he did not allow the fingers to dislodge him though he loosened them enough to give the other no need to continue. "because it will make you happy"

His other arm fell lack against his side as the hand no longer crushed him. "...It would, my lord. Very much." His eyes fluttered away from the Prince's moonlit face to the open faced night queens. "Still...please do not send me away, I do not wish to be seen as one easily frightened by their remarks, even if they do scar"

he ruffled at the remark but did not share his ire. instead he kept his voice low and even. "then i will go with you and we shall visit. there is no shame in that"

Eyes darted back to the Prince, every silvery inch filled with the glistening hope that the words would be kept true. "Will we really? You would actually go with your heathen wife to her heathen home and live in the heathen ways to please her?"

he frowned. "if it will please you i will." letting go finally he let the thin hand fall. "you will ready yourself to leave tomorrow"

The atmosphere of the night had originally struck the lad as one with a poor outcome, but as it continued to progress he found it to grow and blossom into one better than he would originally thought to occur. He was actually going to go home! Even if it was simply for a visit he would be able to see his family again, as well as the people he'd had to abandon. He felt giddy for the remainder of the night, and the sensation continued well into the morning. He left for chapel in the best of moods he'd had since he'd come to the castle

his father was not happy but he managed to get the man's permission to leave though it left him in a sour mood that lasted all through the night and had not lessened by morning. he went to chapel angry

He'd spent his time saying extra prayers to their virgin mother as praise for his good fortune, but both holy words and sacred thoughts were knocked ajar as his steaming husband slid into the pew beside him. Tilting his head to get a better look at the Prince, he could feel his prayer rocks slide in his grasp, nearly tumbling to the floor. His voice was hushed and quiet, not wanting to draw attention to either themselves, or disturb the preparation of the mass. "What is wrong, my lord?"

he did not dare look at his wife lest he spread his anger where none needed be spread. "rejoice wife, you and i and the steward shall leave in a few hours time before the sun is too high"

The intention of mass was lost on him. His attention remained on the man beside him, even if his gaze did not. However, by the time the hallelujahs ended and the final prayer was shared through the congregation his concern had transformed into a fluttering feeling of excitement. He made sure to offer his husband a smile when he went to exit the chapel

his wife's worry soon became joy and when the final words were uttered it had become a blossom of happiness that took the edge of unhappiness from his own black mood though as soon as the other was away the lightening left too and he sullenly went to prepare himself for his task

He had the pleasure of meeting the steward at the carriage while stage coach was being prepared for the trip. He seemed kind, and respectful, and upon further conversation he discovered his reason for coming along, which in turn clued him in to his husband's sour attitude. He was curious about how smoothly the ride would be

he did not like the idea of having to share his carriage with his wife and the steward. it was absolutely shameful to share with a woman and a commoner though to his credit the steward was smart enough to offer to sit in the carriage with the luggage. moodily he sat across from his wife with a petulant slouch

The Prince reminded him of a child by the way he sulked, and even though it did not bother him at first it grew weary as they rode away from the castle. Subconsciously, the boy straightened in his seat and brought his hands to rest in his lap as he looked to the other. "Would it be ill of me to ask why you are in such a sour mood? After all, you are making your wife very happy by allowing this trip."

slouching lower he found he could touch the bench of his wife's seat. shifting so that he was across from the lad he stuck either foot to the side of the other's legs trapping them where they lay. "if you must know, i am expected to take stock of the inventory of your family's grain and livestock and gold. i am to be a glorified tax collector, to think me, the prince, doing a peasant's job," he scoffed and slid his ankles together until the touched the lad's, "it is an insult to my station"

Sights dropped to watch the legs push closer to his ankles, locking them together at the base of his seat. Trailing back along the black panted legs he leveled his gaze with the Prince. "It is atrocious that you are required to do such work. Still, if your father father bestowed the task upon you then you are required to do so, no matter how degrading it may seem."

he said nothing to that for there was nothing to say but he did not leave off of his entertainment. eventually he kicked off his shoes and played with the excess fabric from the lads dress in his stocking'd feet

His attention fell to the exposed side of the carriage, watching as both gravel and dust was kicked as they traveled along, before his attention was captured by the soft tickling of his dress brushing against his leg. Sending a glancing eye down, he watched as the smoothly covered foot twisted and toyed with his dress

his attention was only diverted when after manipulating a narrow foot from it's shoe the foot hooked lightly around his own. jerking away he looked up, he could feel heat spreading across his face

He only jerked back out of reflex for the other, but he still felt equally embarrassed for his easy scare. Lifting a gentle hand to brush through the rough curls of his hair, he worked his shoe back into its slipper all while keeping his eyes averted from the other body

"....lord ainsly.." he blushed harder and could not continue. quickly he found his own shoes and shifted back into a proper position with his back straight and his legs to himself

The only positive aspect he could think to ponder was the newly found posture and change in demeanor by his lord, but tension still remained heavy in the shared air of the cabin. "...Prince Ambrose..." Tucking his legs close beneath his bench, the boy folded his hands into his lap before looking across to the reddened face

his wife's tone and face gave away nothing at all and meeting the lad's eyes once more he frowned. "your bewitchments grow wearisome wife"

He mirrored the frown, only he was sure his did not appear so cross. A curt shrug was offer in exchange for the words, and drawing up the excess of his skirt he made to move from his side. "Your petulant attitude grows wearisome, husband."

the rudeness of the other was unacceptable and he nearly shoved the lad to the floor but as a soft thigh laid alongside his own and a warmth from ainsley's leached against his arm he thought better of it and relaxed. "i should not have touched your feet. i do apologize for my lapse of courtesy"

He'd expected to be reproached for his comment, but as none came his esteem rose further. "No need to apologize. It is all right, my lord." The tension could be felt dissipating in the air, and the stiffness of the Prince left as well, leaving him relaxed beside him on their bench. He set a hand atop the man's as he offered the barest hint of a smile. "This trip will be weary enough without poor feelings"

the action felt strange and he had to bite back the reflex to look over his shoulder to see if either the driver had seen. "you may rest your head against my shoulder if you are tired wife"

He could feel muscles stiffen as the face fought to keep itself facing forward, and he was unsure of the action's origin. Carefully he slid his free, and instead took the offer without complaint or discussion

the ride was long and dusty and though he soon grew stiff and sore from the jolting he did not dare move from his place lest he disturb his wife's rest

His intentions were not to fall asleep on his husband's shoulder lest he miss something of interest. However, his body differed from his mind and he fell to rest for a majority of the trip, but soon rough jostling of rocky roads awoke him. He yawned softly as he pulled himself off of the warm person

when the other moved away he felt a coldness against his arm and neck from the lack of touching and though it eased the pain of having to support the other he instantly missed it and had to keep himself from complaining, instead he merely rolled his shoulders and turned his face slightly towards the boy, "only a short while to go i would think, maybe an hour if the roads remain favorable"

"I do recall the roads around home to be stable unless the rivers flooded. I would agree with your estimate of an hour." As his mind began to clear from sleep and he grew more aware, the boy worked to fix his slouched posture. When he regained his thoughts of travel from the bare bumps and jostles of the roads, he turned to look out the side of the carriage. "How late in the day is it?"

moving the heavy damask aside he looked up at the sky, "early evening, do you miss your family so or is it travel that is making you so curious?" letting the fabric fall he shifted back against the other. "you really ought to be sitting in your own place wife"

"Both, my Lord. I miss my family so very much, and I do not like to be caught unaware while travelling." The brush of thigh against his own as the other sat back made him uneasy, though when he went to move to the spare bench in the cabin he was halted by a hand against his knee. Resting back into his seat he could feel both of their tension begin to leave as they each relaxed back into their seat. "Did you have other plans for this trip, or solely to play the part of glorified tax collector and a husband who pleases his wife?"

lightly he shrugged away the words. "not even that. i have no intention of counting a thing. the steward will do that along with your usual man. i will only be playing the part of husband who coddles his demanding wife"

His head tilted to the side, curls swaying slightly with the bare bumps of the carriage. "What would that do to benefit you, my lord?" Carefully he shifted in his seat, crossing his legs neatly. "Being weak for one's wife could not do well for image."

raising his brow he looked over at his wife. "one would think a man's wife would be thrilled to hear she was to be spoilt not disappointed that the man would lose face for such spoiling. if you must know wife, i much rather would see you with a smile than see you petulant and angry." turning back away he gave a sniff. he did not however mention that he also looked forward to the lad's tears when they had to leave

Gently he placed his hands into his lap as his shoulders raised into a shrug. "I am not an ordinary wife. Do not misjudge what I meant though, I am thrilled for this trip. The fact that I may return home means the world to me." He watched as the other turned away before he gently knocked his shoulder against the Prince's. "You are not pleased to go to such a heathen place, are you?

he felt heat rise in his face at the sweetly spoken query, "if it were for anyone else but my father or mother i would not go and if they were the ones to command it i would not go willingly. you are correct, you are not an ordinary wife and for that you are most fortunate. you are beautiful as a woman but have pride and a soul which are traits only given to a man. i respect your valor"

He knew the words were a compliment, and the chances of he hearing something so sweet from the man were rare. Without much of an intention to, he found his own cheeks heating quickly. "I believe it is a blessing, in truth. Had I not been molded by god to look like such, and was not given my soul, I do not believe I would be present right now"