Ean’s caramel-colored hair looked almost golden in the sun, and while he didn’t have the same cutting-edge style Hale did, he looked smarter in his suit than most of the others. Some men simply didn’t look good in them.
“Well, you have me alone now. What would you like to talk about?”
He smirked. “Mostly, I’m curious about you. I’ve always thought of you as very independent, so I was surprised that you would start looking for a husband so young. Based on seeing you on the Report and all the specials on your family, I thought you’d take your time.”
He knew. He was so calm in his assessment, I was sure he knew this was all for show.
“It’s true; I’d planned to wait. But my parents are so blissfully in love, I thought this might be worth trying.”
Ean examined me. “Do you feel like any one of these candidates truly has what it takes to be your partner?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Do you think so little of yourself?”
He stopped walking, and we faced each other. “No, but I think very highly of you. And I can’t see you deigning to settle before you’ve really lived.”
It seemed impossible that a stranger could see so much, especially considering the lengths I took to guard my thoughts and feelings. How closely had Ean been watching me all these years?
“People can change,” I replied vaguely.
He nodded. “They can, I suppose. But if you ever find yourself feeling . . . lost in this competition, I’d be happy to help you in any way I could.”
“And how exactly would you help me?”
Ean gently escorted me back toward the crowd. “I think that’s a conversation for another day. But know that I am here for you, Your Highness.”
He stared deep into my eyes, as if he thought that all my secrets would spill out if he held my gaze long enough. I found myself needing to take some deep breaths once we finally broke eye contact.
“It’s a lovely day.”
I looked up, and one of the Selected was standing there. I was completely blanking on his name.
“Yes, it is. Are you having a good time?” Oh, please, what was his name?
“I am.” He had a very friendly face and a pleasant warmth to his voice. “I just won a round of croquet. Do you play?”
“A little.” How was I going to figure this out? “Do you play a lot back home?”
“Nah. Not really. Up in Whites, it’s mostly winter sports.”
Whites! . . . Nope, still didn’t have it.
“If I’m honest, I’m a bit more of an indoor girl.”
“Well, then you’d love Whites,” he said with a laugh. “I only get out when I have to.”
“Excuse me.”
Whites Boy and I turned to the newcomer. This one I knew.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I was hoping I could steal you away for a moment.”
“Certainly, Holden.” I took his arm. “Nice talking to you,” I said to Whites Boy, who looked a bit forlorn.
“I hope that wasn’t too rude of me,” Holden said as we wandered away.
“Not at all.”
We moved slowly, and he seemed comfortable, like he’d walked with a princess dozens of times.
“I don’t want to keep you. I only wanted to tell you that I admired the way you cut people last week.”
I was taken aback. “Really?”
“Absolutely! I admire a woman who knows what she wants, and I like that you’re assertive. My mother is the head of a lab back in Bankston. I know how hard it is to run something that small, so the pressure you must be under is hard for me to imagine. But you do it well, and I like that. I just wanted you to know.”
I stepped back. “Thank you, Holden.” He nodded, and I walked away, lost in thought.
This entire situation only confirmed what I knew to be true: If I came in sweet and gentle, no one would take me seriously. If I had kindly tapped people on the shoulder and hugged them on their way out, would Holden have admired me less? The whole thing was—
“Oh!” I fell to the side, only missing the ground because of a pair of steady arms.
“Your Highness.” Hale clutched my arms, helping to pull me up. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.”
I heard the click of a camera nearby and pushed my cheeks up into a smile.
“Laugh,” I said through my teeth.
“Huh?”
“Help me up and laugh it off.” I giggled, and after a moment Hale gave a few chuckles.
“What was that about?” He kept the smile on his face.
I straightened my dress as I explained. “The camera crews are watching.”
He glanced to the side.
“Don’t,” I urged, and he faced me again.
“Yikes. Are you always on the lookout like that?”
This time my laugh was genuine. “Basically.”
His smiled faded. “Is that why you ran away the other night?”
My face became serious as well. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling well.”
“First you run, and then you lie.” He shook his head, disappointed.
“No.”
“Eadlyn,” he whispered. “That wasn’t easy for me. I don’t like talking about my dad dying or my mom having a hard time keeping a job or my family losing our status. That was difficult for me to share. And when we started really talking about you, you left me.”
That prickling, naked feeling came over me again.
“I sincerely apologize, Hale.”
He studied my face. “I don’t think you mean that.” I swallowed, nervous. “But I like you all the same.”
I looked up at him, mesmerized by that possibility.
“When you’re ready to talk—to really talk—I’ll be here. Unless, of course, you come in and ninja eliminate me like you did those other guys.”
I laughed awkwardly. “I don’t think that’ll happen again.”
“I hope not.” Hale stared, and I didn’t like that his eyes felt like they could dig several layers beneath my skin. “Glad your dress didn’t get stained. Would have been a pity.”
He went to leave, but I grabbed his arm. “Hey. Thank you. For being reserved on the Report.”
He grinned. “Something every day, remember?”
CHAPTER 18
“ALL RIGHT, YOUR HIGHNESS, WHENEVER you’re ready.”
The makeup girl did a last check, and I corrected my posture, reviewing the names in my head. I nodded, and the light on the camera turned red, telling me we were filming.