Damen's face turned stony. He would not show Laurent how pointedly those words found their mark, how much he dreamed of being that kind and honorable husband, to love and to be loved, and how deeply it cut to be branded everything Laurent didn't want. He'd already offered too much of his heart this day, only to be met by coldness and rejection.

So. This was how it was to be, then. There would be no joyful reunions in their tent tonight, or any night. A marriage of convenience, a pretense. Damen had never felt so trapped. "If that is how you wish it to be," he said, and the flicker of hope was gone from his eyes and voice alike. If Laurent thought his affections not worth keeping, there seemed little point trying to pursue it further.

He turned back to camp, and informed them he'd be going on a hard ride up ahead with two of his guards. He needed to work off some of the pent-up turmoil, and since stopping to drill midday simply wasn't in the cards, Damen rode his frustrations out.

He didn't see Laurent again until nightfall when they made camp. Servants drew up the royal tent, and Damen watched from across the fires to see if Laurent would give an order for another tent to be drawn up for himself. How far would Laurent take this?