Adalbert

Part 3

Unwilling as he was to discuss the details of his wedding night with his brother, Adalbert's reticence spoke more than he did. Adalwin could immediately make out the failure and brought forth his spare plan. The spouses were to spend their honeymoon at the Summer House.

It was an old Northern Palace custom, abandoned due to the men's military assignments. Now, given that the royal wedding signalled peace, it made perfect sense to revive it.

Adalbert broke the news to his wife over tea after luncheon.

"We ought to spend two full fortnights by ourselves in a forest house? How utterly idyllic!"

Adalbert pointedly avoided her gaze. "If the idea displeases you, we do not have to do it."

"It does not exactly displease me but I do fear for my life."

He looked up at her, his eyes greener with repentance. "Last night's misstep will not reoccur, you have my word."

Linda peered into her tea. "Apologies, I did not mean to upset you."

"I am not upset."

"But you are. And have every right to be. A Prince should wed a maiden, no?"

"No point in poring over it now."

"Accept it and move on," she echoed his words from last night. "Did I disappoint you?"

Adalbert shook his head. "No."

"Did you suspect it?"

"Yes."

Linda nodded. "And you still agreed to marry me."

He allowed himself a crooked smile. "If I had not, then who would have?"

Linda knew that was more than a joke. That was the truth. Many in the South had guessed her promiscuity and despite her privileged status as niece of the King, no honourable man would have wilfully wed her. Her mother had been right, the Prince was more than she deserved. She owed him some faith, if not much else.

"Is it pretty? This Summer House of yours?"

It was pretty, secure and secluded atop a hill among the woods. A small amount of servants manned it and two elite warrior squads guarded it. Its location was only known to a handful of trustworthy people. A safe paradise for royal newlyweds.

Adalbert and his Princess had another chance to consummate their marriage on Holy Day, the third full moon of the month. The young spouses were now better prepared for it.

Following a hot bath, Ethelinda waited for her husband in bed and only faced him when he slipped beneath the furs and his arm grazed her waist. They lay in silence for a while, contemplating each other's eyes.

"You know," Linda whispered, "I don't believe I have ever seen a green-eyed man in the South."

Emboldened, he retorted with a kiss. Linda cooperated, pressing herself to him and running her hand through his hair until she was out of breath and hungry for more.

Her lips stretched into a wicked grin. "May I fuck Your Royal Highness?"

Although startled by the uncouth language, Adalbert fell on his back and relinquished his defences. He compelled his body to trust his wife.

"I'm all yours, milady."

With deliberately slow movements, Ethelinda made her way on top of him and began with another kiss. She'd longed to lick his scars from the moment she'd seen them and now she managed to fulfil that urge.