Page 10 of The Midnight Blizzard
I curtsied to the prince, who was the spitting image of his father, down to the jet-black hair, dark eyes, and heavyset eyebrows.
“Lady Noelle Frost,” the herald announced, reading off his long scroll. “Daughter of the late Lord Cedric Frost.”
Prince Stephen bowed with the same somber expression I’d noticed when he’d first entered the room. “I was sorry to hear of your father’s recent passing. He will be greatly missed. Please accept my deepest condolences.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. He always spoke highly of you.”
“I look forward to conversing again.” His tone was polite but slightly dismissive, gaze already shifting to the next girl in line.
Determined to stay in the competition until I had my father’s will in hand, I asked, “What are your interests, Your Highness?”
Stephen returned his gaze to me, and continued in a rehearsed way, “I enjoy badminton, dancing, and archery. And yourself?”
“Ice skating, teaching, and I have a particular fondness for dogs.”
The feeling that the prince was reciting a memorized list of interests disappeared as he nodded appreciatively. “You must meet my advisor, then.” Stephen turned and beckoned to Jack. “He trains dogs.”
Jack rose from the table where he’d been sitting and came over. A genuine smile stole over my features and I raised my hand as Jack stretched out his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Jack. I hear you share my interest in dogs.” Mystomach swooped when Jack pressed his lips to my knuckles instead of shaking my hand.
Stephen’s eyebrows furrowed. “I never told you his name. Have you two already met?” Jack’s previous indifferent attitude melted and his electric-blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
I blinked innocently. “He was introduced at the beginning of the evening.”
Stephen’s expression cleared. “Ah, yes. I’d quite forgotten. You must have an excellent memory just like my mother. It was a pleasure to meet you, Noelle. I look forward to spending more time with you in the future.” He also kissed my hand and lifted his gaze to the next woman in line.
After being briefly introduced to King Wenceslas, I walked with Jack back to his table. “You did it,” he whispered, shielding his notes from me. “You passed. Just don’t tell the others I told you. You aren’t supposed to know.”
“What is it exactly that I passed, Mr.This Isn’t a Competition?” I whispered back.
“Ah-ah, I’m not allowed to tell you. That’s strictly against the rules. I’ll need all of tomorrow to go over the notes for all the women, but you can trust that you will be allowed to stay.”
“Sounds like a big job to process all those notes.” After glancing around to ensure that no one was near enough to overhear, I lowered my voice. “I found the records room today, but it was locked.”
“It always is.” He hesitated, then said in a rush, “I’ll be reviewing these notes tomorrow in the library, if…if you want to join me. That way we can schedule that ice skating lesson you owe me, and sometimes scribes work in the library. Since the records room is off-limits, you might be able to find something there instead. Books about how inheritances are passed, or…something.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’ll be there.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Trista, who intentionally stumbled and fell as she went to meet the royal family and picked at something in her teeth right before grasping hands with Prince Stephen, who politely bowed to her. After she left, Stephen discreetly wiped his hand on his handkerchief and tucked it back into his breast pocket.
Chapter 4
Trista agreed to let me stay the night on her sofa. Her father grumbled but allowed it. Even so, I felt so unwelcome that I wasted no time in hurrying to the library as soon as I awoke the next morning, eager to leave her father’s austere presence.
Jack was already there, poring over long lists of girls’ names and consulting his notes from the previous evening, then filling in a chart that had each girl’s name on it. To the side of each name were about a dozen columns. Jack was ticking off boxes, I assumed to indicate if each girl had passed that round or been eliminated.
“So, what is it exactly that we were all being judged on?” I asked, sliding in to sit next to him on the bench and glad that we were alone so early in the morning. His white hair seemed oddly out of place in the dark library. Snow swirled against the window, blocking out the sky’s weak light. Lit candles adorned the tables, and the flames were reflected in Jack’s vividly blue eyes. They were so captivating I couldn’t look away.
“I didn’t expect you this early,” Jack said, scooting overto make room for me at the table. “I assumed everyone would sleep in after the ball.”
“Kodiak usually wakes me up early to take him out. I guess I’m used to it, and I’m guessing it’s the same for you with your dogs.” I twisted my head to examine the chart laid out in front of him. “How did everyone do?”
Jack placed his pale hand over the paper to shield it from view. “I can’t tell you.”
“You’re going to get ink all over your hands.”
“There are worse things.”
“You are so secretive. Just tell me!”
