“Everything,” I said. “Everything in the universe is wrong with this tie. I bet we could find world peace if we burned it.”
I got it unknotted and wrapped it up in my hand.
“That’s so much better.” I placed the wadded fabric in his palm, grabbed the tiara from his other hand, and placed it on his head. “That really works with your hair.”
He smirked, his eyes staring into mine with amusement. “So, since you don’t want your tiara now, maybe I could give it back to you tonight. I could come by your room, if you like.” Kile bit his lip, and all I could think about was how soft they were.
I swallowed, understanding the unspoken question. “That would be fine,” I answered, fighting a blush. “Maybe around nine?”
“Nine.” Kile nodded and backed away.
So he was just being discreet on the Report! I furrowed my brow in thought. Or maybe he was simply planning to pass his time kissing me. Or maybe he’d been deeply in love with me since he was seven and was only now finding the courage to stop teasing me and say so. Or maybe— Ean walked up and laced his arm through mine.
“Oh!” I gasped.
“You look upset. Whatever that little boy said to upset you, don’t give it another thought.”
“Sir Ean,” I greeted, impressed with how calm he was around me. “How can I help you?”
“By taking a walk with me, of course. I still haven’t gotten a chance to speak with you just the two of us.”
Ean’s caramel-colored hair looked almost golden in the sun, and while he didn’t have the same cutting-edge style Hale did, he looked smarter in his suit than most of the others. Some men simply didn’t look good in them.
“Well, you have me alone now. What would you like to talk about?”
He smirked. “Mostly, I’m curious about you. I’ve always thought of you as very independent, so I was surprised that you would start looking for a husband so young. Based on seeing you on the Report and all the specials on your family, I thought you’d take your time.”
He knew. He was so calm in his assessment, I was sure he knew this was all for show.
“It’s true; I’d planned to wait. But my parents are so blissfully in love, I thought this might be worth trying.”
Ean examined me. “Do you feel like any one of these candidates truly has what it takes to be your partner?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Do you think so little of yourself?”
He stopped walking, and we faced each other. “No, but I think very highly of you. And I can’t see you deigning to settle before you’ve really lived.”
It seemed impossible that a stranger could see so much, especially considering the lengths I took to guard my thoughts and feelings. How closely had Ean been watching me all these years?
“People can change,” I replied vaguely.
He nodded. “They can, I suppose. But if you ever find yourself feeling . . . lost in this competition, I’d be happy to help you in any way I could.”
“And how exactly would you help me?”
Ean gently escorted me back toward the crowd. “I think that’s a conversation for another day. But know that I am here for you, Your Highness.”
He stared deep into my eyes, as if he thought that all my secrets would spill out if he held my gaze long enough. I found myself needing to take some deep breaths once we finally broke eye contact.
“It’s a lovely day.”
I looked up, and one of the Selected was standing there. I was completely blanking on his name.
“Yes, it is. Are you having a good time?” Oh, please, what was his name?
“I am.” He had a very friendly face and a pleasant warmth to his voice. “I just won a round of croquet. Do you play?”
“A little.” How was I going to figure this out? “Do you play a lot back home?”
“Nah. Not really. Up in Whites, it’s mostly winter sports.”
Whites! . . . Nope, still didn’t have it.
“If I’m honest, I’m a bit more of an indoor girl.”
“Well, then you’d love Whites,” he said with a laugh. “I only get out when I have to.”
“Excuse me.”
Whites Boy and I turned to the newcomer. This one I knew.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I was hoping I could steal you away for a moment.”
“Certainly, Holden.” I took his arm. “Nice talking to you,” I said to Whites Boy, who looked a bit forlorn.
“I hope that wasn’t too rude of me,” Holden said as we wandered away.
“Not at all.”
We moved slowly, and he seemed comfortable, like he’d walked with a princess dozens of times.
“I don’t want to keep you. I only wanted to tell you that I admired the way you cut people last week.”
I was taken aback. “Really?”
“Absolutely! I admire a woman who knows what she wants, and I like that you’re assertive. My mother is the head of a lab back in Bankston. I know how hard it is to run something that small, so the pressure you must be under is hard for me to imagine. But you do it well, and I like that. I just wanted you to know.”