The Derby seemed to be remarkably competitive and a place where class had very little influence. Ladies, gentlemen, and the common man stood, insomeplaces,shoulder to shoulder, as they marked their bets on which mare or stallion they felt would win their fortunes.
I twiddled my thumbs, glancing at the edge of my hat. I grew so weary with every face that passed by the Prince and me that they began to feel numb.
Yet, for as many attendees as there were, the one I wanted to cross paths with remained unseen. He was perhaps not there after all. I worried we’d never meet again, and I was angry that my days would be so barren, but then I heard Miss Jocelyn’s advice—if he wanted to, he would—and I refused to hold Mr.Evergreen to that, and not myself. So, I hatched a plan to find him. I wanted to, so I would. Very determinedly, but I had to lose my royal shadow and search alone. I needed to find him;I needed a?—
“Miracle,” Sam said.
“What?”For a moment, I feared I’d been thinking aloud.
“The horse I’ve bet on for us,” he beamed. “Though Cyrus preferred the other. What was the name…something about luck?”
I looked at the paper in my hand, the list of all the horses. “Blind Luck?” I asked. “Is she actually blind?”
“That’d be quite the race,” Sam said. “Anyway. Back to what I was saying. Do you have a preference?”
“On the horse?” I asked.
“No. The wedding, love.”
“The wedding?”
“Yes. The flowers. Across the altar?” His face shrank as Miracle fell behind another horse and lost. “Blast it. Oh well. Flowers. I was thinking of daisies, like the ones I had sent to you. Yes. That’s a pretty thought. A full circle moment, I think.”
Another race began.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the venue,” he said.
“The church?” I asked. “I haven’t been.”
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Cyrus didn’t take you there?”
“To the church?” I asked.
“Yes. On your rides, love. I thought that’s what he said you did all day. Visit sites.”
“I, uh,” I swallowed. “We’ve seen many things, but we haven’t been there.”
“A damn shame,” he said.
“And, uh, unfortunately, Mr. Ever?—”
“I’m sure he just forgot I asked him to. You might remind him. He would love the honor.”
“Of taking me to our chapel?” I asked.
“Yes, of course, Svana,” he said. “We’ll be married there. Have him show you where to stand.”
Sam watched the horses speed past.
“That chapel marries all of us Azariis, you know? And quite a few of the locals. Nobles and commoners alike. It’s quite awe-inspiring with the lore, I suppose, despite how quaint it is. That said, Ihadtried to influence Father to use a larger venue, but you can imagine howthatwent over with a man born in tradition. I swear he may never accept the world as it changes. The other day, he argued over the idea of building a university north of town.”
Sam continued to explain, though I instinctively locked eyes with another face that had appeared suddenly, and at the end of the section, we stood.
“Cyrus,”I breathed.
“Yes, Cyrus, who else would I mean?” Sam asked.
“No. I’m sorry, I?—”
