Page 21 of The Rejected King
Then she cleared her throat, ruining the moment. “Education is something I have been passionate about for years. I feel exactly the same way you do,” she said.
Davin smiled. Emree continued to surprise him. Most women he interacted with, the pampered daughters of high rulers in Enderlin or others in the ruling class, had ulterior motives. They wanted to gain power or even become the next queen. It was refreshing to talk to a woman who didn’t care about that. Instead, she cared about important issues like education. The educational system set up by the Council of Essentials was unfair.
It hadn’t always been that way. Before Desolation, everyone had had more equal opportunities when it came to schooling. Just after Desolation, the first seven leaders who had created the Council of Essentials had deemed education essential for everyone, like food, water, and shelter. But some years later, another Council had changed their minds saying it was too expensive to pay for extended education for the working class. Now that Davin was king and a member of the Council of Essentials, he wanted to change that, to make education equal for everyone, but his ideas had been shot down.
Davin leaned back into the couch, raising his arm up onto the cushion beside him. He glanced over Miss Dutson, the urge to know more about her taking over. “Have you ever been to New Montana, Miss Dutson?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I grew up in Kenmare, and up until last week, when I came to Enderlin Castle, I hadn’t been anywhere else.”
“So are you excited about the job?”
“Excited and nervous.” She smiled, revealing the dimples he tried not to notice. “I’ve always wanted to work at Enderlin Castle and run a big event.” She raised her shoulders, smiling. “You’ve made one of my dreams come true.”
She said it innocently, but Davin wanted to know more. “What other dreams do you have? Maybe I can make the others come true, too.” He winced at how flirtatious he sounded.
She glanced down at her hands, clearly not wanting to meet his eyes. “I...uh...I have two more dreams, but I don’t think you can help me with those.”
“Are you sure about that? I am the king, you know.” More flirting. It was like he couldn’t stop.
“Well,” she finally looked at him, raising her dark brows, “I dream of forming a book exchange someday.”
“What’s a book exchange?”
“Something that benefits working-class children. If they had access to more books, they could gain an informal education that might help them rise in the world.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke. “I was lucky,” Emree went on. “I had Yvonne Kemp, who took an interest in my learning. Most working-class children don’t have access to books, let alone a chance at extended education.”
“And you want to change that?” He had already noticed Miss Dutson’s love of books. It seemed like every time Davin saw her, she had a book with her or sticking out of her bag, and he couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say aboutThe Hunger Games.
“Yes. If I can.” She gave him a shy smile. “I have a small collection of books, but not enough to start with. Until I can save enough money to buy more, it’s just a dream.”
“It’s a good dream,” Davin said.
Emree held his gaze for a moment, then looked around the room nervously.
“And your other dream?” he coaxed, not wanting to lose the open dialogue they had started.
Her smile and the dimples returned. “To get married and become a mom.”
Davin went back to the night he had slept beside her, wrapped up in her arms. It had been such a comforting feeling. Something deep inside of him wished he could feel that kind of comfort again.
No,not me.That’s ridiculous. Her fiancé would sleep next to her.
He cleared his throat, sitting up. “You’re right. I can’t help you with that one.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Definitely not.”
A slow hot pool of jealousy swirled inside him and suddenly Davin wanted to know more about the mysterious man whowouldhelp her with that dream.
“Does your fiancé share your same passion for education and books?”
Emree shook her head. “No. He’s a soldier in the king’s...” She paused, gesturing to him. “...inyourguard. He doesn’t care anything about education.”
Davin’s interest was piqued. “So I know him?”
Her shoulders dropped, and she shook her head. “No.”
“You just said he’s one of my guards. Surely, I know him.”
“Don’t you have hundreds of guards?”
