The Crown (The Selection #5)(56)

“And it was hard for me growing up in your shadow.” She seemed sad, unsure of herself now.

“You know, Josie, it isn’t too late to fall in love with something else. You happen to have an excellent resource in me, and I’d like to help you find the right path. So long as that path is far away from my tiaras.”

She giggled. “I have no idea where to start.”

“Well, you’ve proven these last few days how helpful you can be. What if we put you on the payroll, as an office intern? Whatever you’re going to do, you’ll need your own money for it.”

“Really?” she gasped.

“Really.”

Josie flung herself across the room, colliding with me in a hug. For the first time, I didn’t mind her being so close.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got to do the good I can while I’m here.”

She pulled back. “I swear, if you step down, I’ll never forgive you.”

I hadn’t meant to give that much away in a sentence.

“I realize that doesn’t mean much, but still. Don’t do it. You can’t.”

I shook my head. “I won’t. I promise. As tempting as it is, I’m too proud to do it.”

Dear Uncle Gerad,

This letter is long overdue. How are you? How’s work? How’s …

Okay, I need a favor. My lady-in-waiting’s boyfriend is also a talented scientist. I’m not completely sure if his field and yours are similar, but I thought you might at least have a connection that could get him work in Angeles. It would mean the world to her if he was closer, and it would mean the world to me if she was happier. Do you think you could help?

Friendly reminder, I’m your queen.

Thanks bunches! Love you lots! Visit soon!

Eadlyn





FOX UNDERSTOOD WHAT BEING SUMMONED to my office meant. So he refused to come and instead sent his good-byes through Neena, who arranged for him to stay at a hotel until he could get a flight to Clermont the following morning.

I felt low, sneaky somehow, like I’d gotten off too easy. I’d been prepared for a battle. I got a retreat.

But Hale walked through the doorway all smiles, dressed to the nines and ready to leave like a gentleman. His arms were open as he crossed the office, and I fell into them, trusting him to a fault.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” he whispered into my ear.

“Me, too. But you know how to get ahold of me if you need to, right?”

He nodded. “Neena gave me some information along with my flight details.”

“Good. Because I’m probably going to need to speak with you soon.”

“Oh?” he asked, stepping back and straightening his suit coat.

“Of course. Someone has to design my wedding dress.”

Hale stood there, the smile wiped instantly from his face as if he thought this was some twisted joke.

“Eadlyn … do you mean that?”

I held him by the shoulders. “You shielded me when the public threw food. You befriended me before I was willing to accept it. Even now you’ve protected me, far past anything I’ve deserved. The least I can do is be your first client. I’ll be watching your skyrocketing career with interest, sir.”

His eyes glistened with tears, but he managed to keep himself together.

“I’m kind of scared to leave,” he confessed. “So much is going to change once I’m outside of these walls.”

I nodded. “But that doesn’t mean it’s going to all be bad.”

He laughed. “When did you become such an optimist?”

“It comes and goes.”

“As do most things,” he said with a sigh.

“As do most things,” I agreed. I hugged him one last time. “Have a safe flight, and start designing as soon as you get home.”

“Are you kidding? I’ll be designing in the car!”

Hale kissed my cheek and winked. “Bye, Eadlyn.”

“Bye.”

With Hale gone, everything spiraled into a laser focus. This was the end. There were two suitors left, and one blue-eyed soul mate. I wasn’t sure who to speak to first. After some thought, I realized Eikko knew what was coming. He wouldn’t be surprised by my announcement. But Henri would, and I expected he was going to take it hard. I would see Kile first, and that would leave me plenty of time to talk this out calmly with Henri through the painful use of his positively wonderful translator.

I was trembling when I knocked on Kile’s door. I hadn’t prepared a speech or anything. And while I assumed he’d say yes, I really had no idea. What if he’d suddenly decided that I wasn’t worth all the work?

His butler answered the door and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty.”

“I need to speak with Sir Kile, please.”

“I’m sorry, miss, he’s not here. He mentioned getting something from his old room.”

“Oh. Well, I know where that is. Thank you.”

I made my way up to the third floor, following the path I’d taken the night he’d agreed to kiss me in the hallway. What a strange turn our lives had taken.

Kile’s door was slightly open, and I could see him tinkering away in the corner of his room. He’d flung his suit jacket and tie on the bed and was sanding a small piece of wood, presumably preparing to attach it to the structure beside it.