Page 19 of The Promised Prince
But then he’d scrambled away so quickly. Maybe she’d just imagined it?
Either way, she couldn’t help but like him—at least what she knew of him.
And his looks. They couldn’t be ignored. The combination of his athletic build, dark curls, severe blue eyes, and that boyish smile were proof enough that God was feeling generous the day he had created him. She twisted her hair between her fingers, willing herself to play it cool.
“Are you headed to the ruler’s palace in Albion?” Renna said as he knelt back down on the blanket to help her clean up. She didn’t want to sound too hopeful.
He looked away guiltily. “I am.”
“I’m going there too,” she said, her voice eager. So much for playing it cool. She waited for him to say they could meet again or to say anything, really, but he just sat there, shock taking over his expression. Clearly, seeing each other again hadn’t been in his plans.
A pang of insecurity bounced around inside her.
“You’re going to the ruler’s palace?” He paused for a brief moment, then added, “To work?”
To work?Oh. He thinks I’m a servant.
Logically, she couldn’t blame him for thinking that. The gray dress alone was a symbol of the lower class. People in the government or ruling class wore colored clothes. Then there was the mud and the free-spirited way she had acted in front of him—swimming and dancing. None of that was becoming of a woman in her position.
Still, his words cut. Renna had spent the last four years trying to prove to everybody that she belonged in high society—something she wasn’t even sure of herself. In one second, he dismissed all the effort she had made.
Her hurt turned to anger. A quick temper had always been her weakness. She would prove to him just how wrong he had been.
“No. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ll bestayingat the Albion Ruler’s Palace with my mother.” She stood and raised her chin. “Mariele, Queen of New Hope.”
She tried to pull her blanket out from under him so she could make a dramatic exit, but the fabric wouldn’t budge.
A flood of confusion splashed across Trev’s face. “I didn’t know,” he stammered. “I just assumed by the way you were dressed and how you acted...”
She glared at him, daring him to finish his sentence. Meanwhile, she kept tugging on her blanket until he finally rolled off.
“Does a woman in my position have to be perfect all of the time?” She crumpled up her blanket then struggled to shove it in her bag. “I thought for once I could just be myself, but I guess I was wrong.” She turned with purpose and began heading back in the direction of Wellenbreck Farm.
Trev tried to stop her, but every time he stepped in front of her, she turned and walked in the other direction. It was actually quite immature of her, but she couldn’t help it. He had embarrassed her. Or maybe she had embarrassed herself. It was always hard to tell.
“Please.” Trev grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t understand. Your mother is the queen?”
Renna was disgusted with him. “Of course, that’s the part you want to talk about—my mother being a queen. Maybe you should try starting with an apology!”
“I’m sorry!” He smiled a little bit, trying to charm her into forgiveness. “It’s just a misunderstanding. Honestly.” He shook her shoulders so that she would look at him. “I’m sorry! I really am.”
“Well, you should be!” Her voice turned cold and haughty. “Prince Ezra is expecting us; I’m surehewouldn’t confuse me with the help.” With that, she wiggled out of his grasp, spun, and walked away, head held high. She meant to prove how much of a lady she was.
She had seen Seran act this way for years; surely she could manage it now.
Trev
Prince Ezra is expecting us.
Her last words played back in his mind. Trev couldn’t believe it. Renna’s mother was the queen of New Hope. That meant Renna was the princess. Drake had said that the New Hope caravan was staying nearby. She was on her way to the Albion Ruler’s Palace to meethim. But if she was on her way to meet her fiancé, why was she out here flirting with a soldier?
Probably for the same reasons he was flirting with her.
She was nothing like he’d expected. There were rumors about the New Hope princess, about her beauty and perfection, but the woman storming away from him now was a mess of a girl. He pulled himself together and ran after her.
“Renna! Wait! We’ll laugh about this someday,” he said as he caught up to her, matching her stride for stride.
“Laugh about the fact you thought I was a servant?” she snapped.
