Day out(2)

"I can't believe we let them talk into following us!" Margie whispered, whilst nudging Janice slightly.
She glared at Jeremy, who stood a few meters away winking at her.
"They offered us this spring ticket in return. I'd like to say, it's okay they followed us." Janice replied, stretching out her leg on a small coffee table.
"Also, it's not like we have anything hidden we would be doing here. So, I guess it's okay they are here." She added with a slight shrug.
"I don't think it's okay," Margie grumbled. "Other women would think we are independent when they see them with us."
"Moreover," She continued. "How would you feel if you see a nasty headline with a caption like this, the king and his brother can't let their wives out of their sight."
Janice hoisted a brow whilst staring at her. She hadn't thought of that and she wondered if there would be any news with such headlines.
Since she had been in Cherview, she had seen how respectful even the journalists were. Unlike back home where they preferred to cook up their stories instead of researching the truth.
Also, she guessed the journalists might be afraid of how Jules would react when he sees any false news.
He had once told her he almost beat up a journalist when younger due to the false information he had provided against the royal family.
Even if he hadn't told her, she believed he had held back then because he was a prince and he didn't want to cause any more upheaval that must have been created due to the news.
Again, she knew he wouldn't do much too now because he was a king. Yet, she believed he would send out his watchdog to do his dirty work.
"Janice!"
"What?!"
"Stop spacing out," Margie mumbled. "You've been doing that quite a lot now and I wonder what you are thinking about."
"Are you having any problem with Jules?"
"Of course, not!" Janice exclaimed. "Why would you think so?"
"Because you've been thinking a lot. Also, you look worried most of the time I see you. You are barely the Janice I know anymore."
Janice rolled her eyes, then shook her head. "I'm fine, Margie. Jules had been really sweet this past month. Instead, I'm the one that is trying to get him riled up due to my unruly behaviour."
Margie frowned as she gazed at Janice. She didn't understand what she was saying. Also, she knew Janice was trying to protect Jules because as far as she was concerned, he was still the jerk she had been acquainted with.
She could recall the first time they had met. She hadn't been only attracted to his good look, but to intelligent, he seemed.
However, when he had received her advances countless times and had called her mean names, she had thought him to be rude and incapable of feelings.
It wasn't only her he had rejected. She had seen a lot of women fawning over him. But he had left all disappointed.
"I don't think you are wild. Rather, it's Jules that is making you feel that way." Margie stated.
She sighed whilst shaking her head. She knew no matter what she said, Janice would always be on his side. She wondered if he had bewitched her or she was the one acting that way of her own will.
"I'm not bewitched." Janice retorted.
"Why do you think you are bewitched?"
Janice and Margie jumped at the sound of Jules' voice.
"It's not your business," Margie responded before Janice could. She glared at him, before glancing at her husband who was watching her intently.
Jeremy grimaced at how sharp-tongued Margie was becoming.
Since today, she hadn't only been rude to him, but to Jules too.
It was annoying he couldn't seem to do anything about her behaviour.
When he had tried to caution her in the past, she had often accused him of trying to control her. He wondered if that was how it seemed like.
Yet, he knew it wasn't.
He wanted a respectful wife. Someone that would be in public and he wouldn't be scared of what she was going to say to people in higher ranks.
However, he had gotten the opposite. He wondered if Jules was holding back on punishing her because he knew he was furious.
He had been furious when talking to him about her behaviour a few seconds ago.
Yet, he didn't know what to do to her.
"Margie, that sounds harsh. He was only trying to know what we were talking about." Janice mumbled, eyeing Jules.
She noticed the slight colour that was slashed on both cheeks meant he was embarrassed. She couldn't remember the last time she saw him that way.
"I know you will defend him," Margie said, jerkily. "But, I won't apologize for thinking he had bewitched and used you!"
"Enough!" Jeremy exclaimed. He glared at his wife, then stared at Janice and Jules with a slight smile.
"I'm sorry, I think she's coming down with something. Can you both excuse us for a bit?"
Janice nodded whilst Jules shrugged.
Jeremy clutched Margie's hand tightly, pulled her into him and stalked out of the opening.
"What is this about?" Jules' inquired whilst staring at the retreating back of his brother and his wife.
He cocked a brow as he received no response.
"It's nothing, sire," Janice muttered. "Margie believes you are using me and she said I deserved better."
She added whilst staring up at Jules. She gauged the expression on his face and doubted if she would know whether what Margie had told her was the truth.
However, his expression was blank and she didn't get any answer whatsoever.
"And you believed her?"
"Should I not?" Janice asked. Although she hadn't told Margie she believed whatever she had said about Jules.
But, she knew it was not a lie because he had told her the same thing that she was just a breeding tool he didn't care about.
"Why should you believe whatever comes out of her mouth?"
"Why should I not believe her?"
"Madame, stop answering my questions with another question of yours." Jules cautioned.
"Perhaps, if you had answered mine without hurling another question at me, I would have replied to yours too."
Jules sighed. The sofa Janice sat on dipped under his weight as he sat on it. He clasped her intertwined hand, lifted it to his lips and gave it a slight kiss.
"You know Margie, she's a hot-headed woman. Ever since I knew her, she had often behaved in that way. So, we never see eye to eye for reasons best known to her." Jules paused, gazing at her.
"Now, I wonder why you would believe whatever absurd thing comes out of her mouth."
"You never give me a reason to believe what she had said or not," Janice responded. "You made it clear that you married me as a breeding tool and nothing else."
"I didn't directly say you were that."
"Of course, you did. You said, I am meant to warm your bed and have your children. Then, maybe discard me after everything."
Jules's cheeks reddened for the second time today. The word coming out of Janice's mouth sounds absurd even to his ears. "I might have said something similar to that, but I didn't say I would discard you soon after."
"You don't need to say that, Sire. I mean it doesn't matter if you discarded me or not. You were forced to marry me because of my condition. At least, you will be free when I'm done raising your children."
Jules groaned. He had thought today would be a good day to relax. However, Margie had another plan.
"Anyway, I'm not bothered. I know what I signed up for even though I wished everything would get better." Janice said.
"Can we forget about the event today and enjoy the reason we came here?"
"Yes." Janice nodded. "It isn't like I have any choice to make right now. I will just go with whatever you say to me."
That witch! Jules mulled. The thought of gripping her tiny neck and punishing her for feeding his wife's mind with absurd things infiltrated his mind.
"Maybe, we should go check on Jeremy and Margie."
"Great idea," Jules affirmed, rising to his feet. He helped her up, before wrapping his hand around her.