he snorted at at that, "a blessing? dear wife, whatever it is i am certain there is no blessing there. you a an abomination in the eyes of our lord and unknown in the eyes of the pope"

He could feel his ire begin to rise at the words, but managed to shove most of it down before it managed to surface. "If I were such an abomination why would you have any desire for me? Do you have standards so low that you do not care what you take to bed?" For both of their sakes the words were spoken low to avoid the driver from managing to hear their squabble

a simple shrug, "have i not said you were beautiful? have i not called you honorable? have i not spoken of my desires with both words and touch? you may be an abomination but like any golden idol you are too enchanting to be refused by these sinful hands"

The compliments meant nothing to him as he was compared to some pagan god. Setting his jaw and leveling his gaze he stared at the Prince. "Do not compare me to any pagan lords who heathen's plate with gold and take into their hearts instead of the Lord. I may not be seen in His eyes, but it does not mean I am an idol"

he could not understand the lad's outrage and started to speak against it but the eyes cast on him were the same ones from when he was slapped. he narrowed his eyes, "then you are an ugly wench and there is no good reason to fall into your cold and unfeeling arms you wretched creature!"

He gripped the fabric around his knees, knuckles turning white with the force behind the grasp. "You are nothing except a liar. You only say what others wish to hear, and even then you arise with nothing in your favor." He rose from his seat beside the Prince and was swift to take up his own bench

he growled as his wife took his bench and very nearly he thought to hit him for his insolence, instead he shifted to sit next to the lad. "i lie because you are not happy with the truth, what am i expected to say to please you wife? i call you beautiful and you are angry, i call you ugly and you are angry, i say nothing you question my motives . wife, you are difficult to please and cold most all of the time, i do not know what to do with you that will fix you"

"Maybe I do not need to be fixed, husband," He snipped quietly as he weighed his chance of switching benches without being caught. He decided it was not worth it. "I know I am beautiful, I am not ugly. I am also aware that you know this, your touches show nothing less. I expect to be told the truth without being told I am a false god"

he started to retort but the carriage stopped, signaling the end of the trip. taking the opportunity he shifted back to his spot so as not to have appear to have sat next to his wife. "you are home wife. rejoice"

The excitement caught in his chest at the words. Sliding across his seat, he reached a hand out to the curtain shielding the cabin from the dusty roads. Sliding it to the side, he could feel his exasperation towards the Prince begin melted away as the scene unfolded in front of him. In the distance he could see the shimmer of the river, and even peering out of the carriage the sensation of the breeze coming off of the water tingled across his skin. As wide a grin as he could manage spread across his eager lips as he climbed free of the stuffy cabin

the lad was quick to leave though he waited for the driver to help him out. standing free he surveyed the place and found it unappealingly small. he frowned as the boy's parents came to greet them

His mother had the same smile as he always remembered her having. It was refreshing like a candied lemon on a hot summer day, and it made him smile even wider as he hurried over as best he could, scooping her into a hug despite any informalities. He was quick to whisper into the woman's ear that he missed her so. She responded quickly, giving him a sweet kiss on the cheek before breaking the embrace as the Prince drew closer

they looked happy and it further soured his mood. with a deepening frown he walked towards them and they found their places. he offered the lightest of bows, "my lord." nervously the man returned the gesture with a deeper one, "my grace." looking to the woman he found her staring before adverting her eyes and bowing as well. he had to refrain from sneering at the pathetic display. "come wife, you have no proper servants it seems so you will show me to my rooms"

He was aware of the venom that the words could have possibly held, and it did dampen his spirits for a brief moment. Letting the smile fall to something less jovial, he offered his mother a kiss a top her head, and a quiet farewell to his father. He kindly asked for the Prince to follow him through the outer court

they were silent until he found himself in front of a plain door, he interrupted the boy before he could speak. "tonight you will come to my chambers"

Half of him wished to deny the man, yet he knew that his being back at home meant nothing to increase either his image or power. He looked up at his husband and offered the barest flicker of a smile and dip of curtsy. "Yes, my Prince."

there was a maid still in his room cleaning when he opened the door but she was doing nothing more than laying up the last of the sheeting and was easily dismissed. it was a small affair and the closets consisted of a room for dressing and a room for cleansing. he sniffed at the paltry apartment but did take pleasure that the duke would have to sleep in his wife's room for as long as he stayed

Once he was able to rid himself of the Prince's company, he fled to his own rooms. The first to come off was his wig, revealing the short hair that felt oddly long since he last saw it. Next came his dress and chemise, and any of the padding that was concealed by the fabric. He looked into the mirror hung on his wall, and the face of a month prior was the one staring back. For the first time since he'd left he felt like himself again- that is, if he forgot that his husband laid only at the end of the hall. Sighing to himself, the duke went to his closet to find something from his old clothes he felt appropriate to wear for a trip down to the river's edge

he felt tired and unclean but looking around he realized his things were not in his room and scowling he left to find out where his belongings were. coming from his room he bumped into a skinny youth and turning on the boy started to yell though the words were caught in his mouth as he realized who the lad was "...lord ainsly?"

He nearly tumbled over as the other ran into him, but managed to keep on his feet by slight of balance. Quickly he regained his footing, nad found himself standing before the man, looking up at him with mild distaste for his recklessness of running into him. "It is Ainsley, not Ainsly. What is it you need, my Prince?"

ignoring the lad's words in exchange for kissing his chest were bare skin should have laid, he dipped down to his wife's breast "you look as you did on the night of our consecration of our vows"

His cheeks began to flush a soft shade of pink as the lips tickled at his chest despite the layer of fabric between them. Trying to will it away, he lifted a hand to rest against one of the arms. "And how would that appear, my Lord?"

the touch was oddly invigorating, "lay with me wife, i wish to touch you in the light where i can see you as clearly with my eyes as my hands. we are damned already, one more sin will do no harm"

A breathy chuckle left him at the serious intent behind the words, but it appeared to matter naught. The prince gently pulled away after a short peppering of kisses against his breast. He could feel the hand gently take his own within its grasp, kindly leading him from the hall into the room that laid not far. He did not resist, and instead followed along dutifully

the lad's apparent willingness to be fondled and kissed was unusual though he was too enamored with the novelty of seeing the other in his natural way to notice how unusual it was until he was unlacing the boy's trousers and realized he was not being pushed away or otherwise rebuffed, pausing he looked up into gray eyes. "you are not refusing me?"

The boy found himself amused by the surprise woven through both the words and vivacious actions to remove their clothes. Leaning up with the use of his elbow, he stared back at the other as he gazed up at him, paused as if he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. "I am not. My Prince, my body is yours today."

there was something different to procreating in the light, he could see on the boy's face a map of every touch and there was a languidness to the other that was unlike the hurried movements in the poor light of candle-flame and he found it much more appealing and quicker to give him satiation. when the task was done he found himself reluctant to leave the ruin of bedding and in a fit of impulse he pulled the other over by his shoulders and offered him a tender kiss, "beautiful wife, i have no regrets in our marriage if we may touch like that"

There was a subtle difference to both the pleasure of it and appearance of it all when he allowed for himself to be touched. His reluctance for their first consummation since the wedding left him desiring more, yet the Prince managed to sate both of their wants. The delicate sensation of the lips against the ridge of his collar sent a brief shudder passing down his spine as he turned his head to look to the one gazing to him. "Then we may touch like that at a later date, husband"

lightly he nodded and kissed again to see if he could garner the reaction a second time. he found his lips turning up into a smile for the first time since they left. "i wish to rest wife, lie here in the shared filth of our sin with me. i do not care who would speak against it in this wretched place"

"I will make it that no one speaks against us here, my Lord," His voice left him quieter than aimed, yet he felt as though it was befitting of the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Feeling the kiss against his collar again, he could feel the beginning of goose flesh crawling up his arms as he leaned into the other. "Now rest"

he woke to an insistent tap and the sight of a timid looking servant over the mound of bedding that was his wife. he yawned as the youth took too long to linger over the thought that there were two bodies in the bed not one. "m-my lo-o-ord? e-evening me-meal m-my lord!"

Eyes felt heavy as they slipped open to the sight of the Prince beginning to rise, and the sound of feet beginning to turn away. Rolling around beneath the heavy covers, he called the servant back to him. Cluching the sheets around his person, he ushered the meek servant close enough that he had no need to raise his voice anything above a whisper. The help took his words well, and gave him their word before being dismissed and skittering away like they'd seen a fire. Yawning quietly he started to pull himself free of the bedding

some time during his rest his things were brought and put away. he was less than pleased to find nothing was set aside and noone was there to dress him, he turned to the lad with a scowl, "am i expected to dress myself?

The question was directed to he, and turning around he caught the scowl of the man. "Yes. The maids are busy preparing the evening meal. I am sure they needed extra workers, they would be making something special for you." Turning back to the room, the boy found his own clothes to be present, only strewn across the floor for his pleasure of picking up on his own. He was quick to scoop up his trousers and begin re-lacing them. "If you truly need help I could be of assistance"

he barked a short laugh, "it is not that i need, but that it is correct and proper to be dressed. i will bear this indignity for now but only in deference to you wife. i expect this to change"

His assumptions were correct. Despite the abrupt news of their arrival the servants bustled and busied themselves as he and the Prince spent their afternoon holed in his father's chambers, and the dinner prepared appeared wonderful. Even so, the marquess could not help but feel the lack of excitement and festivities in the air for the Prince's arrival, and instead it held a stuffy, almost fearful air. Though it bothered him, he tried to push the thoughts away, and instead spent his time discreetly checking on the Prince to make sure the heathens and their ways did not upset him

the meal was small and there were few bodies at the table but he accounted that to the small population not disrespect for his station. through the meal however his attentions were drawn from his host the duke to his wife. no longer expected to be a woman the lad's appetite had grown greatly and he ate as any child would. he wondered if this meant he was starving at the castle

When they'd taken to sit at the table, a light tension had been present, but even as they were all presented with the meal he could feel the majority of the members at the table begin to no longer feel fearful towards the Prince. At least, not to the same extent as prior. He, however, seemed to be the only not entirely intimidated by him, and was most definitely the only willing to make eye contact with the man- which he managed to catch on more than one occasion. Though if he was sure to do anything it was to offer the man a smile before heading back to converse with the others at the table

eventually even watching the lad grew dull and standing from the table he left his host and company to find his own company, he did not mind the scandalized faces as he left

With his quick exposure to the Prince's tenancy to not linger during meals, the horrific meaning behind it had not settled in until everyone at the table appeared offended. He was quick to defend the Prince, trying to persuade every one that he did not mean to cause annoyance. Few seemed swayed by his words, and he was quick to leave as well, once the meal had been brought to a conclusion. He headed straight for the Prince's chambers