The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 239: Coming around (1)

"I don’t understand why we could not go to the ball. Everyone is attending and Hazel would expect us to be there. Mother," Linda whined, turning to her mother once more for help.

"I am also awaiting an answer. I told your father how important it would be for you to attend but he didn’t listen. Can someone please answer why we are at home and not at the ball this very second?" Tessa questioned, staring at Kenneth.

Kenneth had been avoiding her after he shared they would not be going to the palace. His reason for it wasn’t shared and Tessa didn’t like it.

Her sons were quiet so they knew something that she and Linda did not.

"You are aware that for Linda to marry, she must attend social gatherings like the ball for her to meet with young men. I hope the reason we have stayed behind isn’t so you can stop her from getting married. It must happen," said Tessa.

Linda had remained unwed long enough and at this point, their family name wouldn’t be enough to attract good suitors. Many of the girls Linda’s age were already married and moving on to their second child.

Tessa couldn’t have Linda wait another year before she got married and she had to start getting her sons to take wives. They could not spend their time worrying about her or Linda. It was time that they went off to start their own families.

"It is not that mother," Liam answered.

"Then tell us what it is. What trouble is at the palace for us to not be at the ball? Did something happen? Were we not invited to go there?" Tessa asked, looking back and forth at her three sons. "A simple answer would end my questioning. An honest answer. You owe it to Linda for ruining her night."

"The answer is that we will sit here as a family. There will be more balls to come soon. The dress will not go to waste, Linda. You can visit Hazel soon to share that you were here with us," Kenneth said, sticking to not telling them the full story.

"My visits to the palace have been decreasing so when would I get the chance to tell her? Like my mother, I want to know if there is a reason I cannot go there. Is it because some of the maids still gossip that I have some sort of relationship with the king?" Linda asked as there was nothing else she could think of. "It is not true."

"Of course, it’s not true. Who did you hear it from-"

"Enough," Kenneth stopped his son. "That is not the reason why, Linda. I would prefer that you do not question it. Everything I do is for the safety of this family and I was not in the mood to attend a ball. We will sit here as a family."

"Then why aren’t grandfather and grandmother here? Grandfather said he wasn’t attending the ball and would have loved it if I could join him for dinner. You have also decreased my visits to see them. Is there something that I need to know about?" Linda asked.

Her family had been strange for the last two years. The Hensons didn’t feel as close as they normally were. When Linda went to visit her grandparents her brothers would either not stay or they were attached to her, not letting her be alone.

"Did one of you betray the king?" Linda asked, hoping that was not the case. She didn’t want her family to be branded as traitors. Then she wouldn’t be able to ever step foot in the palace again.

Liam laughed as it was the most ridiculous conclusion Linda could come up with. "I thought you were smart, Linda?"

Linda picked up a cushion to throw at Liam. "Do not laugh at me!"

"Children," Tessa spoke loud for her voice to be the one heard. "Do not throw my cushions. I am already angry and this will not help. I want answers right now or I shall get up and leave."

Tessa couldn’t deal with all the secrets. She enjoyed not having to see Grant come into her home and ordering her around as though she was his servant but she had to know why her husband wasn’t seeing his father. Why did her sons look annoyed when Grant was brought up? Linda was the only one to get excited when Grant was mentioned.

If there was trouble in the family, Tessa should know.

After a minute passed and Kenneth did not answer, Tessa stood up to leave. She didn’t know where she was going, just that she had to be alone. If she could, she would get dressed with Linda and head to the ball. There was still time for them to get dressed, get there, and greet the queen.

Tessa heard someone following her and guessed it to be Kenneth. "Now you want to speak after you’ve been silent? I want to be alone."

Kenneth continued to follow Tessa. She would leave without telling him if she could find one of the coachmen. "I didn’t want to speak about it in front of the children."

"I have asked you in private why we aren’t attending the ball or why is it that your father stopped coming here. Each time you have told me that it is nothing. Our sons seemed to know but you think it is best that I do not know. Tell me," Tessa stopped walking as something came to mind. "Does it have something to do with me? Has he asked that I no longer be your wife?"

Tessa could only think of that as why Kenneth wasn’t seeing his father. It wasn’t too late for Grant to think that Kenneth should move on. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that he had suggested it.

The children were grown so they didn’t need to have their mother around to care for them. Kenneth could now be here alone while Tessa would have to return to her family.

"That is not why I have not seen him and even if he were to suggest it, I would not leave you. I would like to think you wouldn’t be so quick to believe that I would leave you, Tessa. I’m trying not to let you know anything so when the day of questioning comes, you will not need to visit the court," said Kenneth.

The less Tessa knew the better.

Still, he had to give her some clue to stop her from thinking the worst.

"What I am about to share with you cannot reach Linda or leave our home," Kenneth said, taking Tessa’s to lead her somewhere they could speak in private.