Page 13 of Six Types of Apology

“Tonight.” Orion registered his brother-in-law’s unasked question. “You saw the same thing I did tonight. I cannot live with the shame of appearing at breakfast tomorrow with half the castle knowing my husband broke his wedding vows in the first week.”

“You don’t know that he’s actually going to be unfaithful,” Jaxon said slowly. “I admit his behavior tonight looks bad…”

“He was unfaithful to me at the receiving line,” Orion said bluntly. “He allowed a kiss, two kisses if you want to be specific about it, from a person he is not married to but who he has clearly been intimate with. The same person who claimed a dance from him the moment your parents retired for the night. A first dance that should’ve been mine as protocol dictates.”

“Lady Violet can be very forward at times,” Jaxon said, but Orion knew that argument was weak.

“A woman’s forward actions does not excuse Vincent’s behavior. He was looking so far down that woman’s chest, he almost fell into her cleavage. He humiliated me, Jaxon, again. I won’t stay and allow him to continue to do that. I have more pride, and right now, I have more important matters to attend to than trying to straighten out a husband who can’t see anything wrong with the way he behaves as a married man.”

“I’m sorry.” Jaxon stood up. “Vincent and I have been friends a long time, but I totally agree with your assessment of the situation. I’ll get your horses organized now. Safe travels and remember to send word to your sister when you can. She worries about you and Onyx both.”

“You do an incredible job of keeping Olivia happy, something both Onyx and I are grateful for. It’s a shame Vincent didn’t learn anything useful from you about married behavior.”

“I believe Vincent will hear about that over breakfast.” Jaxon grinned. “Some of the things I love about your sister is her vibrant personality and her ability to speak up for those she cares about.”

I would pay to hear what she has to say about my husband,Orion thought as he left the room. But the time for mooning over his husband was over. He had people who were counting on him, and he wasn’t about to let them down. In time, he hoped, his wedding to Vincent would be nothing more than an annoying blip in his memory, because as far as he was concerned their marriage was over.

Chapter Thirteen

It took Vincent close to three hours to realize that his husband might not be happy with him. It had been a fun few hours, for Vincent at least. As soon as dinner was finished, the king and queen left, and that was the signal for people to start to mingle. He was just about to ask Orion to dance with him, because Jaxon was dancing with Olivia and he thought that was only proper, but then Lady Violet came up and asked him, and Vincent felt it would be rude to refuse.

He thought the same thing when he was asked by Lady Rose, Lord Collins, the list went on. Vincent had a reputation as a graceful dancer and there were many people who wanted to be seen in his arms. Lady Violet in particular came back for him four times, and Vincent was at the point of saying something about how that would look when she said, “Oh, thank goodness. I thought that boring man would never leave.”

“Boring man?” Vincent glanced around the dance floor, but he couldn’t see anyone leaving.

“That insipid prince you married.” Lady Violet shook out her curls. “Honestly, your highness, did the man trap you when you were drunk? You can tell me. You know we’re good friends.”

“I’m not sure I’d put it like that.” Vincent tried to see past the other dancers toward the royal table, but Lady Violet was tugging him in the opposite direction. “What is wrong with my husband?”

He found himself in an intimate corner hidden from the other guests by the band. “Lady Violet, answer my question.” There were at least six alarm bells ringing in his head.

“Really, your highness? You want to talk about him now, when I’ve finally got you alone?” Lady Violet’s lips pouted. “Fine if you must know. It is common gossip that the King of Tyrion is a lushwho spends all his time drinking and gambling. His son, Crown Prince Onyx is staid and boring and doesn’t know the first thing about having fun, and the one you married, Orion…”

“Crown Prince Consort Orion,” Vincent corrected quickly.

“Yes, well we’ve all seen what sort of a consort your husband is. Your highness, he’s absolutely no fun either. There’s talk…and I shudder to repeat it, but it has to be said, but there are rumors going around that your husband works for a living. Actually works.”

“What if he does?” That wasn’t the first time Vincent had heard the same rumor that evening, but no one could actually tell him what it was his husband was supposed to be working at. He had already realized he probably should’ve thought to ask Orion about that himself – at least that way he’d have facts to come to his husband’s defense - but in the three days they’d spent together, he’d never thought to bring that topic of conversation up.

“Your highness, surely you can understand how badly that will reflect on your reputation? Any royal family that is reduced to working to keep body and soul together…”

“You don’t know that’s what he’s doing. You don’t know anything about him at all.” Even as he said the words, Vincent realized he didn’t either.All we’ve talked about so far is me.“Please excuse me, I have to…”

“Don’t go.” Lady Violet gripped his arm. “It’s all over the castle that you two have separate rooms. Your husband is not going to notice if you’re back late tonight. I have a carriage, and there’re no prying eyes at my townhouse…” Her look was sly. “As you well know. You’ve been there before.”

“Yes. Yes, I have.” Vincent shrugged off Lady Violet’s hand. “But I won’t be engaging in those types of behaviors with anyone but my husband again. You said we were friends, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Of course, we are. You and I have shared many intimacies in the past.”

“I’m not talking about intimacies,” Vincent said firmly. “I’m talking about the concepts of friendship. Where two people can enjoy each other’s company, with their clothes on, converse, support each other’s decisions, and be supportive of each other during major life events. That kind of friendship.”

“Your highness, I would like to assume I am one of your greatest friends in that regard, then. It’s because of that friendship that I believe I can tell you frankly that your marrying Crown Prince Consort Orion was a huge mistake. As your friend, it is surely my right to ask you, were you sober when you signed the papers?”

“I drafted the papers myself, and yes, I was perfectly sober when I did it. The marriage contract was my idea.”

Lady Violet’s eyes widened to what must’ve surely been the point of pain. “My goodness, your highness. Why would you do such a thing? There are so many more interesting people you already know who would have made an admirable consort to someone in your position. The crown prince consort is so different. Did you see that waistcoat he was wearing tonight instead of a robe? He doesn’t even know how to dress properly for a royal function.”

That statement hurt, and as his anger at a previous companion grew, Vincent reminded himself he couldn’t afford to be banished from two courts in the space of a week. His mother would not be impressed. “I purchased that waistcoat for my husband as part of my betrothal gifts for him. I believed the colors would suit him, and he wore it this evening as his way of showing his appreciation for that gift. You could say he woreit to showcase his differences. I married my husband because of those differences - because he could hold an intelligent conversation to the point of challenging me intellectually – a trait I wanted in my life partner. He is amusing, he holds himself to a high moral standard...”

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