Page 4 of Desperately Yours

“The prince sent home anyone who didn’t aid in the rescue efforts.” Dahlia ticked them off on her fingers one by one. “Chantal, Dagny, Gwendolyn, and Blair were all asked to leave.”

My lips parted in surprise. “Gwen and Blair?” I added up the rest and my eyes widened. “He kept Esmerey?”

“Yes,” Sadie whispered, her tone tilted toward loathing. “She’s still here and she’s morehands-onthan ever.”

“But why would he keep her?” Last I’d talked to him, she was one of the top names on the chopping block.

“Because, m’lady,” Dahlia spoke as if I were stupid, “she saved so many children. She selflessly rescued them one by one, putting her own life at risk and—”

“We all made sacrifices that day, Dahlia,” Sadie snapped. As if she knew it was too harsh, she pinned her lips together and exhaled through her nose. “I’m only suggesting that perhaps one day isn’t enough to judge a person’s entire character, that’s all.”

My heart went out to her. I’d felt so much of what she was feeling after I saw her with Fitz. Jealousy wasn’t a good color on anyone, but we all wore it eventually. Was it horrible of me to want to tell her tough luck, I saw him first? It wasn’t wrong, but it also wasn’t my choice. I couldn’t force Fitz to pick between me or his country. Sadie was still an option that would give him both love and his kingdom.

But Esmerey?

He couldn’t be serious.

Maybe he hit his head during the earthquake.

“What’s next? A competition? A party? Some confessional where we have to spill our guts on live television?” That was all I knew about reality TV. They needed drama, or they’d make it themselves.

“We’ve been waiting on you,” Sadie confessed. “Leo won’t continue or even hear of making a choice until you’re healed. There was supposed to be a banquet dinner last night, but since you aren’t well yet…”

Like a match flicking to life, her real motivations became clear. Here, I thought sweet Sadie went out of her way to feed me her secret soup because she cared about me. She did, I was sure of it, but I was also just as sure that at least a part of her purpose was helping me recover faster so she could get me out of the way.

I forced a smile. “You can report back that your medicines have worked. I’m ready to start again.”

Any negativity fled her expression. “Splendid. Dahlia, will you take the news to her majesty’s lady’s maid?”

“Right away, Sadie.” Dahlia didn’t bother to curtsy, just turned and made her exit quickly.

Sadie rested her hand on my blankets, warming my leg through the covers. “It’s going to be magical from here on out. I’m so excited you get to be with me through it all.”

“Of course. We can even get ready together. I’m sure I have a dress for you too.”

Her excitement spilled over as she gushed over my skills as a designer. She stood and hurried to my armoire, eager to point out the dress she hoped to wear. I nodded, more than willing to play along. Sadie thought everything would be the same as before. In her mind, I would help her shine while I stood in the shadows. But something had changed in me. Survival had left me with a knowledge of what I stood to lose.

Bishop was right.

It was time I started to actually play this game.

I had a prince’s heart to win.

Michaela

Sadie made it sound like the banquet only waited on me, but even after the all-clear was sounded, the powers that be pushed it off another day. According to Dahlia, the chef had expected me to die and wasn’t prepared to cook. He assumed after my passing, Sadie would be excused and Esmerey, the only remainingtruenoble, would be chosen.

Just the sort of news a girl wanted to wake up to with her morning breakfast.

Disappointment that I hadn’t died.

Dahlia’s silver lining was that I was expected for an interview that evening instead. “On account of how everyone wants to know how youdidsurvive falling in that hole.”

My heart quickened at the thought. Did Fitz know? Was he okay with it? We’d been careful to keep me out of the spotlight, for fear of having to answer questions about our past. But surely if he didn’t want the interview to happen, he wouldn’t allow it.

Or maybe he thought my years in pageants would give me superior spin skills that would make it possible to avoid every hard question. It was a specialty of mine, but I also hadn’t ever done a live interview that would be broadcast to an entire kingdom.

At least I didn’t have to do this interview in an evening gown. I spent the day prepping; in other words, I spent the day thinking about all the worst-case scenarios and how I would navigate them. I hated that I wasn’t at full strength yet. The slightest rise in adrenaline left me drained and shaky. Somehow, I had to stay calm in the middle of what felt like total unpredictable chaos.

---