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

by Antonia Aquilante

  He wanted to argue. He wanted to do it himself. But Etan was right. He was too volatile to undertake that kind of questioning. “Fine. See to it, but I want to know what he finds immediately.”

  “Of course.” Etan turned to the guard captain who had arrived at some point, again without Philip noticing. He didn’t stay to listen. He strode across the courtyard toward the closest door into the palace, but he hesitated a step across the threshold. He wanted to be near Amory, but prince or not, he doubted the healers would let him in while they were working. He stood in the corridor, debating, when a hand landed on his arm again.

  “Come on. Let’s go wait in your suite.” Etan’s face held compassion and worry. “You’d only get in their way if you went to Amory. They’ll know where to find you when you can see him.”

  Philip nodded, knowing Etan was right even if Philip wished he weren’t. He walked with Etan through the palace corridors, sunk into his own thoughts, but aware enough to notice the unnatural silence. News of what happened to Amory must have spread through the palace already.

  Etan sank into a chair in the sitting room as soon as they arrived, but Philip couldn’t settle. He tried to sit, but he only popped up a moment later and began pacing the room. Etan gave up trying to get him to sit after a few moments and let him pace, but he didn’t leave Philip alone, even though he snapped at Etan repeatedly. Philip didn’t want to admit how grateful he was for Etan’s patient presence.

  The wait felt like days but was only hours. Long hours. Donatien came in, and Philip realized he had duties he should be attending to, but he couldn’t, not when he wasn’t sure what was happening to Amory. Etan and Donatien held a whispered conversation, presumably about how to rearrange Philip’s responsibilities that day, while Philip paced patterns into the thick carpet. Donatien disappeared as quietly as he’d appeared. Philip would have to remember to express his gratitude to both of them when he could think again. He wouldn’t be able to allow himself to feel, to worry for Amory so much, to make Amory his entire focus, if he didn’t have Etan and Donatien.

  Time passed, and Philip continued to pace. Servants brought food, but he only managed to choke down a few bites of something before he was up and moving again. Etan didn’t push him to eat, probably afraid Philip would take a swipe at him. Elodie burst into the room after the meal, her eyes wide and frightened. She threw herself at Philip, giving him little choice but to catch her.

  “Where’s Amory? Is he all right? What happened? I was out with Lilliale, and when we got back, they told us he was thrown from his horse, but he always seemed like such a good rider, so I can’t believe it could have happened. Did he really get thrown?”

  The flood of words was too much for Philip to deal with at that moment. “Elodie, slow down.”

  “Not until you tell me, because I can’t understand why people are saying these things. They’re talking like he’s badly injured. What happened to Amory?” It was a demand more than a question, and Philip couldn’t handle demands.

  “Someone tried to kill Amory. That’s what happened to him,” he snapped. Elodie jumped back, looking like a kicked puppy. At some point, he would feel terrible for upsetting his sister, but not right then. “Someone purposely caused a situation that would make his horse rear and throw him. Yes, he is injured. The healers have been working on him since this morning, and I don’t know anything. I don’t know if he’s all right.”

  Elodie stared at Philip, opening and closing her mouth several times without saying anything. Yes, he was going to feel bad about it later, once there was room in him to feel anything except fear.

  Etan walked up to her and placed an arm around her shoulders. “El, why don’t you go back to your suite with Lady Lilliale for now? I’ll let you know when we hear anything about Amory. Go on.”

  Etan gave her a little nudge, and she nodded. She turned and went to the door where Lilliale waited for her in silence. Philip hadn’t noticed her there in the flurry of Elodie’s arrival. Lilliale was wide-eyed and still, staring at him, but she moved when Elodie drew even with her, turning and following Elodie out the door, which Etan closed behind them.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “You’re welcome. She was worried when she heard something happened to Amory, but you can’t handle how excitable she gets right now.”

  “Still.” He sighed.

  “She’ll be fine. She’ll go back to her rooms, and Lady Lilliale will calm her down.” Etan resumed his seat. “Once she knows Amory will be fine, everything will be forgiven.”

  “Once I know Amory will be fine… Amory has to be fine.” Philip looked up at Etan. “We’re to be married in a matter of days, Etan.”

  “I know. You will.”

  He tried to be reassured by the calm confidence of Etan’s voice, but he wasn’t quite. “Has anyone told Amory’s family?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Adeline should know, at least, and Tristan. You should let them know.”

  Etan nodded. “Once the healers let us know how he is, I’ll tell them.”

  “All right.” They didn’t know anything at the moment anyway. He rubbed his hands over his face. He needed to know how Amory was. He wanted to send Etan to the healers to demand information—he wanted to go himself—but he knew it wasn’t a good idea. Even if waiting did make him crazy. He kept pacing.

  He had no idea how much longer he paced while Etan slouched in a chair and stared at nothing. Long enough for the sun to begin to sink and dusk to fall. He was staring out the window at the coming twilight when the knock on the door came. He whipped around to look at the door, and Etan sat up straight. “Enter.”

  Jadis, looking so exhausted Philip wasn’t sure how he was upright, walked into the sitting room and managed a bow. “Your Highness.”

  “Jadis, please, how is he?”

  “He’s all right, Your Highness. He’ll be fine.”

  Philip sank into the nearest chair, relief turning his knees to water. He gestured Jadis to a chair as well, worried the man would fall over. “Tell me.”

  “He was very lucky, Your Highness,” Jadis said as he lowered himself into the chair, his movements slow and careful. “Minor internal damage and only a minor head injury. There were several broken bones—wrist, ankle, ribs—and a dislocated shoulder.”

  Philip could feel himself going pale at the thought of Amory injured so severely.

  The healer continued, “We fixed the internal injury immediately. Normally, we would heal the breaks over time. It’s easier on both healer and patient. However, I didn’t believe that was the best course of action in this case.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We healed all of Amory’s injuries today. That’s why we were working on him for so long.”

  “But you said it’s best to heal them over time.”

  “I felt it best to heal his broken bones all at once. He wants to be on his feet for his wedding.” Jadis smiled faintly.

  “We could have postponed the wedding if it was better for Amory.” Stubborn, wonderful Amory.

  “I know. But that wasn’t my sole consideration, just one of many. Not the least of which is that leaving him injured and immobile would leave Amory vulnerable.”

  He could see from Jadis’s expression that the healer knew Amory’s fall was no accident. Philip closed his eyes and nodded. “All right. So he’s healed now?”

  “He is. However, healing on this scale has costs. We had to draw on Amory’s own Talent for healing himself to increase our own powers and heal him completely.”

  “What does that mean for him?” he asked, fear clawing its way up inside him again. He was grateful for Etan’s silent presence at his side.

  “It means he’s going to be extremely tired for some time, Your Highness. So I don’t want you to worry if he sleeps for quite a while. Also, he’s going to experience some soreness, tenderness to the injured areas, and perhaps some weakness as the healing really sets in. It shouldn’t last more than a few
days.”

  “All right.” That didn’t sound too bad. Not pleasant for Amory, but so much better than the alternative. He would make sure Amory rested until he was well again. Perhaps he would lock Amory in the bedchamber and post guards at the door—keep Amory resting and safe at the same time. “What now?”

  “I’m having Amory brought back here. He doesn’t need to be monitored constantly, and he’ll be more comfortable in his own bed than in the infirmary. I’ll check on him in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Jadis.”

  Jadis must have heard the fervent relief and gratitude in Philip’s voice, because his expression softened. “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”

  Additional healers arrived then, escorting servants bearing Amory on a stretcher. Philip jumped to his feet and rushed to Amory, but he stopped himself from flinging himself at Amory with so many people in the room. Instead, he directed the stretcher bearers to the bedchamber he shared with Amory and watched while they transferred Amory to the bed. The healers fussed over Amory for a moment, getting him settled under the blankets, before filing out of the room.

  Jadis paused next to Philip. “Send for me if you need me, but you shouldn’t. I’ll see you in the morning, Your Highness.”

  Etan was next. “Now we know he’s all right, I’ll go tell Elodie and then Adeline and Tristan.”

  “Please tell them not to come yet. He won’t be able to have visitors if he’s sleeping.” And he wanted some time with Amory before other people descended upon them, despite Amory sleeping during that time.

  Etan nodded. “I’ll be back in the morning too, but send for me if you need anything.”

  “Thank you, Etan.” He meant it not only in gratitude for his offer, but for everything Etan had done for him that day.

  Etan reached out and pulled Philip into a tight hug. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Then Philip was finally alone with Amory. For a while, he stood in the bedchamber doorway, staring at the sleeping figure in the large bed. After a day spent wishing he could rush to Amory’s side, he was oddly hesitant. He could have lost Amory. Slowly, he walked until he was standing at the bedside looking down at the man he loved.

  Amory’s skin, always ivory pale, was nearly translucent, and purple smudges darkened the delicate skin under his eyes. He looked exhausted even in sleep, but he was alive and well, and Philip couldn’t ask for more.

  He didn’t want to disturb Amory. Even without Jadis’s warning, he could see Amory needed sleep. But Philip had to touch him, had to prove Amory was real and not the figment of his terrified mind. He brushed Amory’s tousled curls from his forehead, smoothing them back. Giving in to temptation, he trailed his fingers gently over Amory’s face, tracing the beloved features. He froze when Amory’s nose scrunched up. He found it adorable, but he didn’t want to wake Amory.

  “Pip?” The word came out a whisper, low and slurred, barely understandable.

  “I’m here.” He sat on the edge of the bed at Amory’s side, careful not to jostle him. “I’m right here.”

  Amory struggled to open his eyes and focused slowly on Philip. He could have wept at the weariness in Amory’s face, greater since he was awake, or maybe wept in relief that Amory was looking at him with those big, dark eyes. He smiled instead, answering the sweet smile that curved Amory’s lips.

  “Glad you’re here.” Amory’s eyes closed but then opened again with what looked like an extreme force of will. “Sorry. So tired.”

  He bent and kissed Amory’s forehead, his hand stroking Amory’s hair. “That’s all right. You sleep, rest, so you can feel better. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Amory nodded sleepily and reached up toward Philip. “Kiss me first? A real kiss.”

  Philip grinned, blinking back tears. His Amory would be fine. “Of course.”

  He leaned forward and slipped his arms under Amory’s body, holding him lightly, carefully, while he placed an almost chaste kiss to Amory’s lips. He meant it to be fast, so Amory could sleep, but once he had Amory in his arms he couldn’t let go. It hit him, all over again, what could have happened, and he clung to Amory as if he would never let go. He never wanted to let go. He realized he’d straightened up, pulling Amory with him, only when arms wrapped around him and a heavy head came to rest on his shoulder.

  He should let Amory go and tuck him up in bed where he could sleep in peace, but Philip couldn’t make himself. Amory didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed content where he was, resting against Philip. His eyes stung again with impending tears. He might have lost Amory. He blinked against the burning in his eyes and pressed a kiss to Amory’s temple. “I love you.”

  “Love you too,” Amory murmured against his neck. Philip could tell Amory was close to sleep, but he kept holding him. Amory could sleep against him for a little while, long enough for Philip to believe Amory was all right.

  Chapter 12

  NEARLY FOUR days later, Amory was going out of his mind. He’d slept a full day after the healing, waking in time to eat dinner and then dozing off again to sleep through that night. He had slept on and off for the whole second day as well, waking only for meals and short conversations with Philip. On the third day, he managed to stay awake more but was still confined to bed, and he hadn’t been inclined to argue. Fatigue dragged at him, and his whole body hurt. So he dozed and read the day away.

  As Philip promised, though Amory only remembered the promise in a vague, fuzzy way, Philip had been there when Amory woke the first evening, and Philip was there, it seemed, each time Amory woke after that. Philip often sat on the bed next to him, stroking his hair while Philip worked, reading the vast amount of paper that crossed his desk and carrying on whispered conversations with Donatien or Etan. It warmed Amory to know Philip wanted to be close to him, that Philip was so concerned for him, and during the first couple of days, when Amory felt so horribly weak and tired, Philip’s presence comforted like nothing else could. Nothing would happen to him with Philip there.

  It was the fourth day. He didn’t hurt as much, the soreness dulled down to a minor ache in his wrist and ankle. And he wasn’t as tired anymore either, except tired of being in bed. But Jadis thought another day of rest would be a good idea, just to be safe, and when Amory would have ignored him, Philip asked him to do as the healer said. Philip had done his best to hide how scared he’d been, but Amory had seen it, and he couldn’t refuse Philip.

  That didn’t stop him from being less than pleased to be stuck in bed, and not for any pleasant reason. He finally persuaded Philip to go about his day as he normally would. He missed Philip’s company, but he didn’t want to pull Philip away from his responsibilities for longer than necessary.

  Tristan and Adeline arrived together in time to eat lunch with him and Philip and then visit with him when Philip went back to his office. This visit was the first time he had seen either of them since the incident. If they visited the first, or even the second day, he wouldn’t have known it. He had vague memories of Etan and Elodie during that time, in addition to Philip and Jadis. Elodie had been very sweet during her brief visit, but he hadn’t been awake enough to keep up with her.

  Tristan and Adeline sat at Amory’s bedside and talked about nothing of particular consequence for a while after Philip left them, trying to keep Amory entertained, but his part in the conversation tended to lag.

  “Amory, you are very grumpy today,” Adeline said suddenly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know I’m happy you’re all right. So happy and so relieved. I can’t tell you how scared I was when Lord Etan told us what happened. But you’re being very grumpy.”

  “She’s right. You really are,” Tristan said, ignoring Amory’s glare. “Any particular reason you’re doing your best to make us dislike you so much? Did you want us to leave?”

  Amory nearly growled. “Let me think why I might be grumpy. I’m stuck in bed, bored to tears after days of doing nothing more than lying arou
nd tired and sore, because someone is trying to kill me. In the most inept way possible.”

  Adeline went pale, and he regretted his outburst immediately. It wasn’t like him to let his frustrations get the better of him to where he hurt someone else.

  “Why inept?” Tristan asked before Amory could apologize to Adeline.

  Amory sighed. “Because there are better ways to kill someone. There was no guarantee either of the accidents they set up for me would actually kill me. Unless they are trying to scare me off. Philip and I thought maybe they want to make me leave him because they don’t want me to marry him.”

  “They might have killed you even if they didn’t mean to.”

  Another shiver of fear coursed through Amory, and he wrapped annoyance around himself like a blanket. He didn’t want Tristan and Adeline, especially Adeline, to see how scared it made him to think about someone trying to kill him, and how close that someone had come. The healers were good, but if he had landed differently, they might not have been able to do anything. He might have died a few days ago. Philip knew how afraid that made him, but he knew how terrified Philip was as well. Without Philip’s saying anything, Amory knew, from how tightly Philip held him and the tremors running through his body sometimes. But Amory didn’t want to be anything but strong for Adeline.

  “Yes. They might have.”

  “That’s one way to get you to leave the prince,” Tristan finished for him. Adeline looked horrified when Amory nodded.

  Adeline grabbed his hand with both of hers. He bit back a wince as the ache in his wrist intensified at her tight hold. “You have to be careful, Amory. Please, you have to.”

  “Of course I’ll be careful, Adeline. I have no desire for anything bad to happen to me and neither does Philip. I’m as safe as I can be right here, surrounded by palace guards.” Ignoring the slight twinge in his ribs as he moved, more stiffness at the moment than anything else, he stroked her hair, pinned up in elegant coils, with his other hand.