“I will agree as long as I don’t have to swim.” I don’t care how hot it is outside; my clothes are stayingon.
Nia squeezes my hand, her smile soft and understanding. “Do whatever makes you happy. I just want you with me.”
* * *
Nia dons her swimming costume beneath an airy blue and white striped dress, while I select my lightest dress: a loose gown of peach linen and a silken shift with lace cap sleeves that give my skin plenty of room to breathe.
Before we leave, Aunt Cordelia insists we both wear sun hats with thick ribbons that tie beneath our chins. The moment we climb into Ronan’s waiting carriage, we take them right back off.
As nervous as I am about seeing the prince again, he doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by my presence as he regales us with the queen’s plans for the most glorious Beltane festival of the century. There will be jugglers and acrobats swinging from makeshift maypoles, custom cocktails made from rare liquors, and a cake as tall as the town fountain.
He doesn’t try to speak to me other than to exchange a few pleasantries. Every so often, I catch him staring, but that’s to be expected in such a tight space.
With each turn of the carriage’s gilded wheels, my mood perks up a little bit more, and as the carriage rolls to a stop between two others, I am downright excited about the prospects of today.
Ronan is the first out and offers his hand to me as I exit. Not wanting to be rude, I let him help me down the stairs, then promptly let go.
Shouts of delight and revelry echo through the glen, where a wide cerulean lake waits at the bottom of a large crevice.
Fae in various states of undress sit on a dock of wide planks, their bare legs and feet dangling into the crystal-clear water. Others drink from wine bottles on the shore or share picnics in the grass.
Nolan shoulders our basket and a floral blanket, stretching the latter onto a free patch of ground, half in the shade of an oak tree and half out. As much as I would love to feel the sun on my skin, it’s too warm to enjoy the rays unless I plan on venturing into the water. Which I don’t.
“This is the most glorious day,” Nia muses, falling next to the basket, her chin lifted toward the sky and hair tossed by the spring breeze.
Nolan kneels next to the basket to pour us glasses of golden honey wine. I sink down as well, keeping to the shade as best I can.
All it takes is half a glass before the men decide to shed their shirts. Although they’re both in fair shape, Nolan’s physique is more toned than the prince’s due to the hours spent training as a royal guard. Ronan’s stomach is a bit softer, nothing at all like Ever’s.
I tip my glass into my mouth and take a deep drink of wine to clear the memory of bare, gray-green skin from my traitorous mind. Each swallow pushes him a little further away.
Nia swipes the damp curls from her brow with the back of her hand. “Heavens, it’s warm, isn’t it?” Off come her slippers and stockings, followed shortly after by her dress, leaving her in nothing but her swimming costume.
The thought of stripping down in front of all these strangers makes me clutch my glass a little tighter. If I were alone, or if it were only Nia and me, then I might venture into the water.
Perhaps I can convince her to return on a day when it’s not so crowded.
The men remove their boots and socks before suggesting a swim. When it’s clear that I’m not going to give in to their relentless begging, the trio races toward the shore, their laughter getting lost in the sounds of merriment around me.
Butterflies flutter their painted wings as they land on the few wildflowers not stamped down by eager feet or blankets. This would be a peaceful setting if it weren’t for all the screaming. Despite the warmth in the air, I imagine the water is still quite chilly.
From the looks of the stream feeding into the far side, it must run straight off the mountain. I know first-hand how frigid a mountain stream can be.
Thinking of the mountains brings an ache to my chest. I wonder how Father is faring without my brother and me. Perhaps I will write to him when we get back to the cottage.
Nia’s screech pierces the serenity, followed by her laughter as Ronan and Nolan chase and splash her in the shallows. A woman with canary-yellow hair in a peony-pink swimming costume races down the shore to join them.IveeLynch.
I never thought I’d be happy to see the woman, but here I am, smiling because her presence means the prince will be entertained, leaving me to enjoy the day on my own.
This could be my life if I find a husband in Rosehill, spending long, sun-drenched hours lounging by a beautiful lake with my cousin and her man.
Has Trevor ever been here? I should stop by the library when we get back to see if he’d like to accompany me on his next day off. Assuming he’s still interested in continuing our courtship. Although to be honest, I don’t really care either way.
When did I become so apathetic?
Perhaps Nia and I should go for drinks somewhere besides The Black Rose so that I might meet some different suitors. With my birthday drawing ever closer, there is no time to waste.
Sweat tumbles down my brow and spine. It feels like I sprung a leak. When no amount of fanning myself seems to work, I push to my feet and meander through the blankets toward the water. I have to peel my shift from my thighs and puff my skirts to get some air flowing.