Page 26 of Reign
Nina’s pen scribbled over the page as she summarized the professor’s thoughts about disguise. If only King’s College offered a class onthat.She could use a lesson or two in hiding her intentions—the sort of thing that everyone at court seemed to do as easily as breathing.
Especially Daphne, who apparently had no qualms about marrying someone she didn’t even love. Someone who deserved so much better.
“Nina!” whispered the girl next to her, a fellow English major named Blair. She was one of the student producers of the show, along with Rachel.
Reluctantly, Nina paused her note-taking, and Blair brushed her bangs back from her face to lean closer. “So, you and the prince? Congratulations! Were you surprised?”
Nina stared at her, stunned. Had Blair heard about Jeff’s engagement and somehow thought that he was marryingNina?
“You’re mistaken. There’s no news about me and the prince,” she whispered.
Was this how it would be for the rest of her life? People would recall that she’d dated Jeff and wonder if they were getting back together, or if Nina was crying jealous tears about his engagement, or forget the difference between Nina and Daphne altogether. Would she always be tied to him, even though they hadn’t been allowed to date publicly when they wereactuallytogether?
“Before we leave today’s class, I have an announcement,” the professor said, interrupting her thoughts. “I’ll be leading the spring study-abroad program at Oxford.”
The room buzzed with excitement; Professor Larsen held up a hand for silence.
“The program is open to ten students each semester. The admitted students will take classes at Oxford, and, more importantly, will each work on an independent study under the close supervision of an Oxford professor.” He smiled. “Applications are very competitive, as many of you know. There will be a reception and info session soon for those of you who’d like more information.”
Nina’s heart skipped. Of course she’d heard of the English department’s semester abroad: it was the most coveted program at King’s College, and impossible to get into. Most of the three hundred English majors her year would apply, and the school only accepted ten. She’d heard that if your GPA was below a 3.8, they wouldn’t even consider you.
Nina filed out of the lecture hall along with the rest of the class, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the brightness. It was one of those deceptively warm fall days that made everyone shed their coats and sprawl out in the sunshine. A group of students sat cross-legged on the steps of a fountain; farther ahead, an admissions tour was heading toward the chapel. Nina heard the student tour guide pointing out the statue of King EdwardIII. Back when she and Jeff were dating, she usedto think that statue looked a bit like him. Now she resented it for reminding her of her ex.
Not that it was particularly easy to forget about Jeff. He and Daphne were currently on the cover of every magazine and website in the country.
Nina reached for her earbuds, ready to head back to her dorm and check on Sam, who was still staying with her. She’d come back from the hospital yesterday with big news—apparently Beatrice had woken up, but didn’t remember most of the past year. “Can I crash with you a few more days? Just until I clear things up with Jeff,” Sam had asked, her voice small.
“Of course,” Nina had replied, trying to ignore her mounting nervousness. The longer Sam stayed, the greater the risk of her being found out. Jayne and Rachel would never tell, but what if someone else caught sight of her?
Nina’s eyes drifted to a guy walking a few yards down the path—and her heart skipped. It was James. She couldn’t see his face, yet Ninaknewit was him, with the sort of instinctive certainty that comes from having kissed someone.
“James!” she blurted out before she could think better of it.
He glanced over his shoulder and grinned, pausing so that she could catch up. “Nina. Hey.”
Her eyes drifted, unbidden, to his mouth. She didn’t even know his last name, yet she knew how his hands felt around her waist, how he tasted. It threw Nina’s mind into a tailspin of confusion.
“How’s your day going?” he asked as she fell into step alongside him.
“It’s good so far.” She hesitated, then added, “I just wanted to say, about the Tudor House party…I had to go help out my friend. That’s why I left without saying goodbye.” Shesquirmed, wishing he would interrupt and make this easier. “I didn’t want you to think that you’d scared me off.”
James shrugged. “I wasn’t worried. I get the sense you don’t scare easily.”
“I guess not.” The truth was, Nina felt constantly scared—of falling short of her parents’ expectations, or, worse, her own expectations. Of regrets. Of failure. But she liked the idea of this other Nina, the one who lived without fear.
“So does this mean I get a redo?”
Nina glanced over and met James’s eyes. They were the warm blue of the ocean on a cloudless day, the type of blue you could sink into and drift all the way to the bottom. It took her a moment to register what he’d said. “A redo?”
“Can I take you out? On a date,” he added, as if he needed to be explicit.
The statue of King EdwardIII seemed to be staring at Nina, handsome and aloof and judgmental—reminding her of her royal ex-boyfriend, who’d just gotten engaged to someone else.
“All right,” she heard herself say. “I mean, yes. I’d love that.”
James nodded toward the edge of campus. “Great. Shall we?”
“I…right now?”
