The Governor
It shouldn’t have surprised me that they wouldn’t be able to stand to look at me. I must admit, I did have higher expectations. One of these women was to be my future bride, I had expected—more.
Only two had risen above the bar so far. Colette, of course, with her bright and warm smile. Our time together at the masquerade still weighed heavily on my mind. There was a spark there that was undeniable, but I didn’t want that to cloud my judgment completely.
The magic had selected four of them—not just one. But even sodden like she was the day she arrived, she appeared to me like a fresh bloom. The way her gown clung to her soft curves … a groan built deep in the recesses of my chest.
Then there was Zuri—smart and fierce. It didn’t make sense for someone that headstrong to join a trial for marriage. It might have been my imagination, but there was a sadness in her eyes. Maybe she didn’t want to be here?
I pondered over the two remaining princesses as I left the gallery with Charles. They were equally attractive, but their reaction to my appearance and then the persistence of their questions once I had been identified as useful was off-putting.
Wimberley deserved more from its future queen, and I deserved more out of a partner.
“Thoughts, Your Highness?” Charles asked barely above a whisper.
“It’s too soon to tell,” I replied.
Charles smirked and his eyes twinkled. “I wouldn’t say that.” He handed me a slip of parchment. Scanning over the document I read the servant’s request—of one feather mattress.
Colette had made the request.
My eyes widened and I flipped over the parchment looking for more information, but there was no reason listed. “The peas were placed under all of their mattresses, correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And only Colette requested a new mattress? Did the servant tell anyone the reason?”
Charles seemed hesitant to respond. “I am unaware of the reason.”
I sighed, feeling my hopes grow. “It’s quite alright. That’s what the morning survey is for, I suppose.”
Charles bowed low. “Is there anything else you require of me before I fulfill this request?”
“That will be all, thank you.”
He dipped his chin before striding down the hall. Several princesses left the gallery and began exploring the various rooms on this hallway, all luckily bypassing the one I was heading for.
A throat cleared behind me, and I turned to find Colette, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I know it is probably well beneath your title, sir, but could you perhaps point me in the direction of the library?”
I couldn’t help but smile at her. “I was actually just headed there myself,” I offered her my arm and she took it without hesitation.
“Oh, thank you. I would have wandered these halls all day and not been able to find it. This place is massive.”
I snorted, not being able to stop myself. “The trial has yet to begin, you don’t have to spin tales for my benefit.”
Colette stopped suddenly, yanking me to a halt with her. “I would never,” she breathed. “That’s akin to lying, my Lord.”
Her voice had taken on a steely edge that I had not thought her capable of. “My apologies, Princess.”
I reached for her again, and she took my hand before we resumed our journey. It didn’t feel possible to not touch her anymore.
Colette mused aloud about the art and vases we passed.
“I must admit, I feel a bit out of place here.”
I watched as she marveled at each thing and caught the reddening of her cheeks when she indulged that bit of information. “Why is that?”
“Such beauty,” she muttered. “Such extravagance. It’s not what I’m accustomed to.
I could live here for years and still never get used to it.
It is shocking to me that there are those that do.
” She stopped us in front of a tiny painting of a swan.
“Take this for example. How could you walk by this every day and not feel joy? Look at the masterful brush strokes the artist used to craft those wings.” Her eyes were bright with awe.
“Mo—Queen Theodora painted that in her youth.”
“How extraordinary,” she whispered. “She is very talented.”
It was almost a monumental slip, but luckily Colette was so enraptured by the painting, she hadn’t even noticed.
“That she is,” I murmured. “Shall we?”
Colette nodded, allowing me to lead her down the hall and to the left where the double oak doors were trimmed with carvings of books, flowers, swans, and other creatures, all covered in gold.
“Wow,” she breathed, using her free hand to cover her mouth. I eased my arm out of her grip and pushed both doors open, and turned to watch her expression.
If there had been a wind through the hallway she would have crumpled to the floor. She swayed where she stood.
“There’s—there’s so many,” she said, eyes still wide.
I stood beside her, taking it in from her point of view. “It is quite a sight to behold.”
Colette nodded, quickly snapping her mouth shut. “T-thank you for showing me the way.”
I wasn’t ready for us to part, so I held out a hand urging her to enter with me and she nearly broke into a jog as if she couldn’t reach them fast enough.
Her quick, snapping strides had her to the nearest shelf in the time it took me to blink.
Colette ran a fingertip delicately over the spines, her mouth moving as she read each title.
It was natural to watch her, a joy really, seeing her happiness glow like an aura around her. There was a magnetism to her I couldn’t fight.
“Is there something I can help you find?”
Colette squeezed her hands in front of her. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin … ”
“Well there’s history—
Colette scrunched her nose in the most adorable way. “Yes, but first—where would the romances be?”
My brows drew up high on my forehead. “You’re a romance reader?”
She bit her lip as she nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t enjoy romance.”
I found myself struck mute, having not thought that trials could be considered as such.
“What about the trials is romantic?”
She fisted a handful of her skirts and waved them back and forth, as I led her down the stacks to my mother’s favorite section of the library. “Well, the setting for one, such a magical place. The trials—not so much—but the meaning behind them is quite romantic.”
“And what do you think the meaning behind them is?”
“The Prince wants to ensure that the princess he marries is the best fit for his kingdom, of course. Sure, it’s not romantic in the normal sense, but it does speak to his duty and honor, and the great love he has for his kingdom, and I find that very admirable.
Most of what I’ve heard about the Prince is lovely, actually. ”
I looked anywhere but at the keen gaze of the princess beside me. She had no idea she was talking to the actual Prince but had said only kind things, perfectly encapsulating everything I had desired for this trial.
“He’s a bit pompous,” I grumbled.
Colette gasped. “Sir, you should not speak ill of those who are not here to defend themselves.”
At my smirk she pursed her lips. “But do-do you know him well?”
“Quite well.”
She sighed dreamily. “Is he kind?”
I paused, thinking it over. I had always tried my best to be kind, but made mistakes as would anyone—like now—by deceiving her.
“He tries his best,” I replied.
“That’s all any of us can do,” she mused.
At last, we reached the shelves of the romance section. The books here were all covered in pinks and reds.
“Here we are,” I said, nodding in the direction of her desires. “Best of luck.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. “How selfish of me. I didn’t even ask what kinds of books you like to read.”
Her apology was sincere and her question endearing. “I dabble in all the sections. But fiction is my favorite, adventures to be exact.”
“Ah, an explorer’s heart,” she smiled. “That’s admirable, too.”
There was an immediate flush to my cheeks. I was a nobody to her and yet she still cared.
An identical blush spread across her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to be forward—it’s just nice to have someone to share hobbies with,” she looked down at the floor. “Thank you, for showing me the way—and for your kindness.”
I bowed my head. “It was my pleasure.” I left her in the romance section, but didn’t stray far, keeping an eye on her from a distance.
It was impossible not to stare at her as she grabbed a few books from the shelves before heading to a section that surprised me—history.
More accurately, she grabbed several books that were about the history of Wimberley and its people.
It appeared she cared a great deal about winning these trials, but she had no idea she was already winning my heart.