Chapter 32

Three long days of standing in the heat, greeting guests, meeting many attractive, and a few not-so-attractive, men had Kit exhausted, and she was beginning to wonder why she’d ever consented to this ridiculous Choosing in the first place. Of course, then she remembered she hadn’t. She’d been born to it, and whether or not her aching feet approved, she was bound to continue.

“Don’t worry. Today will be much easier,” Avinia assured her as she brushed out her long hair. “You’ve already received all but ten of the Representatives, and according to the scouts your mother sent out, only four or five of the remainder will arrive today.”

“Which means you may sit in your chambers until you are called for,” Isla noted.

Her mother had explained the situation the day before, but Kit was fairly certain that the closest delegation would arrive within the hour, so she would still have to trek all the way out to the dais, and then, once there, she wondered if it wouldn’t be easier to stay, rather than journey all the way back inside. Still, the thought of sitting in her room discussing the Representatives with her ladies, rather than standing outside in the sun, was favorable. She tried to wear a smile despite her exhaustion.

As Avinia continued to work on her hair, Blankka came in carrying a tray of fruit and tiny cakes. “I thought you’d be hungry, Princess.”

“I’m famished, thank you.” Her mother had insisted on another lavish dinner the night before, but Kit had been so tired, she’d hardly eaten anything, and Galter had practically carried her back to her chambers once dinner was over.

Blankka handed her a cake with blueberries sprinkled throughout, and Kit began to nibble on it as her cousins brushed and pinned.

“Did you see any of your men in the hall on the way back from dinner?” Isla asked.

Kit liked the sound of that—her men. “No, I don’t think so. But then, I was so tired, if I had, I probably wouldn’t know it now.”

“You certainly were,” Avinia agreed, pinning up a large section of dark hair. “You did see Jecobian again on your way in yesterday, though, didn’t you?”

A giggle escaped Kit’s lips, and she felt like a little girl again. “You know I did. I already told you.” They’d had another conversation with the walls, and it had been delightful. She’d been thinking about him a lot lately, and while there were a few other faces that flipped through her mind’s eyes as she stood outside, Jecobian had occupied much of her thoughts the last few days. There was just something about his disposition that drew her to him. He wasn’t only polite and good natured; he was kindhearted, and when he spoke to her, she felt as if she was the most important person in the world.

And maybe she was, but most people didn’t know how to make her feel that way.

He was special. Thinking about him now, she ran her tongue across her bottom lip and wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She hoped to find out soon. If her mother lifted the ban after one week, as she said she might, he would likely be the first she’d ask to spend time with. Of course, she couldn’t formally invite him into her pleasuring chambers until her mother gave her permission, but they would be allowed to do… other things.

“Princess, would you like another cake?” Blankka asked, and by her tone, Kit imagined that she had asked the question more than once.

Thoughts of Jecobian had swept her appetite away. “No, thank you,” she said. “I would like some water, though.”

Blankka poured cool water out of the pitcher and handed her the goblet. Kit thanked her and took a long drink, but she wasn’t sure it was enough to quench her thirst. Thoughts of kissing Jecobian, of feeling his lips trace her neck, had her overheated, and she hadn’t even stepped out into the sun yet.

“We should get your gown on,” Avinia prompted. “It’s likely the first entourage will be arriving soon.”

Kit agreed and removed her dressing gown so that her cousins could help her get dressed while Blankka gathered up the items that needed to go back to the kitchen.

The dress she’d chosen was light pink and airy, and she hoped the flowing fabric would keep her from overheating. It seemed the sun grew hotter each day, and even though it was only the end of spring and not the longer, hotter days toward the middle and end of summer, she wished her birthday hadn’t been in the spring so that by the time this process began, it could be another season. Fall would’ve been nice.

“There you go,” Avinia said, smoothing down the soft pink fabric. “You look lovely. We just need your tiara. Would you like the one with the pink jewel in the middle?”

That one would look nice with her gown and sat flat against her head so she wouldn’t need to worry about it slipping about if she began to perspire. “Yes, please.”

Isla moved to get it from the cabinet across the room where they were stored, and Blankka said, “You do look stunning, my Princess.” The blonde smiled at her, but Kit thought she saw something else in her eyes. Perhaps a tinge of jealousy. She thanked Blankka for her kind words, wondering if there was something bothering her friend. “I’ll just take this back to the kitchen.” She pressed a smile to her lips and turned to go as Isla brought the tiara and set it gently on Kit’s head.

The outer chamber door opened, and only a second later, Blankka yelped, and there was a crash as silver collided with the stone floor.

“Whatever was that?” Avinia asked as all three women moved toward the door.

“Stay back, Your Majesty,” Isla insisted, but Kit kept pace with the other two as they entered the antechamber. She trusted her guards would be there to protect her.

Before Isla opened the door, Kit heard Blankka’s voice, apologizing to someone, and then she heard another voice; her breath caught in her throat. Eventually, she choked out, “Open the door.”

Whether or not Isla recognized who was speaking in the hall or not, she obeyed, slowly pulling the heavy oak door open.

Kit stared in disbelief, her mouth hanging open. There he was, standing in the hall, handing Blankka a tray in disarray, while two other guards stood on either side of her door minding their posts. His green eyes flickered to her face, and Blankka took the tray and scurried off, though she did glance over her shoulder at Kit before she went.

“You’re back,” Kit said, stepping through the doorway but not approaching him.

“I am,” Eli replied, bowing to her slightly out of respect for her station.

She cleared her throat. He looked different somehow. He’d always been quite muscular, but his shoulders were broader. His biceps pressed against his tunic, and the outline of his calves against his gray pants seemed more pronounced.

Kit realized she was staring and raised her eyes back to his face. His hair was slightly longer, but the same genuine smile waited patiently for her to say something, and he seemed to be taking her in, too, though if his eyes shifted from her face, he was too cunning for her to notice.

“When did you return?” She tried to keep her tone nonchalant, as if it didn’t matter. It didn’t, after all. He was obviously not a Representative, and now more than ever before, she needed to remind herself this could never be.

“I rode in with the Eastbury delegation. Two days ago.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Her Majesty… has kept me busy.”

He needn’t say more. She understood then. Her mother didn’t want Kit to know Eli was back. Likely, the queen didn’t know what she wanted to do with him. Kit was actually surprised to see him wearing his old uniform—Commander of the Princess’s Guard. She wondered if Galter had been transferred or only given a lower ranking. Either way, she was certain her guardsmen would be happy to have Eli back. As effective a leader as Galter was, Eli had a way when it came to directing men.

“Well, it is nice to see you,” Kit said, keeping her chin up. Part of her wanted to run to him, to wrap her arms around him, bury her head in his chest, inhale his familiar scent, and make all of her responsibilities melt away. What she would give to be the carefree girl skipping around the forest with him again! But that wasn’t meant to be, and no matter how hard she wished, she had business to attend to, and his only role in it would be to keep her safe, nothing more.

A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes, as if he had wanted her to melt in his arms too. But it was only there for a moment before obligation took him over. “You as well, my Princess,” he said. “I’m actually here to inform you that the delegation from Ironton will be here shortly, and your mother requests your presence on the dais.”

“Very well.” Kit nodded in thanks. She gestured with her arm, and the two guards who had been standing outside of her door began to escort her to the same spot she’d been standing in for the last three days. Her cousins followed behind, but Eli did not accompany them, and she wondered where he might be off to.

As much as she wanted to turn and speak to her confidants about Eli’s presence, she could hardly do so in front of her guards, which meant that the next few hours would pass even more slowly as her surprise burned inside of her like the flames she’d felt when the idea of pressing herself into his arms brought to life the smoldering embers ignited years ago. Perhaps it would be best for her not to think on him at all. There were plenty of other men who could occupy her thoughts as she greeted hundreds of people she’d never remember. Yet, as she made her way down the hallway, there was no doubt in her mind this complicated the entire affair even beyond its already murky edges, and Kit wondered how in the world she’d make it through her Choosing knowing Eli would be watching her every single move.