The Prince's Consort (Chronicles of Tournai Book 1)

by Antonia Aquilante

  She nodded. “You want to understand so you can know him, so you can make his life easier whenever possible. That’s what you do for the people you love.”

  He stopped walking and gaped at her. “I didn’t say I love Philip. I haven’t known him long enough for love.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him in that knowing way that was so irritating. “Fine, because that’s what you do for the people you care about.”

  “Fine.” He accepted her correction and pushed all thoughts of love aside.

  “I think it’s a lovely thing, Amory, and I think it’s sweet you want that with the prince.” She squeezed his arm, and they began walking again. “Do you know what goes into ruling Tournai now?”

  “Some. I don’t know enough. The courses I took at university didn’t teach me about governance and diplomacy, or any number of things. There’s so much he knows that I don’t have any understanding of.”

  “So learn. Read or get tutors or take more classes at the university. Would the prince let you do that?”

  “Yes. He’s already said I can continue if I want. He wants me to be happy.” He knew that beyond any doubt. Philip wanted him to be happy in his life at the palace—Philip wanted Amory to make a life at the palace with him.

  “Then perhaps you should think about it.”

  “I will.”

  “Good.” She smiled at him. “I’m glad to hear he wants you to be happy. It makes me far less worried about you.”

  He pulled her closer. “You don’t need to worry about me. I am happy there.”

  “In spite of Father’s manipulation?”

  “Father wouldn’t have been able to manipulate Philip into anything Philip didn’t want, that much I can tell you. He asked me to stay in spite of Father.” What his father tried to do was too reprehensible. Amory wasn’t sure he would ever manage to forgive him for it, nor would he stop worrying for his siblings, especially Adeline. “How are things at home?”

  “Same as always,” she said in a tone he was sure was meant to be reassuring. “Father was angry, but he’s calmed down. Well, he’s scheming something. You can see that look in his eye, but it’s been quiet.”

  “It’s the scheming I worry about, Adeline.”

  “I know. I think he’s scheming something to do with you. From the little I’ve managed to overhear, I think he’s trying to find a way to use your position with the prince for his own gain.”

  “Sounds like him.”

  “It’s why I asked we meet somewhere other than the palace. I do want to meet the prince, Amory.” She stopped walking and turned to look up at him with dark eyes that were the mirror of his. “Not because he’s the prince, not anymore, but because he’s yours. But if I said I was going there, then Father would have found a way to come with me.”

  He sighed. She was right. “We’ll figure something out, because I do want you to meet him, and he wants to meet you too.”

  “He does?” Delight pinked her cheeks and infused her voice.

  “Of course. I’ve told him about you.” He would like her to meet Elodie as well, but he wouldn’t overwhelm Adeline with that yet.

  “Oh. I hope he’ll like me.” She grabbed his hand. “I want him to like me for you.”

  “He’ll love you. Don’t worry.” He gave her a quick hug. “We’ll figure out a way for you to meet. For now, let’s get something to eat. A pastry from the bakery you like?”

  Adeline agreed, and they finished their visit sitting on a bench in the park, eating sticky fruit pastry, watching ducks swimming in the pond and children playing in the grass, and talking about their younger siblings.

  Amory’s birthday came a few days later. He received notes and small tokens from his sisters and brothers, and an elegant pair of leather riding gloves from his parents. The gift surprised him somewhat in its extravagance. The quality of the materials and workmanship marked them as quite expensive. He was probably unkind to wonder if his father would have sent so costly a gift if Amory hadn’t been living with the prince. But unkind didn’t mean untrue.

  Philip surprised Amory by clearing his calendar for the day so they could spend it together. He protested, not wanting Philip to upend his schedule for an entire day, but Philip waved his concerns away as if they were nothing. They spent the day together, and though they didn’t do anything all that exciting, it was special. He didn’t think he would ever get tired of spending time with Philip.

  He was surprised again that evening with a small dinner party in his honor. Just Elodie and some of Philip’s cousins, but the party was enjoyable, and it was kind of Philip and his guests to come and celebrate with him. There was a lot of laughter, Elodie talked almost non-stop, and Etan even flirted with Amory. Philip bristled each time Etan directed a comment in Amory’s direction, so Amory took Philip’s hand under the table. Etan was handsome and charming, but he wasn’t Philip. The mischievous sparkle in Etan’s eyes belied any thought of Amory’s taking him seriously. Perhaps he just wanted to get a rise out of his cousin.

  The hour was late when their guests finally left. Amory was tired but not sleepy, his body humming with happiness and anticipation. He settled in what had become their usual place in the sitting room. Philip handed him another glass of wine and sat close beside him. Amory sipped the wine, a crisp white that night, and watched the play of firelight over Philip’s face and glossy dark hair. So beautiful. He gave in to overwhelming temptation and stroked his fingers through all that silky hair. Philip’s eyes closed, and he made a sound close to a purr.

  Philip always did that, and Amory was secretly delighted by it. Philip nuzzled into his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm before leaning forward to press another to his lips. He slid his arms around Philip and sank into the kiss, opening to Philip, letting him explore. They fell back on the couch, and he thrilled to feel Philip’s weight pressing him into the cushions. The hard planes of Philip’s muscles seemed to fit perfectly against Amory’s slightly slimmer body. He wanted to feel it without the layers of silk and velvet in the way.

  But Philip seemed in no hurry. His hands stroked over Amory’s body, sliding on top of clothing, slowly. Their kisses were deep and sensual, exploring and savoring, and Amory was unable to do anything but let go and enjoy each soul-stealing kiss.

  They didn’t go to bed together that night, as Amory half expected. But, they didn’t go to bed separately either. Eventually, their kisses slowed and stopped, and they fell asleep, fully dressed except for their shoes, snuggled up together on the soft cushions of the couch. And despite the twinge in his back from sleeping on a piece of furniture not quite large enough for two full-grown men, Amory thought it amazing to wake tangled up in Philip’s arms.

  He couldn’t really be disappointed they didn’t go to bed together that night. He liked that they hadn’t yet, that Philip was happy for them to take things slowly. And he liked what they were doing, the talking and laughing and the little touches. He loved all the kissing. Craved it, whether the kisses were sweet and gentle, or long and lazy, or passionate and frantic, or a hundred other ways. He couldn’t begin to describe those kisses, and he wondered what he’d been doing before, because kissing Tristan had never felt like kissing Philip did. Maybe who he was kissing made the difference. He thought he could keep kissing Philip forever.

  Not that he didn’t want to see what more felt like with Philip. He did. It was strange how right the idea seemed with Philip, someone he’d known for so short a time, and how wrong it had felt in relation to Tristan, someone he’d known practically his whole life.

  He was pondering why that could be as he sat one morning in the cozy chair in his bedchamber, idly sketching the view outside the window. The city spread out below him, tiled roofs warmed in the light of the sun, the sparkle of river and harbor, the sweep of green countryside beyond. Normally, he spent more time appreciating it, but at that moment he only thought of Philip. He should worry about how quickly he was coming to care for Philip, because that must be what
was happening, and it couldn’t turn out well for him.

  “That’s amazing.”

  He jumped, just managing to keep from jerking his hand and ruining the sketch with a line of charcoal. He turned in his chair to find Philip right behind him, looking down at the sketch in his lap. Sunk in his thoughts and his drawing, he hadn’t heard Philip enter the room. “You startled me. How was your meeting?”

  He only knew the most general idea of what Philip’s meeting had been about, since the discussion was confidential.

  “Long. I’m sorry I startled you.” Philip leaned down to kiss him quickly, but Amory pulled him back for a longer, more leisurely kiss. Oh, yes, he did love kissing Philip.

  “I didn’t know you could draw like that,” Philip said when they drew back. Though he didn’t go far. Philip stayed bent over the back of the chair, his cheek brushing Amory’s as he stared down at the charcoal sketch.

  Amory shivered. “It isn’t anything much.”

  “Yes, it is. It’s beautiful.” Philip reached out a hand to angle the sketchbook toward himself. “You sat here and drew it right now. Amazing. Do you have any others I can see?”

  Amory nodded and flipped to the beginning of the book before offering it to Philip. Philip took it but stayed draped over Amory while he looked through the sketches. Amory felt his face heat. He had never shared his sketches with anyone, except for the designs he showed the glassmakers, and it was an uncomfortable feeling to sit there while Philip studied his work.

  Philip examined each sketch before moving on to the next, and Amory was forced to do the same, seeing each landscape and cityscape, each glass design, again. And to wonder what Philip thought of them. Finally, Philip came back to that day’s drawing and stared at it for a moment more before closing the sketchbook.

  “These are wonderful, Amory. You said you did some glass designs, but I didn’t know you drew like this.”

  He shrugged a little, his flush at least partly pleasure. “It’s just something I like to do if I have a free moment. They’re not that good.”

  “Yes, they are,” Philip told, his voice firm, and pressed a short kiss to his lips. “I like them.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Have you ever had lessons?”

  “No. One of the glass designers gave me some advice when I showed him some sketches years ago, but that’s all.”

  “Then it’s even more amazing. Do you do anything else? Paint? Or portraits? I didn’t see any here.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never been good at portraits, and I don’t know how to paint.”

  “You could learn if you want. We could find someone to teach you. And you could practice drawing me any time you like.” Philip’s grin was a bit wicked at the edges.

  Amory laughed, but he was intrigued by the idea, both of lessons in something he already enjoyed and in the idea of drawing Philip. Especially the latter. “Maybe.”

  “Think about it.”

  He nodded, touched again that Philip was so concerned for his happiness. “I will.” He was already scheduled to take two classes when the university’s summer term started the next month, but somehow the thought of adding drawing and painting lessons didn’t seem like a hardship.

  “Always full of surprises.” Philip cupped Amory’s face and brushed his thumb back and forth over Amory’s lips. “What else do you have hidden?”

  Amory managed a laugh despite the distraction of Philip’s touch making him warm and tingly. “Nothing. I’m not that interesting.”

  “You are to me. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

  He stared at Philip. It was so difficult to think with Philip close and touching him. “Like what?”

  “I don’t know.” Philip grinned, and Amory loved the playful light in his eyes. “You’re artistic. Tell me something else you can do.”

  “Um. I have a minor healing Talent.” It was a random thing to tell Philip, especially since Amory forgot he had it half the time. Remembering anything with Philip’s fingertips whispering over his face was impressive.

  “You do? Were you trained?”

  He shook his head, but not enough to dislodge Philip. Amory only knew about it because he’d been tested for magical Talents as a child, as most children were. “It’s not strong so Father didn’t think it would be worth it. He’s hoping to find a Talent to help with the glassmaking. The ancestor who started the business apparently had a magical Talent involving glass. There have been a few after, but none recently.”

  “A healing Talent is useful,” Philip insisted.

  “Not one that’s so minor.”

  “You don’t know that. If you’ve never had any training, you don’t know what you could do.”

  “I know I don’t have enough power to be a healer.” He’d been told that much when he was tested.

  “That doesn’t mean the Talent isn’t useful. Even if all you can do is heal the paper cuts you get from your sketchbook.”

  Amory laughed and was rewarded with Philip’s grin. “I suppose.”

  “Do you want to learn to use it? I’m sure the royal healers can teach you what you can do with it,” Philip asked, becoming serious again.

  “I don’t know. It’s a lot of lessons I’d be having.” Was that his hesitation? Too many lessons when school had always bored him? Or was it something else, like taking advantage of Philip’s generosity?

  “But if it’s things you enjoy learning?” Philip’s eyes were shrewd, and Amory wondered if Philip could tell what he was thinking.

  “Maybe.” The idea of finding out if his Talent was worth anything did have appeal. “I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea to talk to someone, see what I might be able to do with some training.”

  Philip smiled in such a sweet, brilliant way that Amory’s stomach fluttered. “I’ll set up a meeting with the chief healer.”

  “Thank you.” He leaned forward and kissed Philip gently.

  “You’re welcome.”

  He grinned, feeling mischievous. “Now you tell me something.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Do you have a magical Talent?”

  The playful look fell away from Philip’s face, and he looked away, everything in his posture screaming uncomfortable. He hesitated so long Amory was about to take the question back when Philip spoke. “Yes.”

  Amory hesitated. “Will—will you tell me what it is?”

  Philip nodded slowly. “It’s a strange Talent and not at all useful, or at least not anymore. There are family legends… but that doesn’t matter.”

  “Pip?” he prompted, keeping his voice gentle.

  “Sorry. It’s a family Talent, and we don’t tell many people.”

  Amory frowned as he thought. “I’ve never heard of a Talent running in the royal family.”

  “Like I said. It’s kept very quiet. It doesn’t show up all the time. It tends to skip generations and skip around within generations.” Philip was quiet for a moment. “I’ve never told anyone.”

  Not anyone? Even Vasco? And why did that make Amory feel so special? But Philip still looked worried. Amory stroked a hand over Philip’s hair the way Philip liked. “You don’t have to tell me.”

  “I want to, but I’m not sure how you’ll react.”

  Why would he react badly to magical Talent? “It’s fine. You can tell me.”

  Philip took a deep breath. “I can turn myself into a cat.”

  Well, he hadn’t expected that. “A cat?”

  “Yes.” Philip seemed to be waiting, and hardly breathing while he did. He was really that worried about Amory’s reaction.

  “That’s incredible. I’ve never heard of anything like it.” Amory hadn’t made a study of magic, so he supposed he wouldn’t have. He’d heard of the well-known Talents, the ones everyone encountered like healing and Talents for creating fire and light and the less commonly occurring but still important ones like weather working. But there were stories, old stories, of man-sized cats who had d
efended Tournai against invasion long ago. The legends were vague, but they persisted, that there was some sort of magical protection surrounding Tournai, and that the cats would always return to defend the country. All to the good, he supposed, since Tournai was a small country, but an important and strategic trading center. Many countries might like to control such a place. But he never thought there was any truth to them. Could the royal family’s Talent be the origin of those stories?

  “It’s rare,” Philip was saying. “And useless to me.”

  Amory bit his lip. “Can you show me?”

  Philip hesitated. “If you like.”

  “Please. I want to know all about you, Pip.” He ran his hand through Philip’s hair again, hoping to soothe. “But only if you’re comfortable showing me.”

  “I want you to see and to know that part of me too.”

  Philip backed away from Amory’s chair. Amory rose to face him.

  “Don’t be scared, all right? I turn into a pretty big cat.”

  “I won’t.” He hoped he could keep his promise. Philip looked so worried, and those legends were about man-sized cats.

  “Elodie hates it. She doesn’t use her Talent much because she turns into a little ball-of-fluff kitten.” Philip was obviously stalling because he was nervous. A rush of protectiveness moved through Amory, and he wanted to soothe away Philip’s worry.

  “I can see Elodie as an active kitten.” He grinned. But then his curiosity got the better of him. “So you can’t control the type of cat, and you don’t all turn into the same type?”

  “No, and not all of us do. There’s Elodie. My grandfather turned into a big cat according to my father. Some of the cousins have the Talent, but not all of them.” Philip took a deep breath, like he was bracing himself. “Ready?”

  “When you are.”

  Philip nodded and closed his eyes. The air around him shimmered with an almost amber light, obscuring Philip for an instant. And then sitting where Philip stood a second before was a huge cat.