𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

EMPRESS-IN-WAITING ~3

The rest of the women's words blurred into the background, sounding like the distant incoherent lamentation of drunken men. Thoughts of that book clouded Audrey's mind, surely that book must have held some truth to it, if not it would not have been stored in the castle's library. And surely if the book was as useless as Alistair made it seem then why did he give it to Darius? There must be more to this, to everything. As Audrey's mind began to twist and turn in all possible directions memories of her earlier days swarmed her mind. The memory of the day her and Lord Mark Anthony had gone to the palace library came to her mind. The tapestry they had seen was unnerving and odd she could never forget the sight. Could that perhaps be the tapestry mentioned in the book? Could all this be leading to something or was she just making things up in her head?

The women had turned into real gossip mongers, bringing up issues Audrey's had never heard of.

Talia adjusts closer, leaning in and shuffling her chair, damaging the quiet with the violent noise "I heard the Duke finally realised his mistress had been stealing from him and threw her out"

"I heard he still kept her and demanded Duchess Stephane start paying her a monthly allowance" Cordelia counters, scrunching up her nose in disgust.

Dorothy's eyes widened to the size of salsas "This cannot be. The poor Duchess, she loved the Duke with all her heart" sympathy hangs off her words.

Who could this Duchess Stephane be? Why hadn't Audrey heard of her?

"Sadly love is never enough. We all know that after the honeymoon phase they run along to go carry another woman, one who is younger, more attractive and we the wives are just used to appease rumors and the-" Demeter is cut off by an elbow shoved into her forearm. She frowns and tries to locate who did it but as her eyes meet with Cordelia's it is as if they send each other a wordless message and they all turn to Audrey.

Heat rises beneath her skin, tainting her cheeks. She looks between the women who seemed to be giving her guarded sympathetic looks.

"My apologies your majesty. We speak out of term, we forget you are still in your honeymoon phase" Cordelia's cheeks are round with an apologetic smile.

What was she to say to that?

"It is fine" she tries to brush it off but can't help but admit their words had sunk deep into her skin. The thought of Darius taking in another woman brought a deep ache in her chest and a nauseated feeling to her stomach. She couldn't even stomach the thought then how would she handle it if Darius actually took in a mistress. Was it like this in all marriages? Even between mates?

"I have a question to ask if you ladies do not mind it?"

"Of course not your Highness, speak your mind" Talia props open her fan and begins flattering against her hot cheeks

Audrey clears her throat, trying to relieve herself of the sudden lump that had formed

"Are all marriages like this? Do the husbands always pick mistresses? Even marriages between mates?"

All the women exchange glances as if conveying secret messages on what to or what not to say. Audrey disliked this feeling, the feeling of having people walk around on egg shells whenever they spoke to her, afraid to say something out of term and risk the wrath of the king, it had been happening a lot. Times like these really caused her to miss her ladies back at the palace, Greer was always honest with her even Anaise.

"Not every man is like that" Dorothy speaks up, stirring the cedar in her cup.

"There are a few exceptions, the ones who actually marry their mates" Demeter grumbles the last part under her breath as if they were not to hear but at the same time she did not care if they did.