Chapter 27

“Your Majesty, Queen Rona, I am Lita of Noblewood. May I present to you my grandson, Jecobian of the family Noblewood of Eastbury.”

“How do you do?” Rona asked, and Kit noted this was the most pleasant her mother and been all morning. In fact, she greeted them with a smile much wider and more genuine than any of the others Kit had seen since the welcoming ceremony had begun. “I heard of your difficulties, and I am pleased to see you’ve made it through unscathed.”

“Yes, it was quite the hardship,” Lita said, making a tsking sound with her tongue. “We are happy to be alive, aren’t we Jecob?”

Startled by the question, the Representative asked, “What’s that, Grandmother?” Kit did her best to hold back a giggle, but she knew why he hadn’t been listening to the older woman. His eyes had been locked on hers the entire time.

“I said we are happy to be alive, aren’t we?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you, Your Majesty, for sending the escort. Who knows what might’ve happened without them.” Jecobian bowed elegantly, his blue and red crushed velvet tunic rippling in the arms as he did so, giving Kit an indication that though he was tall and lean, everything beneath his clothes was pure muscle. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and began to nibble on it until she saw the sharp look from her mother and released it. Heat rose in her cheeks, but she fought the urge to fan herself.

She shook Lita’s hand briefly and was happy when she moved off quickly. Jecobian bowed and took the princess’s hand, raising it to his lips. His eyes reminded her off an icy lake in the wintertime, almost clear but with a sparkle of azure in them and some warmth beneath the surface. “It is an honor to meet you at last, my fair Princess,” he said once his lips moved away from her skin.

“I am so very glad to meet you as well. It must’ve been terrifying, having your carriage attacked as you did.” She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, he was such a regal creature.

“Yes, well, it was frightening, but I assure you, I would’ve jumped out at any moment and brandished my sword had it been necessary.” He gestured at the ornamental saber hanging at his side, and Kit wondered if it would’ve even done any damage, but the fact that he was willing to risk his life to protect those around him was honorable, and she smiled up at him.

“I’m certain they wouldn’t have let you do such a thing, especially since they were all there to protect you. Imagine, a mob of angry men ambushing you that way. Were they all armed?”

Jecobian looked confused. “I believe many of them were armed, though they were not all men. In fact, most of them were not.”

Now it was Kit’s turn not to understand. “Oh, I was under the impression it was a group of men who were upset about the vote.”

“I’m not exactly sure what they were upset about, but there were plenty of women involved as well. Luckily, a member of the Queen’s Army was with us, and he was able to dissuade them with no harm coming to anyone.”

Again, Kit’s forehead puckered. Perhaps whoever had told the story the day before was confused. “One of my mother’s officers? But I thought the army came into help later?”

It was as if her mother just became aware of the conversation they were having. She cleared her throat and gave Jecobian a stern look, and Kit realized it would be best if they did not continue this conversation in the queen’s presence since she clearly did not like something he was saying.

Though as far as she knew, Jecobian had never met her mother before, he seemed to get the hint. “Yes, well, it’s all sort of a complex affair, and I’m not even sure I have the story straight. They do try to keep information from me, you can imagine, what with not wanting to worry me before such an important event.” Kit nodded, forcing a smile, but she was still curious as to what her mother was trying to conceal. “The important thing is that I am here now, and I am looking forward to spending as much time with you as possible, my Princess. It is hard to believe I’m standing so close to you; I have gazed upon you from afar many times and spent many a night dreaming about your beautiful face. It is a wonder I have come to stand before you now, but I assure you, I will do anything I can to prove to you that I am the man who can please you best.” He smiled and raised her hand to his lips once more, and Kit felt a fluttering inside of her chest she hadn’t felt in ages. None of the other Representatives had made such a heartfelt plea to her, and she couldn’t help but feel connected to Jecobian immediately.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, at a loss for words as she stumbled through a response. “I look forward to that as well.”

Jecobian kept his eyes locked on Kit, her hand in his, and she felt he must’ve noticed her palm growing sweaty as thoughts of what it might be like to ask this man into her private chambers began to fill her head. Kit shifted her weight on her feet, trying to hide her arousal, but she thought he could see right through her, and pink tinged her cheeks again.

“I’m afraid I must be going now.” He looked over his shoulder at the line of people behind him. “Everyone wants an opportunity to meet the most beautiful woman in all of the queendom.”

Kit dropped her gaze, unsure of how to respond to that, but as he raised her hand to his lips one last time, she lifted her eyes again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Jecobian. I trust your stay this night will be much more pleasant.”

He leaned in closely so that his warm breath tickled her ear and whispered, “I hope I shall see you in the hallway, my Princess. It shall be torture to be so close to you and only gaze upon your face in my dreams.”

Jecobian moved away with a wink, and Kit’s mouth dropped open as she stared after him. Her heartbeat was a staccato, and she felt her knees begin to buckle. If it hadn’t been for the hand of the next delegate thrust into hers, she might’ve swooned right there on the dais. There would be a lot to discuss with her ladies that evening.