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“You can’t fuck a real cat, so you go for men dressed like one.”
He backed up a step. “Not once have I ever even thought about screwing an animal. That’s disgusting, and-”
“No, you’re disgusting, and that’s why you’re marrying Billy. He’s a devout Christian, and you certainly won’t be playing sick games with him. A Christian wouldn’t engage in kinks or dress up like an animal.”
He shook his head. “If you think I’m marrying him, you’re dead wrong. I’m not marrying someone you pick for me, and if you drag me to the Temple in chains and stick me next to him, I won’t do it. In fact, you know what?” He threw up his hands. “I’m not even going to sit and play along or pretend any interest. I’m going to stay in my rooms, and you can say or do whatever the fuck you want when the Reggers get here. Oh, and another reason I won’t marry this Billy guy is because you’ll probably secretly nag him to make sure I’m not dressing him up in cat ears before I fuck him. You’ll mortify the poor man.”
He stepped off the dais as she spoke. “You will meet and speak to the Baron and his family, and you will-”
“I’m not doing shit, Mum. Enjoy having dinner alone.”
He ignored whatever else she shouted as he swept out of the Hall. Part of his shaking was probably from hunger too since he hadn’t eaten since yesterday, but he didn’t care. Skipping another meal would be good for him, and he couldn’t sit next to Mum and pretend nothing was wrong after what she’d said.
She thought he had a thing for actual animals. Dear Elira, he didn’t ever want to sit next to her at meals again or even speak to her. How were they supposed to go on like that never happened? And with Lance, she’d crossed so many lines, he couldn’t imagine things ever going back to normal.
He found himself in Addy’s rooms, and he sat on the bed after tapping the crystal lantern on the bedside table. It hadn’t been properly charged in ages, and it was dim, but he could see well enough. Her floor-length looking glass was on the wall across from him, and he stared at himself.
Even if he found a man who was okay with a fat husband and wanted to dress up like a cat, he’d never have peace. Not with Mum. She’d get to his husband and pick at him too until he regretted being married to a fat man with a prying Mother-in-law.
Rainier would never have any fucking peace either. If Father was still alive, maybe things would be different. He used to get around Mum by sneaking the kids sweets, but later, perhaps he would have put his foot down and told her to stop harassing her daughter and son.
Maybe he would have forced Addy to see the physician, and he could have done something.
But he wasn’t here, and Rainier had kept her secret until she died. He curled his arms around himself as his stomach ached. He heard a faint chirpy noise, and Inky’s face appeared around the door before he ran in to jump up.
He scratched the cat’s ears. “At least I still have you, and you love me no matter what I look like.”
***
He lounged on the cushion the next day with a book. He’d gotten light-headed earlier after getting out of the bath, but he was sure he was all right now. It wasn’t the first time it had happened anyway even though it had been worse than normal. Inky lolled around the floor and napped.
When a servant came and said Baron and Baroness Regger were there, Rainier shrugged. “That’s nice.”
She blinked at him in his clothing which was plain trousers and a simple shirt. He hadn’t bothered with a vest, and he had a throw blanket partially over him since he was cold.
“I mean, they’re in the entrance hall right now, Your Majesty. They've had time to freshen up, and they're ready."
“All right. I hope they enjoy their visit.” Rainier turned the page.
She slowly backed out and was probably imagining the Queen’s reaction. Once she was gone, Rainier got up to lock the antechamber door. Fuck lunch and the Reggers. They could enjoy the boring salad and whatever else they ate.
He curled up on the cushion with the book and blanket. Inky joined him to knead the blanket, and when someone knocked on the antechamber door, they both ignored it.
When someone hammered on it twenty minutes later, he still didn’t get up.
“Rainier!” shouted Mum. Inky lifted his head and cocked his ears. “Stop acting like a child and come out. I’m out of excuses.”
“I’m out of patience for your games,” he shouted.
He stopped listening as he went back to his book even though it was hard to concentrate on what was happening. Mum eventually gave up. It wasn’t like she was going to break down the door. Perhaps another hour went by, and he was ready to fall asleep when someone knocked.
“Can I at least see the man I’m supposed to meet so our parents can force us together?” called a male voice.
Rainier scowled as he nudged Inky and got up. For a moment, his head spun, but he took a deep breath and forced himself over to the door to open it.
“I’m not interested, and you’re probably not either.”
Billy quirked his mouth. “I was starting to wonder if you were secretly hideous with snaggleteeth and enormous warts all over your nose.”
