I’m a fraud.
I’m faking it.
No, no, no. For the love of all things. How could I have said that to him? Now he knows my secret.
A final memory slides into place.
I’m a fraud too, Edwina.
William’s use of my full name is more shocking than his words, for I don’t understand what he could have meant. Is he only pretending to be a complete and utter rake? Or is there something else he’s hiding?
“I admire you, Miss Danforth.”
I shake my head to clear it and meet Jolene’s eyes. “Me?”
“You’re so worldly and experienced. The way you express your sexual freedoms without a care for what society thinks is truly admirable. I would never be bold enough to make such a bet with Mr. Haywood. You must be so confident you’ll win.”
I force a grin that hopefully hides my guilt. I’m not ready to come clean and share what I unwittingly divulged to William. Yet her words manage to inflate my pride. I like how she sees me. If only I could live up to her expectations.
And yet…
Maybe it’s not too late to become the woman she thinks I am. Maybe there’s still time for me to live as my heroines do. I may not have the desire for a whirlwind romance, but I could experience the mind-blowing lovemaking part, couldn’t I?
My heart sinks before I summon a flicker of true excitement.
Love, courtship, and physical intimacy have always been more interesting on the page than in reality. In life, my suitors always seem to disappoint, either with their unromantic personalities or their views that a woman’s career is merely a fancy and must be relinquished after marriage. I’ve disappointed them too, in how I put my career above all else, regardless ofhow little it pays, or how adamant I am that I won’t marry and become a traditional wife. Even the relationships I’ve engaged in for the sake of pleasure alone have disappointed me. Sex is nothing like it is in romantic fiction. Kisses are wet and forceful. Intercourse is just a too-heavy body crushing mine, a man grunting and thrusting and asking me if it feels good without any interest in knowing my honest answer.
“It’s a shame that lion fae was such a poor prospect,” Jolene says. “You could have had fun with him, had he been a decent male. You’ve never been with a fae male before, have you?”
I stammer to answer, unsure if I’m about to get caught in my lie.
“No, you couldn’t have,” Jolene says, not unkindly. “There were a lot of inaccuracies inThe Governess and the Fae, but I can’t blame you for that. You hadn’t been to Faerwyvae yet. Now that you have, your next books will be that much better. Just think how incredible your sex scenes will be after all the research you’re about to do!”
I straighten in my seat. “Research?”
“The bet. You’ll have a plethora of romantic experience between now and the end of your book tour. It won’t even matter if you lose to William. You’ll have gained so much.” She begins to fan her face. “I’m getting flushed just thinking about the scenes you’ll write next.”
I blink at her. Finally, the excitement I couldn’t summon before settles over me, lifting my heart and the corners of my lips. Every part of me feels brighter and more buoyant.
“I can use the bet as writing research,” I say, my words wrapped in wonder. “You’re a genius, Jolene.”
I open my notebook and uncap my ink. I may be trapped in a bargain I never would have made were I in my right mind, but there’s no going back. Our bet is magically binding. All Ican do is try my best to beat William. Which means I need to brainstorm clever ways to win over a lover.
I dip my pen nib into my ink and write a heading on a fresh page in my notebook:How to Seduce a Stranger: A Research Guide.
CHAPTER NINE
EDWINA
It only takes a few hours to reach the border between the Wind Court and the Solar Court, where our next destination lies. I keep my gaze locked on the window as rainy windswept plains shift into rolling hillsides. Sunlight casts the landscape beneath a distinctly golden hue, the soft brilliance that comes before sunset, even though sundown is still hours away. It’s breathtaking to glimpse such a sudden change in the environment. My brochure mentioned every court has its own climate and terrain, but I never imagined the distinctions would be so perceptible.
Soon the verdant hillsides become dotted with cream stucco buildings with terracotta roofs. The farther we go, the more plentiful the buildings become until the outskirts of a city begin to form. I catch sight of clustered townhouses, storefronts, canals, and stunning cathedrals before our train pulls into the station. I’m brimming with excitement as we prepare to disembark.
Jolene links her arm with mine. “I’ve never been to the Solar Court.”
I’m surprised that someone who’s lived in Faerwyvae her whole life hasn’t visited the next court over. It makes me feel less alone in this new experience.
We emerge onto the platform and some of my excitement abates. Oppressive heat surrounds me, an unwelcome thing considering my long-sleeved jacket and heavy skirts. I noticed our compartment growing warmer as the train wove through the countryside, but I didn’t anticipate it would be this hot outside.
