scratched his dog behind the ears. “I don’t mind a bit of competition. In fact, I’d prefer to know who else is trying to win your hand.”
“I wouldn’t put it like that,” Julian said. “Winning implies this is a game.”
“It’s a figure of speech,” said Nicolas.
“I know.” Julian smirked. “Games are what I do. But I don’t think you were using it figuratively. You want to win her by proving you’re the best.”
“Isn’t that what you want?” Nicolas asked. And Scarlett would have sworn he puffed his chest.
They were like battling peacocks. Scarlett pictured their emotions swirling in proud shades of teal and cobalt blue. Or maybe she was actually seeing their feelings?
Scarlett always saw her own emotions in colors, but she’d only seen the feelings of someone else once. It had happened during Caraval, after she’d shared blood with Julian. It was the most intimate thing she’d ever done, and afterward, she’d been able to glimpse Julian’s feelings. But it hadn’t lasted long, and neither did this glimpse of pride, making her wonder if it was only in her mind, since she hadn’t drunk anyone’s blood.
Julian and Nicolas were still staring each other down. This was not the scene Scarlett had imagined. She was supposed to be the one Nicolas was staring at. He was supposed to flatter and woo her, not argue with Julian.
“I don’t need to prove anything,” said Julian. “I’m not trying to win her hand. I’m offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she’ll take it and decide she wants to keep it.”
It was one of the sweeter things Julian had said, and maybe Scarlett would have accepted his hand if he actually had spared her a look during his pretty speech. But the boys were so caught up in their sparring, it seemed they’d forgotten she was there.
“I’m glad this isn’t just a game to you, Julian, but maybe it should be. Perhaps we should turn this into a courtship competition,” Scarlett said. The words immediately tasted like a mistake. But the bemused glances of her gentlemen felt like a victory. Instead of speaking as if Scarlett wasn’t there, Julian and Nicolas were now looking at her as if she were the only one present.
“They did this in the early days of the Meridian Empire,” she went on. “Young ladies from wealthy or noble families would arrange a series of tasks, so that their gentleman suitors could show off their skills. Whoever completed them first or best would then marry the young lady.”
Nicolas ran a hand over his mouth, as if trying to hide his expression, but she could tell he was intrigued.
“This shouldn’t be a game,” Julian said.
“Afraid you’ll lose?” Nicolas definitely puffed his chest this time.
Julian muttered something under his breath. His posture was tense and his jaw was clenched, making the scar that ran from his jaw to his eye turn into an aggravated white line. “Crimson, don’t make this a game.”
If he hadn’t said that, Scarlett might have changed her mind. She’d made the challenge mostly to shock them and to stop their ridiculous fighting. But if she backed out now, it would look as if she were doing it for Julian and not for herself.
And she always felt as if she were caving in for Julian.
Julian was the sun in the middle of the wettest part of the Cold Season, gloriously warm and wonderful when he was there, but completely unreliable. For five weeks he’d vanished. Now, though he’d only been back in her life just a few hours, he’d turned it into chaos.
Sometimes, admittedly, she liked the wildness he brought into her world. But she didn’t like that this time it was more about him getting his way than it was about her. He’d said in the carriage he was here because he didn’t trust the count. But Nicolas was a botanist, with a dog—one look at him and it was clear he didn’t have any nefarious plans for Scarlett. Julian just didn’t want anyone else to have plans for Scarlett at all.
“If you don’t want to play, you don’t have to,” Scarlett said. “But I think it will be fun. My mind is made up.”
“Since when do you make up your mind so fast?” argued Julian.
“Since five weeks ago.” Her smile was an exclamation point.
Julian looked as if he wanted to keep arguing. He probably would have if Nicolas wasn’t there. Instead, he just swatted at an unfortunate ladybug with more force than necessary.
Nicolas’s