Chapter 13
"Gentlemen, we stop here!"
The prince's shouted order echoed across his troops and soon three dozen men were stopping their horses and bringing their long trip to a momentary halt. They'd been travelling for a number of hours now and dusk was fast approaching, meaning they needed to find shelter to spend the night in as soon as possible.
It had been a long day of surveying refugee camps and settlements within small towns surrounding London and the prince knew his loyal men deserved a break. Naturally, that usually meant providing them with cheap entertainment and a never-ending supply of ale and good food, so when the Duke of Sheffield informed him there was a small inn a few miles away, Niles sent the man ahead so that he could warn the innkeeper of their impending arrival.
The prince and some of his trusted advisors would be sleeping at the inn, but most of his men would set up camp around the area. They would be allowed to feast and take girls if they so wished, but when night came they'd be tasked with securing the premises and standing guard.
Still, they were entitled to their well-deserved rest. So, upon arrival and after Niles had tied his new filly (he'd decided to name her Albina due to her pristine white fur and mane) to the inn's hitching post, the prince made his way inside and gave orders for the innkeeper and her people to keep the food, drink and girls coming.
He paid in advance and gave the innkeeper a little extra cash, too. Prince Niles was known to be a generous tipper. Generous, yes, but he spoke to everyone present as though he had not known cheer in many years.
As soon as both he and the innkeeper were satisfied that everything was paid for, he immediately left to head straight to the room he had been given for the night – the best and most expensive they had. It was nothing like the comfort and luxury of the palace, but Niles didn't care – there could be a gaping hole in the roof that left him exposed to the elements and potentially freezing, and yet he still wouldn't have been motivated to do anything other than turn over in his bed. It didn't matter. Nothing felt like it mattered, apart from the dull ache that hadn't left his chest since he'd left his lodge...
His stewards had tried to convince him to at least eat something before he disappeared off and nobody else saw him again for the rest of the night, but he waved them away. If he'd wanted something to eat, he would have asked.
In his current...situation, sat at the desk in the room, too awake to sleep but too tired to attempt doing anything else, he felt as though he might never wish to eat again.
He would have yelled that out when there was a knock at the door. The prince rolled his eyes, suspecting that a concerned steward might have attempted to bring him supper anyway.
He was about to bark at them to go back to whatever it was they'd been doing before they'd decided to bother him, but the person behind it came in without waiting for an answer.
Only it wasn't a steward, like he'd imagined. It was one of the inn's girls, looking no older than maybe fifteen or sixteen. She had long, black hair that fell loose about her shoulders and a corset so small and tight, her rather large bust was practically falling out.
Niles supposed that must've been the whole point, but he ignored every aspect and rose from his desk. The girl was intruding on his private space, and he wanted to know why.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked abruptly. "Did I tell you to come in?"
This put the girl on the back foot. She hadn't been expecting this when she'd been told by her madam and the visiting stewards that the prince required company – he was famous up and down the land for taking girls; why would he act like he wasn't expecting another one? Surely he should've been happy that one was being provided without him having to go through every girl in the inn!
She knew she was the best there. Every regular said so. And she was determined to show His Royal Highness, too. So, she tried to turn it into an advantage, by putting on a voice she knew the patrons loved – flirty, giggly, and utterly unlike their wives.
"Begging your pardon, my lord," she curtsied slowly, hoping he was looking down her bodice as she went. "But I became so...enthusiastic at the prospect of seeing you, that all thought fled my mind...!"
Niles frowned, unimpressed at her little display. He'd seen – and had – plenty of these girls. He knew she'd been sent from downstairs, and he knew why it exactly was that she'd been sent.
He began turning away, "Well, now you've seen, so there is no need for you to stay. Don't forget about shutting my door on your way out."
The girl blinked. This definitely wasn't how things were supposed to go! She'd been irresistible to every man who walked through that door so far – why was the prince, who was notorious for having women whenever he wanted, any different?!
She couldn't have been losing her looks, or her desirability already! She was still firmly shaped, curved in all the right places, and had the bedroom experience that every man wanted and dreamed of!
She tried again. Maybe if she reached out and started by massaging his shoulders...
"Maybe in a while, my lord, after I have––"
"Unhand me, girl!" the prince snapped, turning fully to glare at her. His voice turned softer, if nonetheless angry. "I do not desire your company, nor the company of any woman in this place. I wish to be left in peace. Now return from whence you came, before I make you sorry for coming at all!"
The girl didn't need to be told twice. She fled, an equal measure of stunned and terrified.
And when she made it back down to where the steward was, and had explained the prince's...ire at being disturbed, he was stunned too.
What on Earth was going on?! Prince Niles always took women when he was on journeys like this – sometimes more than one a night! And he'd just sent away the most supple-looking and beautiful girl in the place! What was the matter with her?! Did he not like her face? Were her breasts not big enough? Did she refuse to do something special for him? Surely she could be coerced into kneeling, or bending over when a man wanted her to?
Or was it something about him? Was he ill? He hadn't eaten all day...
Maybe he needed to be seen by a doctor...
However, when the notion was brought to the Duke of Sheffield, he quickly dismissed it. He already knew what was wrong with his friend and, after years of close friendship, he knew when it was best to let him blow off some steam on his own, and when to go to his aid.
This time, Maxwell knew, was the latter.
So, after ushering the stewards and the young wench that had been sent to please the future king away, he made his way upstairs, whistling under his breath.
He didn't bother knocking before showing himself in. Some royals might have considered this liberty to be a slight, but Maxwell knew his friend didn't mind. And speaking of the prince, the young man was now slumped against the back of his bed, arms crossed over his chest and a sour expression on his face.
The sight bordered on comical to the Duke, but he valued his life too much to allow his amusement at His Royal Highness' version of an adult tantrum.
Not that he couldn't look amused (and perhaps a little bit smug) over the cause. It was obvious to anyone who had eyes why he was upset – all they had to do was take a look around and see who was missing from the setting the prince currently found himself in.
Maxwell had seen the prince and Lady Babcock, back when they'd been staying at the prince's lodge. He'd been on the small council involved in rebuilding, but he'd caught glimpses of the two during the scarce breaks that they'd had. Niles had looked at the lady-turned-maid like she was the dry land after endless stormy seas, the wondrous, flowing riches bestowed upon a penniless beggar, or the words on the page of a gripping adventure novel...
It was a stark contrast, having pictured the prince's face from then and seeing it now.
Maxwell smiled brightly at him as he came to stand, hands tucked neatly behind his back, next to Niles' bed.
"So, you're missing her already."
He didn't have to phrase it as a question. He just knew it was true.
Niles' head snapped a little in his direction, but to save face, he was probably holding it back. That didn't stop the look of annoyance in his eyes, though.
"Missing who?"
The question was lame – as though he didn't have the faintest clue who his friend could be talking about! But he was sticking by it, and hoping that Maxwell would just drop the subject.
No such luck, as the duke began to pace, folding his arms and never once ceasing to look anything other than a man who knew too much and was determined to declare himself superior for it.
"You know perfectly well who I mean," he replied. "I am referring to Lady Babcock, of course."
The prince stiffened at the name, before turning away and trying to look natural, "I don't miss her."
Maxwell scoffed, loudly and openly.
"If you don't mind my saying so, come off it, Your Royal Highness! I haven't seen anybody pining for something so hard since my prized hunting dog last birthed a litter of puppies!"
Niles turned towards him sharply, "I am not pining, like a dog or otherwise!"
The duke leaned in a little bit towards him, arms still folded, "You haven't eaten all day, and you've been miserable the whole time! You're either pining because you're missing Lady Babcock or you're dying and you haven't figured out how to tell anybody yet! Now, which is it...?!"
He figured he'd wait for an answer all night if he had to, but luckily fate was smiling down on him. It only took a few, long, uncomfortable moments of silence before the prince opened his mouth again.
"Alright, fine!" he admitted. Even in the low light, it looked like he was turning red. "I miss Lady Babcock."
Maxwell burst into a grin. He knew that he'd been right! He loved it when he was, too – it meant that he had been the one to solve a problem. The intelligent one, who could put the world to rights again, no matter what was needed.
But before he could perform any kind of self-congratulatory dance for getting his friend to confess, the prince continued.
"I just...I just don't know what to do about it! She is in my thoughts constantly, especially after we...we kissed, and fell asleep together, back at my lodge..."
He seemed to be expecting judgement for that statement, because he trailed off briefly. When Maxwell, intrigued at this point, merely nodded, he continued.
"I cannot get her out of my mind! I care for her more than any woman I have ever met in my life, but I have no idea what any of it actually means! I wanted to find out, but then my father called me on this trip, making me leave, which just made her upset – I don't want her to be upset! I'm already terrified of not being enough, when all I want is to do right by her..."
He trailed off, sighing and letting his head fall into his hand.
Maxwell had to hold back another grin in return. He knew what was going on here – he'd experienced it himself, and he was certain then that he knew what would help his friend.
Of course, the first step in the process was naming the issue aloud.
"So, what you're telling me is that you're in love with Lady Babcock?"
Niles' hand shot up his face and raked through his hair, seemingly in a shock-provoked bodily reaction. He stared, wide-eyed, at the duke, before shaking his head.
"No. No, I'm not..."
To Maxwell, it seemed almost cruel to want to laugh at this stage, so he just about held it back in. His friend needed educating first. He'd save the banter for later – a lot later, when there was plenty of food and wine, and maybe the prince had learned how to sort his feelings out.
He was going to help him.
"Why the adamant denial?! You just told me you don't know how you feel! And you spend all your time with Lady Babcock; you care about her wellbeing and feelings, when neither have ever interested you in anyone, let alone women you find desirable; you smile like an idiot any time you see her – don't interrupt, I'm not finished yet – and you say you kissed her, falling asleep together after?"
The prince nodded, "Yes..."
"Did you take her in that bed?"
Niles looked as though Maxwell had just accused him of killing his own mother.
"No, of course not!"
Maxwell pointed a finger at his friend, "That's because it's love you're feeling!"
Niles felt like he'd been blasted backwards by cannon fire. It gave him the same ringing in his ears and blurry dizziness in his mind. He couldn't think straight, or talk, or do anything to help himself...
He wasn't in love with Lady Babcock, was he? It wasn't romantic to want what was best for someone, nor was the need to spend time with a person born out of desire! It couldn't be right! He'd done the good and righteous thing, by not taking her! She was a lady, not some common bit off the street that anybody and everybody had had!
She was warm, kind, intelligent, witty, and sophisticated on every level – she deserved to be kept honest. He was even planning on finding her a husband! Once he'd stopped feeling so depressed about the whole issue, of course.
There had to be a good man out there for her; one who was handsome and strong and loving, who would never break her heart or treat her poorly, and who could keep her in the life that she deserved to have. One where she was kept in luxury and comfort, and was held firmly and lovingly at night...
Something stirred unpleasantly in his stomach. He had to let the thought go; it was burning him up inside even suggesting the notion. The idea of her being with another man just...it just angered him, so much...! He couldn't get past it, whenever he imagined her finally finding the man who was right for her. Who was best for her.
But it wasn't because she would have chosen to go with someone...he...he felt like it was because she had chosen not to stay with him. She would have picked the best man for her...and she knew that it wasn't him...
He would have finally been proven to not be enough for her, in any way...
But...why would he want to be enough for her in the first place? Why was he so upset about her not choosing him, over any other man? Especially if there was one out there who cared for her more than anyone in the entire world, and could give her exactly the life she deserved, nothing less?
Why did it matter what he felt so much, if it meant that she was happy? He'd be doing the right thing in letting her go to the best man possible. Even if it made him miserable, he knew that she had to be with the person who was best for her.
It would make him happy eventually, seeing her with a good man who loved her, too.
Wait, what?
He'd just said "loved her, too". Why had he added the "too"? What was that for?
Why had he thought that?! It wasn't true – it couldn't have been! He just wanted to support Lady Babcock in every aspect, that was all. He wanted to provide for her, protect her when she needed it (although that was hardly ever, the fiery spirit that she was!), spend as much time making her happy as he possibly could...
And why would he not want to do that? It was what friends did for each other. And that was what Lady Babcock was to him: a friend. Some part of his mind tried to ask what kind of friends kissed, but he dismissed it. That had to have been a simple mistake that anybody could make!
She was just a friend. A friend he wanted to see smile all the time, and to hear laugh. She was a truly wonderful friend, too; one he wanted to spend more time with than anybody else, even into the latest hours of the night...maybe kiss again...
That was when he realised he'd fallen completely into day dreaming, and his mind skidded to a halt.
Oh dear God. It was true, wasn't it?
He…he was in love with Lady Babcock!
The realisation hit him like a cannonball would hit a soldier, sending him flying back into the dirt. Or, in his case, his headboard, as he fell back against it, winded even though he hadn't been physically hit.
Lady Babcock. He was in love with Lady Babcock! She had been on his mind all the time that he'd been away because he didn't truly want to be apart from her! He got angry at the thought of her being with another man because he wanted to be the man for her!
But what was he going to do about it?! He didn't even know where to begin!
He'd never felt this way about anybody before. He'd had plenty of physical experience with women, but he hadn't loved any of them! They were simply...it seemed callous of him now, but they were simply a means to an end.
He didn't know what it took to be in love with a person, to do it right, or even if Lady Babcock felt the same way! What would he do if she didn't?
Come to think of it, what would he do if she did? He had no real frame of reference to go by, but he needed to come up with a plan of action. And he had to do it fast!
All the while this was running through the prince's mind, Maxwell grinned at the expression on his face.
"Has it started to hit home yet?"
"Hm?" the question brought Niles out of his thoughts and his eyes turned to his friend.
Maxwell tried again, "Has the realisation dawned on you?"
Had it not been a true assumption, Niles might've been annoyed by it. But it was true, and he was thinking too deeply to suddenly let it go and snap at the duke.
"You could say that," he replied instead, feeling a sense of urgency creeping in underneath his skin. "But...what do I do about it? How do I even begin to tell her...?!"
A second thought seemed to go through the prince's mind, for the alarm in his now wide-open eyes had grown tenfold.
"What if she doesn't feel that way?! About me, I mean? How…what…well, what am I supposed to do there?" said the prince, wringing his hands in apprehension.
He wouldn't blame Lady Babcock for not wanting to associate with the likes of him – his track record was all the proof she needed to stay far away from him – but he would be lying if he said that her rejection wouldn't sting. He knew how to seduce women, how to entice them so that they would open their legs for him (although that wasn't exactly a hard task, considering his status and fortune), but when it came to wooing women, he was…well…shamefully clueless.
Maxwell came to sit by the despairing prince and stuck a hand out to pat his back.
"There is no correct or easy way to face rejection, sir," explained Maxwell. "You must face this like a man. If you want her, then chase after her. The odds are all in your favour – the one thing you need, is courage to act on your feelings."
"I have the courage," Niles protested – he wasn't shying away from the challenge! "I just…don't know how to go about this. I…I've never felt this way before."
It was actually starting to make him feel rather small, not knowing what to do. And, for the first time in his life, he was envious of all the men out there who had found their loves, wooed them successfully, and were now living happy lives together.
As a prince, he'd never imagined that he'd wish to be in the shoes of anybody else. In fact, he'd used to laugh at men like that for tying themselves to one woman instead of treating it like a game in which women were the points. They all had – him, his father, the other lords...
Most of them, anyway. The few who hadn't – the ones who had happy marriages to good women – stayed out of it.
And one of those lords was actually stood right in front of him...
He sat upright, the realisation striking like a bolt of lightning, before shuffling along the bed towards the duke.
"You can teach me!" he cried out. "You courted a maid, and now look at you! You're married to her now, and unlike many of our friends at court, you actually like your wife!
"I love my wife; there is a difference," Maxwell replied.
He wasn't sure how he felt about helping Niles with this, though. Of course he wanted his friend to be happy and to know what he was doing, but it was still a responsibility to have to teach a grown man how to go about pursuing his love...
It should have been up to King Joseph to teach him, when he was just starting to become a man. But Maxwell also knew, just from knowing how the king behaved with...well, any woman he came across, that that was never going to happen.
So, he supposed it was up to him. He'd take it on and help his friend.
His clearly desperate friend.
"Yes, yes, I understand," Niles said quickly, hands clasped like they were begging. "But can you help me? I don't even know where to start!"
Maxwell hummed – being the one doing the wooing was one thing, but trying to teach somebody else what the first step to successfully court a lady was another thing entirely. He'd never really thought about what the best way to start courting a woman was. He'd simply gone and…well… done it. He hadn't given it much thought.
Wooing and marrying Fran had probably been the two best things he'd ever done in his life (excluding his children, of course). He remembered she'd been hired as a governess for his young children, whose mother had recently succumbed to Scarlet Fever only months after having given birth to their youngest, Lady Grace Sheffield. Lady Fine's own father had also succumbed to disease, and so the young woman had been forced to find employment to sustain herself.
He'd had his doubts about her in the beginning, but she'd proved herself to be a wonderful (albeit somewhat unconventional) caretaker. She'd soon become more than just a nanny – the children had found in her a much needed motherly figure, and Maxwell himself had been brought back to life after being in mourning for so long.
It had taken him a while to come around, but once he'd made up his mind about what he felt for Fran and what he wanted with her, things had moved at an outstanding pace. Barely two years after arriving at their home, the governess had become the lady of the house and she was currently expecting their first child together. Maxwell couldn't help smiling then – he simply adored his wife, and he couldn't wait to be a father again.
"Well," the duke carefully began, "considering you two have already spent more than enough time together, I would suggest you make your intentions clear to her. If she rebuffs your advances, then you will know it's a lost cause. If she doesn't, then you have a chance to win her over. Gifts usually help there…"
Gifts, Niles thought to himself, the word lighting up in his head like the first rays of the morning sun. Of course! He didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before! Everybody liked getting gifts; they were an excellent way to show a person how one felt!
It had to be perfect, though. Something grand and original (if other suitors were to come along, he wanted to stand a chance), but heartfelt. Not too extravagant, lest she thought he was becoming his arrogant former self again, but still big. He had a lot of feelings to get out, after all...
He must have been silent on the matter too long, because Maxwell chimed in, trying to offer suggestions.
"Perhaps you could start by gifting her––"
"The Duchy of Sussex!" Niles blurted out, his heart bursting with happiness at his own thought. "She'll love it; that's the perfect gift!"
Maxwell cringed internally, his previously gentle smile contorting into a confused and slightly concerned frown.
His friend really had never done this before.
It was fortunate that he'd recognised the prince needed talking to – it must've been a sign from the good Lord Almighty, that he had been chosen to help this poor man out of his well-intentioned but ultimately hapless endeavour.
He was going to break the news to him delicately, though.
"Be that as it may, sir, it might be a tad too much for a first gift," he said, praying that his friend wouldn't feel insulted by his words. "Perhaps you might...start with something a little…smaller?"
"Smaller?" asked the Prince, a puzzled look on his face, "What do you mean when you say smaller?"
"Sir, forgive me for my impertinence, but what do you mean when you say smaller?"
Niles was silent for a few seconds, almost as if he were racking his brain for what he considered was a more adequate first gift for the woman he intended to woo. Maxwell suspected that any answer he ended up giving would be miles away from what (normal) people classified as a small gift, but he wanted to give the prince a chance. Not to mention size up the situation – see how hard he'd have to work to shape the prince into a skilled wooer.
"Well…" the Prince spoke softly, eyebrows knitted in a thoughtful frown, "If I should give the Lady Babcock something smaller, I could start by gifting her a home of her own – a manor for her to live in and a monthly stipend for her to sustain herself. I initially considered giving her each and every stately home in Wales, but I gather you'd consider that a bit of an exaggeration, correct?"
Maxwell nearly choked on a bubble of air stuck in the back of his throat.
"You could say that," he tried hard not to wheeze, and kept his lips pursed so that he wouldn't let out anything that could sound either like laughter or sobs.
His friend was clearly a desperate case. An emergency, even. He'd never heard of a man going to such extreme lengths without even declaring his intentions first! It was simply too much, and it would probably make Lady Babcock feel uncomfortable.
He had to help the poor man, before he went too far, far too soon!
And Niles looked desperate enough that any thought before about why it had to be him helping fled his mind. This was his job - his responsibility, as Prince Niles' friend. And he had obviously been right about it being God-given; the signs were all there and they were practically crying out for him to lend a hand.
"But... one stately home isn't an extravagance, is it?" the prince didn't sound sure of himself. "That's what you meant by smaller, isn't it? Giving her a home of her own is a good idea?"
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself, and Maxwell hated to let him down, but it had to be done.
"It...might be best to start off with something...even smaller, my lord..."
Niles looked taken aback, "Smaller than a single home?! Will she even know what I'm trying to do, by the time I've found a gift that meets your size requirements?!"
"Of course she will!" Maxwell protested, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. "Women pay attention to both grand and small gestures, but more often than not, it's the small ones that matter the most."
Niles blinked, not fully understanding. Every woman he'd ever had before, if he was ever going to give her a trinket as payment or thanks, would want the biggest, brightest and best available. Of course, he'd always put a limit on what constituted the "biggest, brightest and best", but he didn't want to do that for Lady Babcock...not for C.C..
How else would she feel special, compared to the whores and common women that he'd so easily tossed away? Surely if the gift he gave her was no bigger than any of theirs, she might feel as though she simply filed away into the ranks?
What he felt for her was...so much bigger than anything he had ever felt before. If she didn't take Sussex as a gift, he might have to use the entire county simply to store the feeling, to the greatest depth and breadth and height that it could reach.
That was why he was certain that a house of her own, and a stipend for money, would have been perfect. No more working in the palace, back to a respectable title, her own space and food and servants to wait on her...
She'd be invited back to the palace with open arms, and he could court her as formerly and properly as she deserved. But Maxwell didn't appear to think much of his idea – he was trying to explain about the benefits of smaller gestures, still.
"It shows that you care. A large, expensive gesture only happens occasionally with most, and they are definite times in which a man will tell a woman how he feels. Small gestures, worth less in gold but meaning the same in thought, often mean more because you are telling her how you feel more often!"
Niles felt like he understood the maths behind that statement, but he didn't like Maxwell's attempts at stopping him from buying C.C. absolutely everything that she wanted (and possibly some things that she didn't).
She deserved far better than what she was getting and he was going to help her get it.
"Fine," he eventually conceded, to the steward's deflated form – he must have been relieved to hear that he wasn't planning on buying too much. "If you think a smaller gift is more the norm, then smaller it shall be."
Maxwell looked relieved, "Excellent."
And then Niles continued, "Whatever it ends up being, she will be able to admire it from the new estate that I will give to her."
Maxwell's face contorted into a pained grimace. It looked like his friend was set on doing things his way. The fact he had accepted that smaller gifts were the way to go was a step forward, but that was as much progress the prince seemed to be making in the love department for the time being.
Heaving a sigh, Maxwell decided it was a losing battle. He had to let him be and pray to the Lord Almighty that the whole thing didn't backfire in his face. The Prince had never been in love – the last thing they needed was for him to be disappointed and revert to his old ways! The most he could hope for was to gently coach him on how to perform smaller gestures.
"Very well, sir, have you decided which of your many stately homes will be Lady Babcock's new abode?"
Maxwell could physically feel himself bracing for some outrageous answer.
"I haven't really given it much thought…" the Prince started after making a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat. "But I suppose there is only one obvious answer to your question…"
Oh boy, here it came – he was going to say something stupid, like that he was going to gift her Windso–
"My beloved Hunting Lodge, of course," said the prince. "The Lady Babcock thoroughly enjoyed her time there, so it only makes sense she is housed there indefinitely."
Maxwell could have sworn that he nearly fell from where he was sat, at that moment. Niles adored his lodge – it was obvious to anybody who saw, and it was just as obvious that he'd never even dreamed of giving it away before now! It was his home in a way that the palace wasn't; it was his private space, where he could be himself and not have to worry about the burdens of his station. He relaxed there, and just let the world pass him by, not worrying for a small part of his everyday existence.
How could he even consider giving up the one place he clearly felt truly free? He'd never even brought a woman there, not a single whore, or commoner, or even a noble girl, before he'd taken Lady Babcock...
That was when it struck him – just as he'd been about to protest on behalf of the prince's love for his personal belongings. That was why he was giving the place to Lady Babcock. Because she was the only one who made him feel as safe as the lodge did. She was the only one who had enjoyed it with him, and maybe...maybe made it feel like some sort of a home.
If that was how he felt, even if he was unaware of the true extent, then giving her the lodge would pour it all out like a tidal wave...!
It wasn't as bad as any of the places he'd been expecting to hear come from the prince's overeager lips. And it didn't involve kicking out any nobles or lesser members of the royal family in order to make it happen...
Granted, it was still more than slightly odd, given that the prince had never spoken a word about letting it go before, and the change would be sure to turn heads and cause complications (what would Queen Marie say, when her beloved lady-in-waiting was suddenly living elsewhere?), but it...it didn't feel as bad as it had done. And definitely not as it would have done if the prince had said somewhere else.
There would certainly be less chaos with this than he had been bracing for, even if part of him still felt a little uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Then again, he'd only have felt completely within his element if Niles had simply agreed that a stately home as a first gift was a ridiculous notion, and had agreed to buy the Lady Babcock a nice necklace instead.
But he didn't get that, and the prince didn't understand why he thought he should do it in the first place, so he supposed be just ought to be grateful that Sussex didn't have a new duchess already.
So, this alternative was more than acceptable.
The nobleman nodded, "It's a...rather fine choice, sir. I'm sure she'll love it."
Niles started to smile. He really did hope that C.C. loved the lodge – it was a place of...many memories for them. Their first kiss being just one of those times, of course. She could spend time relaxing in the calm and peaceful quiet, reminiscing and living the life she deserved...
Of course, as long as she took the gift. If she refused it, Niles wasn't sure what he'd do...
His stomach was turning over, just thinking about it...
He wanted her to be happy and safe there, like she'd been during those few heavenly weeks they'd spent together. Maybe…maybe that was just what he was also craving – quiet days in her company and warm nights in her arms. It was what he knew Maxwell had with his own beloved wife; he'd seen them around, holding hands and sharing warm, happy smiles full of unspoken secrets. Secrets only known by them and cherished more than words could say.
Niles could see himself being like that with Lady Babcock. He could see them walking around, hand in hand, twin bands glinting on their fingers. He could picture them lying together at night, happy and content in each other's arms. He could see them waiting sweetly for a child to come out of her swollen belly. He could see them ruling the kingdom side by side as they grew old together.
He didn't just want to court her.
He wanted her. All of her.
He wanted a life together.
It appeared, he realised, he wanted to make her his wife.
"Of course she will," Niles said with a new sense of purpose swelling in his chest, "And I will get her a nice engagement ring to go with it – it's only fair, if she is to be my wife."
Even saying it aloud made the excitement and feeling of complete wonder swell deep in his very soul. It certainly encouraged his thoughts, even if he suspected that...some other people...might not be best pleased, and would actively try to discourage it.
His father was right at the top of the list of people, when he thought about that. But he didn't care. He knew what he wanted, and that was a life in which he got to be married to Lady Chastity-Claire Babcock, no matter what anybody else said or thought.
And it wasn't as though he was going to tell his father, anyway. The first person who would know, besides his own beloved herself (she'd make the most beautiful bride, at the most beautiful wedding!), would be his mother.
She loved C.C.. She'd be happy for them – he could feel it.
Maxwell, on the other hand, was busy trying to pick up his jaw from the floor.
This had all moved along so suddenly! The prince hadn't mentioned anything about love, or giving away lodges, or marriage only yesterday, and today he was ready for all three?!
There was only one reason he could possibly have jumped to that thought, and it was something Maxwell had once never thought possible from his friend. He had found a winner, with Lady Babcock. The real thing, by way of true love. It could only have made no sense in his mind to waste time when they could be happily married and enjoying being together, so he wanted to hurry everything along...
The nobleman didn't know whether to be overwhelmed with happiness for his friend, or simply let the shock take him and fall unconscious. Granted, it was all a lot, and there was a chance that for the woman, it would be far too soon, but still...he had seen the way they'd been together. The looks that were there, and the way they spoke...
The odds did feel like they could be in his favour. He clearly adored her, to want to give her so much...
But he still felt compelled to ask, lest his friend ended up acting on impulse and ruined what could be the best relationship of his life.
"Marry her, sir?! Aren't you…well…rushing into things? Just mere hours ago you weren't even aware that you are in love, and yet now you are ready for marriage?! Didn't you wish to court her first?" Maxwell said.
"You make good points, Your Grace," said the prince. "But, in hindsight, I feel I can no longer delay this. Lady Babcock and I have spent more than enough time together – more so than most betrothed couples do before the wedding – and we have proven to be compatible in every way. We have kissed and gone to bed together, both out of her own volition. If she didn't like me, she wouldn't have spent all that time with me. Or kissed me. Or slept in the same bed as myself. Quite frankly, why wait any longer?"
Maxwell fell silent for a second. The prince did have a point when he'd said he and Lady Babcock had spent more than enough time together. Perhaps, given the circumstances, neither had realised their actions could be classified as courtship. The fact they'd kissed and slept in the same bed only seemed to support what the prince was saying…
Well, in that case, the duke supposed there was nothing else to be said or done other than to support him, even if the recent developments could be considered somewhat rushed. Still, he had one last question to pose to his friend, even if asking it could present a danger to him.
"Fair enough, sir, if that is your choice I shall support this new endeavour," Maxwell eventually replied, bowing his head to his master. "However, might I be allowed to ask but one question? Even if it might sound insolent?"
Niles gestured affirmatively with his hand. The prince doubted he'd take offence at anything the duke could say, even if it was insolent. Their friendship spanned years, there was (almost) nothing he could say that would break their bond of brotherhood. More often than not, Maxwell was the voice of reason that he sometimes lacked due to his own impulsive nature. He valued his advice and would always hear what he had to say.
"If you reply affirmatively, I shall never mention this again and wholeheartedly support this hopefully happy union, come what may," Maxwell began, staring into Niles' eyes. "But should that not be the case, I beg you, my lord, reconsider."
"Speak, man," Niles said, frowning. "Whatever it is, just say it."
Taking a deep breath (Niles suspected that was Maxwell's attempt at building up his courage), the Duke began.
"Are you sure you are marrying her because you truly love her, or is this the result of not having had her already? An unconscious attempt at getting your latest whim?"
Niles had to admit, it took a great deal of courage for Maxwell to say what he'd said. Unfortunately, for the rage building inside him at the insult, intended or not, it was also one of the most stupid.
Perhaps the most stupid, actually. What kind of a manipulative, deceitful cad did the duke take him for?! Did he really and truly believe that he was going to marry C.C. purely for the purpose of having her?! What kind of a rake did something like that?! Only the worst ones, which he'd never assumed that Maxwell took him for.
He puffed out his chest even more, trying to intimidate with his size. He was prepared to stand up and come to blows, if that was what it took. To defend what honour he had, in regards to his beloved, he'd do anything.
"If you think my intentions are anything less than honourable, then I suggest you object at the wedding!" he snarled. "I happen to love C.C. with all my heart, and even if she were spread naked before me, willing me on to do as I pleased, I would not even think of such a thing until we were married! I will not sully her honour and good name, all for my own selfish reasons! She means more to me than life itself, and I am not going to show such blatant disrespect by treating her like some common wench off the street! Is that clear?!"
Maxwell actually felt winded and rather small after that verbal blast. But, yes...it was all very clear...
His friend hadn't panicked at his question, become guilty looking or even smirked in a way that said he'd been caught but no one could do a thing about it. He'd just become angry and insulted, because the thought had never once crossed his mind. He simply loved Lady Babcock, and he intended to do right by her.
That was all the duke needed to know to help his friend. If they were still friends, after the shouting that had just gone on...
He chanced the idea that they were, by nodding and starting to smile.
"Excellent. Well, that's...all I needed to know, really..."
That was when Niles saw the look of determination and happiness on Maxwell's face, shining right through his eyes. He knew then that it had been a test – a test of his intentions and his truthfulness in the matter.
It was still insulting, in some respects, but he knew the duke had only done it for the right reasons. Just a year ago, it would have been a very different outcome, and Niles knew that Maxwell wanted to be sure. He was a better friend than most, even when it meant being on the receiving end of someone else's anger.
He mirrored his friend's own smile, and nodded as well.
That was when Maxwell knew it was safe to get up, and to leave the conversation where it was. They had a lot to do in the coming days, he was sure to remind the prince as he walked to the door, intending to leave him to rest.
"So don't stay up all night thinking about Lady Babcock! We still need you fresh in the morning…" he teased smugly, just before closing the door and avoiding a cushion that had then smacked into the wood just seconds later.
Niles didn't care enough to go get it. He was happy to simply lie down. Maxwell was right – they had a lot to do in the morning, surveying more damage and meeting with more survivors...
And, if he came across the perfect jeweller's, he'd be shopping for engagement rings, too.