Page 18 of The Most Unsuitable Prince (Another Arranged Marriage #8)
“Rupert was with me,” he snarled, stabbing the sword in Winter’s direction.
“You can ask anyone here – they’re his friends, but he was closest to me.
He should have married me. Instead, all he would go on about was marrying someone like you.
Tiny, unsubstantial, quiet, and pretty to look at in your fancy clothes. ”
Tristan’s blade was getting closer to those fancy clothes. “You are aware that it’s a capital offense to attack a royal family member,” Winter said, still keeping his calm.
“I. Don’t. Care.” Tristan’s yell threatened the stability of the chandeliers hanging above their heads.
“You’re looking at a man who has lost everything.
I followed our crown prince around from dawn till dusk.
I held his hand. I cheered his hunting. I was the companion he deserved, and instead of marrying me, he kept looking at the likes of you.
You weren’t the first by a long shot, but you will be the last. I will see to that myself. ”
“Have some common sense, Tristan!” Rupert snarled, although he didn’t move any closer. “Put that weapon away. You there” - he pointed to Percy - “get the guards in here. They must be aware of this disturbance, so I have no idea why they aren’t here already. This man needs to be restrained.”
“By the time they get here, it will be too late.” Tristan giggled and then hiccupped.
“Why do you think I was late to this little shindig? The Middlethorp guards were sent out ten minutes ago to investigate a disturbance on the far side of the estate. It’s likely a wild animal, but we can’t take any chances with royal visitors at the estate, now, can we? They won’t be back for ages.”
“Regardless of when they get here, you will go to jail for this," Winter interrupted. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was a man monologuing. “I would caution you against making the situation any worse.”
“It won’t make any difference to me what happens next. You’ll be dead, and that’s all I care about. Don’t you see? I’m doing Rupert a favor. My beloved will have done his duty by his father by marrying somebody, but his father never said he had to stay with you.”
“That’s what getting married implies, and I believe that’s why there was no piss-off clause on our contract,” Winter said. “From my understanding, Rupert has every intention of staying with me.”
“He never intended to have anything to do with you, married or not. He told me, at least a dozen times, he wasn’t going to spend any time with you at all, no matter how long you were married.”
“And yet, here I am.” Winter spread his hands wide. “Having an enjoyable time with my husband – or at least I was until you came along.”
“He won’t stay with you! I am Rupert’s Patin.
” Tristan stabbed at his own chest, unfortunately not with his sword hand.
“We were talking about it. He was going to set me up with my own estate where we could be alone. We would’ve been together in every way, and unlike that mealy librarian King Consort Jaq, I would not have agreed to opening our relationship up with you. Rupert wanted me.”
There were horrified gasps all around the room, and Rupert looked like he was wishing the floor would just swallow him up.
“My husband has already explained to me how you came close to forcing yourself on him and how disgusted he was by your idea. You are the reason why he left the hunt early. I believe my husband when he tells me he has never so much as looked at you in any intimate way, and never would. You were a convenient friend – someone who ultimately betrayed his trust, but that will never be a reflection on dear Rupert’s behavior. This is all on you.”
“You’re not even armed,” Tristan sneered. “You’ll be dead before the guards get here. I’ll leave this world knowing I did my beloved Rupert the biggest favor anyone ever could.”
“Aren’t you the dramatic one? You seriously shouldn’t have underestimated me.” Winter laughed before putting two fingers into his mouth and blowing a long whistle. “Pippin!”
“Incoming, Your Highness. Mind your head, everyone. The guards are on their way.”
Winter and everyone else in the ballroom watched as a sword rolled in a graceful arc above their heads, a slow circle through the air. As it got close, Winter jumped, grabbing it by the handle, so it was secure in his hand as his feet hit the floor.
“Now then,” Winter said as he swung his sword around so it was facing Tristan. “The fight is fairer now, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Winter? Do you even know how to use that thing?” Rupert sounded worried, but he wasn’t Winter’s concern in that moment.
Tristan had dropped the sneer, and for a second, Winter thought he would give up and drop his weapon.
But then, as if he realized he genuinely had gone too far to come back from what he’d said and done, Winter saw a look of resolve come over his features.
“As I said. Nothing left to lose.” With a loud yell, Tristan raised his sword and swung it down, fully intending to split Winter’s head open.
Winter parried easily. He’d had barely any alcohol at all, his wits were still about him, and while his wound objected to the strenuous exercise he was suddenly getting, Winter still managed to parry and lunge in his own way, moving Tristan back through the crowds of people who had gathered around them.
He wanted Tristan out of the room, out of the mansion, preferably, before his wild swings hurt anybody.
To his credit, Tristan didn’t make things easy on him. Winter was jumping on chairs and tables, and then back to the floor again, defending and attacking all in one go.
Tristan had a height advantage. He was a lot taller than Winter, although not as tall as Rupert. But Winter had been fighting since he was four years old, and his life had often depended on his skills with a blade.
Chairs crashed over, glasses broke, but Winter remained focused, moving Tristan, herding him away from others and toward the door. As he got closer to the main doors, he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye and grinned.
“You really shouldn’t have done this, Tristan,” he said as he lunged forward, his blade pointing straight for Tristan’s heart.
He knew Tristan would move, and that’s exactly what he intended.
Within two seconds, Pippin was behind Tristan and trussing the man’s hands up behind his back, his sword clattering uselessly to the ground.
“Two guards are coming through the main gates now, sir,” Pippin said gruffly, tugging on Tristan’s bonds and forcing him to his knees. “Are you hurt at all, Your Highness?”
He gave a pointed glance at Winter’s middle, and Winter noticed that there was blood appearing through the white of his jacket. Damn it, I should have worn black for the night .
“It’s just a scratch, nothing more. If you can take care of Tristan for me, thank you, Pippin.”
Winter turned, resting his hand lightly over the blood. Rupert was standing about four feet away, his fists still clenched and his jaw tight. “I do hope you’ll forgive me if I say my introduction to the Middlethorp estate did not go as planned. I, for one, am not impressed.”
“You’re hurt.” Rupert took a step closer. “I can call a healer…”
“I’m sure it’s nothing serious, although I appreciate your concern. I realize you have matters to deal with here, Rupert dear, so you’ll forgive me if I take the carriage back to the castle. I would prefer to be attended there, if that’s acceptable.”
Rupert nodded, his face showing his concern.
“As for the rest of you, standing around and not even bothering to intervene, I’m shocked at your lack of concern and respect for royal blood.
Even if I wasn’t married to your crown prince, I was still a prince of Martingale.
Were you still stunned by your friend’s crass talk?
Perhaps you believed his lies? I will state here, clearly and proudly for all to hear, I definitely do not believe any of Tristan’s lies about his imaginary position in my husband’s life.
“I intend to see that man face full punishment for attacking my husband’s reputation and my physical person through the World Court.
The truth-sayers won’t be so easily swayed by his lies, and there are enough witnesses here who will have no choice but to report that Tristan attacked me first, regardless of their opinion of me personally. ”
He tilted his chin up and smiled softly. “You would all do well to remember who I am and what position I now hold. Your own position in life might depend on it.”
He looked down at the blood which was spreading. “In the meantime, I’m so glad this robe wasn’t one of my fancy ones. Getting blood out of gemstones is such a tedious business. I’ll see you back at the castle, Rupert dear. As for everyone else, good night. This has been…educational.”
Don’t stumble, don’t stumble. Winter turned and strode out of the room just in time to see two guards take over a wiggling Tristan from Pippin.
“The World Council will send guards to pick him up in the morning,” Winter said sharply.
“He is being charged with a physical attack on a royal person and for uttering complete fabrications about Crown Prince Rupert in a public setting. I’m ordering you to have him restrained in the dungeons of this estate until he is collected by the appropriate authorities. ”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guards bowed before they tugged Tristan away. He didn’t look happy, but Winter didn’t expect him to. He managed to make his way to the carriage, which Pippin had parked right out front when they’d arrived.
Pippin had the door open, helped him climb the steps, and made sure he was seated before shutting the door. Winter groaned as he tried to get comfortable. The pain was spreading fast. Sigmund’s going to be so angry at me. Not even being right is going to make him feel any happier.
Reaching up with his sword, Winter tapped the carriage roof with the last of his energy. “Go as fast as you dare, Pippin, if you please,” he yelled over the noise of the wheels on the cobblestones. “I really need to get back to my bed.”
“You probably should’ve stayed there in the first place, Your Highness,” Pippin yelled back. The carriage lurched as the horses sped up, and Winter groaned again. He couldn’t get back to the castle fast enough.