His Best Intentions
Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there was a Prince who was entering his year of promise; the year he would choose his intended spouse. He would spend the year charming and wooing his Intended, hoping that year would end with their marriage. The custom was as old as the kingdom itself and always ended in marriage because who would deny the future King or Queen? Fortunately for all involved, the princes chose wisely, and the unions were loving ones.
Prince Jensen chose a shopkeeper’s apprentice named Jared as his Intended. Jared? Well, Jared has other ideas. And that is where this story begins.
Chapter 1 of a work in progress. Please tell me your thoughts
Jared’s legs trembled as he stood in the shop that had been his home since his parents died. He held the parchment in his shaking hand. “I don’t understand. What does this mean?”
“It means you will go live in the castle with the Prince and be his little bitch and bend over for him whenever he wants your ass,” Chad explained with a taunting sneer. Jared had always considered Chad a sympathetic friend, but at a time like this, he wondered why.
“It means no such thing,” Mr. Beaver said, throwing Chad an angry look. “Stop scaring the boy and get out of my shop unless you’re going to buy something.”
Having no desire to spend the little money he had on anything other than ale or whores, Chad said, “Alright, I’ll go. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when the Prince has you bent over the throne later tonight. Everyone knows the Royal family is a bunch of insufferable, greedy bastards. And now they want to enslave a free man.”
Jared turned worried eyes on his employer. “What do I do, Mr. Beaver? I don’t want to marry the Prince. I don’t even know him. And what about Travis? If he finds out about this, he’ll never be with me again.”
Mr. Beaver scoffed. “Why the hell would you want Travis when the Prince wants you for his Intended?” Jared sighed. Mr. Beaver was too old to understand love and soulmates.
“Go pack your things, Jared. The Prince’s men will be here this evening to collect you.” He smoothed a hand over Jared’s arm. “Chad’s an idiot. The Royals are nothing like he described. I’ve only known them to be honest and kind.”
Jared didn’t believe him. While it was true that Chad was an idiot, how did Mr. Beaver know anything about the Royal family? Jared looked around the shop with watery eyes, pressing his lips together to stop their quivering.
“Jared,” Mr. Beaver’s voice turned soft and caring, “don’t worry about me and the store. We’ll be all right. I’ve hired young Colin to fill your position.”
“He’s a fine choice, sir.” Jared’s voice quaked. Some ridiculous custom and a probably equally stupid Prince were upending his entire life, and Mr. Beaver had already moved on.
As a peaceful twilight fell over the kingdom, Prince Jensen paced the gallery. Jared would arrive soon, and although he was confident in his choice of Intended, Jensen had never spoken to Jared. He knew everything about the other man. At least, he thought he did. What if he had overlooked something? What if Jared didn’t like his rooms or the food Jensen had the cooks prepare? Jensen’s stomach churned. What if Jared didn’t want him?
Jensen pulled at the collar of his formal uniform and wiped nervous sweat from his brow. Great, I’m a sweaty, disgusting mess. Jared is sure to find me hideous, he thought bitterly. He shook out his hands and crossed the room again.
He beckoned a servant to bring him wine, hoping it would settle his nerves and soothe his tight throat. He downed it quickly and asked for another and for the servant to bring a glass so he could offer some to Jared upon his arrival.
By the time they raised the portcullis, the wine had worked its magic. Jensen stopped pacing and filled the two glasses with wine and stood ready to meet the man who would be his husband.
Jared’s mouth fell open in awe at the opulence around him. Thick carpets covered the marble floor of the entryway, and gold lamps and tapestries adorned the walls. It was more luxurious than any room he had ever seen before, and it was just a hallway. When he reached the end of the hall, several servants rushed forward to take his cloak and the few bags he had packed with his possessions.
Jensen’s man, Richard, who had ridden with Jared in the coach, now stepped forward and smiled as he reached for the door. “Prince Jensen is waiting for you. Ready?”
“Does it matter?”
The response gave Richard pause. He shrugged, opened the door and bowed. “Prince Jensen, may I present your Intended.”
Jared took the tiniest step forward, his hands pulled at his clothes, and attempted to kneel before Prince Jensen.
Jensen rushed forward and grabbed Jared’s arm. “No. No kneeling before me. I’m just Jensen to you. You can save the kneeling for my parents.” He smiled what he hoped was a friendly smile. “I’m so pleased to welcome you to my home. Would you care for a glass of wine?” Jensen held out a glass for Jared.
Jared bristled; Chad’s words echoed in his head, and he thought, the Prince probably wants to get me drunk and take advantage of me. “No, thank you. I’m not much of a drinker.”
Jensen put down the glass immediately. “Oh. Can I offer you anything else? Water? Tea? Have you eaten?”
“Where did your slaves take my things?” Jared asked, ignoring Jensen’s questions.
“We don’t have slaves here. Slavery is not allowed in this kingdom.” Jensen’s brow furrowed. Surely Jared knew this. “I’m sure the housemaids took your things to our rooms. If you like, I could give you the tour.”
“No, thank you. I’d just like to retire for the evening. I’ve had a long day.”
Jensen took a breath to bury his disappointment. Jared seemed more than a little unimpressed with him. “Of course. If you follow me, I’ll take you there now.”
As Jensen led the way through grandiose halls, Jared paid close attention to every step. If he could remember the route, perhaps he would escape during the night. Finally, they climbed a tall winding staircase.
“Our rooms are up here,” Jensen announced when they entered yet another hall. “I hope you find them comfortable.” He opened the door to a large, lavishly appointed room. In it were bookcases with every shelf filled, a telescope, a globe, a desk, and a fireplace with a fire already burning. There were doors that Jared didn’t know where they led but most terrifying, an enormous bed. The most massive bed he had ever seen. Surely it was meant for Jared to share with the Prince. He glanced at those doors. Perhaps he could escape out of one of them before the Prince could rape him.
Jensen noticed Jared had his arms wrapped around himself. “Richard, please put more wood on the fire.” He faced Jared. “I hope you have a comfortable evening. I’ll see you soon.” At the door, he added, “If you need anything during the night, just pull this cord. One of our footmen stationed down the hall will help you immediately.”
Jared grimaced and nodded so that the Prince and his man would leave. “Footmen are probably guards making sure I don’t escape,” he muttered to himself. Jared tried the other doors. One led to a wardrobe room containing the clothes he’d brought with him and new suits of clothing made of a material more elegant than anything in Mr. Beaver’s store. The next door led to a bathroom with a tub large enough for Jared to lie down. The last door was locked.
Jared went to the window. He was very far from the ground. He’d survive a jump, but he’d break a leg or ankle if he tried. He untied the cord holding the curtains open and held it in his hands for a moment. It was long but not long enough to allow a safe escape through the window. He tugged it; it was strong. Jared looked at the beam running the length of the room. Perhaps there was only one way out.
He moved the desk and placed two chairs on top of it before climbing onto it himself.
“That went well,” Jensen sighed. “He hates me.”
“Now, sir, I’m sure he doesn’t hate--”
“Despises me with the passion of a thousand suns.”
“Seriously, sir,” Richard shook his head.
“Seriously, this is a stupid tradition. Had I been allowed to speak with him before tonight, to explain, to give Jared a chance to know me…”
A loud crash made them turn around and run to Jared’s room.
Jensen pounded on the door. “Jared?” He tried the knob and found it locked. “Jared?! Are you all right?” Getting no reply, he attempted to break the door down. He rammed his shoulder into it a third time when Rob, the footman stationed at the end of the hall, arrived with a key. They fumbled through the door to find Jared hanging by a cord around his neck that he’d strung over a beam.
“Jared!” Jensen leaped over the fallen chairs and onto the table. He wrapped his arms around Jared and took his weight, so he was no longer hanging. “Cut him down!”
Jared struggled in Jensen’s arms, but he was no match for Jensen’s determined hold.
Richard climbed onto the table and sliced at the cord with his blade.
“Let me go!” Jared gasped as the blade finally cut through the cord, and he and Jensen crumpled onto the table. Jared shoved his rescuer away from him.
“Jared, what are you doing? Why would you do such a thing?”
“Better than being your whore and waiting for you to rape me,” he spat.
“Jared, I would never-“ shocked, Jensen looked from Richard to Rob, who seemed equally stunned by Jared’s words. “Jared, you’re my Intended. This is my year of promise.”
“I don’t know what that means!” Jared’s fear and frustration rang in his voice.
Stunned, Jensen blinked at him. Was it possible Jared didn’t know of the custom?
“It means,” Jensen explained calmly, hoping Jared would believe him. “I promise to honor, love, and respect you because I intend to spend my life with you, to rule with you by my side when the time comes.”
“But I don’t love you.”
“Of course you don’t, you don’t even know me.” Jensen tried to look non threatening. “Over this year, I intend to prove myself worthy of you.” He reached for Jared’s hand. “Please don’t resort to hurting yourself. If you find me that repulsive, you can leave.”
Jared scurried away from the Prince. “And go where? You’ve ruined my life! I have no family, and I’ve been replaced at my apprenticeship.” He slumped in defeat against the table. “I doubt the man I love will have me now that the entire country thinks I’m your concubine.”
“That’s not what you are!” Jensen shouted, pounding his hand on the table. “Wait, what did you say? You are promised to someone else?” Jensen looked at his men, who seemed as surprised as he.
“Your Majesty, we checked,” Richard began.
“Triple checked,” Rob chimed in. “There was no one.”
“For over a year, there was no one,” Richard asserted again.
“This man,” Jensen began, “surely if he loves you, he will take you in. I can explain the misunderstanding and --”
“He can’t help me. He’s off fighting your war in the north,” Jared complained bitterly, leaving no doubt he blamed the Prince for Travis’ absence.
“There’s no war in the north,” Richard said before being shushed by Jensen.
“What Richard means is that the war is over,” Jensen clarified. “Perhaps your love is helping with the reconstruction. Tell me who he is, and we will send for him.”
“How do I know you won’t hurt him?”
“Jared,” Jensen sighed in exasperation. “Why do you think I’m such a monster? I would never do anything to hurt you or someone you care about. Give us his name, and when we locate him, we will all go together to fetch him home, okay?”
“We will?”
“Yes, Jared, I swear it.”
Jared studied the Prince for a minute, but he couldn’t bring himself to trust the man. Jared turned to Richard and Rob. “Do the two of you swear by his promise? You’ll bear witness that he swore to find Travis and not hurt him?”
“We swear,” they said in unison.
Jared accepted their pledge by facing Jensen. “His name is Travis Wade. He’s from a town in the far north, which is why he joined your forces to defend them.”
Jensen nodded. “We’ll get word to our generals first thing in the morning. It may take months to locate one man out of the thousands in our armies. Please, promise me you won’t try to end your life before you give me a chance to find him.”
“Months? Where will I live?”
Jensen looked around the room. “You are welcome to stay here. If you don’t like your rooms, I’m sure we can redecorate to suit your needs.”
“What about you?”
“Me?” Unsure what Jared was asking, Jensen replied, “I, I don’t know. But don’t trouble yourself with me. I will keep my distance. You’ll never have to see me or speak to me. You have my word.”
“But sir, tomorrow--” Rob whispered.
“Yes, right,” Jensen replied, obviously just remembering what Rob meant. “Jared, I apologize, but tomorrow evening I was throwing a party in your honor to introduce you to the staff. They would be immensely disappointed if it’s canceled. They’ve all worked very hard. Could you see it in your heart to allow this party? I will use the opportunity to announce that you have refused my offer to be my Intended.”
Jared looked at the other two men who seemed to plead with him. “I guess that’s okay.”
Jensen bowed his head. “Thank you. Afterward, you will never have to speak to me again.” He turned to Rob. “Please see to all of Jared’s needs.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Facing his would be Intended, he said, “Jared, I sincerely apologize. This was supposed to be a wonderful year, but instead, I’ve made a mess of everything. I’m truly sorry.” Then Jensen left with Richard following.
xxxxxxx
“Sire, why didn’t you tell Jared the truth about the war? Surely this man lied to him.” Richard watched Jensen pace his room.
“What good would it have done? Jared wouldn’t have believed me. We can’t be sure the man actually lied. Perhaps he didn’t know the war was over when he left. I mean, Jared didn’t know.”
“Yeah, about that. If Jared’s so smart, how did he not know? It’s been nearly five years.”
Jensen stopped his pacing. “He was only fifteen then and working in Jim Beaver’s shop. Why would he pay attention to news about the war?”
“Okay, but this Mr. Wade left only a year ago. Wouldn’t he turn around and come back when he learned that the war was over?”
“Well, Jared said he was from the north. Maybe his family needed him.”
Richard shook his head. “You are too kind. This man is a liar. I can feel it.”
“Nevertheless, he has Jared’s heart, and I pledged to reunite them.”
“Because you’re a glutton for punishment.”
“Because I love Jared and I want him to be happy.”
“You can’t love him, you don’t know him,” Richard added. “I’m sorry, sir, he did seem like a suitable match. Unfortunately, you must choose another or let the kingdom fall to your sister.”
“Don’t remind me.”
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The next morning, a handmaiden knocked on Jared’s door. “Jared, good sir, the Queen is requesting the honor of your company at her morning tea.”
Jared’s legs wobbled in disbelief as he stood to follow the young woman. “The Queen wants to have tea with me?”
“Yes, sir. Please follow me. Her Majesty’s parlor is on the other side of the castle. A person could get lost if they don’t know their way.”
Upon entering the room, Jared went to his knee and bowed. The Queen smiled as she stood to accept him. “Oh, Jared, dear boy, there’s no need for that. Please come join me.” She held out her hand to direct him to the seat opposite her. “Gracious, you are tall, aren’t you,” she added as he stood. “And just as handsome as Jensen promised.”
Two maids rushed forward the moment he sat down. One poured his tea while the other held a pitcher of cream. “Cream, sugar, lemon?”
“No lemon, but cream and sugar would be nice.” Once the tea was to Jared’s liking, the girls seemed to disappear.
The Queen took a moment to allow Jared a sip of tea. “Jared, I wanted to speak with you because, well, I’ve been where you are. Like you, I was a commoner, and also like you, I had my life upended when I became the Intended. Nothing quite prepares you for that, does it?” She smiled warmly at him. “It is overwhelming.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“The thing is, Jared, it can also be quite wonderful,” she began. “Tonight there will be a small party where Jensen will introduce you to all the staff and our immediate family. It’s cozy and informal and nothing for you to worry about. The staff adores you because Jensen adores you. However,” she paused to sip her tea, “in a few weeks there will be a more formal introduction to the court and foreign dignitaries. I would like the opportunity to prepare you for that gala.”
“Thank you, but I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
“Believe me, no one wants to meet those people without some kind of support. The court can be intimidating.” She shuddered, then smiled at him. “Do you like your quarters? Jensen spent weeks, maybe even months trying to make everything perfect for you. He even had your bed specially made to accommodate your height. I hope it was suitable.”
Jared paused, surprised to learn of Jensen’s work in his rooms. “My rooms are perfectly comfortable, thank you. The Prince did all that?”
“Oh, yes. That is part of Jensen’s responsibilities. During my year as Intended, King Timothy spoiled me horribly. He gave me new gowns every week; he even gave me a horse because I love to ride. It’s odd because I knew nothing about the King, but he knew so much about me.”
Jared nodded at her story, but he wasn’t interested in material things. And she must be mistaken about her son. He didn’t know Jared, how could he?
“I’ll never forget when Jensen first met you. He talked on and on about how smart and clever you were. I told my husband that someday Jensen would choose you for his Intended.”
Jared nearly spat his tea. “What? I’m sorry, but I didn’t meet your son until last night.”
The Queen laughed. “Jared, Jensen has been to Mr. Beaver’s shop on several occasions.”
“Impossible. We would have known if royalty had been to our store,” Jared sounded more shocked than disrespectful, and the Queen laughed again.
“We often go about town without the royal trimmings. People are much more honest that way.”
“Prince Jensen came to our shop?”
“Yes. The first time you impressed him by totaling his purchases and the tax due as he was still shopping. And another time, he bought all the sweets at three times their price because he found out you made them and wanted you to make more,” the Queen replied, giggling at the memory.
Jared smiled bashfully. He remembered that, but he didn’t remember Jensen.
“Mother, may I-“Jensen stood at the door with his mouth hanging open upon seeing Jared. He looked pale and slightly disheveled, nothing like the suave Prince Jared had met the night before. “I’m sorry. I thought you were alone. I’ll speak to you later.”
“Nonsense, dear. Come in. I was just telling Jared about the time you overpaid for sweets.”
Jensen blushed. “Yes, just one of my many embarrassments.”
His mother took in his unkempt appearance and said, “Jensen, are you all right?”
“Yes. No. I mean, it doesn’t matter. I came to tell you that Jared refused me. I wanted you to know before I told Father. I’ll tell the others tonight at dinner.”
“Oh.” She looked heartbroken for her son. “Perhaps-”
“Mother, he’s in love with someone else.”
Manners prevented her from wrapping her arms around him and having a good cry. She glanced at Jared and sighed. “Here I am going on like a fool when you probably don’t care about any of this. Forgive me, Jared. In my excitement for Jensen, I forgot about your needs.” She stood, so Jared did as well. “If you’ll excuse us, Jared, I’d like to speak to my son.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Jared bowed. At the door, a handmaiden joined him to lead him to his rooms.
The Queen took Jensen’s hands and led him to her couch to sit.
“Oh, darling, I’m so sorry. I know how downhearted you must be. Jared does seem like a lovely young man.”
“He hates me. He thought I was going to rape him.”
His mother gasped. “Why on earth would he think that?”
Jensen shrugged. “He did not understand what being an Intended meant. He thought it was like a concubine.”
“Why didn’t his parents explain it to him?”
“They died when he was thirteen, but I would have thought Mr. Beaver, the man Jared apprenticed under, would have told him.”
Jensen’s mother shook her head in thought. “When your father chose me, I was terrified, but at least my parents told me about the tradition.”
“Why were you afraid if you knew about it?” Jensen asked, completely stunned by his mother’s confession.
“Oh, Jensen, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know your father at all except that he would one day be King. It’s overwhelming and intimidating to be suddenly thrust into a royal life from being a commoner.” She paused, “Why is he still here if he doesn’t want to be your Intended?”
Jensen groaned. “Because he has nowhere to go. He lost his apprenticeship, and the man he’s in love with has gone home to the north.” He bowed his head and looked up at her through his lashes. It was a look he had often given her when he was a child who’d been reprimanded by a teacher. “I also promised to help Jared find his beloved.”
“Oh, my poor boy.” With a fond but sad smile, she gently cupped his cheek. “Love can be so painful. How did you not know about this other suiter?”
“He’s been gone for a while. Richard and Rob didn’t see Jared with anyone for over a year.”
Suddenly her countenance changed as an idea struck her. “Jensen, what did you plan on doing to woo Jared?”
“I don’t know. The usual tournaments and festivals, I guess. I want to show Jared that we like many of the same things and that I respect him and his ideas. Prove that I have some skills or qualities needed in a king. But what does it matter? He hates me and is in love with another.”
“A year is a long time, Jensen. Perhaps hearts are more open to change than you think.” She stood and rang for a servant. “I will cancel the dinner with the court. It would be a waste of time if he truly wants this other man. However, don’t you dare change anything you had planned. The tournaments and festivals should go on as scheduled.” She smiled at her son. “Let’s see how this other man compares to how much you care about Jared.”
The dinner wasn’t what Jared expected. Servants sat in the main hall with the Royal family, and they passed dishes of food around each table. Once in a while, someone got up and brought in more food, but it was never the same person. The meal was familiar and casual, Jared was pleasantly shocked. They served his favorite foods, nothing so fancy that he didn’t know how to eat it.
He sat at the opposite end of the table from Jensen. Between them were the King and Queen and Jensen’s sister, Princess Elizabeth, and on his other side is his valet, Rob. Jared was too nervous to talk to the Princess, so he spent the meal eating and listening to Rob and Elizabeth talk about her horse.
“Do you ride, Jared?” Elizabeth asked, trying to include him.
“Not really. I mean, I haven’t had the chance as an apprentice,” he replied.
The girl nodded. “Of course. But maybe you can now. We have plenty of horses, and Jensen is an excellent rider.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
As they spoke, Rob collected their plates, and Jared noticed a table of desserts being brought into the room. There were pies and cakes and trays of cookies. The sight of which made Jared hungry again. Before he could find out how they were being served, there was the ringing sound of silver against crystal, and the hall grew silent.
He looked up and saw that Jensen was standing on the table.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my beautiful sister Elizabeth, her handmaiden, Clara, and Alana --”
“And George!” yelled a voice from the crowd.
“And George,” Jensen added, “for decorating the hall in such a glorious manner. It is more beautiful than I had ever dreamed.” He bowed to his sister and then to the others in the hall. “I’d also like to thank Rachel, Sera, and Ruth for the delicious dinner they prepared.”
“Here, here!” The King raised his glass. “You’ve outdone yourselves, ladies.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jensen raised his glass as well and added, “Thank you so much.” Then he turned and smiled nervously at Jared before facing the room again. “Now, I’d like to introduce all of you to Jared.”
Jared smiled nervously at the group and nodded in greeting.
“Not only is Jared devastatingly handsome,” Jensen paused to enjoy the blush creeping into Jared’s cheeks and the others’ light laughter. “He is also the kindest, most generous person I have ever met.”
Jared slouched at the attention. Elizabeth patted his arm reassuringly, but Jared knew she didn’t understand the situation.
“There was a day not long ago that Richard, Alana, and I made our way into town. It had rained furiously the night before and our streets were sloppy with mud. Wagons and carts had made deep ruts down the center of the main road. Our horses, preferring to avoid the muck, stayed near the side of the road, which was fortunate since the town fool had fallen in a rut and couldn’t get out. A small crowd had gathered to laugh at him as he would try to stand only to slip and fall again. Jared was in that crowd, but not with them. Though he laughed at the man, it was a fond laugh, not a malicious one. Jared stepped into the muck, helped the man to his feet, and then led him to a trough to help him wash the mud from his cloak. When that proved to be a fruitless endeavor, Jared wrapped his own cloak around that man.” Jensen glanced at him and smiled sadly. “Not surprisingly, I’m not the only person to notice Jared’s extraordinary qualities; sadly, his heart belongs to another.”
Elizabeth gasped, and Jensen paused while some others murmured their disappointment.
“War and confusion have kept Jared from his beloved for more than a year. As heartbreaking as it is for me to lose my Intended, I can’t imagine the pain he must feel. Therefore,” Jensen turned fully to Jared and dropped to a knee, “I pledge my oath to find your true love and reunite you.”
Rob and Richard immediately jumped to their feet and clapped, which led the others to applaud also. Jared stared in disbelief. Could he be wrong about the Prince?
Read Chapter 2
