10. Final Trial
Colette
The final trial arrived in the blink of an eye and what a long, excruciating blink it was.
I hadn’t slept the last three days. Every night, I tossed and turned, and every morning Julian would ask how I slept.
It had become a ritual of torment, so to speak, and every time I answered his questions, he smiled the most breathtaking smile.
The pain was almost worth it to see him react that way.
That thought had my spine stiffening and bringing me back to the present.
“The trial this afternoon consists of dancing,” Charles explained, sweeping an arm to gesture to the musicians setting up in the corner and the three gentlemen standing before us. “We are a man down so the Governor will be filling in, any volunteers?”
Julian glowered in the corner, his brow settling heavily over his dark brown eyes.
He was dressed rather handsomely in tan trousers, and a white button down.
It was opened more at the collar and I couldn’t help but admire the strong column of his throat that descended to his broad chest that was visible through the gap.
I was exhausted and dancing was the last thing I wanted to do, but I raised my hand and smiled. “I would love to partner with the Governor.”
Julian’s glower slipped away and a smirk tugged up the corner of his lips. Elizabeth sighed with relief beside me and swished her butter-yellow gown back and forth. It was something she always did and I found it annoyed me just as much every time.
Zuri had a similar look of relief on her face as well.
But that might have been because Prince Leo stood opposite of her.
Gisela was too far from me to gauge her demeanor but I’m sure it was much the same.
Every single time they had been in his presence they ignored him, or fled as soon as was able.
Sure, Julian’s scars were different, but that meant nothing to me. It was the content of his being that meant the most and he was wonderful to be around, uplifting when I needed it, and quite humorous, as well.
Our time together after the last trial had stirred something deep within me and I didn’t know if it was his presence or if the rain had eased my nerves. There was more to him than what met the eye, and it was unfortunate that the others were so quick to judge him solely on his appearance.
The rest of the princesses partnered off with the visiting princes and Julian stalked towards me. There was a prowl to his step and I found myself being devoured by his gaze. It was unsettling in the best of ways and my hands trembled in response.
“Princess Colette,” he bowed before me and I inhaled sharply through my nose. His scent wrapped me in its warm embrace and I swayed on my feet. It was intoxicating and I briefly wondered if my exhaustion was bordering on delirium again.
Charles stood to the side of the dance floor, a board and parchment in hand. “If I tap you on the shoulder, please step aside. The last princess standing is the winner. The first song is the official dance of Wimberley.”
I placed my hand in Julian’s but as a small electric current went through me, my eyes widened, yet his narrowed.
Julian’s hand squeezed mine gently as he pulled my body flush to his.
The strong lines of his body fit mine perfectly and something tickled the back of my mind—this felt familiar.
I had only danced to this song once before yet it felt intrinsic in nature.
The strums of the music grew louder and he twirled us around in excellent fashion.
There was a lightness to his step and a grace exuding from every facet of his being.
He was incredible. A smile blossomed on my face despite the fatigue weighing me down.
I pressed my forehead into his chest and felt the rumble of his laugh.
“Am I boring you?” He chuckled.
I shook my head as he spun us, the sage ruffles of my gown floating as we went. “Not at all. I’m just … tired.”
Julian pursed his lips to keep from smiling broadly. “Imagine that.”
Charles tapped Elizabeth on her shoulder and she stomped her foot before striding for the outskirts of the dance floor.
“Right,” I grumbled. “I thought I would have become accustomed to my new sleeping arrangements by now. Maude’s added four more mattresses, pretty soon I’ll be sleeping on the ceiling.”
I blew out a breath as the music grew to something more intimate. Flashes of sky blue eyes shot across my mind and my heart raced.
“Are you stressed?” He asked, a gleam in his eyes as he studied my face. I couldn’t help but appreciate the fullness of his lips.
“Slightly,” I whispered and almost missed the half-step. “I’ve already failed twice.”
His smile dropped away. “You haven’t failed.”
He spun me away and I sunk into a near crouch, my leg extending behind me much the same as I had the first time I embraced this style of dancing. Julian’s eyes widened, his jaw slackened slightly before he tugged me to him. When my body pressed against his I sighed.
“What is it?” he asked, dancing us backwards before we began circling each other.
“Forgive me for asking, but were you at the masquerade ball?”
Julian’s steps faltered but he quickly recovered before Charles took notice.
“Why do you ask?”
I reached for his hand and he took it, spinning me three times before drawing me back in.
“There’s something … ” I shook my head as we separated before pulling back in. “I danced to this song only once before.”
“Then you’re a natural,” he breathed, his hands locked low around my waist.
“Have you danced this many times? With your partner perhaps?”
Julian chuckled. “No, I am unattached.”
Relief swept through me, cooling the flush that had bloomed on my cheeks. But not enough to keep it from notice. The song was drawing to a close as Julian studied me, halting us a moment too soon. He raised a hand to my face and swiped his thumb tenderly across my lower lip.
Stars shot across my vision as my heart accelerated. It was too similar and the feelings overwhelmed me.
Charles tapped me on the shoulder, giving Julian a look of reproach. As we walked, hand-in-hand, off the dance floor. I felt the truth wrapping around me like a warm cloak.
I had failed … all three trials. My chance at winning the Princes’ hand were now entirely gone, but I was not heartbroken. Quite the contrary. I had set about these trials with my only goal being to try my best, and I had. And maybe, I had stumbled across something much more important.
“That was entirely my fault—” Julian began, apology glimmering in his soft brown eyes.
I halted his speech with a shake of my head. “The fault is mine,” I shook my head. “If I wasn’t so fatigued I would have focused better on the task at hand.”
Charles stood at Julian’s side and cleared his throat. “Your announcement, My Lord.”
Julian looked pained as he opened his mouth and then closed it again. He took a deep breath as he faced the room.
“That commences the trials. I will collect all of my notes and present my findings to Prince August.”
Gisela squealed and Elizabeth clapped her hands together. Julian’s eyes never left mine.
“You may all leave,” Charles announced and pulled Julian aside. I didn’t want him to leave, I wanted him to face me. But Zuri’s hand slipped into mine as she pulled me away.
“I thought for sure you would win. What happened?” She whispered but her gaze kept flickering to Leo.
“Never mind that. Are you okay?” I asked, squeezing her hand.
Zuri grimaced. “The pain—is unbearable.”
“Did he say anything? About why he is here?”
Zuri shook her head, and my mind drifted away to Julian’s body pressed against mine and his thumb on my lip. The masked stranger had done the same exact thing and elicited the same feeling.
“I still think you might stand a chance, depending on your answers each morning,” Zuri whispered as we reached the hallway and strode arm-in-arm towards the residential wing.
“It doesn’t matter,” I breathed. My mind was slowly catching up to what my heart knew all along.