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

by Antonia Aquilante

  “You do.” Philip smiled at him, and Amory resolved to do all he could to support Philip for as long as he had with him.

  Back at the palace, Amory quickly missed the peace of Alzata. The university summer session began and with it Amory’s classes. Classes were in the morning, so he left for the university after breakfast a few days each week, riding across town with the two royal guardsmen assigned to him. Having the guardsmen with him was strange, and garnered him more attention at the university than he cared for, but he understood why Philip insisted they accompany Amory outside of the palace. The guards were nice enough, so he did his best to ignore the stares of the other students.

  After classes, he generally returned to the palace. When he had taken classes previously, he sometimes stayed around to see friends or spend time with Tristan, but Tristan wasn’t taking classes that session. Last Amory heard, Tristan wasn’t in Jumelle.

  At the palace, he had art lessons and healing lessons to fill his time, and the court functions he attended with Philip. He liked that Philip wanted him there, even if he still thought it odd for it to be acceptable for the prince’s lover to sit at his side the way a spouse would. He wasn’t so naïve he couldn’t see the jealousy or disapproval in some people, both women and men, veiled though it might be. Those who disapproved were as much present as those who were overly ingratiating, hoping to gain Philip’s favor through Amory. Amory tried to ignore it because he liked his life at the palace despite the politicking. He would put up with a lot more to be with Philip.

  He had just returned from the university by way of a stop at an orphanage in the city when he was informed his father was at the palace waiting to see him. Amory sighed. The visit he made to the orphanage, part of the charity work he’d taken on in the last few weeks, had put him in a good mood. He hadn’t had any experience with children other than his siblings before his first visit to the orphanage, so he was surprised at how much he enjoyed his time with the children. He’d been looking forward to sharing stories of the children’s antics with Philip over lunch. But it seemed he was going to have to speak with his father first. Or rather, let his father speak to him.

  He forced himself not to drag his feet walking to the room where his father waited. It would have been perfectly acceptable to have his father brought to their suite, but he didn’t want his father there, in his and Philip’s private space, their home. He didn’t want his father’s criticism, whether veiled or overt, of his home.

  The small gold sitting room was suitable for his father. The room had been decorated during the reign of some long ago prince who must have had extravagant taste no one dared rein in. The furniture was all heavy and ornate and the artwork ostentatious, and every surface that could have been covered in gold leaf had been. In his opinion, most of those surfaces shouldn’t have been.

  His father looked satisfied. Arnau always had seen rooms like that one as signs of nobility and wealth, regardless of taste. One of the servants had brought refreshments, which his father helped himself to already. Amory didn’t care. Once he finished the conversation, he was going to eat lunch with Philip before afternoon audiences.

  “Hello, Father.”

  “Amory.” His father looked him over, but, not unexpectedly, didn’t stand or move to greet Amory in any other way. “You look like you’ve done well for yourself.”

  Somehow Amory doubted the statement had anything to do with his looking happy. His father was more likely remarking upon the new clothes he wore, though they weren’t all that different from the ones he’d brought to the palace with him. “And how are you, Father?”

  “I would be better if you remembered your responsibility to your family.”

  Amory paused in the act of lowering himself into the chair across from his father’s, but then continued the motion until he was sitting on the velvet cushion. “Excuse me?”

  “I know you aren’t that stupid, so don’t play with me. You know how you got here, and you know why you’re here.”

  He did know both of those things, but he doubted he and his father would agree on what they were. “Why don’t you tell me why you think I’m here?”

  His father’s face flushed. “Don’t you talk back to me, boy. I have given you every advantage a man in a family of our station could expect and more, and all to groom you to be a useful member of our family and our family’s business. You have been useless and disappointing all your life, but you can and will be useful now in promoting our family’s interests. That is why you are here.”

  “Is it? I thought I was here because I care for the prince,” he said, his words careful, his tone even.

  “Please. Don’t be naïve. You may be young, but you know how these things work. Concubine, spouse, it doesn’t matter. Liaisons among the nobility are not about affection.” Arnau leaned forward in his chair, staring hard at Amory. “They are about power and politics. About improving the position of families. And that is what you are going to do for us now.”

  At one time, Amory would have been intimidated. Not anymore. “Our family owns the foremost glassworking business in Tournai. The royal family already patronizes our business more than any other. It seems to me that the family’s position is excellent.”

  His father’s words lashed out, “What did I say about talking back to me? Have some respect. I put you here. I can take you away from this.”

  “No, you can’t. And even if you could, you wouldn’t because removing me from the palace would hardly serve your purposes.”

  He shouldn’t bait his father. The man’s face was nearly purple with what had to be barely suppressed rage.

  “You’re hardly serving my purposes now. But you will. You will do what you’re told, and you will use whatever influence you have to promote this family with the prince.” His father’s expression told Amory what he thought that influence was. “You will make this family the exclusive glassmaking business of the royal family. The nobility will follow, especially if you keep promoting it. Then we can talk about nudging the prince toward land grants, perhaps a title.”

  Amory gaped at his father. Was he serious? But obviously he was. Many marriages were for political and financial reasons more than love, and maybe Amory was somewhat naïve to think his own relationship with Philip was different. But he did love Philip, and he wasn’t there to make sure his father was granted lands and a title. “It’s time for you leave, Father.”

  “I’ll leave when I’m ready. I haven’t finished talking to you yet.”

  “You have. I’ve heard all I need to hear.” He spoke quietly but firmly as he stood.

  “You listen—”

  “Amory?”

  Amory turned to find Philip standing in the doorway, his face a polite mask, but his eyes filled with concern. He tried to convey as much reassurance as he could with his own eyes.

  Amory’s father got to his feet and bowed to Philip. “Your Highness. How good to see you. I trust you are well?”

  “Very well, Master Arnau.” Philip stepped forward until he was at Amory’s side, his hand coming to rest at the small of Amory’s back. The warmth of his hand was far more comforting than Amory could ever have imagined. “I didn’t know you were expected at the palace today.”

  His father smiled ingratiatingly. “I came to visit my son. It has been months since we’ve seen him after all.”

  “Yes. It’s unfortunate your visit will have to be so short.”

  “Short?” His father looked bewildered, then displeasure dawned as he realized he was being dismissed.

  “Yes,” Amory said. “I apologize, but the prince and I have a lunch engagement.”

  Amory found it almost amusing watching his father try to be pleasant to him. “I’m sure you won’t be missed if you stay awhile with me, Amory. It has been a long time since we’ve talked, and I think we have much to talk about.”

  “I’m afraid he will be missed. Amory is a very important guest at this lunch,” Philip replied. Amory bit back a laugh. Of course
he would be missed. Lunch was to be him and Philip alone, something they hadn’t managed in a week.

  “If that’s the case, I won’t delay you, Your Highness. We’ll have to visit another day.”

  “Another day, Father.”

  Amory sighed and let his shoulders slump as soon as the door closed behind his father. “Well, that was unpleasant.”

  “Are you all right?” Philip put his arms around him and drew him close.

  “Yes, but apparently I’m to use my influence on you.”

  Philip grinned, the hint of wickedness making Amory’s pulse kick. “You can use your influence whenever you like.”

  He laughed. “I’ll remember that. But my father wants me to use it for his gain. Well, my family’s gain. That’s why I’m here, according to my father.”

  Philip’s face darkened, and Amory shivered for another reason entirely, but Philip just ran his hands over Amory’s back. Soothing. “That’s not why you’re here.”

  “I know.”

  “I know you do.” Philip hugged Amory close again. “He’s your father, so I have tried to exercise patience and show him as much favor as I can, but I won’t let him overstep.”

  But that sounded like… “He’s spoken to you before?”

  “Yes, but he wasn’t near as direct as it seems he was with you.”

  “When?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does,” Amory insisted, taking a step back. “You should have told me.”

  Philip sighed. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

  “I don’t need you to protect me. I do need to know what my father says to you.” He wasn’t so fragile that he needed Philip keeping anything unpleasant from him, and he hated that Philip thought he was. “I’m not weak.”

  “I never thought you were. I’m sorry,” Philip said. “I should have told you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll tell you if I hear from him again.”

  Amory laughed without any humor. “I’m sure you will, and I’m sure I will as well.”

  “You’re probably right. He wants everything he can get.” Philip kissed him gently. “He’s your family, and I understand the importance of family. I will tolerate him, but only within reason. And I won’t tolerate him upsetting you.”

  Warmth flooded through him at the evidence of Philip’s care. “Thank you. But I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Adeline and the others.”

  “I’m worried about you, but maybe we can do something for your siblings.”

  He looked up at Philip. “Do you think so?”

  Philip nodded. “Have to think about what, but we can at least watch over them. You should invite Adeline to visit. You’ve been saying you want me to meet her, and maybe she would get along with Elodie. I’m sure your father would like it if his daughter was personal friends with a princess.”

  Amory laughed. “I’m sure he would, but Adeline wouldn’t take advantage of that.”

  “From what you’ve told me, I trust she wouldn’t, but if he thinks she is, then that can only be good for her.”

  He kissed Philip. “You’re very smart.”

  “You think so?”

  “Oh yes.” He kissed Philip again, lingering. He was suddenly so very grateful for Philip and how Philip cared for him.

  Adeline and Elodie did get along, eventually. Both young women were polite from the moment he and Philip introduced them not quite a week later. Adeline was a little overwhelmed on her first visit to the palace, and her first time meeting both Philip and Elodie. She looked calm, but Amory could tell from the tightness around her eyes and the way her hands gripped each other a little too tightly.

  He knew Philip saw it too when he went out of his way to put her at ease from the first moment. Amory’s heart warmed watching it, because Philip was doing it for him. Philip wanted to meet Adeline for him, and he was trying to calm her nerves for Amory too.

  Elodie arrived at their suite slightly late, as usual. Elodie wasn’t nervous meeting Adeline, but she was rather subdued and cautious, wary even. Or, perhaps better to say she acted more like a princess was expected to and less like Elodie normally did. But by the end of lunch, tensions had eased. Adeline’s nerves had been calmed, and she was smiling. Elodie was chatting and happy once more, and the girls seemed to have forged the beginning of a friendly relationship.

  After lunch, back in the sitting room, Elodie told them about the outdoor concert she was attending that afternoon, bubbling over with excitement about it for several minutes. Philip smiled indulgently through the whole recitation, long used to his sister’s quirks. Amory wasn’t quite as used to them yet, but he managed to sit, holding Philip’s hand, and listen. What was difficult was not laughing at poor Adeline. He could practically see her mind spinning as she valiantly tried to keep up with Elodie’s flood of words.

  “It sounds lovely,” Adeline said when Elodie finally quieted.

  “Oh, why don’t you come with us?” Elodie bounced in her seat. “I’m sure you would enjoy it.”

  “Oh, thank you, Your Highness, but I couldn’t,” Adeline said.

  “Why not? We could get to know each other better.” Elodie smiled, wheedling. “I won’t let you refuse.”

  “Oh, well.” Adeline glanced at Amory, a mildly panicked look in her eyes. “All right, if it isn’t an imposition.”

  “Of course it isn’t!”

  Philip still looked indulgent, and Amory let himself smile. “I’ll send a messenger to the house, so Mother and Father know where you’ll be.”

  “Thank you, Amory.”

  A knock on the suite’s door interrupted whatever would have been said next, and Lady Lilliale walked into the room at Philip’s call. As always, Lady Lilliale was perfectly dressed, her hair impeccably done. She always reminded Amory of an elegant doll. Dipping into a curtsy, she smiled sweetly at Philip.

  “Philip, I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Celeste said Elodie was here.”

  Adeline looked at Amory with a raised brow, but he shook his head at her, not sure what she was asking. Something about Lady Lilliale, but they would have to talk about it later.

  “That’s all right. I wouldn’t want you ladies to be late for your concert. Elodie is looking forward to it,” Philip said.

  “As am I. Will you be coming with us, Philip?”

  “No, I have audiences this afternoon, and Amory is accompanying me, but Adeline will be going with you.”

  “Adeline?” Lady Lilliale’s brow creased delicately as she looked at Philip.

  “Lady Lilliale, may I present my sister, Adeline?” Amory said. “Adeline, this is Lady Lilliale. She is a great friend of Elodie’s.”

  Wide violet-blue eyes fixed on him and then Adeline for the first time since Lady Lilliale entered the room. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Adeline dipped into a curtsy. “And you, my lady.”

  “You’re coming with us this afternoon?”

  “Yes, my lady. Princess Elodie was kind enough to invite me.”

  Elodie hurried to Adeline, startling her by taking her arm. “I thought it would be good for us to get to know each other, considering our brothers’ relationship.”

  “Of course,” Lady Lilliale said. “But we should leave so we aren’t late.”

  “What would I do without you, Lil?” Elodie laughed and began to tow Adeline toward the door. Adeline managed to peck Amory on the cheek as she went by.

  The door shut behind the chattering young ladies—well, it sounded like Elodie was doing most of the talking—and Amory and Philip looked at each other before starting to laugh. Philip drew him close and rested their foreheads together as they chuckled.

  “That went well,” Philip said after they calmed down.

  He looped his arms around Philip’s neck. “I suppose so. They seem to be getting along at least, but I wondered at the beginning.”

  “Yes, Elodie was a little slow to warm up, but she did ask Adeline to go with them
today. That’s good.”

  “It is.” He bit his lip. “I worry about Adeline with them, though.”

  “She’ll be fine. Some of Elodie’s ladies are going, as well as Cathal, Vrai, and two of Lilliale’s brothers. Another young lady too, I think.”

  “It’s not that, or maybe it is. Adeline has never participated in this level of society. I hate to throw her into it with no warning or preparation.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Philip repeated. “Adeline seems to have a level head, much like her brother.”

  Amory arched into the little nipping kisses Philip was placing on his neck. Philip continued between kisses, “She acts more like a proper young noble lady than Elodie does. She’s lovely, seems quite intelligent, and made charming conversation over lunch. She will be fine. In fact, she’ll probably make quite a splash.”

  He was finding it difficult to think with Philip nibbling on that particular spot, but he managed a coherent sentence. “I’m not sure if that’s reassuring.”

  “Cathal and Vrai will look after her. She may get a marriage proposal or two, but no one will bother her.”

  “Marriage proposals?” Amory laughed, and then moaned as the kisses traveled over his throat again.

  “As I said, she’s lovely. She’s not from a noble family, but she is the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, and there are any number of sons of noble families who may be interested in her as a bride, especially taking into account your relationship with me.” Philip pulled back and looked at him, grinning. “Do you think your father would consider it advancing your family’s position if that happened?”

  He groaned. “Please don’t talk about my father while you’re kissing me.”

  Philip chuckled. “Good point. We’ll talk about it later. For now… we have some time before audiences and nowhere to be.”

  He put up no resistance as Philip pulled him into the bedchamber.

  PHILIP LOUNGED in his throne on the dais, the chair next to him empty. He wished Amory was sitting there, but his lover looked like he was enjoying himself on the dance floor partnering Elodie. She had insisted he dance with her, and Amory couldn’t refuse, though he didn’t often dance. Philip wasn’t sure why. Amory was graceful and as skilled as anyone else on the dance floor.