Page 17 of The Rejected King
After the Morreck Inn, Davin hadn’t expected to see the mystery girl again. Then she had sailed into his mother’s office a few days ago, confidence and determination set in her brows. Davin’s heart had stumbled a bit when he saw her, the irony of the moment not lost on him. He couldn’t help teasing her a little, but then Miss Dutson had dished it right back to him, making Davin like her even more. If she had crumpled under his intimidating stare or backpedaled or even apologized about the Morreck Inn, Davin might not have been so impressed. But she didn’t do any of those things. Instead, she’d said she had seen a cow—a topic that Davin was determined to find out more about. Washethe cow? Or was Miss Dutson just joking? Either way, it was then that Davin had decided to hire Emree Dutson. She was young—probably too young for the job—but Davin saw potential in her despite her young age. She was educated and had some experience. He was willing to give her a chance. He wished more people would give him a chance despite his youth.
“King Davin.” She gave him a sharp look. “I’m not only here to bring your ratings up. I’m also here to help you fall in love during the Promenade.”
Davin rested his elbow against his desk, placing his hand under his chin. For some reason, he didn’t like hearing Miss Dutson talk about him having a connection with other women, but she continued talking anyway. “You’re not going to fall in love immediately. It takes time for love to grow.”
Davin let his arm drop. He was no longer interested in talking about himself. “What do you know about love, Miss Dutson?”
She stiffened. “I know a little.”
His eyebrows raised. “I’m not talking about a silly flirtation or an intense attraction. I’m talking aboutlove.”
He liked the way Emree fidgeted nervously under his stare, reaching to fix her hair again when there was nothing about it out of place.
“Yes, I know.” She stiffened. “Loveis what I feel for my fiancé.”
Davin tensed. “You have a fiancé?” He couldn’t understand the disappointment stirring deep inside his stomach. He didn’t even know Emree Dutson. Nor did he care if she was getting married. But his eyes darted to her ring finger anyway. There wasn’t anything there.
Instinctively she pulled her hand into her lap. “Well, we aren’t officially engaged yet. But we’re in love.” She nodded. “So, so much love.”
Davin wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him of their love or herself.
“Hmm.” Now he was curious. “How did you and your fiancé meet?”
“We grew up together in Kenmare. We’re childhood sweethearts.”
Something about the wordsweetheartsbothered him. “That’s great.”
She smiled, accentuating her dimples. “It is great.”
Davin had to look away. “Good.”
“Very good,” she said.
There was an awkwardness lingering in the room now, and a headache started to form at the tip of Davin’s forehead. He cleared his throat, gesturing to the papers on his desk. “Well, if that’s all you have, then I should probably get back to work.”
Miss Dutson stood. “Yes, of course. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the briefing,” she said as she bowed.
Unfortunately, Davin looked forward to seeing her, too.
6
Emree
Emree stood with hands on her hips in the middle of her small room in the basement of Enderlin castle. Typically, someone in her position wouldn’t stay in the basement, but most of the castle’s extra rooms would house the Promenade guests. Emree didn’t mind the arrangement. She felt more comfortable staying with the working-class people in the basement anyway.
There wasn’t much to her new bedroom—only a bed, dresser, and mirror—but that didn’t bother her. The room was a symbol of all she had accomplished. And there was plenty of space in the servants’ recreational room if she ever felt the need to do a cartwheel. Not that she would. She’d never done a cartwheel in her entire life, but at the same time, she hoped she was never too old to start cartwheeling.
She walked down the servants’ hall to the dining area. The smell of beef stew wafted through the air as she got closer to the kitchen. Conversation mingled with laughter filled the space, reminding her of the servants’ quarters where her parents’ offices were back at High Ruler Kemp’s estate.
Emree had spent her childhood and teenage years hanging out in the Kemps’ basement among the servants. They were her family: the people she had told when Portlend had kissed her for the first time, the people who had cried with her when Portlend had left to be a soldier, and the people that were proud of her when she had completed her extended education. She looked at the faces of the Enderlin castle workers, chatting happily around her. She hoped these people would accept her and become her new family.
She grabbed a bowl of stew and a buttered roll from the buffet in the kitchen and looked around for an open seat. Moments like this gave Emree anxiety. What if no one wanted to be her friend? What if she sat down by a group of people and they didn’t talk to her? Then she’d be sitting there alone, eating in silence, pretending like she wanted to eat alone. Now that she was an adult, she mistakenly believed herself confident enough not to worry about this kind of stuff, but she wasn’t. She wondered if she’d ever get over moments like this. Then she noticed Millar sitting alone across the room, and she decided to head for him.
“Is this seat taken?” she asked, pulling out the chair next to him.
“Not at all.” Millar scooted his bowl and large body over, giving her more room to sit. “How do you like your new job?”
Emree dipped her spoon into the thick broth, pushing the vegetables around. “I’m a little nervous. It’s a big opportunity, and I don’t want to mess anything up.”
