baseballs.
My plan is simple, really, and that’s the beauty of it. I’m going to get Sebastian away from the cameras tonight at the soirée and ask him to send me home. No messing around with breaking the rules and no silly games. Just a straightforward request. I’ll explain to him that I made a mistake coming on this show, and now I need to be sent home.
I know it’ll work. I don’t think he likes me, and I sure as heck don’t like him. I’m the girl who fell out of the limo and embarrassed herself. I’m the girl who had to talk him into letting her get a do over to avoid national humiliation. I’m the girl he thinks is a total pushover, the one who’s not tough in the least.
I’m probably as much of a pain in his butt as he is in mine.
And he’s got so many contestants to choose from. What’s one less?
The cameras are wheeled into the room, which must mean someone is about to turn up to train us to be Regency ladies.
I try to contain my unbridled excitement at the prospect.
The chatting amongst the contestants comes to a sudden halt as someone unexpected walks into the room. It’s Johnathan. No sign of Sebastian.
The cameramen aim their lenses at him.
“Good afternoon, ladies. You really do look quite something,” he says. “I know you’re about to start your training, but I am here to deliver a message from Mr. Darcy himself. He would like to invite one lucky lady to attend an afternoon picnic with him today.”
The women around me give excited squeals.
“She has been chosen based on last night’s soirée. Phoebe, would you care to accompany me to your date with Sebastian?”
“Me?” she says, her face flushing as her hand flies to her chest.
“You,” Johnathan confirms with a grin.
She glances at Kennedy and me as she stands up and straightens out her skirt. I shoot her an encouraging smile and she returns one tinged with nerves.
Maybe Phoebe will be the eventual winner? On the other hand, she’s so kind and sweet; she’s too good for someone like Sebastian.
“Have fun, Phoebe,” Kennedy and some of the others call out as she leaves on Johnathan’s arm.
“Take five, girls,” Toni, one of the crew says. I notice the cameras are still rolling.
“Why her?” Hayley complains with a pout of her oversized lips.
“Maybe he goes for the passive, easily manipulated type,” Camille replies snidely.
Hayley harrumphs, making her fish lips protrude even further. “She’s so nice.” She shudders as though being nice is the worst thing in the world to be. I guess for a girl like her, it is.
“Oh, I hear you. All that unicorns and rainbows crap. It’s enough to make me puke,” Camille replies.
Rushing to Phoebe’s defense without thinking the potential consequences through, I say, “I bet that’s exactly why he chose her, because she’s so nice.”
“I agree,” Kennedy adds. “Good luck to her. Who knows? She might win his heart today over cucumber sandwiches.”
I giggle. “Ah, cucumber sandwiches: the ultimate sexy food.”
“Why would you say something like that?” Camille throws her hands on her hips and glares at us. “Are you trying to upset us all?”
“Because cucumber sandwiches are deeply unsexy?” I offer. I know I’m being facetious, but seriously, what’s she getting so riled up about? It’s just a date.
“Not that, you idiot,” Camille dismisses with a scowl. (Really, she’s quite lovely, and I challenge anyone to think otherwise.) “Why would you say they’ll end up together? Don’t you want to be with him?”
All eyes in the room turn to Kennedy and me, like the Eye of Mordor itself, locking onto The Ring.
We share a look between us before I attempt an appeasing reply.
“I guess the most important thing to us is that Sebastian is happy, and if that happiness comes in the form of Phoebe, then I’ve got to be glad for them both.”
Eat your heart out, Miss America.
Although I could give two hoots about Sebastian’s happiness, it’s greeted in the room with a deafening silence.
Shelby is the one to break it. “You are such a kind person, Emma. To think that when your own happiness is at stake.”
Puh-lease. As if Sebastian is responsible for my happiness.
“Oh, I just try to think the best of everyone,” I reply, which is sadly not the truth. “Kennedy does too. Don’t you, Kennedy?”
Kennedy smiles impassively. “Oh, I try to.”
Camille arches a perfect eyebrow at us as Hayley scoffs. Those two are the Laurel and Hardy double