Page 107 of The Promised Prince
Everyone took their seats, and King Carver motioned for dinner to begin.
Maxwell Doman and a few other prominent men Renna recognized joined Joniss at their table. There was a lot of political discussion, making it easy for Renna to hardly ever speak. Overall, she considered it a very successful dinner. Now she just needed to get out of there before she ran into Trev.
“Leaving so early?” Joniss asked as she scooted her chair back to go.
“Yes.” She didn’t plan on staying a minute longer than she had to.
He stood with a smirk. “I’ll join you.” Renna placed her hand on his chest to stop him. He raised an eyebrow at her intimate touch. “Is that an invitation?”
Quickly her hand shot to her side. “Not in the least. I’m leaving alone tonight.”
“I’m up for a challenge.” He cocked an eyebrow.
I’m sure you are.
She turned to leave, but behind her, a familiar voice almost stopped her in her tracks. He was still a distance away, but she recognized Trev instantly. Her hands began to shake, nausea swelling in her stomach.
After all the convincing she had done in her head, he still made the world shake, still made her heart race. She moved through the crowd in the opposite direction as fast as she could, but she heard Joniss behind her.
“Ezra, what kind of man abandons his fiancée right before their wedding?” Joniss said loudly.
“I was in Axville helping the people,” Trev bit back.
“Did you find the missing girls?”
“No.”
Renna heard Joniss’s response before slipping out the side door. “Perhaps I’ll visit Axville as well. See whatIcan do to help.”
* * *
A soft knocktapped on Renna’s door. The dinner party had long since ended, and Renna was getting ready for bed. Nora opened the door.
“May I speak with Miss Renna?” Mangum’s voice was timid, quiet.
Renna sat up in bed, nodding to Nora to let him in.
He stepped into the dim room. “Forgive me if I woke you.”
“Not at all. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that I’m coming to Wellenbreck with you to live. I’m sure you don’t want a babysitter, but I agree with your mother that you shouldn’t go alone, even though Nellie and Preetis are there. You are still part of the royal family, and you should be protected.”
Renna processed his words. “You’re going to come to Wellenbreck Farm with me?”
He nodded. “Is that okay?”
She couldn’t help it; she jumped out of bed and threw her arms around Mangum’s neck.
Ever since the ruins, things had been different with Mangum. There was a tenderness in the way Mangum looked at her. Renna’s father used to look at her like that—like she was the most special girl in the world. “I would love for you to come to Wellenbreck!”
Mangum laughed freely, awkwardly hugging her back. “I can work too, you know. I used to work on the Swire Farm.”
Renna stepped back to see him. “Just as long as you don’t tell my mother everything I do there.”
He laughed a full, hearty laugh. “Some things are best kept just between us.”
44
