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I didn’t bother confirming it. He was only being petty.
“Besides, who ever heard of doing a maypole dance in the mud? Look at how soiled the ribbons have become.” He frowned and nudged me. “You ready to dance?”
I scoffed. “I wasn’t invited to join. Always the outsider, remember?”
The children took turns interweaving, creating a delicate pattern on Sadie’s command. Bishop watched quietly, though I knew better than to think he was done.
“I knew there was going to be a chance for rain, but I never expected the darkest cloud to be standing right next to me.” He leaned forward and cocked an eyebrow. “What’s obscured the horizon, milady?”
I watched Fitz pass between Esmerey and Blair, then turn back to Sadie. “He’s sending me home tonight. It’s over.”
The music’s tempo increased as Fitz and Sadie turned in a circle, her laughter bounding out of her like another instrument tuned to perfection. All at once, the music cut and applause sounded all around us. Bishop joined in, but only for show. He leaned closer and dropped his volume for only me to hear.
“Trust me. It’s not over. Not yet.” He took a few steps forward, still clapping. “Wait here for me and be ready to dance.”
Fitz
My heart pounded like it never had before. It’d been ages since I’d taken part in anything like this but hearing the approval all around me for being a part of the festivities, it was everything I’d hoped it would be.
“Very good. Absolutely smashing!” Bishop clapped a hand on my back. “What do you say, Cousin? Should we open the dancing up to everyone else?”
A roar of applause rose from the crowd surrounding us. My instinct was to deny Bishop, but how could I go against the rest of them?
“I don’t know about everyone else,” Bishop’s volume rose to carry over the crowd, “but I have been positively enthralled by the Crown Prince’s journey to find love. What say you, Nolcovia?”
If I thought they were loud before, they became nearly deafening with cheers. Clearly, they were all invested. At least my parents would be happy that the competition had accomplished the desired effect of uniting the kingdom in that.
“You know what?” Bishop faked his brilliant idea, but I knew better. This was a scheme from the start. I braced myself for whatever plan had unknowingly befallen me. “What if we started with the prince and his ladies in a dance? What say you?”
Cheers became intermixed with demands for their favorites, both in dance and competitor.
“Gwendolyn and the Flitterquake!”
“Lady Esmerey!”
“Dagny!”
“Make the American do the Nazzle Reel!”
Bishop pointed directly at the last speaker with excitement. “Yes! That! Let’s!” He waved the women in. “Ladies, please, let’s show our American visitor how to do the Nazzle Reel, yes? Do we have other young men who’d like a chance to dance with our ladies of court? Perhaps we could make it a challenge? The final woman to end up with the prince gets twenty minutes alone with him!”
I felt helpless as he started this three-ring circus at my expense. With a dance like this, the whole thing was based on the idea that the man had to steal his blindfolded partner and try to keep her as long as possible. My stupid cousin was forcing me to choose who I would want to stay with. It was no wonder why the people became nearly rabid in their desire to see it performed. And when I chose the wrong woman, what then? Would we be faced with riots? Once more, Bishop had acted impulsively, and I was forced to pick up his mess.
“Okay, Lady Blair, you fasten Lady Esmerey’s blindfold, and Lady Chantal, you fasten one for Lady Gwendolyn.” Bishop passed out blindfolds as well as directions, all clearly premeditated. “And,” he turned and ran into me, “oh, Your Highness, I suggest you start picking the right woman. You never know who might snatch her out from under you.” He looked past me and brightened. “Lady Michaela, I have your blindfold. We can start out together, I think.”
Jealousy sparked in my chest as he fastened the cloth over her eyes. It was one thing for me to send her away, but to watch her with him, someone well below her worth… I could hardly see straight.
“Your Highness,” Sadie’s soft voice caught my ears, “do you mind?”
I whirled around and cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, what?”
She held out the strip of fabric. “If you don’t mind, milord.”
I took it but felt the cultural weight of the dance on my shoulders. The point was for the woman to give up her will to fate, blindfolded and trusting as partners switched and swapped. In the end, when she removed her eye covering, she was supposed to be with her one true love. Fate in a dance. When I was young, I thought it was romantic, but as I grew older, I thought it was antiquated and outdated. With the fervor of the crowd on Bishop’s side, I didn’t have much choice. I would have to play along.
The women moved to the center of the square, peeking until their hands joined, one arm above their heads. The music began, slow at first. I glanced between the other men gathered with me. Bishop slid in beside me, wicked grin in place.
“Heard you made your choice, Cousin.” Absolute delight gleamed in his eyes. “I do hope that crown keeps you warm at night. I’ve heard Michaela is much better at snuggling.”
