“I don’t know about that.” Trev shrugged. He let his fingers slowly slide over her palm as he released it.
He stared at her for one long moment, unsure what to say but wanting to say so much. He wanted to tell her he was sorry for upsetting her last night. He wanted to explain that the thought of her with Joniss tore him up inside. He wanted her to understand that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him—and the worst.
Renna broke the silence first. “I’m sorry I snapped at you last night.”
“No.” He shook his head apologetically. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved in your personal life.”
“True,” Renna said, “but you were right about Joniss. He was just using me.”
Trev couldn’t hide his smile.
“Oh, don’t look so happy about it.” Renna rolled her eyes.
“I’m not!” But his laugh gave him away.
A little boy missing his two front teeth appeared at Renna’s side and tugged her arm, breaking the moment. “Come play with me, Miss Renna,” he begged.
“Colter,” Renna smiled at the scrawny boy, “have you met Prince Ezra yet?”
“No, I don’t care about the prince,” the boy said, still tugging on Renna’s arm as he looked up at Trev. “I just want to play with you.”
Trev raised his eyebrows in amusement. “I know how you feel. I just want to play with Miss Renna too.”
Renna dropped her eyes, alerting him to the fact that he shouldn’t have said that. He tried to change the subject. “Where do you live, Colter?”
“My momma and papa live by the market square. They sell squash and zucchini and sometimes tomatoes if they aren’t bad.”
“When I was your age, my momma and papa sold vegetables too,” Renna said, bending down so she matched his height.
Colter’s eyes lit up. “They must’ve sold a lot of vegetables because now you live at the palace.”
Renna laughed. “I don’t live here. I’m just visiting.”
“Like me!” Colter beamed.
“Just like you.” Renna tousled his long brown hair.
“Do you wish you lived here?” the boy asked.
She shook her head, glancing up at Trev. “I don’t belong here.”
Trev hated the truth in her words.
Colter scrunched his nose. “Momma says I don’t belong here either. I’m too dirty.”
Renna frowned. “You look clean to me.”
“My teacher scrubbed me clean so I could come, but Momma says it was a waste of time.”
Trev caught the concerned look in Renna’s eyes.
“Can we play now?” Colter tugged on her arm again.
“Yes.” Renna smiled back at him and let the boy’s small strength pull her away across the field to another game. Trev’s eyes followed her retreating back as he breathed out one long, deep sigh.
Tearing his gaze from Renna, Trev turned to his right and his eyes locked with Queen Mariele’s. She sat under a shade tent, methodically waving a small fan back and forth in front of her face to keep cool. But her eyes watched him.
Trev inclined his head respectfully, though his stomach twisted. How long had she been watching him? He thought back through his actions all morning: he had been with Seran, played with Seran, until the brief moment she had asked him to help Renna. He hadn’t done anything wrong—at least not today—but the queen’s gaze felt heavy with suspicion just the same.
He needed to find Seran.
With little searching, Trev found her kneeling under a tree, braiding a little girl’s hair who looked no more than seven or eight-years-old. Her gray school dress was too big, hanging over her thin body and crisscrossed legs like a blanket.
“It’s Prince Ezra!” The little girl squirmed excitedly as Trev approached. She tried to bow her head, but with her brown hair already in Seran’s hands, she couldn’t move much.
“Hello.” He swept into a gallant bow. “What’s your name?”
“Nalissy.”
“What a beautiful name.”
“That’s exactly what I thought.” Seran smiled at him. “I told Nalissy that I would do her hair like a princess today.”
“Aren’t I lucky?” Nalissy beamed.
“Very lucky.” Trev looked past the girl to see if Queen Mariele was still watching him. She was.
He plopped down on the grass behind Seran. “Well, if Princess Seran gets to do your hair, then I should be able to do Princess Seran’s hair.”
Seran turned her dark eyes toward him. “I don’t know if I can trust you. A princess must always look her best.”
“Oh, please let Prince Ezra do your hair,” Nalissy pleaded.
Seran leaned into the little girl. “How can I resist you? I suppose it’s all right then.”
Trev started combing his fingers through Seran’s hair, noticing how the smooth strands were like silk against his fingers. The whole scene with Seran and the little girl surprised him. He hadn’t pictured her playing with children. She seemed too refined for that.
“Am I invited to your wedding?” Nalissy asked.
Seran smiled at Trev, then answered, “I don’t think so, but I promise we’ll wave to you from the palace balcony afterward.”
Trev twisted Seran’s hair as if he knew what he was doing. “The wedding is in three weeks. Can you believe it?” He tried to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach.
“It definitely feels surreal. Everyone has been talking about it for ten years. Now it’s finally happening.”
He let out a breath, hoping it didn’t sound as heavy as he felt. “I know what you mean.”
“I suppose we’ll be busy the next few months with the election approaching. My advisors say we’re going on a few city tours . . . to promote the alliance.”
“That’s the plan. If it’s okay with you, of course.” Trev had never asked Seran what she wanted to do after they were married.
“It’s okay with me,” Nalissy chirped, clapping her hands in front of her.
Seran reached forward and nudged the small girl. “If it is okay with Nalissy, then it’s okay with me. I’m happy to do whatever is necessary for the election.”
He bit his lip. “You know, there’s a chance I won’t win, even with you by my side. Joniss is extremely popular.”
Seran worked a braid through Nalissy’s hair. “I know. My father prepared me for that possibility.”
“What does your father think if I lose? I’m guessing that would make me a disappointing choice in husband for his only daughter.”
“It would be a bit of a shock, I’m sure. But, if you lost, we would go back to New Hope, establish a presence there, and then you or I could run for king or queen when my father’s reign is up.”
Trev didn’t like that plan. How would he ever get over Renna if he had to live so near her?
Seran continued, clearly oblivious to the battle raging inside him. “The more I get to know you, the more I am convinced that you will win Albion’s election. Joniss has some popularity, but he doesn’t have my country backing him.”
Trev released the hair twist, letting Seran’s black hair fall onto her back. “That’s what my father says.”