I arch a brow. “If meeting a mate can take so much time, how were you ever planning on finishing your case study before our bargain expires? You know I need a husband before Lughnasadh.”
“I would have introduced you to people I’ve personally vetted.” Monty’s eyes dart briefly at the unnamed man beside David, his expression darkening. “Heis not who I had in mind for you. I would have selected someone better than your…your wicked little co-conspirator has chosen.”
Wait.
Could it be…
Is he jealous that Araminta stole his role as matchmaker?
There’s something satisfying about the prospect of making him jealous. Not that he’s jealous overme, only his favorite hobby.
“Does this not still suit Lesson One?” I say. “I never would have agreed to meet Araminta were it not for this specific lesson. Your readers could relate and find encouragement in what I’m doing. Isn’t saying yes to outings with friends essential to socializing for the sake of fun? It’s not like you need to mention in your book that this meeting was contrived for courtship practice.”
He heaves a ragged sigh. “I suppose, but?—”
“You wanted to coach me, right?” I hold his gaze and infuse my tone with a hint of taunting. “So coach me. We can move on to your next principle. I’ll demonstrate as many as you see fit.”
His eyes narrow, that tic still pulsing at his jaw. Cursing under his breath, he breaks my gaze. “Fine. But remember, this still only counts as one lesson where our bargain is concerned. Each of our lessons or sessions lasts for as long as a day, so you won’t get more modeling from me by coercing me into teaching you more than one principle at a time.”
“Understood.” I purse my lips to hide the satisfied grin that tugs at them. “What’s our next lesson, teacher?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MONTY
Hearing Daphne refer to me asteacherdoes something strange to my belly. Strange but pleasant. If only it was pleasant enough to erase how pissed I am at this turn of events. Though why I’m pissed is beyond me. I should be thrilled to have company. I should be celebrating the ease with which we encountered a practice specimen, no matter how contrived it was.
Yet this derails my plans. I was supposed to teach Daphne how to enjoy herself. To ease her into socializing so she can realize there’s more to life in seelie society than work. She wants to be an illustrator so badly that she’s willing to enter a quick marriage just to cut ties with her home village.
The reminder that she’s engaged to a goddamned honey badger—and will be forced to live with him in her hometown if she doesn’t find a husband in less than three months—makes me even more pissed. It also gives me the fuel I need to go along with her ruse.
“Lesson Two,” I say, keeping my voice low. “Do not chase or waste time on uninterested parties. We’ll allow Araminta to make introductions, and I’ll maintain my distance to give that boy the opportunity to demonstrate his interest. If he doesn’t take it, we extricate ourselves from their party and continue our lesson my way. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Her smile widens, showing her relief in having swayed me to go along with her and Araminta’s setup. That’s perhaps what pisses me off the most. That Daphne didn’t trust me. Maybe I don’t deserve her trust after how cold I was to her after The Heartbeats Tour, but I still know her. I understand her. In many ways, she’s the same shy yet snarky little creature she was in her unseelie form. In other ways, she’s new and bold and different, and not just based on appearances. Doesn’t she know that Iseeher? That I would never put her in an uncomfortable position for the sake of my case study?
Then again, maybe I’m the only one who’s noticed how easily our friendship has rekindled, despite the lapse of time and the pain I caused.
“Anything else?” she asks, and I realize I’m staring at her. “Or can we join them now?”
My jaw shifts side to side. “If he does show interest, we move on to Lesson Three: a first meeting is merely an interview. Act with curiosity. Listen and assess. Share about yourself for the sake of connection, but don’t give everything away. And continue to keep Lesson Two in mind. If he disrespects you, repulses you, or loses interest, we move on. Give him a chance, but only so far as he deserves. We do not waste time on unsuitable options.”
“Agreed,” she says again, and her studious expression tells me she’s truly taking my words to heart.
I force my mouth into a false grin. “Let’s go meet this fucking boy-child, shall we?”
My lips threaten to shift into a snarl as we return to the three interlopers. Araminta makes our formal introductions, first between me, Daphne, and David, the man from the boxing club whom I technically was not introduced to at the time.
“It’s so lovely to officially meet Ari’s parents,” he says with a formal bow.
“Not my parents,” Araminta snaps.
His face is flushed as he straightens. He leans close to Araminta and whispers, “Who are your parents then?”
“I don’t know,” she says with a shrug. “They’re worms.”
Next, she introduces David’s friend, Conrad, who pales as I tighten my hand around his during our handshake. Of course his name is Conrad. What an insufferable name. Though I can’t say I’ve ever disliked the name until now.
Daphne greets him with a polite yet casual curtsy, and I’m reminded of what she said earlier about having studied etiquette when she debuted in high society. That’s a story I’m desperate to hear, yet the look on her face relayed what a sensitive subject it is.
