Page 3 of The Most Unsuitable Prince (Another Arranged Marriage #8)

“Sire, Your Highness. I don’t mean to interrupt, but I have to insist you come with me. Sire, I need to speak with you, now.”

“I’m busy.” Rupert smiled at his companion for the evening.

Lady Abigail was slightly more seasoned than he preferred, but she knew how to blush prettily, and with the coy way she didn’t meet his eyes, she was deliberately acting in a way that set Rupert’s blood aflame.

It was a ploy – they both knew it – but Rupert was in a good enough mood to accept the ploy for what it was.

All was finally right in Rupert’s world.

He’d had a successful hunt. Being back in Simigile was truly everything he needed to feel comfortable again.

From the moment he’d crossed the border, Rupert felt a sense of relief and a warm feeling of coming home – back in the lands he was used to and where people were used to him.

He’d informed his father about the marriage contract, and then had disappeared to a local estate for a hunting expedition, confident that his father wouldn’t have gotten the invitations for the wedding out yet, meaning he didn’t have to mention his impending marriage to anyone.

Back among his friends, having successfully bagged two boars that day and proving that he still had what it took to be a successful hunter, Rupert was intent on pursuing other pleasurable pursuits.

“Your Highness, I have to insist, it’s a matter of the state,” Tristan whispered urgently in his ear. “You’ve had a communication from the World Council.”

That did sound serious, at least serious enough for Rupert to pat the lady’s shoulder as he stood up. “Keep my seat warm for me, would you, dear? I shall be back shortly.”

Leaving the table, Rupert only stumbled slightly as he followed Tristan out of the room and into a little nook in the hallway that was hidden by a couple of heavy curtains affording the illusion of privacy.

“What are you doing, interrupting me like that,” Rupert hissed. “You know what I’m like when I’ve had a successful day hunting. You saw me today. I bagged two boars – two of them - and then you had to come along and ruin what could prove to be an equally enjoyable evening. What were you thinking?”

“I told you. You got a note from the World Council.” Tristan didn’t back down. That was one of the reasons their friendship had lasted so long. Tristan was one person who didn’t get offended by Rupert’s dominant nature.

“What about?” Rupert felt a sliver of fear run down his spine. No, don’t be like that, he warned himself. No one knew what he’d tried to do to Prince Jaq before that man got married. “Did something happen to the king?”

“No. If something happened to your father, someone from the castle would’ve notified you.

The message from the World Council confirmed that your marriage contract has been registered with the council.

Prince Winter is now Crown Prince Consort Winter and will be arriving here in time for your wedding, due to take place in nine days, at the Simigile court. ”

“Is that what you pulled me away from my company?” Fueled with whiskey, Rupert’s mind was still on the lovely Lady Abigail.

“I know about the marriage contract. I was the one who signed it. Why are you interrupting me over something so trivial? All that crap is days away. I’ll worry about the wedding closer to the time. ”

“Seriously, you have to worry about it now.” Tristan was pushing further than usual. “Remember how you told me to get rid of the piss-off clause?”

Rupert nodded. “All that information was in the contract. Winter had to have consort status, because the World Council insists on that sort of thing, and I told you to cross out the piss-off clause. The last thing I need is to be embarrassed by a useless husband who goes running to his mommy the moment I make a casual comment he takes as an insult against those gaudy clothes he seems to favor.” Rupert had a blunt way of speaking.

It had gotten him into trouble in the past, and he wasn’t going to lose his marriage over it.

“I believe Prince Winter’s mother died two years ago. Do you remember what else was in the contract?”

“What else is in there that’s important? Get to the point, man. I don’t want Lady Abigail going chilly on me.”

“If you insist.” Tristan frowned. “Crown Prince Consort Winter has invoked the infidelity clause in the contract. And it’s already filed with the World Council, so it can’t be changed.”

Rupert felt the blood drain from his face. “What are you talking about? I didn’t agree to that.”

“I asked you a dozen times about the infidelity clause,” Tristan reminded him. “All you could think of was the hunt you went on today.”

“I wanted to come home. I wanted to be back in Simigile.” Rupert vaguely remembered saying something about the infidelity clause. He clicked his fingers in Tristan’s face.

“I thought we agreed that we’d allow Winter to decide whether or not the infidelity clause was invoked.

You told me that he probably wouldn’t do that because he and I have never said a word to each other.

Who would agree to be faithful to someone they hadn’t met?

I just wanted him to sign the contract, and we both agreed he might turn my offer down if I made it clear I didn’t plan to be faithful to him.

” Rupert hadn’t planned to have anything to do with his new husband at all, but now it looked like he might not have a choice.

“Well, that backfired because your new husband has invoked the clause and clearly sees your fidelity to him as something important,” Tristan said. “There was a note waiting for me when we arrived here this afternoon. I’ve been trying to talk to you since lunchtime.”

“I wasn’t going to talk about anything like that when we’re hunting.

I wanted to have some fun before our friends find out what I’m planning to do.

” Rupert was distracted, trying to work out what impact a clause like that would have on the life he’d created for himself.

“Couldn’t this have waited until morning?

There must be a way around this, but I’m not thinking straight right now. ”

“I would’ve left it until morning if you hadn’t been leaning into Lady Abigail’s chest,” Tristan hissed.

“That clause, in fact, all of the clauses in the contract came into effect from the moment the papers were filed with the World Council. If you’d continued your evening with the Lady Abigail the way you’d hoped, you would be breaking your contract with Crown Prince Consort Winter before the wedding even takes place. ”

“Are you sure?” Rupert thought that sounded strange. “We haven’t said the vows yet. They’re not due to be said for nine days. Until then, I’m a free man, surely.”

Tristan shook his head. “That’s not how it works.

The World Council is very strict on these matters because of contracts that are signed with child brides, or where the contracts are signed by parents rather than the parties involved.

You told me to tell Winter’s man to lodge the papers urgently, because that was the only way we were going to be allowed back at the Simigile court. I did as I was told.”

Rupert leaned against the wall, any hopes for having fun for the rest of the evening disappearing in a puff of smoke.

“How on earth did this happen?” He looked up, meeting his friend’s eyes.

“Do you think that simpering fop has got the ridiculous idea he’s actually important to me?

Is he going to be hanging all over me from the moment we’re married, expecting me to court him and come to care for him?

Is that why he doesn’t want me dallying with anyone else? ”

“I have no idea,” Tristan said. “The note we received was short, but clear. Effective from the moment those papers were filed with the World Council, your new fiancé has got a restraining order on your royal appendage, and from now on, nobody else is allowed to go near it except him.”

Peeking through the curtains, Rupert peered down the hallway, before looking back at his friend. “Winters doesn’t know anybody here. How’s he going to even find out?”

“Are you seriously prepared to take that risk?” Tristan shook his head.

“Think about it a moment. If your consort finds out that your royal appendage has been handled by someone you’re not married to, then he can take you before the World Council and lay a complaint.

You’ll be called in to answer questions, and they have truth-sayers there who will know the moment you try to lie about anything. ”

“For goodness’ sake. All I wanted was for my life to go back to normal where I can hunt when I like and take pleasure where I want.

” Rupert groaned, his mind already racing ahead.

He could imagine the shame and the disgrace.

There would be a good chance that if his fiancé complained about him, he could have his crown prince title stripped from him for behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.

“I’m going to have to talk to him,” he said, his heart sinking at the very idea.

Rupert was never good at discussing sensitive matters with sensitive people.

They never seemed to understand his way of doing things.

“Why would Winter do this? It’s not like he knows anything about me, so why would he do something like that? ”

“I doubt he’s heard anything about you. He wouldn’t have had time before he signed the contract,” Tristan agreed. “It’s not like we move in the same circles. But unknowingly or knowingly, your consort has just hit you in one of the most important areas of your social life.”

“Exactly. What the hell am I meant to do, Tristan? I’m not going to stay a eunuch for the rest of my life. I didn’t sign up for that.”

“Maybe he’ll be reasonable,” Tristan suggested.

“You saw the man yourself at the party in Monce. He likes pretty things, rings, and bright clothing, and all that sort of carry-on. Maybe you could get him a few gifts and talk him around to your idea that you two can have an arrangement. As long as you’re discreet and he never hears about it, then you could continue on the way you were before.

You’d have to make sure the same exceptions apply to him, of course, but it might work. ”

“Do you think that’s allowed?” Rupert asked. He had no idea how the World Council worked. He had only been there twice before, carrying out duties for his father. “I thought if something was decided in the marriage contract, those vows had to be adhered to.”

“I’ll find out,” Tristan said. “I’ll get in touch with the council myself in the morning. But in the meantime, you can’t afford to take any chances. Lady Abigail is going to have to go to bed on her own, and so are you.”

Rupert sighed. He could still hear the music playing in the ballroom, tempting him to go back.

“Your Highness, do you really want to get into trouble with your husband before the vows are said?”

I’m certainly thinking about it. But Rupert shook his head.

Tristan rarely invoked his title when they were alone together.

“I’ll go to bed alone, this time,” he said, slapping Tristan on the shoulder as he walked past. “You get some answers about those marriage clauses – can they be changed, amended, and what’s the process for that sort of thing? I want answers as soon as possible.”

Rupert stormed off down the hallway, away from the music.

There was no point in going back to the party.

Lady Abigail was going to have to find someone else to warm the seat next to her.

Rupert could already feel the lovely buzz from the hunting party and the whiskeys he’d drunk disappearing along with the sound of the party music.

I just wanted my life to stay the same. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, for now, it was.