“You’re still flirting with me,” she said plainly. “You can’t even go one second.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That was not flirting. That was friendliness. Don’t confuse friendliness for flirting, or my kindness will all go straight to your head.” He shook his head as if he found her impossible.
Renna’s mouth dropped open, letting out a puff of air.
He smiled back at her before leaving. “Have a wonderful day, Miss Degray.”
20
Renna
A fire burned in the palace fireplace, which seemed odd to Renna, considering that it was the beginning of September, and the temperature outside was still warm. Somebody at the palace must have thought it would make the large room where the women gathered after dinner seem cozier. Seran and her friends assembled around a circular table playing cards while Queen Mariele sat at a desk nearby. She had received a letter from King Bryant earlier in the day and now worked a pen furiously over her response. Renna sat, her back pressed against the soft velvet sofa as her eyes scanned the words of a book. Despite her effort, it was hard to concentrate with the mindless chatter of Seran’s followers filling the room around her.
“Seran, I don’t know how you are going to kiss the sweaty guy who wins the tournament. It’s going to be disgusting,” Jenica scoffed.
Lizanne mused, “Too bad Prince Ezra can’t enter the competition. Then you could kiss him instead.”
“Seran doesn’t need a tournament to kiss the prince,” Sheridan snapped at Lizanne, and Renna wondered again why they all talked down to Lizanne so much.
“Maybe they’ve already kissed.” Jenica raised her dark eyebrows questioningly.
All women, including Renna, looked to Seran for the answer.
With a shy smirk, she placed a stack of cards on the table. “A lady never tells.”
The other women laughed.
Renna sucked in all the air around her and tried to focus on her book.
Jenica added to the pile of cards on the table. “I think Albion is treating us all very well. There are so many good-looking men to choose from.”
“Have you met Officer Vestry? He’s so dreamy!” Lizanne said.
Sheridan kept her eyes on her cards as she spoke. “Yes, very handsome!”
“Or what about Officer Doman?” Lizanne paused to speak before picking up a card from the pile.
“Lizanne.” Jenica looked as if she were disgusted. “You’re just naming every man you’ve met.”
“I would stay away from Officer Doman. Ezra said he’s trouble.” Seran placed another card on the table.
Ezra said?
Trev hadn’t told Renna that.
“Officer Doman is challenging him for the crown.” Seran pushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. “I didn’t think much about it, but Ezra said he has a lot of followers. Definitely stay away from him, or else it might look like we’re favoring the competition.”
Jenica snickered. “Maybe we should send him back to New Hope with Renna then.”
The women giggled.
“You’d do that for Seran, wouldn’t you, Renna?” Jenica laughed over her shoulder.
Renna kept her eyes down on her book, pretending she hadn’t heard them.
Seran spoke over her cards. “That’s not necessary. Renna is free to marry whomever she wants.”
Not true at all.
Renna kept her face expressionless as she stared at her book but was grateful for Seran’s defense.
Sheridan turned toward Queen Mariele. “May I ask how the negotiations are going with the marriage treaty?”
The queen looked up from her letter. “There are a few details left to sort out about trade. Once those issues are agreed upon, the document will be drawn up for review by King Carver, myself, and King Bryant’s advisors.”
Renna had heard about these negotiations for years. The vital New Hope military, access to New Hope ports, trade considerations in Albion, and the exchange of votes at the Council of Essentials, promises that if someone voted for this, someone else would vote for that.
Whatever happened to voting for something not because you were in an alliance, but because it was the right thing to do?
Her mother continued, “I imagine we’re only a few days away from signing.”
Sheridan nodded in an official way as if she understood all the ins and outs of the agreement. “It’s good to have those things taken care of before the ceremony.”
“Seran, let’s talk about your wedding,” Lizanne said with excitement. “I want to hear every detail of the plans so far.”
Renna definitely didn’t want to hear every detail. She stood to leave.
“Leaving so early, Renna?” Jenica smiled wide and Renna’s stomach soured.
“It looks like it.” She wanted to say something catty but managed to suppress the urge.
Renna left the ladies behind, taking the side stairs up to her room. She was finally getting the layout of this enormous place. She pushed the door open to her room to see Nora’s small frame standing there all giddy.
“Miss Renna, a secret admirer came to visit.” She walked over to the bed and pointed at a small box on top of her pillow.
“A secret admirer?” Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “Who?”
“I don’t know. I was getting fresh towels. I’m sure it says on the note.”
Renna reached for the paper and unfolded it.
Renna,
Normally, I would compliment you on how beautiful you looked tonight at dinner. I would tell you how I wished you were sitting next to me, conjuring up one of your pretend stories, or how I wish I could spend time with you again just to see what crazy thing you’ll do or say next. Normally, I would say those things to you, but I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to flirt with you—I promised I wouldn’t.
Tybolt
Renna laughed as she reached for the box and opened it. Inside were four individually wrapped squares of chocolate.
21
Trev
Trev waited at the large circular table in the high ruler’s room for his weekly meeting to start. The meeting consisted of the king and the six high rulers from each province in Albion, and the commander of the army, Fenton Pryer. Trev and Drake attended whenever possible, preparing for their future roles if the upcoming election went according to plan.
Alba Folly and Levi Karda, the two longest-ruling high rulers, sat across the table from Trev, whispering. Their heads bent together like they were talking about something serious, but whatever it was, they clearly didn’t feel inclined to include Trev.
Trev studied the dark stain of the table in front of him. He thought about getting himself a cup of water, but the pitcher was on a side table across the room, closer to the two men. He didn’t want it to look like he was eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Tell me it isn’t true,” Drake said in a hushed voice, lowering his body down in the seat next to Trev.
“I’m assuming you heard about the shooting competition between Renna and me,” Trev responded coolly.