I tried not to let the worry show on my face. At the time those things had seemed kind of funny.
“When my father is stern, no one chastises him. I don’t think it’s fair that when I act similarly, I’m seen as cruel. I’m making a huge decision, and I’m trying to be wise about it.” While I wanted to scream those words, I said them with the voice I’d been trained to use in interviews, and I even managed to smile through most of it.
“But one of them cried after you left the room,” she informed me.
“What?” I asked, worrying that my face was growing paler by the second.
“One of the Selected cried when the elimination ended. Do you think that’s a normal response or that you maybe elicited it by being severe with them?”
I swallowed, scrambling for anything to say. “I have three brothers. They all cry, and I can assure you, the reasons rarely make sense to me.”
She chuckled. “So you don’t think you were too hard on them?”
I knew what she was doing, digging at the same question until I snapped. She was very close to getting the better of me.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like on the other end of the Selection process and to be removed so early on. But, besides my father, no one here knows what it’s like to be on this side of it either. I’m going to do my best to find a worthy husband. And if that man can’t handle a harsh word or two, he definitely wouldn’t make it as a prince. Trust me on that!” I reached out and touched her arm, as if this was gossip or a joke. It was a disarming technique.
“Speaking of suitors, I hope you’ll excuse me. I need to go spend some time with them.”
She opened her mouth to ask another question, but I turned away, holding my head high. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go straight to the drinks, I couldn’t unleash every swear word I knew into the air, and I couldn’t run into the arms of my parents. I had to look content, so I walked around the room, smiling and batting my lashes at the boys as I passed them.
I noticed those small things alone made them grin at me or change their posture. Instead of retreating, their expressions softened, and I could see these tiny moments of gentleness were erasing their memories of this morning in the Men’s Parlor already. I wished with everything I had that the public would let it slide as quickly as the boys did.
I figured eventually one of them would be brave enough to speak to me. And it turned out that person was Hale.
“So, we’re at a tea party,” he said, falling into step beside me. “What kind of tea does the princess like best?”
He sipped from his own cup, smiling shyly.
Hale had an effortless warmth about him, similar to Miss Marlee, and it was easy to hold a conversation with him. At the moment, I was more grateful he was the first one to approach me than he could have ever guessed. He’d rescued me twice now.
“It depends on my mood. Or the season. Like I can’t seem to enjoy a white tea during the winter. But black tea is a good staple.”
“Agreed.” Hale stood there, nodding.
“I heard someone cried after I left today. Is that true?”
Hale’s eyes widened and he let out a whistle. “Yeah, it was Leeland. I thought he’d broken a bone or something. Took us nearly an hour to calm him down.”
“What happened?”
“You happened! You come in, prowling around the room, eliminating people at random. I guess he has a timid disposition, and you really shook him.”
I spotted Leeland standing alone in a corner. If I was sincerely looking for a husband, he’d be gone already. I was a little surprised he hadn’t asked to leave.
“I think it came out more callously than I’d intended.”
Hale laughed once. “You don’t have to be callous at all. We all know who you are and what you can do. We respect that.”
“Tell that to the guy who asked when he was getting paid,” I muttered.
He didn’t have a response for that, and I felt bad for bringing our conversation to a halt.
“So, what is it today?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.
“I’m sorry?”
“How are you proving yourself to me today?”
He smiled. “Today it’s my promise never to bring you white tea in the winter.” He didn’t say good-bye or bow but walked away, seeming hopeful.
Over his shoulder, Baden caught my eye. My first impression of him had nothing to do with our initial conversation. I only saw him as the boy Aunt May thought had promise.
I could tell he was debating whether or not to walk over. I looked down at the floor and peeked his way from under my lashes. I felt foolish trying to play this part, but it worked and he started to cross the floor. I thought back to the interviewer, musing over how funny it was that I’d been taught plenty of disarming techniques for interviews or negotiations, but when it came to boys, I was left to figure it out alone.
Baden looked eager to speak to me, but we were both shocked when another boy coming from a different direction arrived at us at the exact same moment.
“Gunner,” Baden greeted. “How are you enjoying the party?”
“It’s excellent. I was just coming to thank Her Highness for hosting it. It’s been a pleasure to meet your younger brothers.”
“Oh, dear. What did they do?”
Baden laughed, and Gunner tried to suppress a smile. “Osten is awfully . . . energetic.”
I sighed. “I blame my parents. It seems that by the time you get to your fourth child, your desire to instill certain values goes out the window.”
“I like him though. Hope he’ll be around.”
“It’s hard to say. Osten’s the hardest to keep tabs on. Even his nanny—whom he despises, by the way—can’t keep up with him. Either he’s causing chaos or he’s hiding.”
Baden jumped in. I wondered if he was trying to flirt or just seem brave. “Those two moods are so different! Is everyone in your family like that?”
I knew what he was asking: Was I the kind of girl who aimed to find solace or cause a stir with no in between? “Unquestionably.”
Baden nodded. “Good to know. I’ll buy a shield and some binoculars.”
And, darn it, I giggled. I didn’t mean to, but I did. I tried not to be upset for letting my guard down. Hopefully it would make for some good pictures. I curtsied and continued around the space.
I saw Henri across the room, Erik shadowing his every step. When our eyes met, he began walking my way immediately, grinning from ear to ear.
