I’d started. And though it irritated me sometimes, I had to admit he was also great at pulling me out of my naturally reclusive shell, which was how we’d ended up walking the grounds to prepare for a Winter Reception designed to find me a husband at last.
Just like with every other decision concerning the estate, no matter how ultimately meaningless they were, George needed my final approval on the decorations, but truthfully, I couldn’t have cared less. They looked fine. Fantastic, even. I didn’t doubt the winter wonderland scene the staff had created would blow away the omegas we’d invited, but the luster had worn off for me long ago. Losing my parents stole a lot of the magic of the holidays from me.
George cleared his throat. “Anyway, have you decided what you’re going to wear tomorrow? I’d be happy to help you narrow down the options.”
My staff had picked out a dozen or more outfits for me to try on and choose from for the reception more than a month ago, but I hadn’t looked at any of them yet. They still hung untouched in their fancy protective bags in my closet.
George must’ve read my thoughts on my face because he looked like he might have a heart attack; nothing bothered him more than my being unprepared. “We’re less than a day away from the event!” he hissed. “Please tell me you’ve at least glanced at them.”
I grimaced. “Sorry.”
George shook his head. “Honestly, Heath, sometimes I wonder if you’re at all serious about finding a mate. You realize you’re the last — the very last — Kenway, don’t you? Have you learned nothing from your last disastrous attempt at romance?” he snapped and stalked away from me toward the entrance to the manor.
Ouch. George was the only man I knew strong enough to speak so harshly to me, but I deserved it. During the summer, George had made himself crazy planning and inviting eligible omega bachelors from all the richest families in Gilmouth to the mansion for a blowout pool party, and boy, did it turn out to be a blowout for all the wrong reasons, no thanks to me.
I never wanted the party, and I definitely didn’t want a husband — in fact, I wanted none of the stupid high society stuff — but George insisted it was time for me to grow up and find a suitable partner, so he threw it anyway. To spite him, I got fall-down drunk and took turns insulting pretty much every guest until one of them shoved me, fully clothed, in the pool. Several of their families still wouldn’t return calls or correspondence from the crown, not that I blamed them.
Feeling guilty, I followed George. It wasn’t that I wasn’t interested in finding someone to help me carry on my family name, I just couldn’t get over how unfair doing so was to my parents — especially this close to Christmas when I most missed them.
I wished they were still alive so they could meet all the wild Kenway children my mate and I would eventually bring into the world, but they weren’t. Without them, what was the point? Let someone else take the crown and make their own damn dynasty. I never expected or wanted to be king in the first place, and I would’ve traded the crown to have my parents back in a heartbeat.
I caught up to George in the marble-floored foyer where one of the staff had accosted him to take his snow-covered coat away. I shrugged mine off and handed it to her too. “George, wait,” I called after him as he headed past the towering Christmas tree the staff had erected and decorated near the grand staircase. He froze with one foot on the bottom step and one hand on the carved wooden railing, but didn’t turn around. “I’m sorry. It’s just… You know how difficult Christmas is for me, so it feels disrespectful to be looking for love right now.”
George turned with a hint of a smile and a twinkle in his blue eyes. “I’d argue it’s the perfect time. Think of the romanticism! A first kiss under the mistletoe. Nights snuggled together in front of the fire. Giving and getting gifts.”
“I’d rather eat yellow snow,” I said, and though I knew it irritated him, George still laughed and shook his head.
“You’re either a diamond in the rough or a hopeless case; I can’t decide which,” he said and continued up the stairs.