter – a reminder that his marriage had wider connotations than interactions between himself and Rupert.
As a non-ranked prince of Martingale, he was usually well down the queue of any receiving line where other royals were present.
This was the first time he’d been treated or greeted in accordance with his elevated position.
It was going to take some getting used to.
Rupert was very attentive, making sure Winter had a drink and that he’d enjoyed his meal.
As promised, he introduced Winter to everyone who came close to them, alternating between referring to Winter as his husband or by his full title.
Although now they were mingling, Rupert barely had anything to say in conversation with the people Winter was introduced to.
Rupert seemed happy to stay by Winter’s side, listening, but not participating much at all.
Rupert’s friends, and Winter used the term loosely, didn’t seem to think anything was amiss.
As Rupert had mentioned in the carriage, there were many couples, and Winter had been introduced to them all.
But it was almost as though there was an unspoken rule that the couples had to split up once the dining part of the evening was finished.
Winter wondered at some point if he should have gone and sat with the ladies.
He would’ve probably had more fun. But Rupert’s hand on his elbow indicated his husband wanted them together.
The humor among the men was bawdy and rowdy – the sort of jocularity more likely found in a seafarer’s bar than a society family estate.
In the right setting, Winter would’ve laughed alongside the others, even if he didn’t find the topic of their humor particularly amusing.
Rupert didn’t appear to notice anything unusual in it, but he also didn’t join in.
Rupert’s friends didn’t seem to expect him to, and Winter wondered how much of Rupert’s silence was part of maintaining his facade as the tall, enigmatic crown prince, or if Rupert genuinely didn’t know what to say.
Winter had thought the same thing when they were in the carriage.
It was as if Rupert knew he had a part to play, but no one had fed him the lines he should’ve rehearsed.
When it was just the two of them, Winter was happy to carry the conversation.
Rupert had smiled, and even laughed once or twice, which was appreciated.
It was clear Rupert knew the basics of social niceties, but it would seem that Winter’s team’s research had been correct.
Sigmund, August, and Pippin had all exhausted their own particular skills on that issue, and none of them had been able to find any reference to Rupert actually having dated anybody before.
While Rupert attended numerous events every year, he had always been with a male companion or went alone.
It didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to Rupert’s absence from the hunting expedition the day before.
“You missed a really good day, Your Highness,” Lord Percy said, throwing a rather disdainful glance in Winter’s direction.
Clearly, that was another thing Percy believed was Winter’s fault.
“We bagged numerous rabbits and three large deer that we managed to bring down between us. It was such fun, and the chase was hilarious. You should’ve been there.
Old Bakersfield here almost tumbled his horse trying to get it to keep up.
Seriously, Bakersfield, I keep telling you, you need a new horse. ”
If it was possible, Bakersfield’s face got even redder.
He was already flushed from the amount of beverages he’d been drinking – another point Winter noticed.
All of the men were drinking heavily, Rupert included.
In contrast, Winter stuck to a single glass of wine after dinner, preferring to keep his wits about him.
“Tell me, Your Highness,” Bakersfield said, probably to take the focus off himself by addressing Winter directly. “Will we see you accompanying the crown prince during a hunt? Do you hunt at all?”
Winter shook his head. “I doubt it. I know how to hunt, of course, although I don’t see the point in doing it for sport.
The only reason that any animal should be hunted, in my humble opinion, is for food or if, for some reason, that animal is a danger to populated areas.
But to simply hunt as a sport, when there are so many other athletic options available, I find a little unnecessary.
I was curious, though, listening to your conversation.
What do you do with the carcasses of the animals you’ve slain? ”
Percy and Bakersfield both looked toward Rupert, who shrugged.
“To be honest, I’m not really sure,” he said.
“It differs depending on the estate running the hunt, I imagine. I know the staff takes care of that side of things. At any hunts run from the castle, the stable boys chop the meat up for the hunting dogs.”
“At least something is eating the meat, which is my point exactly.” Winter looked back at Bakersfield and Percy.
“The animals you slaughtered yesterday, rabbit and deer, I believe you mentioned, would make fine food for any table in the local village. I know for certain that any donations of that meat would be appreciated.”
It’s like talking to a horse – although I believe a horse would be more aware.
Winter put on his party smile. “But, of course, I am new here and I’m not yet familiar with your customs in Simigile.
I am just offering my opinion because it was asked for.
I will hunt for food, if necessary, but if it’s not, then I don’t see the point. ”
There was a moment’s silence, and then Percy said, “So I take it we won’t be seeing you on the back of a horse, accompanying His Royal Highness on his many hunts? Your Highness, I understand that the Lattis hunt is next week. I take it we’ll see you there as we usually do?”
“I haven’t made my decision yet,” Rupert said, throwing a look in Winter’s direction that Winter could not interpret. “There may be matters I need to attend to for my father.”
Winter was just about to let Rupert know that he had no problems if Rupert decided to go on his hunt after all, when there was a sudden commotion by the door.
“This is my home, damn it. I can go into any room I want to.”
“Oh, no,” Rupert muttered as Tristan came stumbling in, pushing past four people who were leaving as he made his way over to them.
“You! I can’t believe you’re here in my house.” Tristan was yelling. “Why are you here? Rupert didn’t even want to marry you.”
Rupert’s face went white, and his fists clenched, although he didn’t move.
Another situation my dear husband isn’t familiar with.
Winter glanced around quickly. His husband wasn’t the only one stunned.
Everyone was standing like statues. Lord and Lady Middlethorp had already retired for the evening, and there were no guards around that Winter could see.
“You’re in an unseemly state, Tristan,” Rupert said sharply, seeming to get over his shock. “Leave immediately and pull yourself together before you say or do something you’ll regret.”
“Unseemly like you believe I behaved two nights ago, you mean? My life ended the moment you rejected me. I’ve got nothing left to lose.
” Tristan glared at Rupert and then pointed his finger at Winter.
“You have no right being here at Rupert’s side.
You had no right becoming Crown Prince of Simigile. ”
“I believe my husband is the crown prince,” Winter said calmly. “I’m simply the crown prince consort. As I recall, that wasn’t my decision, it was Rupert’s as is seemly and right in these situations. Now, if you’ll excuse me. Rupert and I will be leaving now.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Somehow, despite his inebriated state, Tristan managed to pull a sword out from behind his back.