Chapter 5
T he castle quickly became teeming with people as more and more arrived for the ball, which would have happened tomorrow evening.
I was grateful to have the chance to dine with old friends I hadn’t seen since our lessons had to get more serious.
But I was constantly pulled into meetings to settle issues these last few weeks.
Father meant well, trying to get me acclimated to these issues, but it was all overwhelming.
I wished he had waited until after this ball to defer to me on all these decisions.
On the other hand, I appreciated not being pulled into some of the bickering the guests kept starting.
So many of these men wanted to show off to me, and almost none of it helped them.
I had already decided on two of the three men I wanted to keep around.
Prince Egan, of course, was one. Lord Luther’s choice, Prince Frederick, was the second.
Ivy kept fawning over him, and Amyra even endorsed him.
He appeared to be a safe choice. He was a second-born son in another country with birth order establishing order of succession.
His older brother was already married and had a son, so he was unlikely to sit on their throne.
However, he has been important to many new pacts with his homelands and has proven to be a great diplomat.
I worried about his disposition, though.
To be sponsored by Lord Luther, he likely wasn’t one to see me as an equal.
Amyra insists many of the Ladies in his country wish they could be with him, and that he is very kind and generous, so I was open to looking deeper into him.
The third choice eluded me. Part of me wished to choose Spencer, but I worried it was just because of familiarity.
He wouldn’t be the most strategic choice, but he would be someone I know I can get along with, and I don’t feel entirely grossed out by the thought of having romantic relations with him, so that’s a bonus, I suppose.
I needed to get one more measurement for Eliza on my dress.
She really had a way of getting me excited for this ball by playing this secret dress game with me.
I found myself intrigued, since she had never kept her ideas from me.
She had planned to meet me in my room for the measurements and had already spent some time there with Ivy.
The two of them were planning the accessories to use.
I wouldn’t wear a crown yet, as the coronation hasn’t happened.
But Ivy insisted on a tiara, and today they intended to choose which of them I would wear.
I opened my door, and I could hear them both abruptly stop talking. I watched them as they glanced at each other, the table between me and them, and tiaras everywhere. They dissolved into giggles, which were so infectious that I also let loose a small laugh as I ask, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Lyla! But hurry, let Eliza measure you so that you can return to your official queen life, and we can get back to planning your outfit!”
Their excitement for this was infectious, and I could shrug off the worries of the day and engage in their banter for a few minutes.
Eliza grabbed her last couple of measurements when someone knocked on my door.
This business of coming to my room has got to stop.
I really needed to talk to someone about establishing boundaries.
Ivy opened the door and announced the visitor with the same excitement she had with Eliza about the tiaras. “Spencer! I’m so glad to see you. Please come in! ”
I shot Ivy a look. She had never invited people in without checking with me. This whole ball business must be getting to her head. Still, I was grateful it was just Spencer, and that I was dressed well enough. “Spencer, it is a pleasure, but also a first to see you in my room.”
As he stepped inside, Spencer’s gaze drifted over me, pausing for a heartbeat too long before settling on my face.
His emerald-green eyes held something bright and steady, something that caught me off guard.
His dark hair curled neatly above his brow, and his skin, a warm, honeyed bronze, seemed to glow in the afternoon sun.
He was striking, really. Somehow, even more so than I remembered.
He had been at the castle since Mother’s funeral, but we’d barely spoken. I wish we had.
Mother had included him on her list, so, naturally, he received an invitation to the ball.
“Lyla, I have been most looking forward to talking with you, and it’s been near impossible to get time with you,” he said, his voice warm and easy. “I hope you forgive me for coming here, but I wanted to catch up before tomorrow evening’s festivities.”
When he smiled, two dimples carved into his cheeks, deep and endearing, softening the sharp line of his jaw.
Had he always had them? Why hadn’t I noticed before?
His eyes seemed to twinkle too, like emeralds catching sunlight.
Little butterflies inside me seemed to dance to the silent beat the twinkles created.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.” I returned the smile and noticed Eliza had disappeared, along with the tiaras.
Ivy was hiding near the door. She knew the scandal of leaving us alone in my chambers would cause serious problems, and I suspected she wanted to have some juicy gossip to share with Amyra.
We caught each other’s eyes, and she nodded towards him, silently telling me to focus on him.
“Please, let’s sit and chat. Ivy, could you have dinner sent here? ”
Ivy cracked the door open and made the request for three plates.
Grateful for making it obvious she was staying; I turned my focus to Spencer.
His eyes seemed to have never left my face.
I blushed with the attention. “Tell me, how have things been for you? We haven’t seen each other in five years.
I’m sure there’s so much to catch up on. ”
Spencer and I spent the next hour reminiscing about our lives since we last saw each other, and then recalling some of our misadventures.
It was nice to reconnect and to share these stories with Ivy.
Spencer enjoyed sharing some of the more embarrassing stories with her, too, much to my chagrin.
And the whole time, I kept catching him staring at me with a look I couldn’t recognize.
I suppose he might have been catching me staring, too.
I couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but while he was exactly the same boy I remember with such fondness from my childhood, he was also so much more.
He really grew into his body. I last saw a gangly, lean teen with a face still sporting chubby cheeks and knees so bony that he sometimes resembled a foal trying to navigate the barn for the first time.
Now he had high cheekbones, an angular jaw, glistening emerald eyes, dimples that accented his smile, and the confidence of a leader.
His gaze caught mine again, and this time he didn’t let it go. “Lyla, some people would say that staring is impolite.” He bit his lower lip to hold back a smile, and my eyes darted to Ivy. I could feel my cheeks heating and Ivy didn’t do well at holding back her giggle.
“Some people probably would. And what would you say?” I couldn’t say why I got so bold, but I rolled with it. I returned my gaze to his, this time holding it.
He let his smile free as he said, “I’m flattered that you can’t take your eyes off me. I’ve been struggling to keep mine off you. You’ve grown since we last met, and I think it’s been only the best of enhancements that have graced your beauty.”
Oh. Oh, he went there. My heart raced, and my blush deepened more.
My hands instinctually covered my chest as if to hide, and I felt at a loss for words.
For a moment, I could even see him wearing my father’s crown…
and not much else. The image did not help me regain my composure.
Ivy used the opportunity my silence gave to rescue me.
“Alright, you two, le t’s give the other eligible men half of a fighting chance tomorrow evening.
Spencer, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories tonight and look forward to what I hope will be many more nights of sharing stories and perhaps even creating a few.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. ”
She got up and headed to the door, with Spencer nervously standing to follow, turning to me just before he left. “Lyla, I apologize for crossing any lines. I thought I sensed more of a connection from you. Please know I hold nothing but respect for you and our history.”
“Spencer, you have only behaved with grace. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and shall reserve a dance with you.” I smiled, hoping it would soothe his fears. He returned the smile and offered a small bow of his head as he pulled the door shut.
Ivy leaned against the door, audibly counted to ten to make sure he was out of earshot, and then let out a squeal as she rushed back to the table. “He is so very dreamy! How could you not just select him right at this moment? He is so into you, too!”
I smiled at her energy. As handsome as he might be, and as charming as he was, I still don’t know that marrying him was right.
“We practically grew up together, Ivy. He feels just as much of a brother as Ethan is.” I scrunched my nose, imagining marrying my brother.
“Besides, his kingdom and Elthas have always had strong ties. It might not be the best step politically. I need to make sure I make the right decision for our people. This is about more than me.”
I got up and moved to the vanity to remove my hair pins.
Ivy followed to help, reaching for the ones I’d never hope to find.
“You know, it’s ok to marry for yourself and to improve diplomatic relations in other ways.
You don’t have to sell yourself for the good of the country, and I’m certain our people wouldn’t want you to be miserable on their behalf. ”
Ivy had such a good point. Wasn’t one of the reasons I was so opposed to the idea of marriage because of how it’s been used to subjugate the women of our kingdom?
Why am I following the same path? I know I can’t escape marriage, but why couldn’t I marry for love, for true companionship?
Why do I feel the need to sell my kingdom’s security with my body and my family’s future?
What if I just asked the Council to allow me to take a bride instead?
This really was the last thing I wanted to be doing.