Chapter 36

Kit had pushed her way through the double doors when she spotted Jecobian standing on the wide porch waiting for her. He turned with a broad smile on his face, and taking her arm, led her down the wide, marble steps, a little way away from her guards. Behind him, she could see groups of Representatives dotting the yard. Some of them were sitting on the grass carrying on conversations, others were headed in the direction of the largest barn, while Cassius and about half of them were standing in a group not too far away. He held a slingball in his hand, and Kit assumed he was organizing a game. As intrigued as she was that Jecobian wanted to speak with her, it had been ages since she’d watched a good slingball match, and she’d love to see one again.

“My darling Princess, how are you?” Jecobian said taking both of her hands and spinning her to face him. “I wasn’t able to sleep a wink last night for thinking of you.”

Kit would’ve raised a hand to her neck if she’d had a free one. She hoped her ladies’ attempt to cover the red splotch she’d still had upon waking had worked, and it wasn’t visible beneath the layers of paint and powder. “I am well, Jecob, thank you. I’m sorry—you must be exhausted.”

“Just seeing your face is invigorating,” he replied with that sly smile that made her knees weaken. “Come away with me.” He pulled her a little closer as he stepped back, eyeing the guards who had stopped next to the foot of the stairs as if he dared them to try to follow.

“While that does sound enticing, I’m afraid I’d like to spend my time getting to know some of the other gentlemen today—and getting to know you better as well—through conversation.” She said the last word as pointedly as possible. As much fun as the night before had been, she needed to gauge personalities before she could determine who she wanted in her chambers.

“Princess,” he beckoned taking another step back and pulling her to his chest. “There will be plenty of time for that. Today, we shall share more intimate moments in the shade of the wisteria.”

“Jecob…” Kit began, but the door at the top of the stairs opened, and Eli walked out. He looked at her questioningly, as if he wasn’t sure whether or not she was content to be in Jecobian’s arms, and she noticed his eyes narrowed slightly as he took in who she was with. She had a feeling the two of them did not get along. Eli said nothing, only walked down the stairs and went to stand a little way on the far side of the other guard.

Kit turned back to Jecob but saw someone else had come to her aid this time, not that she necessarily needed rescuing, only that Jecobian didn’t seem to want to take no for an answer. Over his shoulder, she saw Cassius quickly approaching, the yellow slingball still in his hand. “My Princess, we are putting together a game of slingball, and we would love it if you’d be our judge. Won’t you come and watch us play? We’ll move a bench over so you can sit, if you’d like.”

A row of benches sat near the castle wall, where her mother and the other nobles were meant to come and spend some time outside, though none of them ever did, as far as she knew. “That sounds lovely, Cassius,” Kit replied as Jecob let go of her so that she could walk past him. His fingers seemed reluctant and slipped from her sleeves as she began to move.

“I should like to play as well,” Jecob announced, following along behind them.

“I’m afraid we already have even teams,” Cassius said quickly, offering Kit his arm, which she took. As muscular as Jecobian’s bicep had felt the night before, Cassius’s were like tree trunks, and she did her best not to squeeze his arm just to test it out.

“That’s no matter. We’ll find someone else to play on the other side, to even it out,” Jecobian replied, looking around.

“Well, the fact is we’ve already asked everyone else. Perhaps someone will endeavor to sit out.”

“Or perhaps the princess can lend us her commander.” Jecob had a sly smile on his lips as he spoke, his eyes staring over Kit’s head back at the porch.

She turned to see that Eli was aware they were discussing him, but he hadn’t quite figured out what it was they were enlisting him for. She remembered how irritated she’d been with him the night before, and a smile that matched Jecob’s slid across her face. “I think that’s a fine idea. Commander! Come here, please!” she called, and she could see Eli let out a long sigh before his feet started heading her direction.

Once he reached her, he gave a slight bow, as he usually did, and waited patiently for her to speak her piece. “The Representatives have put together a slingball game, and they need another player to make the teams even.”

Eli looked around, his forehead crinkled. “There are several other Representatives right over there. And there. And there.” He gestured at each group with his head as he spoke.

“Yes, I know, but they don’t want to play, and since I already have two capable guards, I have decided that you can play in their stead.”

“Your Majesty….”

“What’s the matter, Eliason? Are you afraid we’ll embarrass you?”

Kit turned with arched brows to see Jecobian had quite a cocky expression on his face, and while she had no idea if he was simply jesting or was truly trying to get Eli’s dander up, it worked. When she turned back around, her commander said, “Fine. I shall play. But if your mother sees this and wants my head….”

“I shall offer mine in your place.” She winked at him, knowing her mother would never dare come outside and that she was so busy planning festivities for the first week of the Choosing, she’d scarcely leave her chambers. “Very well, Cassius, it is settled.” Kit flashed him a broad smile. “How shall you choose teams?”

“We have decided that I shall be one team captain, and Landon shall be the other.”

Kit turned her attention to the other men and spied Landon standing near the front of the pack. She hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to him since his arrival, but she grinned at him now, thinking it was an even match, though Landon wasn’t quite as broad shouldered as Cassius. He certainly had the strength to defend against someone the size of the man whose arm she currently held.