anything recognizable. Overall, I would say not bad.
But then, the fact that I could make that assessment as it was going on …
Gunner pulled away, pressed his lips together, and considered.
“No, right?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Not that it was bad!”
“It just wasn’t that good.”
“Exactly.” His stance shifted in relief. “Thank you so much for this experience, but I think it’s time for me to head home.”
I smiled. “You sure? You’re welcome to stay for the Report, go home in the morning.”
“Nah.” He smiled bashfully. “I think if I stayed, I’d try to talk myself back into it. You might be the most beautiful girl I’ll ever meet, but … I don’t think you’re the girl for me. I’d hate to find a reason why you could be when I’ve been trying to tell myself for a while that it was unlikely.”
I held out my hand. “I respect that. Best of luck to you, sir.”
Gunner shook my hand. “And to you, Your Highness.”
As Gunner made his way to the stairwell, I saw a butler escorting Hale toward Mom’s room. I waved him over, though his eyes were on my dismissed suitor as they passed.
“What was Gunner doing up here?” he asked.
“Making a choice. Come with me. I need your hands.”
I CAME OUT OF MOM’S closet wearing our top pick, pressing it to my chest to save my modesty. “Thank you for doing this,” I said as Hale went to work, pulling at seams and pinning them in place.
“Are you kidding? I’m helping dress my future queen right now. I’m over the moon.” He pulled some more, watching the way the fabric reacted in the mirror. “Of course, it’s not the same as building you a gown from scratch, but this will be an impressive addition to my resume.”
I chuckled. “I just feel bad you have to give up your afternoon for this.”
“Well, it gets kind of boring in the Men’s Parlor. I’m sure if I ask Kile, he’ll come and sit with me while I work. Or Ean, maybe.”
“Ean,” I said, shocked. “It’s hard to imagine him willingly joining anyone anywhere.”
Hale smiled. “Yeah. I think he’s finally getting used to us. He talks to me sometimes, and to Erik. Probably because he’s not competition.”
“That makes sense. Ean seems like the ‘not here to make friends’ type, but I don’t think anyone could go through this without getting close to someone. It’s too hard. As difficult as it is for me, I know it’s just as bad for you all.”
“We definitely get the better end of the deal though,” he said, winking at my reflection.
I tilted my head. “I don’t know about that. The more I think about it, the sadder I get about having to send all but one of you away. I’ll miss having you here.”
“Have you considered a harem?” he said, deadpan.
I bent over in laughter and was rewarded with a pin stabbing my waist. “Ow!”
“Sorry! I shouldn’t joke when there are needles around.” He walked in front of me, and I held still, watching his eyes, recognizing the analytical gaze, knowing I did the same thing myself to designs and proposals and sometimes even to people. “I think we need to streamline this a little. Are you sure this is absolutely okay with the queen? Because some of these cuts I can’t undo.”
“Don’t worry. You have full permission to tweak in any way you deem necessary.”
“That makes me feel so important.”
“Well, you are. You’re helping me look like a leader tonight. It takes a thousand little things to make this role work, so I owe you one. Or two. At least two.”
“You all right?”
I looked up, not realizing how somber I’d gotten. “Yes. It’s just a lot to deal with sometimes. I’m trying to hold it together, that’s all.”
Hale pulled a pin from the pile the maid had left us and held it up for me. “Use this next time you feel like things are falling apart. It’ll help, I promise.”
Slowly I took it, spinning it between my finger and thumb, and, at least for a moment, I believed it was true.
Henri was right on time, rushing into the parlor as if he’d been dying to run down for the last fifteen minutes. He bypassed ceremony as he held my hands and kissed my cheek, making me laugh.
“Hello today!”
I smiled. “Hello, Henri.”
Over Henri’s shoulder, Erik bowed, and I gave him a nod.
I took Henri’s arm and led him to the table, laid with two