Page 78 of Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay

“It’s been three weeks,” Adah pointed out.

“Because Imiss her,” Sidney said again. “And after last night, it’s all become very clear to me. We must wed. At once.”

“Her parents are going to hate you,” said Arthur.

“A good point.” Sidney nodded. “And well made. But her parents hate me anyway.”

Adah laughed. “I thought you were making progress? You’re a knight now, boy.”

“Sort of. They still hate me in their hearts, but they begrudgingly approve of the marriage in principle. She doesn’t like them anyway. Any more naysayers? Say your nays, go on.”

“Who’s Agnes?” Bowen asked Sir Florian.

“They’re betrothed,” said Florian. “And I’ve heard enough about her that I can tell you the exact color of her hair in various lights, if you like.”

“Don’t mutter,” called Sidney. “Go on. Questions?”

“You cannot use the Prince of Wales’s castle as a wedding venue without asking,” said Sir Hurst. “It’s rude, and undiplomatic.”

“I’ll just have to ask him, then,” said Sidney.

Sir Leonard raised his hand. “If you’ve declared you wish to be married and taken her to bed, it’s too late. You’re already married, legally speaking. I nearly made that mistake myself, once.”

“First of all, not that it’s any of your business, but I haven’t taken her to bed. Nottechnically. And secondly—even if we had, I want to have a party,” said Sidney. “Great. If that’s everything, then it’s agreed. Meeting adjourned.”

“It wasn’t a meeting,” Arthur grumbled, as people started to disband. “It was an ambush.”

Sidney fixed him with a very hard look. “I think you and I need to have a little chat, Art.”

“I’m busy,” Arthur said flatly, and then when Sidney followed him into his tent, he said it again, slightly shrill with panic.

“I thought we’d sleep in today,” Gwen said wistfully. “Perhaps I’ll see if I can snatch another… ten, twenty minutes.”

“Gabriel just came out of Arthur’s tent,” Bridget said. “Think he slept there.”

Gwen’s eyes went round as wheels. “Oh my God, okay, I’m awake. Let’s go.”

“Do I have to come with you?”

Gwen grabbed her by the hand and started physically dragging her along, as best she could. “Yes. You’re good at this now, and it’s good for your emotional intelligence training. Come on.”

Inside Arthur’s tent, Sidney was berating him, which didn’t seem helpful.

“Oh, great,” he said, when he saw them enter. “More people come to laugh at my pain.”

“Are you all right?” Gwen said, dropping Bridget’s hand and going to sit with him. “What happened? I know he’s my brother, and king or whatever, but if he’s being horrible, I’ll kill him.”

“He’s not being horrible. Also, I’d like to remind you all that I am one-and-twenty years old, and I don’t need a council of my peers to judge my every move.”

“I’m not judging you,” Sidney said. “I’m giving you gentle corrections. Like with a horse.”

“Sidney, you’re not helping,” Gwen said crossly. “Just tell us what happened. Unless… I wouldn’t want to know.”

“Maybe I don’t want to tell you,” Arthur said. They all waited. “Okay, I’ll tell you. He came to say he was sorry about how things ended between us, and to explain why he behaved the way he did, which was… I mean it was totally inexcusable, obviously, but at the same time I do sort of understand.”

“Are you serious?” Sidney gave him a shove. “It is inexcusable! But you’re excusing it!”

“No, I’m not, Sid—it’s not excusable but it’sexplicable. Hewas having a very bad time! Anyway, he took full responsibility, as he should, and then he told me he still loves me.”