Epilogue
“Dorian has always been such a quiet, reserved child. Not nearly as outgoing as his brothers. It makes me worry that he will end up alone his entire life, never marrying. Especially now that Hugo has done so well, ensuring that our family is taken care of. He has nothing pushing him to find a love match.”
Hugo paused in the doorway as his mother’s words washed over him. He closed his eyes and tried to gather his strength. The wedding was mere hours away, and Jessamine Baker had already adjusted her sights to his brother Dorian.
“Has he ever considered a government position? Or maybe a role as a diplomat? If he’s anything like Hugo, I’m sure he would excel at interacting with different ministers and dignitaries at society functions.
It would give him a chance to meet many interesting people and possibly meet the perfect match for him. ”
Hugo had to slap a hand across his mouth to hold in his groan. Queen Lilianna was helping to sabotage Dorian. He needed to put a stop to this. They were going to have Dorian’s marriage arranged before Hugo could say his vows.
Pasting a bright smile on his lips, Hugo strolled into the cheery yellow-and-pink parlor where Jessamine and Lilianna sat. A rosebud tea service was on the table along with two silver towers of finger sandwiches and treats.
“Good afternoon, Your Majesty, Mother. Forgive me for interrupting your tea,” he greeted.
“Hugo! Should you be wandering around? What if you stumble upon your fiancé? You’re not supposed to see him prior to the wedding.”
“If I were lucky enough to see him, I’d kiss him silly,” Hugo teased. He bent and brushed a kiss to his mother’s upturned cheek. As he straightened, he heard the queen clear her throat. When he looked over, he found she had also turned her cheek up toward him.
Jessamine swatted his arm. “Kiss your royal mother, you ridiculous boy.”
“Such bad luck,” Queen Lilianna murmured.
“Loving Ev will never bring bad luck,” he whispered as he kissed the queen’s cheek.
She giggled but quickly smoothed her features as if it had never happened.
Since the announcement of his engagement to Prince Everand, Jessamine Baker had become a regular fixture at the palace.
To his utter amazement, she and the queen had become fast friends.
Which was more than a little terrifying to Hugo, but at least his mother wasn’t the type to make outrageous requests or try to use her new clout to make others miserable.
Her one and only concern was the happiness and well-being of her children.
Using some of the money he’d received from his initial rescue of Everand from the Wulia scouts, he’d purchased his mother a fashionable town house in Frostbourne so she could make trips back and forth from the palace to visit with her new friend.
“Please don’t start plotting Dorian’s marriage,” Hugo begged as he stared at his mother.
“Plotting? What a word. I’m his mother, and I love him dearly. How could you say such a thing?” Jessamine gasped.
“Not very kind of you at all, Hugo. Your mother wants the best for her children. And now she has me to help her in this endeavor,” Lilianna chimed in. “We will make sure Dorian and Augustine are well taken care of for all their days.”
Hugo swallowed another groan. He could hear Everand cackling in his mind. This was what he got for attempting to take on both mothers at the same time. He’d rather go head-to-head with King Victor again.
“Dorian is still young. Let’s focus on my marriage for a bit. Enjoy the day,” Hugo tried.
“Oh, my goodness, Hugo. You make it sound like I’m going to march Dorian down the aisle right behind you,” his mother chuckled, and the queen joined in.
The queen caught Hugo’s hand in one of hers and patted the top with the other. “I think you’re nervous about today. There’s nothing to worry about. Everything will go smoothly.”
That might be part of it. He’d been going for two days now as he met with event planners and Mr. Booth for his wedding suit, not to mention his entire trousseau for the honeymoon he and Everand were supposed to be taking to his new estate.
They were also supposed to be traveling farther east to spend some time at the seaside, but Hugo was anticipating a week away from the world in his new manor with his new husband.
Of course, there were the countless foreign officials and nobles who had been pouring into Frostbourne for all the festivities prior to the wedding. Hugo’s cheeks were still tender from the nonstop smiling he’d been doing as he’d met endless streams of people.
The queen leaned forward to gaze at Hugo’s mother. “Jessie, I’m going to leave so you can have some time with sweet Hugo. After today, you’ll have to officially share him with me.”
“That’s fine since you’ll be sharing your wonderful son with me.”
Good grief, someone save me.
Not even Everand would be insane enough to wade into this nightmare.
Queen Lilianna rose and kissed Hugo’s cheek. “Don’t worry. Everything will go perfectly,” she reassured him before gliding out of the room, humming to herself.
“Come, Hugo. Sit beside me.” His mother patted the space on the gold settee beside her.
“We don’t have time, Mother. I came to tell you that Miss Ester is searching for you. The alterations on your dress are complete, and she wants you to return to your room for a final fitting,” Hugo stated even as he dropped into the spot she’d indicated.
“We can spare two minutes.” Jessamine scooped up one of Hugo’s hands. “It’s your wedding day. This will be the last chance we have to spend a few moments alone together. After today, your life is going to be a whirlwind, and you won’t have time for your old mother.”
Hugo barely held back his eye roll. His life had been a whirlwind for a solid three months now, and yet he still had time to see his mother every day. She was the one who was buzzing from place to place and couldn’t make time for him.
“Normally, if you were my daughter, this would be where I had a talk with you about your wedding night,” she continued, oblivious to Hugo’s thoughts. “If your father hadn’t passed on, I’m sure he’d be having a talk with you.”
Panic rushed through Hugo, leaving his entire body bathed in a cold sweat. Dear gods no! He could not have a sex talk with his mother. He would die of mortification before he could marry Everand.
“Please don’t,” Hugo choked out in a stiff, urgent tone.
“Are you sure? I might not understand all that goes on between two men, but—”
“No! No! It’s okay. Unnecessary. Completely.” With each word, Hugo’s voice got higher and higher in pitch. He didn’t want to tell her that any speech she might have prepared was unnecessary because he and Everand had been going at it like rabbits in the wild every chance they got.
She stared at him, her gaze questioning. After a second, she nodded, allowing Hugo to breathe. “Very well.”
“Was there anything else? I don’t want to keep you from getting ready.”
Her smile returned, and she squeezed his hand with both of hers.
“I wanted to say how proud I am of you, and I know your father would be as well. Yes, I wanted you to marry well so that you would be well provided for and could help your brothers, but I never wanted you to marry a prince. This life…” She sighed and put her hand on his cheek.
Tears glistened in her eyes, and her smile trembled.
“This is going to be a hard life, my darling boy, but you are so strong, brave, and brilliant. No matter how hard things are, you will shine.”
Hugo closed his eyes and swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. He hadn’t expected his mother to say such wonderful things. “I will shine only because I have Everand at my side.”
“You make each other shine. That is the magic of your love.” She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his opposite cheek and then sat, wiping away her tears.
“No more of this nonsense. It’s bad luck.
I must hurry to get fitted. Please, go check on your brothers to make sure they’re staying out of mischief and getting ready. ”
He wanted to go find Everand and enjoy a few secret moments with him, but his mother had a point.
He needed to see his brothers prior to the wedding.
Not because he thought they might be up to some mischief, but simply because he wanted to hug them one last time as their brother and not the crown prince’s consort.
With an extra spring in his step, Hugo hurried out of the queen’s parlor and down the hall. The palace wasn’t as intimidating as it had once been, and he was learning his way around it so that he no longer needed guidance from a servant.
“Who let you out of your cell?” a harsh but familiar voice barked.
Hugo stopped and grinned at the sight of Captain Ryze stepping out of a room.
“Captain Ryze!” Hugo said with a laugh. He approached the Wulian officer with his hand extended.
The captain stiffened and bowed. “It’s good to see you, Your Lordship.”
Ah. Yes. That’s right. He was a duke now, about to become the prince’s consort. No more handshaking.
Hugo tucked his hand behind his back, not wanting Captain Ryze to feel awkward, though he doubted it was possible for the man. “I take it that your trip with King Victor went smoothly. Are you and he comfortably settled?”
“Yes, King Victor is pleased with the accommodations.” Captain Ryze’s lips quirked into a lopsided smile. “My family and I are also comfortably settled. I still cannot believe you sent my husband and wife an invitation.”
“How do you know it was me?”
Ryze needed only to level a hard look at Hugo before he broke.
It wasn’t like Everand was all that aware of the captain’s family.
“Yes, well…I felt sure that King Victor would bring you along on this trip, and I hated to think of you being separated for so long from them. Do you think you’ll have any free time to do some sightseeing with them? ”