Deceived

by Megan Derr

  Stupid, he was nothing less than stupid. There had never been a chance for them, and even if there had been, Jewell's being a prince ruined it forever.

  "Now, then," Benedict said after a few minutes. "I need to know everything, Jewell. Tell me what your parents did."

  Jewell nodded and began to retell his story—this time, Addison noticed miserably, he added in several details he had left out before, to hide he was royalty.

  Addison stared at his tea. He would have to go home, there was no help for it. It was one thing for a post office clerk to run away with a noble. But to run off with a prince…

  He was a peasant. Jewell was a prince. That only ever worked out in stories. The harsh reality was that he would have to return home, face the consequences of his actions, and try to forget Jewell.

  Or at least learn to live with the knowledge that he would never forget Jewell.

  "So where do you come into all of this?" Benedict asked, and Addison started to realize Benedict was addressing him—and he really needed to remember it was Prince Benedict.

  He smiled weakly, and forced himself to stop toying with his teacup. "Uh—I just happened to be in the park at the right times. Wrong times?" He tried to laugh. "That's all."

  Rae regarded him, eyes still startlingly sharp behind the glinting spectacles, face expressionless. "Your name is Addison, I believe?"

  "Addison Dewhurst," Addison replied. "My parents run the post office in the town of Whitson."

  "That's a fair distance from here," Benedict mused. "So you met in the park?"

  Addison turned red. "Um—yes. Jewell c-came across me when he was, uh, running away from a young lady."

  "Tina," Jewell said, grinning shamelessly. "I was trying to get away from Tina. I saw Addison and—" He suddenly recalled what he'd done, and why they might not find it as amusing as he.

  Addison laughed despite himself. "He thought if he pretended to be with someone else, she would leave off. So he sat down and kissed me. She called me a strumpet, they argued, and then she left. So, um, I guess his plan actually worked."

  Benedict cast Jewell a look that was equal parts reprimand and amusement. Then he glanced at Rae, expression turning decidedly into mischief. "What is it with you bold, reckless types, always kissing unsuspecting strangers amongst the foliage?"

  "I'm certain I do not know what you mean," Rae said haughtily.

  "Mmm," Benedict murmured, and poured them more tea, fixing it as easily and casually as Rae had earlier. Then he turned his attention back to Jewell and Addison. "So how long have you two known each other?"

  Jewell winced. "Uh—about four days."

  Rae pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing up his spectacles. "Youth. It is a constant wonder to me that any young man lives long enough to become older and wiser."

  Benedict laughed. "Indeed. I do not know about the wiser; certainly we are considered old fools."

  "You are a fool," Rae retorted.

  In reply, Benedict only smiled and drank his tea. "I think I shall have to go into the city and pick a fight with my relations." He rubbed the back of one finger beneath his chin, pondering. "It's been almost two years since I've done so. I wonder if I have lost my edge."

  Rae snorted. "What edge? But I've not lost my aim, and that was always more effective than any words. Though, as to that…" He sighed. "It would probably be wiser for me to stay here and safeguard the runaways."

  Benedict frowned, looking genuinely unhappy. "We'll discuss it later. For now…" He looked between Jewell and Addison. "You both look ready to fall over. I'm certain by this point Martha has prepared your bedroom." His mouth curved in amusement. "Unless I am mistaken, and we should have her prepare two rooms."

  Addison flushed, but Jewell only grinned and said, "Just the one."

  Really, Addison should insist on two. The sooner he cut ties, the better. But…he wanted whatever he could get, as selfish and stupid as he knew that to be. Very soon, he'd be sent home as he should, and he wanted to take all the memories with him he could possibly gather.

  "Bed," Benedict ordered. "We'll discuss this further with you in the morning."

  Addison obediently stood up, then felt briefly at a loss—but then Jewell took his hand and dragged him from the room, up the stairs and into a simple, tidy, warm and inviting bedroom. He yawned and wandered over to the bed, and sat down, intending to pull his boots off. Instead, he only yawned again, and sat there blinking blearily.

  He started when something touched his leg, and opened his eyes to see Jewell kneeling in front of him, pulling off his boots, Jewell's boots already discarded.

  Addison tried to jerk his foot away, turning red. "Jewell—you don't—you shouldn't—"

  "I shouldn't help my lover get ready for bed?" Jewell demanded hotly, eyes flashing as he looked up.

  "But you're—you're a prince," Addison said. "I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be with you. I'm not—" He swallowed, eyes burning. "I'm not good enough for you, I never was, and I knew that. You're too important and special for a nothing like me."

  Jewell threw aside Addison's boots, then surged to his feet and shoved Addison back on the bed, climbing on top of him. Then he kissed Addison hard, biting at his lips, not stopping until they were both breathing heavily and Addison's lips throbbed, bruised and sore.

  Addison tried to push him off, away, but it was a half-hearted attempt at best, and he didn't resist at all when Jewell grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the bed.

  "You aren't nothing," Jewell said fiercely. "If anything, it's me who's not good enough for you, so stop saying things like that. You're not allowed."

  "It's what everyone else—"

  "Bugger everyone else!" Jewell shouted. "I don't care, and you're not allowed to care either. You're not allowed to care about anything but me and I'll take care of the rest."

  Addison laughed, even if he really shouldn't. "Bossy."

  Jewell didn't seem as amused. "I don't want you to leave me, not because I'm a stupid prince. If you lose interest, or decide you can't stand me, or fall—fall in—if you choose someone else, then fine. But don't give up just because I have a fancy title."

  "But there's no way they'd allow you to be with a peasant."

  "Uncle Benedict and Rae managed it," Jewell said, hands tightening on Addison's writs. "We can do it, too. I don't care what anyone else thinks or says."

  Addison frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Jewell smiled. "I guess no one had the chance to tell you. Rae was—and still is—Benedict's secretary. His family owns and runs a perfume shop in Castile. They've been lovers forever. So why can't we do the same thing?"

  Something in Addison's chest twisted at the words 'lovers forever' and really, how stupid was he? "Jewell, we've known each other for barely four whole days!"

  "I don't care," Jewell muttered, and kissed him again, biting his bottom lip, and Addison should probably care that his lips hurt but he really didn't. He liked the reasons they hurt too much.

  "We've made a lot of people angry by running away," Addison said. "My uncle will ship me home with a sore back for this, and my parents will lock me in my room until I'm twenty-one and they can toss me out of the house. I do not even dare to think upon what is in store for you."

  Jewell's mouth twisted into a mutinous frown. "No one is punishing you, not if I have anything to say about it, which I do, whether they like it or not. I turn twenty-one in two months, and then there will be very little they can make me do, or do to me. You cannot be far from twenty-one yourself, Addy."

  "Umm…" Addison could feel his cheeks burning hotter than ever. "I turned nineteen last month."

  "Uh—oh," Jewell said, taken aback. "Um. You certainly act much older than me."

  Addison laughed with genuine amusement, and entirely too much affection. "I don't think I seem older," he said. "Just quieter, and that's not the same thing." He smiled up at Jewell.

  Jewell smiled back, and said softly, "I'm glad you can still smile and
laugh. I'm sorry I've upset you. That I lied to you. I'm sorry I'm a prince; I really wish I wasn't."

  "Don't be sorry," Addison said. "You're a marvelous prince, I bet. What—whatever happens, I'll never be sorry you came upon me in the park."

  "You'll never be sorry I assaulted you in the park?" Jewell asked, smirking. "I did not expect to enjoy kissing a stranger so much, and yet almost immediately I was loath to stop. I'm glad you did not listen to the dictates of common sense and punch me before running off."

  "Me too," Addison replied.

  Jewell kissed him again, soft and easy this time, soothing Addison's sore lips. "So can I assault you again now?"

  Addison laughed and tugged lightly at his pinned wrists. "I think you already are."

  "Good point," Jewell replied, and carried on.

  *~*~*

  "You're going to the palace?" Jewell asked. "But you hate the city, Uncle Bene."

  Benedict took a sip of tea, then said, "I hate what they are doing to you more. I do not know what, if anything, I can accomplish, but I will certainly do my best."

  Rae scowled at him. "Do not cause too much trouble. Return at once if something takes a turn for the worse. Don't—" He cut off whatever else he was going to say.

  "See me out?" Benedict asked softly, setting his napkin aside and standing.

  "Of course," Rae replied sharply, throwing his own napkin down before following Benedict from the room.

  Silence fell as the door closed behind them. Jewell sighed, feeling guilty. "Come on," he said. "I'm certain Rae will want to be left in peace after Uncle Bene is gone."

  Addison nodded and rose.

  "We can go upstairs for a bit, they'll be outside—" Jewell stopped short with the door only just ajar, realizing his mistake as he saw Benedict and Rae not outside as he surmised, but in the hallway. He heard Addison draw a sharp breath, but neither one of them made any move to return to their seats.

  "I'll be back soon, I promise. I refuse to be gone longer than is strictly necessary," Benedict murmured, rubbing Rae's lips with a gloved thumb, before bending to kiss him for what was clearly not the first time. "I doubt my family will tolerate my presence for long, anyway."

  Rae muttered something Jewell did not catch, and took another kiss, one hand fisted tightly in Benedict's hair.

  Then he abruptly tore away and gave Benedict a hard shove. "Go away then, already."

  Benedict smiled. "Yes, beloved. I miss you already."

  Rae scoffed, but stood stiff and still until the door closed behind Benedict and he was alone in the hallway. Then he sighed softly and removed his spectacles, pulling a handkerchief from his waistcoat to polish them.

  Finished, he tucked the kerchief away and shoved the spectacles back on his nose, then turned—

  Jewell shut the door and lunged back to his seat, Addison just as quick beside him, and they hastily picked up teacups and forks, working hard to appear as though they'd never so much as considered leaving their seats.

  Rae resumed his own seat. "Addison, I think you would be best served to write a letter to your relatives. I am certain they are worried about you. Benedict will certainly speak with them while he is in town, but sending a letter yourself will ideally serve to soothe their worry and displeasure."

  Addison nodded. "I started writing one this morning, before I came down to breakfast."

  "Good," Rae replied. "Do not be too concerned about your uncle, as I know you must be. I know his name, and he is in no position to take issue with anything Benedict tells him."

  Addison nodded and stared into his tea for a moment, then looked up again. "I am sorry we are causing you so much trouble, and forcing Benedict to go into the city on our behalf."

  The barest smile curved Rae's mouth over the rim of his teacup. "No one has forced Bene or I to do anything in twenty-three years. I assure you that record remains unbroken."

  Twenty-three years? Jewell shook his head at that, unable to believe that after twenty-three years together, Benedict and Rae had been that upset to be apart for two weeks. His parents seldom could stand to be alone in the same room for an hour.

  "Oh," Addison said. "Are you really—sorry. It's not my place."

  Rae chuckled. "Am I really his secretary? Yes, I am. Jewell, go find something to do. Addison and I need to have a conversation."

  "But—"

  "But nothing," Rae said sharply. "With all due respect, Highness, it is not a conversation you will understand."

  Jewell wilted, but obediently rose and with a quick and pointed kiss to Addison's cheek, departed.

  He wandered aimlessly about the house, poking and prodding at things, burning to know what they were saying, what Rae was telling Addison—and if Rae convinced him to go home after Jewell had worked so hard last night to finally convince Addison to give them a chance, he was truly going to lose his temper.

  Sick of the confines of the house, he ventured outside to the stables, gathering up treats and then going to each horse, petting and handing over apples or carrots. Maybe he should have gone with Benedict—but he'd seen his father and Benedict argue before, and it was terrifying.

  He hoped Daimon was all right.

  What was Benedict going to do? Would he have to return home? Blast it, why did he have to be a stupid prince, anyway? If he didn't have the bloody title he'd never wanted, no one would care what he did or with whom he did it, or try to make him do things and people he didn't want.

  Damn it all, what was Rae telling Addison?

  Leaving the stable, Jewell stomped back outside. Picking a random direction, he started walking.

  Really, he was going to go crazy and Addison had better tell him everything later or he really would go mad. He kicked at a stone, scowling at everything. He wasn't going home, and he wasn't letting Addison leave him, and if they had to sail far, far away—

  Oh, there was an idea. Didn't he own two ships? No, three. He'd just purchased The Crown from Banks. They could sail away, and no one would bloody find them then. He might not be of age yet, but all his wealth was his own, not attached to the crown or his other titles, or shared with his family. He'd had enough sense long ago to ensure his money could not be tampered with by others.

  They could go anywhere, do anything. Even Uncle Bene wouldn't stop him, if coming here proved to be a mistake. And if Addison tried to leave, Jewell would kidnap him and kiss him and love him until Addison stopped worrying and fretting and—

  Uncle Bene and Rae were right, he thought with sudden misery. He really had been somewhat cruel. Addison had looked on the verge of tears upon hearing that Jewell was royalty. He hadn't meant for that to happen, nor all the awful things Addison had said, about being stupid and not good enough…

  It really made Jewell want to punch someone, mostly himself. He wanted Addison to be happy with him, but mostly he just wanted Addison to be happy, even if that quite possibly meant not with him.

  There was an idea. He could do his damnedest to see that Addison was happy, no matter how this mess ended. He could arrange for Addison to never feel compelled to call himself stupid or unworthy again. He'd have to write to his solicitor and have him arrange it all. Yes. School. Housing. A suitable allowance, provisions that would keep Addison's family from touching it.

  Excited now, eager to have something constructive to do, Jewell turned and raced back to the house, throwing the door open and bursting inside—

  Only to collide with Addison and send them both crashing to the floor in a painful, tangled heap. Jewell winced as they sorted themselves out, rubbing at his elbow while Addison gingerly touched his right leg. "Sorry," Jewell said.

  Addison only smiled. Jewell stared, unable to do anything else, awed and humbled and so very captivated. Whenever he did such things to other people, always accidentally because he simply got carried away, he got scowls and glares and pitying looks. They screamed at him, lectured him, reminded him of his place, repeated the definition of 'decorum' to him for the millionth time—
>
  But Addison simply smiled at him.

  Jewell opened his mouth to say something, then realized he might say something he shouldn't yet, and instead leaned forward and kissed him. He sank his fingers into Addison's hair and held fast. Please don't leave. Please don't get sick of me.

  "You—" Addison managed to get out, but then Jewell took his mouth again, suddenly afraid of what Addison might say, what Rae had said, what they'd discussed. Addison was so much more level-headed than he, and he'd make the right decision, and Jewell was fairly certain staying with him was the wrong decision.

  "Jewell—"

  "No," Jewell said stubbornly, and went to kiss him again, scowling when Addison clapped a hand over his mouth.

  "Stop kissing me right in the open doorway," Addison said with a laugh. "Rae will murder us."

  "Rae is it now?" Jewell demanded, wholly ignoring the fact that he called Rae by his given name as well.

  Addison smiled at him, and shook his head. "We weren't discussing anything bad, Jewell. There's no reason to be upset."

  "I'm not upset," Jewell replied. Upset wasn't nearly the same thing as scared to death.

  Laughing again, Addison stood up, pulling Jewell with him. "He said that you are very much like, if not worse than, your uncle, and therefore will never be anything but trouble—"

  Jewell stiffened and tried to pull away, all his plans for Addison momentarily forgotten because of course Addison would finally see sense—

  But then Addison threw arms around his neck, forcing Jewell to catch him up or risk them falling to the floor again.

  "He also said you're worth every bit of trouble," Addison added, "though I already knew that."

  "Oh," Jewell said, sort of just staring. He rather thought he could stare at Addison forever.

  Twenty-three years, Rae had said. That was how long Rae and Benedict had been together. What would it be like to be with one person for that long? To know someone that well? To be so accustomed to his presence, the thought of being apart for two weeks was nigh on unbearable?