Page 19 of Desperately Yours

Esme cupped her hands over her mouth as a short gasp burst free. I didn’t bother to hide my cynical stare. I’d been backstageat my share of pageants and her ‘oh my gosh, I won?’ face needed work.

“And Lady Fellerey?” Esmerey smiled at the author seated near me. “What would your vote be?”

“I have to concur. Lady Esmerey.” She tipped her head as if to give a bow to her future queen. My stomach tightened.

I hated every minute of this.

“Prince Ollagard, do you have a favorite?” Esmerey batted her eyelashes as if she needed to convince him. Not likely. I was in the enemy’s camp and would be happy to escape with my head still attached to my body.

“Actually,” Bishop spoke up, “I do believe you skipped me, Lady Esmerey.”

Her perfect smile pitched downward for a split second before she recovered. “I didn’t know you wanted to play.”

“Oh, Iloveplaying games.” There had never been a truer statement from his lips. “Might I have a turn, m’lady?”

She didn’t bother asking but motioned for him to speak anyway. Two cameramen shifted into position. In my mind, I imagined the banner at the bottom of the screen in homes all over the country.

Bishop Fitzborough

Cousin to the Prince

Professional Troublemaker

“To me,” he stretched out his answer, “after watching the connection between all of the competitors with my dear cousin, only one stands out as an obvious winner.” He turned his head to look at me. “Michaela Caldwell is the clear choice in my mind.”

Beneath the table, I clenched the folds of my dress. I ducked my head as a nod of gratitude but couldn’t tune out the scoffs of derision around the table. At least with my vision pointed at my lap, I didn’t have to see their faces.

“Very well,” Esmerey didn’t intend to linger on him, “Prince Ollagard, I believe we have come to you.”

The tremor in his voice definitely pointed to his advanced age, but he had an answer ready. “I disagree with all of you. Lady Sadira, she’s the best for the kingdom.”

I turned in time to catch Sadie’s bashful smile. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Looking at Esmerey, she no longer appeared pleased with her party game. “And we’ve come to you, Chancellor Edwards. Who would you choose?”

“No question,” she didn’t hesitate. “Lady Esmerey.”

Smile restored, Esmerey was likely counting her votes. Sadie had her single, and I had mine, but clearly Esme had the popular vote. Like a cat who’d cornered her prey, she turned her attention back to Celani. “Finally, I can’t wait to hear your answer.”

Celani set her spoon on her charger. Any second the dishes would be removed and another would follow. In any other setting, everyone would be more excited about another dish, but instead, everyone waited for her answer.

“I have to say, there are many lovely ladies who have graced this competition. For a long time, my vote was Blair’s and occasionally Gwen’s.” She twirled a lock of her blonde hair around her finger. “We golden-locked ladies must stick up for each other, you see?”

Why wouldn’t she get it over with? Just admit it. Lady Esmerey was the only one who was qualified to be his. And Sadie had to be the second choice. I wasn’t Nolcovian, I had no nobility to speak of, and if I was being honest, I wanted to date Fitz, not get married in less than a week.

“I haven’t missed a single show, and I have watched all the bonus footage, and I have to admit, I am overwhelmed to even be sitting at the table so close to this individual.” Celani fannedher face like she was fangirling at a boy band concert in the nineties. “I have about a thousand questions for her, but okay, fine. I’ll just say it.”

Esmerey’s eyes locked on mine, callous and cruel. She may have shown some decency in the face of an emergency, but deep down, she was a duplicate of the queen. Cold. Distant. And power-hungry. She wanted to see my face when Celani announced Esmerey’s final win. The noble needed to taste the bitterness roll off me in my defeat.

“I adore Lady Michaela,” Celani admitted. “I’ve been secretly watching her all this time, and I have to say, the little stolen moments of romance between them are absolutely exquisite. It’s like Master Bishop said, she’s the one who has stolen the prince’s heart.”

“Stolen may be the operative word,” the queen countered.

“Takes a thief to know one,” Bishop quipped back.

Celani ignored them and faced me. “Tell me, Michaela, what has created this bond between you? He speaks to you differently. Your connection is practically sparking off the screen.”

“I don’t know that it’s sparking…” Esmerey could hardly contain her jealousy.

---