The Seduction (Unexpected Circumstances 2)

“Yes, because until then, you and your wife will be isolated.”

“What are you saying?” Branford’s tone was incredulous.

“You are going to fix this. You are going to behave like a man and not a spoiled child. You are going to teach your wife about our customs, how we live, what is expected of her, and you are going to teach her about you. You will also learn about her and honor her thoughts and her beliefs.”

I chanced a look from under my arm. Branford remained on his knees before the queen as she continued to speak.

“In my homeland, there was a custom for newly married couples. For three days and nights after the wedding, they were not to leave each other’s company. They would spend that time learning of one another and understanding the person with whom they would spend their lives. We called it the honeymoon, and you and Alexandra are on your honeymoon as of this moment. You are not to leave her side—not even for a minute. You will tell her about yourself, including why you reacted this way tonight. You will explain it to her, Branford. All of it.”

“I don’t want to talk about—”

“I am not interested in your wants, Sir Branford. You created this situation, and you have made a mess of it. Now you are going to resolve it.”

“Resolve it?” Branford took a deep breath, his voice moderately calmer. “I have a tournament to prepare for. I can’t spend three days—”

“I didn’t choose the time of your wedding, Branford,” the queen told him. “You did that yourself, and now you can live with your choices. How do you expect to be able to protect an entire people as king when you cannot protect your wife? When were you going to get around to that? Were you waiting for the timing to be convenient for your schedule?”

“Protect her from what?” Branford cried out. “She’s the one who—”

“If you had looked around the room for a moment,” Queen Sunniva said over her adopted son’s voice, “you would have seen those wretched sisters cackling to each other as soon as you reached the door!”

There was a moment of silence before Branford spoke, his voice now hushed.

“Kimberly and Nelle?”

“Yes. Am I finally getting through that thick skull of yours?”

“What did they do?”

“If you are so good at conspiracies, you figure it out! One look at them told me exactly what happened this evening. Maybe those two whores of yours are trying to find a way to regain your attention. I don’t care what their reasoning is. You can determine their involvement after you take care of your first priority—the girl you’ve got cowering in the corner! She thinks she is going to be beaten or even lose her life at her husband’s hand because those conniving little trollops strong-armed her into wearing that dress.”

She knew. I didn’t understand how she could, but she knew what they had done to me.

“You think they did this deliberately? You think they did this to humiliate her? They would not do that to my…”

He paused, gasped, and for a moment, I could hear nothing but his breathing.

“Yes, Branford. To your wife. Who else thought she had a chance at such a position?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Branford’s voice had become hollow and almost emotionless.

“Who thought she had a chance at being more to you? Who may have let her jealousy get the better of her? I will no longer tolerate her actions in my kingdom, Branford. I expect you to take care of that. I have gone beyond all expectations when it comes to honoring Everleigh’s sister’s daughters.”

“But Ramona was with Alexandra all afternoon. How could they have—?”

“Why don’t you ask Alexandra to tell you? It’s a good place for you to start mending.”

“She did nothing wrong, did she?” Branford’s voice was barely a whisper.

“No, Branford,” Sunniva said. I heard the queen inhale deeply before she continued, her voice now devoid of its previous ire. “Alexandra is a kind, sweet, common girl who needs your care and your leadership. Look at what you have done to her.”

As Branford’s head swiveled in my direction, I quickly hid my face. I heard nothing but his short, clipped breaths.

“Time to make amends, my son,” Sunniva said, her voice finally softening. “Whether it was by accident or not, you chose a fine woman to be at your side, and now you have to talk to her, Branford. You have to give her the chance to know and understand you, and you have to take the time to know and understand her. Did you think marriage just happened by itself?”

“I never thought of it at all,” Branford said. His voice was now quiet and subdued.

“It’s time to start thinking, Branford. I will discuss it with you again in three days.” I heard her retreating steps and the gentle thud of the closing door as she left me alone with Branford. For many, many minutes I kept my hands over my head, waiting for his rage to return with the buffer between us now absent. The only sounds were my muffled sobs and Branford’s labored breathing.