Page 123 of Double Bucked

A look of relief crosses his expression. His entire face warms. He releases his tight hold on me now and relaxes back into his chair. “I’m glad you pulled me aside, Claire. I wanted to talk with you, too. I hope to see you here tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? That’s the Belleflower Festival.”

“Yes. And it would be nothing without its Queen.” He reaches into his inside jacket pocket and pulls out a thin envelope. He slides it across the table. “I would have put it under your pillow, but I figured you’re too old for that sort of thing.”

I stare at the envelope. It has a red wax seal.

The Benefactors’ Society.

All attempts to keep my composure shatter.

I run my thumb over the smooth, buttery wax seal. Like a blind person hunting for the meaning, I trace the seal. The closed eye. The ridges of the lashes.

The phrase skitters like a skipping stone across my mind: see no evil.

I slide my thumb underneath the lip of the envelope and pry open the seal.

The cackling laughter of the Promise Sisters, the clinking of tiny spoons against porcelain teacups, the hushed murmurs of gossip…all of that dissolves into a single, piercing buzz as I remove the letter from its sleeve.

The card stock is thick with fraying on the edges. The golden words curl in stylish, cursive script, the embossed letters giving the impression of it leaping off the paper.

You’ve been Chosen as this year’s Belleflower Queen.

My pulse pounds, excitement racing through me like a herd of horses, all stampeding in powerful, thumping, synchronized rhythm.

Underneath the announcement, the invitation continues in small, strict font:

This Honor granted to you is a testament to your Perseverance, Purity, and Steadiness of Character. Your Promise has matured into unwavering Ambition, and we have made the decision to grant you the Gifts of the Benefactors’ Society to fund and support your Life’s Mission.

At the end of your term, you will be Welcomed into the fold of Queens, a Community like none-other, where you will find Support, Love, and Empowerment. This position is an honor For Life.

You have been Matched to a King, who shall be revealed at the Coronation Ball on the Eve of the festival.

The members of the Benefactors’ Society humbly anticipate your acceptance at 10:00 AM on the fourteenth of September at The Belleflower Ranch.

Signed,

The Benefactors’ Society

The inconsistent capitalization is strange. The old-world language is unsettling. But as I hold the invitation in my hand, I feel nothing but longing, and gratitude, and a sudden wish to burst into queen-appropriate tears, despite the dryness in my eyes.

In one ear, I hear Everett’s warnings. Benefactors’ Society. Oculus. It’s too dangerous. Don’t trust them.

But in my other ear, Daddy’s ghost murmurs without breath, That’s my girl. I always knew you were number one.

This is what I wanted. What I’ve wanted my entire life.

And if something is rotten in Denmark…if there is someone scheming behind the scenes…

Wouldn’t the best place to uncover the mystery be from inside the very society itself?

All I have to do is accept it.

I hear my voice echo, as though it’s coming from someone else. “I don’t know what to say.”

The edges of Arris’s eyes crinkle. He’s pleased with my reaction. “Say nothing. Just be there.” His hand grasps me again, but this time, it’s a gentle touch on the wrist. A fatherly embrace. “Belleflower hasn’t been kind to you in the past. It’s here for you now. Your place is here, Claire. With us. It’s what your father would have wanted.”

He gives me one last pat on the hand and then rises to join the rest of his crowd.

---