Kate opened her mouth to speak, but instead turned away and closed the door behind her.
Stella’s fire guttered with the slam of the door. She grabbed her ruined armor and stormed home without looking back.
All Stella wanted wasto come home and rest after the first trial, but she hadn’t had time for anything other than a quick bath and a meal before the next obstacle had appeared before her in the form of Grace Farlan in the McKay Estate sitting room.
It was too much to see perfect Grace when Stella had made such a mess of herself that day. When her body would forever bear the scar from this tournament.
Stella hovered in the sitting room doorway, wrapping the sash of her dress around her finger. She always felt underdressed around Grace. Now she was wearing a simple cotton day dress while Gracelooked like she was ready for an elegant dinner party. Intricate embroidery ran along the bodice of her chiffon dress and shimmered as she moved.
“Grace?”
Grace looked away from the window and smiled tightly. “I know I’m probably the last person you want to see.”
Stella shook her head. “Of course not. I know it’s not your fault. I should probably be apologizing to you. You got caught in Aunt Desiree’s game when she was just trying to teach me a lesson.”
Grace had always been an echo of Aunt Sylvie in how she was always perfectly styled, with the most current dresses and neat, shiny hair, but more like Uncle Evan in the quiet, observant steadiness of her personality.
Grace folded her hands in her lap. “I’ve been thinking about possibly exploring things with Arden. I know we all said that we would accept the outcome of the ceremony at the temple. Truthfully, I didn’t think I’d get paired with Teddy, but I was certainly not expecting to be paired with someone else. Especially someone I’ve known for so long. It got me thinking maybe I’ve been missing something.”
Stella stared at her, dumbfounded. “You don’t want to be with Teddy? You went to the temple with him. I thought you were in love.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. Of course I love him. Teddy is my best friend, and he is a kind, thoughtful partner, but—” Grace licked her lips and took a steadying breath. “I’ve never been with anyone else. We have known each other for so long and I have no doubt that he’s a good man, but I find myself wondering?—”
Silence stretched out, and Grace shifted in the chair.
“Wondering what?” Stella prompted.
Grace finally met her eye. “I wonder if there’s more out there and I’m selling myself short by pairing up with the first man I’ve felt real affection for. My mother is always reminding us that she tried to create a world where women had more options and I’m going to—what? Marry the first man I’ve ever had feelings for?”
Anger burned in Stella’s stomach. So what if she was talkingabout stuffy Teddy? Grace had the very thing that Stella had always wanted, and she still thought she’d find something better.
Stella huffed a disbelieving laugh. “You think you’re selling yourself short with someone who is so devoted to you that he literally entered a deadly competition to earn the right to marry you?”
Grace winced. “I know how it sounds. I tried to talk him out of entering, but that’s what I’m saying: Since he’s come closer to taking over as king, Teddy doesn’tlistento me. The closer he gets to the throne, the more rigid he is. He’s decided what we are, and it feels like there’s no room for me to actually become someone else. I’m so young. What happens if I don’t match his vision for our future?”
Stella shook her head. “This is none of my business. It sounds like you should be talking to Teddy. Not me.”
Grace stood suddenly. “No, what I’m trying to say is thatyoucan make him see.”
Stella stared at her. “That he doesn’t listen to you?”
Grace took one of Stella’s hands in hers. “No, you can make him see other possibilities. Surely you must feel what I’ve been feeling.” She pressed her other hand to her chest. “This magnetism. I’m drawn to Arden, or maybe just—I understand him better. What I’m saying is that I think I owe it to myself to see what this is—to see who I could be with a little space.”
“So, what are you asking for?” Stella asked.
“Yourpermission. We’ve been friends for a long time. I know you care for Arden and I’ve been holding back from spending time with him, but my mother said it might be best to just ask you directly instead of avoiding him completely.” Grace smoothed her dress and met Stella’s gaze again. Her clear blue eyes were so pleading. “I feel selfish for even asking. Your friendship is important to me, and if you say so, I’ll walk away and forget about it and ignore this feeling in my chest for the few weeks until it disappears. I’ll decline his private dinner invitation and not speak to him until this passes. But if there is even a part of you that understands how much this whole thing has tilted my world and compelled me to take a second look at a possibility I hadn’t considered, I hope you’ll grant me your blessing.”
Kate had been telling the truth after all. It was unlike her to lie, but she was so angry, and Arden had never invited Stella to a private dinner. He’d insisted that nothing in the castle ever stayed private long and he didn’t want her reputation ruined by gossiping servants.
The excuse that had once made sense felt so flimsy now. Kate’s implication had hurt, but the reality was worse.
Stella swallowed the lump in her throat. “If it’s fine with Teddy, it’s fine with me.”
Grace’s rigid posture relaxed slightly. “I know he’ll be okay with it. You should both try, too. They say if you love something, you must let it go and see if it returns to you. Then you’ll truly know it was meant to be.”
“If you think you need to lose someone to appreciate them, then you deserve to lose them forever,” Stella snapped.
Grace looked down. “I’m willing to risk it.” She turned to leave.
