“You were in the palace when this happened,” she whispered.
That was another reason he was so scared. “But now we’re being even more careful. Philip has more guards on duty all the time, and everyone is being vigilant. I promise I’ll be so careful.”
“But you won’t leave the prince.”
He pulled back, shocked she would suggest it. “No, I won’t leave him.”
Her eyes were wet with tears. “But if you left him, you would be safe. If they only want you to not marry the prince, then if you left him and came home, they wouldn’t try to hurt you anymore.”
“I can’t, Adeline.”
“Why?” Her question was desperate, almost a wail, and like nothing he had ever heard from her. Tristan put his hand on her shoulder, but he met Amory’s eyes, and Amory could tell Tristan understood. Adeline probably did too, but she was too scared to accept it.
“Because I love him. And I won’t leave him, not for anything. Philip and I are going to have a life together. I won’t let whoever this is take that away from us.”
PHILIP WAS in his office, but he wasn’t especially productive. His thoughts kept drifting to Amory, to worry for Amory. He’d had to force himself from their bedchamber, even though Amory said he could go. He half feared it might be a dream, that if he let Amory out of his sight, Philip might return to find he’d imagined the last few days and Amory was gone. The fear wasn’t rational, but it plagued him anyway.
Captain Loriot reported to Philip again that morning, but he had no new information. Philip wasn’t sure how it was possible, how no one had seen someone tamper with Amory’s horse. Philip wanted to hit something, to beat someone bloody.
Whoever did it… it terrified him how close they’d gotten. To be in the palace stables with no one noticing or thinking them out of place. After finding out Philip and Amory were going out riding, they’d acted immediately, so they must have been waiting for an opportunity. He and Amory were going to have to take further precautions, or he was going to keep Amory locked in their bedchamber for the rest of their lives. And while the idea did have its intriguing aspects, more so if he could manage to lock himself in with Amory, Philip didn’t think Amory would accept it.
So he had to think of some other way of protecting Amory, of catching the person who wanted him dead.
He was worrying over that while he should have been going over proposed revisions to a trade agreement when Cathal appeared in his office. Philip managed to keep his shock, and hope, from showing on his face, keeping his expression impassive through will and long experience.
“Cathal.”
“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” Cathal said with a bow.
“What are you doing here?”
Cathal seemed mildly surprised, uncomfortable even, but he rallied and smiled in his charming way. “I thought you might need me. Things do tend to fall apart when I’m not here.”
“Things are fine. Etan is more than capable. In fact, I’m hoping he’ll stay on permanently.”
“Oh. Well. That’s good. I’m glad my absence didn’t cause any undue problems for you.” Cathal seemed to fumble for what to say. “I know I haven’t been here in quite a while. It ended my affair with Celeste. She got tired of not seeing me.”
“Understandable.” He didn’t blame the woman. He also didn’t care.
“Yes, well. It’s going to be uncomfortable seeing her for a while. I was wondering if you could help me—”
“No,” Philip interrupted.
“What?”
“No. I’m not going to help you to not see her. I’m not going to ask Elodie to get rid of Lady Celeste when she seems to be working out for my sister. No more. Clean up your own mess this time.”
“But—”
“I said no, and I meant it, Cathal.” He was not doing that for Cathal. For one, Lady Celeste was a steadying influence in Elodie’s household, but he also didn’t feel inclined to do his cousin any favors at the moment. It might be uncharitable of him, but Cathal had abandoned him and Amory. Philip needed some time before he would trust or want to help Cathal again. “I’m not getting rid of her. You’ll just have to be an adult about it when you see her.”
“Of course, I… all right.” Cathal floundered for a moment. “I heard about Amory’s accident. There are rumors the fall wasn’t an accident. Is he all right?”
“Yes, Amory is going to be fine. Thanks to some luck and some very good healers.” He kept his voice steady, his face impassive, refusing to let Cathal see what he felt.
“That’s good. I’m glad Amory’s all right.”
“Are you?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?” Cathal’s dark brows pulled together, as they did whenever he was perplexed.
“Because the rumors are true. Amory’s fall wasn’t an accident, Cathal. Someone wants Amory dead or at the very least injured and away from me.” If it were an enemy of Philip’s, he could have just as easily gotten to Philip’s own horse as well. Philip pushed down rising terror again at the certainty of the gut feeling that Amory was the target.
“Someone is trying to kill Amory?” Cathal went blank with shock, but Philip couldn’t help the skepticism he felt, and he hated feeling it. Cathal was his cousin, his friend. Only Cathal had turned away from him and Amory.
“Yes.” He studied Cathal, but Cathal displayed nothing but shock.
“But why?”
“Why do you think? Someone doesn’t want me to marry him, quite a bit apparently since they’re willing to kill him to keep it from happening.” He paused, but Cathal stared at him, saying nothing. “You and your father—a lot of our family—don’t want me to marry him.”
“I have my concerns, and yes, Father is against the match, but his reasons are understandable—wait.” The shock swirled with betrayal and anger. “You think we had something to do with this?”
“I don’t know what to think. I don’t want to think it, but I wonder. You’re so against this marriage, Cathal. Your father is so against this marriage. Then this happens to Amory. What am I supposed to think?”
“That you know us well enough to know we wouldn’t do something like this.” Cathal’s voice was tightly controlled as he fought to hold on to his temper. “You and I, Philip, we’re not only family, we’re friends.”
“I thought I did know you, but then you abandoned me because of my choice of betrothed. Your father issued ultimatums before he walked out the door—he wouldn’t come back until Amory was gone. I thought I knew you all, but I never expected that from any of you. I thought you would stand by your family and your prince.”
“My father is worried about you and Tournai. He can’t understand what you’re doing. You’re the prince. That means you have responsibilities, and one of them is to ensure the continuity of the succession. You must produce an heir. What will neighboring kingdoms think of Tournai if its prince won’t do that most fundamental thing?” Cathal’s voice got louder as he spoke, losing the battle for calm.
Anger stirred inside Philip. He’d thought long and hard about his responsibilities to his country, to himself and to Amory, and he’d made his choice. He didn’t regret it, and he wouldn’t change it. And to imply he had thoughtlessly put himself ahead of the duties he’d sworn to perform, the duties he had prepared for and lived up to his entire life… oh, yes, that made him angry.
Before he could open his mouth to tell Cathal exactly what he thought of Cathal’s accusations, a hand came down on his shoulder. Etan stood at his side, glaring at Cathal.
“Cousin,” Etan said to Philip, “you have some time before audiences. Why don’t you go see Amory? He’s getting restless confined to bed.” Despite talking to Philip, his eyes remained on Cathal.
“I have some business left to attend to here.” Philip looked at Cathal as well.
“Let me handle my brother, please. Go see Amory.”
He struggled between his desire to stay there and deal with Cathal and his desire to see Amory. “Are his s
ister and Tristan still here?”
“They just left. Amory is bored,” Etan told him. “You should take him with you to audiences today.”
“Jadis said he should rest another day. I don’t want him tiring himself and setting back his recovery.”
“Right now he’s in more danger of setting back his recovery through sheer frustration. Audiences won’t be strenuous, and getting out of bed and leaving that room will probably help his mood. Take him with you.”
Amory had seemed irritated. Maybe getting out of their bedchamber would help. “All right, I’ll go see him. You’ll take care of things here.”
“Of course.”
Cathal looked murderous at being handed off to his younger brother, but perhaps that was good, after Cathal’s harsh words. Philip stood and nodded at Etan. Let Etan deal with his brother. Philip would take the more pleasant option of spending time with Amory.
Or perhaps not so pleasant.
He stepped into the bedchamber as Amory snapped a book closed and flung it toward the foot of the bed. It bounced once and settled among the tangled blankets. Amory looked up at him and frowned.
“Did the book do something to offend you?” Philip walked into the room and retrieved it, setting it on the bedside table.
“I’m tired of being in this bed.”
“I thought you liked being in our bed.” He tried for a leer, but he wasn’t sure he managed it.
Amory’s lips quirked. “Pip, you know what I mean.”
“I do, and I understand.” He climbed onto the bed next to Amory. “Is that all that’s bothering you?”
“No,” Amory said after a moment. He paused again and when he finally spoke, his voice was small and quiet, and Philip hated hearing it. “I’m scared.”
He put his arm around Amory and pulled him close. “I’m scared too. Terrified. But I’m not going to lose you. We’re going to keep you safe, and we’re going to find out who is trying to hurt you, and…”
“And we’re going to get married.” Amory looked up at him from where his head rested on Philip’s shoulder.
“Yes, we are.” He kissed Amory’s forehead. “Would it help your boredom to get out of bed for a little while?”
“You’re going to let me out of bed?” Amory grinned, his eyes taking on some sparkle. “That shouldn’t be a good thing, should it?”
He laughed, relieved Amory could tease. “Not at all. But don’t worry, I’ll get you right back in bed later.”
“Good.” Amory kissed him quickly, then again. “You’re really going to let me up for a while?”
“Yes. You can come to audiences with me if you like. I can’t guarantee how interesting it will be, but I know I’d like your company.”
“I’d like that.” Amory’s brow furrowed. “Do I have time for a bath first?”
He chuckled at Amory’s plaintive question. “Yes.”
He insisted on helping Amory out of bed, even though he knew he was being overprotective. Amory grumbled but let Philip help him. Maybe Amory liked having Philip’s arm around his waist as much as Philip liked putting it there. Amory was a bit stiff and slow climbing into the bath, and Philip reached out to steady him.
As he sank back into the hot water, Amory must have seen something in Philip’s face because his smile turned reassuring. “I really am all right. Still a little sore, but much better. The hot water will help.”
Philip nodded, but the knot of worry remained inside him.
“Maybe you could help me bathe?” Philip loved the gleam that came into Amory’s eyes. It was far more reassuring than anything Amory could have said. Philip began stripping out of his clothes. “What are you doing?”
He laughed at the expression of surprise on Amory’s face and stepped into the bath, settling in behind Amory. “I thought it would be easier to help you from in here.”
“Easier, hmm?” Amory asked, leaning back against Philip’s chest.
He hummed a little at the contact, reveling in the feel of Amory’s leanly muscled body against his own. “Oh yes, much easier.”
Amory chuckled, and Philip took up soap and a cloth to wash him. He ran the soapy cloth gently over Amory’s skin. Washing, yes, but more than that, caressing, cherishing. He could have lost Amory, but he hadn’t, and he wanted to touch, to show Amory he was loved. To prove to himself Amory was still there.
As he stroked cloth and hands over Amory’s skin, Amory relaxed further and further until, by the time Philip set the cloth aside, Amory was boneless against him. He wrapped his arms around Amory and held him close. Amory hummed, a sound of pure contentment, and turned his head enough to press a kiss to Philip’s neck. Amory nuzzled his face there and stayed. Philip smiled and closed his eyes. Yes, content.
Amory murmured, “I think I could be persuaded to go back to bed.”
He chuckled. “I wish I could take you back to bed. It’s been too long since we’ve touched this way.”
“Yes.”
“But we have to go to audiences now.” He laughed at Amory’s grumble, despite feeling much the same way. “Later, though.”
Amory sighed. “That better be a promise.”
“It is.”
He liked having Amory with him in audiences. He assumed Amory liked attending them as well, since he’d accompanied Philip to most since the first time, but Philip couldn’t understand why. Audiences could be long and tedious. But having Amory there made it better. Sometimes just his company, his presence, made the task easier, but sometimes his witty comments, whispered so no one except Philip would hear, did it. They’d gotten into the habit of discussing the more interesting occurrences and petitions afterward, and he found himself seeking Amory’s opinion.
Amory was becoming a partner for him in that area of his life as well, something Philip hadn’t expected or realized he wanted until he had it. For the first time in his life, Philip felt like he had someone with whom to share the duties and burdens of his position, of ruling, even if Amory wasn’t actually his co-ruler. Wasn’t yet, and might never be. But Amory was someone who would stand beside him, would do everything he could to lighten the load, as he would for Amory. Was it any wonder he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the man?
After audiences, Lord Tangi stopped him in the corridor and drew him away from Amory and Etan, then proceeded to drone on for far too long about nothing important. Philip kept Amory in sight the whole time, paying as much attention to Amory as to the man talking to him, despite knowing Amory wouldn’t thank him for his anxiety. Amory was standing with Etan in full view of four royal guardsmen. Amory was safe.
But Philip didn’t trust that what should be true actually was. He wasn’t sure he trusted anything or anyone with Amory’s safety, not after seeing Amory crumble to the cobblestones a few days ago.
The interminable conversation finally ended, perhaps too dismissively on Philip’s part, but he wanted to get Amory back to their suite where he would be safe, and where he could rest. Because despite Amory’s protests to the contrary, he was still uncomfortable after his injuries and their rapid healing.
Amory came along without protest, taking Philip’s arm when he offered it. Etan stayed behind, but the guards trailed after them. Until whoever had tried to kill Amory was caught, guards would follow them everywhere and security would be far tighter.
Amory kept darting little sidelong looks at him. Perplexed, almost incredulous looks.
“Is something wrong?” he asked as they walked into the suite.
“No.” Amory sat on the couch in the sitting room, obviously not ready to go back to bed whatever he’d said before audiences. “Did you ask your cousin if he tried to kill me?”
“Which cousin?” he asked with a grin, but Amory’s expression made it perfectly clear he wasn’t going to allow Philip to joke. Philip sighed. “Who told you?”
“Etan. You accused Cathal of trying to kill me. I can’t believe it.”
Philip slumped onto the couch next to Amory, sighing in
relief and pleasure when Amory’s fingers found their way into his hair. “I didn’t accuse, so much as ask.”
“You asked him if he tried to kill me?”
He glanced at Amory, who looked as if he wasn’t sure if he should be amused or horrified. “I asked if he or his father knew anything about what happened to you. Whether they tried to kill you was more implied than anything else.”
“Be serious, Pip.”
He sighed again. “I am being serious. I hate thinking my family might have had something to do with this, but I don’t know what else to think right now.”
“Pip.”
He took Amory’s hand and squeezed. “Someone is trying to kill you. Maybe… most likely to keep us from marrying. My family, my uncle especially, does not want me to marry you.”
“But they’re your family. And you and your cousins… you’re all so close.” The emotion in Amory’s eyes was painful to see, as if he himself could feel all of Philip’s pain at the thought of a betrayal of that magnitude from his own family. He didn’t want Amory to feel any of what he felt, not when he felt as he did right then.
“I know. I don’t want it to be them, any of them.”
“So who else could it be?” Amory asked. “We don’t know your family did this. There has to be someone else.”
“I don’t know. It’s not anyone in your family.” He tried to make the absurd suggestion in a teasing tone, but it didn’t quite work.
Amory gave a short laugh, but there wasn’t much humor in it. “No. My father would have to be stupid to kill me now, and my father is many things, but he isn’t stupid.”
“That he isn’t, especially when it comes to situations that could benefit him.” Philip ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why? It’s true.” Amory peeled Philip’s hand from his face and kissed his forehead. “My father is an expert at using everything to his own advantage.”
He lifted Amory’s hand to his lips. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry about him. He’s always been that way.”
The Prince's Consort (Chronicles of Tournai Book 1) Page 22