Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
RANA
“How much longer is this going to take?”
Rana breathed deeply through her nose to gather her patience as she attempted to keep a hold of the fabric pinched between her fingers as Yasmin shifted her weight and turned to look at her profile in the mirror.
She slipped a pin through the fabric, narrowly avoiding Yasmin’s waist as she moved again, and stepped back, surveying her work.
“I’m almost done. I just wanted to make sure that all those darts fell in the right place. ”
“It would probably go faster if you stopped preening in the mirror like a peacock and held still,” Inara offered from her position on the low-backed sofa, where she had curled up with a book.
She looked up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind an ear that was just slightly too large for her head.
“I’m honestly surprised Rana hasn’t turned you into a pin cushion yet.
You would make a lovely hedgehog.” She batted her long eyelashes innocently.
Aliyah, seated in the corner and engaged with Laila in a game of chess, snorted.
Yasmin’s upper lip curled in a sneer. “At least I don’t already resemble an elephant.”
Inara shrugged, returning to her book. “You mean that as an insult, but elephants are some of the smartest creatures in Nomescia.”
Nour cleared her throat from the other side of the sitting room all the contestants shared, interrupting the verbal spat that was about to take place. “Rana, can you tell us anything at all about the next challenge?”
Rana smiled gratefully as she began undoing the buttons down Yasmin’s back.
Of the five remaining women, Nour was the one she liked the most. She was sensible and kind, and though she was every bit as beautiful as Yasmin, she didn’t flaunt her looks as if she deserved special treatment because of them.
“I can tell you that you will be wearing these dresses,” she answered, motioning for Yasmin to step behind the tall screen to change.
Yasmin groaned. “I hope it’s not something Kamaran has to watch.” She ran a hand down the bodice of the dress. “I don’t want my future husband to see me looking so…drab.”
“You know perfectly well that you look good in anything,” Aliyah interjected with a roll of her eyes. “Rana could dress you in a sun-bleached tent and you would still be the most beautiful woman in the room.”
A smug smirk settled on her lips as Yasmin disappeared behind the screen. Rana stood quietly to the side, intent on staying out of the discussion while she waited for Yasmin to change out of the dress.
Yes, I definitely made the right choice when Teta was trying to convince me to submit my name for all of this. It’s hard enough to spend a few hours with them; I can’t imagine living together for six weeks.
“It’s rather bold to assume that you’ll be the one His Majesty is marrying, don’t you think?” Inara turned a page of her book. “After all, he certainly seemed more than happy to give up his seat next to you at dinner last evening.”
“He’s just trying to play fair. Our history and connection are undeniable, but since the Council of Viziers called for the Queen’s Contest, of course we have to play by the rules.
” Yasmin flung the dress unceremoniously at Rana’s chest as she stepped past, once more draped in soft, expensive silk.
“I can be honest with all of you, of course, because you know how rare it is to find a love like ours.”
Rana couldn’t help the snort that escaped her and suddenly found five pairs of eyes turned in her direction.
“Do you have something you’d like to add, seamstress?” Yasmin’s smile was a study in false sincerity, and her voice dripped with condescension.
“No.” Rana shook out the dress and folded it demurely over her arm before gracing Yasmin with a smile just as fake as the one she had been given.
“I think we’re all thankful that a love like yours is so rare.
It would be rather depressing if all of us were hopping from one relationship to another based on what we felt we could get out of it. ”
Yasmin’s jaw fell open with shock, then worked back and forth a moment before she spoke, pretending to be unbothered. “Kamaran is known to be a bit of a flirt, of course, but those things can be fixed.”
“I wasn’t speaking of His Majesty,” Rana snapped, struck with the overwhelming need to come to Kamaran’s defense.
Since the night of their story, she had taken to observing him whenever she could during social settings.
He smiled and laughed and was free with his flattery, but there was never anything in his manner that suggested he truly wanted to take things further than conversation.
In fact, he was usually the one needing to fend off unwanted advances—something, to her chagrin, she had never thought to even notice before.
“What are you implying?” Yasmin’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not implying anything. I just said I wasn’t speaking of His Majesty.” Rana looked pointedly at Yasmin’s dress as she stepped around her, heading for the door. “That’s some beautiful silk you’re wearing, and rather hard to come by. I only know one merchant in El-Huram who trades it.”
“You’re just hoping to catch his eye yourself. You think that because he was kind and paid you the slightest bit of attention at the party this afternoon that he’s going to fall madly in love with you. I hate to break it to you, but you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Rana suppressed the urge to roll her eyes as she turned back to the room.
“Believe me, I have no intentions or desires to attract His Majesty’s attention.
” Though he’s given it whether I want it or not.
“Your dress will be ready by tomorrow.” She turned to Nour, who was watching her with a thoughtful expression.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Nour shook her head.
“Wonderful. Then I’ll leave you to it.”
With a final nod, she spun on her heel and pushed through the door, allowing it to fall shut with a heavy thud behind her. “What on earth did Kamaran see in that woman in the first place?” she muttered.
“If you’re talking about Lady Yasmin, she can be very nice when she wants to be.”
Rana started as Jasper shoved off the wall and fell into step beside her.
“I don’t know whether to feel honored or insulted that she’s dropping the act with me, then.” She sighed, then glanced over her shoulder. “Where’s Spot?”
Jasper plunged his hands into his trouser pockets and scuffed his boots along the marble floor. “He’s at the shop with Dan and Aida. I wasn’t sure how people would take to having him around after what happened this afternoon.”
“What did happen this afternoon? I’ve never seen him act like that.”
“Zamar said he needed a bit of a disturbance during the party, and he asked if I would help. I didn’t expect things to get so out of hand.” He grimaced. “Is Laila alright?”
They rounded a corner. “She has a torn dress and a couple of bruises, but she’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rana stopped, setting a hand on his shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault, Jas. Zamar is the one who asked you to let a tiger loose in a garden party.” She paused. “Which seems rather rude after asking them to plan and execute the whole event, but I’m sure he has his reasons.”
“They wanted to see how the contestants would react. Something about a queen needing to have ‘grace under pressure.’”
Rana gave him a wry look as they started walking again. “You seem to know an awful lot about all of the challenges. I’m beginning to think you’re part of the planning committee.”
He shrugged. “I’m just a page, which means people tend to forget that I’m there until they need something from me.
I’ve overheard a lot of conversations.” He exhaled heavily, shaking his head.
“If Dan hadn’t gone and made sure I grew up with a moral code, I could be making so much money from blackmail. ”
She let out a bark of surprised laughter. “The fact that you’ve even considered such a thing is slightly alarming.”
“But not totally alarming, which means you understand the appeal.”
Rana rolled her eyes, smiling in spite of herself.
“On the topic of overhearing conversations, are you going to stop hiding from His Majesty now that he’s so gallantly come to your rescue?”
“What?” She tripped over her own feet in surprise, and just barely managed to keep herself from falling flat on her face. “Who is he talking to?”
“Himself, usually. He mutters a lot when he’s bothered. And he paces. So much pacing. It makes my legs tired just watching him. For the sake of my physical well-being, you should stop avoiding him.”
“I thought you didn’t like him.” Rana raised her eyebrows. “I recall hearing some very strongly worded opinions.”
Jasper pressed a hand to his chest. “I am but a child. It is expected that I grow and change. I didn’t like His Majesty for Aida.”
“But you think I deserve him?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking.” His voice, suddenly serious, drew Rana’s eyes to his face.
The contemplative look in his eyes made him seem much older than his teenage years.
“If I thought he was going to treat you poorly, I would send Spot to stalk your steps and bite his hands off if he tried anything, but I don’t think he’s that kind of man. ”
“No, just not good enough for Aida,” she drawled.
“Because in the end she was just using him as a means to gain freedom, and he would never have been able to give it to her in the way she needed—not like Dan could. But it’s different with you.
He’s different with you. I’ve spent the last four years in this palace, and I’ve never seen His Majesty as honestly ruffled before.
It’s like he forgets that he has to be the Sultan, and he’s just an ordinary man. ”
“What a wonderful experience that must be for him. I’m not sure why you think it means that I should be the one to suffer through his presence.”
Jasper gave her a look. “Because I don’t think you suffer through it at all. If anything, I think you enjoy the challenge. I don’t think there’s anyone else who could go toe to toe with you and not run away with their tail between their legs. You’re kind of intimidating, you know?”
They had reached her room, and Rana stopped outside the door. “Your flattery skills could use a little work, but you’re young, so I’ll let it slide.”
“It’s only the truth. You’re a beautiful, confident woman who is already successful enough to fully support yourself.
Of course you’re intimidating to men who want to feel like they’re needed.
His Majesty has a whole country of people who need him, so your independence is probably a breath of fresh air. ”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Who are you, and what have you done with Jasper? You’re supposed to be less ‘wise friend’ and more ‘annoying little brother.’”
He grinned. “I’m just saying—he deserves someone who allows him to be himself, and you deserve a man who’s not going to try to make you into something less than you are.”
His words settled into place in her chest, filling the space with warmth. She gave him a fond smile. “Thanks, Jas.”
“Does this mean you’re going to stop hiding?
Shall I send His Majesty your way? Tell him that a real Adhavian delight is waiting for him with a plate of Teta’s Adhavian Delights?
” Jasper wiggled his brows suggestively and jumped out of the way with a laugh as Rana tried unsuccessfully to punch him in the arm.
“If you give away my candy, I will send Zade to bite your toes in the middle of the night.”
He tsked. “Such violence. Clearly Dan’s ethics have not had the same effect on you as they did on me.”
“Aaaaaand there’s the annoying little brother again.”
Jasper started backwards down the hall in the way they had come. “Would an annoying little brother help you find true love?”
“I’m not falling in love with Kamaran. They hardly even belong in the same sentence.”
“And yet,” he pointed out in a sing-song tone, “you’re the one who put them there together.”
He spun on his heel before she could answer, which meant he missed the tongue she stuck out at his back like a child.
It also meant he couldn’t tease her about the blush creeping up the sides of her face, which would only lead to questions she wasn’t ready to answer yet.
His Majesty might not be quite as terrible as she had first thought. In fact, she was woman enough to admit that she kind of liked him.
But love?
That was another story entirely.