“You’re representing the Stingers tonight?”
“Oh yeah!”She turned, showing off the full extent of her gown.“Russ made this for me last year, and I’ve been dying to wear it at something besides a convention.Not that I don’t like getting dressed up for cons, but the floor is always so sticky.Anyway, when Russ told me about the theme for the ball, I told him we were going.No argument.”
Russ grinned, his eyes locked on his wife in pure admiration.“I was happy to oblige.The two of you wearing my dresses is free marketing.I’ve already got a few commissions.”
“You know I would model for you, too!”Margo pouted.
His answer was swallowed with the sudden cease of music.They turned toward the front of the room, where Janelle was taking to the stage beside the orchestra.A hush fell over the room, and as one, the crowd moved forward, their attention focused on the queen of the faire.
On stage, Janelle’s forest-green forest dress dazzled.The woman no longer wore the layers of Tudor-styled fabric or the casual sweater Lilian recalled from the farmhouse.She looked like a queen in every way.
“Welcome, Heartland Ren Faire and honored guests to the Great Oak Ball!”
“I’m so glad you could all join us for this special night, where we recognize the hard work from the year.I’d also like to thank those who did not work at the faire and still joined us.”
Cheers and whistles erupted from the crowd.Lilian let her gaze drift across the room.Familiar faces surrounded her, but there were just as many strangers.Margo had mentioned they’d opened the ball to the public for a fee.Judging from the turnout, the ticket price hadn’t deterred the more rabidRaven Kingfans.
“My son and our team put a tremendous amount of time and effort into pulling this event together in a few short months.And it was turning out so great I wanted to share the magic of the faire with everyone.So for the first time, we’ve opened our winter ball to the public.”
At the mention of Hawk, something tightened in Lilian’s chest.Her eyes swept the edges of the stage, half expecting to see him managing things from the shadows.
He wasn’t there.
She thought she’d feel relief.Instead, icy disappointment wedged itself deep in her heart.
“Hawk’s not here?”she whispered to Alex.
The pirate queen raised a brow at her.“He usually doesn’t come to end of year balls,” she said matter of factly.
“Yeah, but this whole thing has him written all over it.And he’s not here?”
“I thought you didn’t want to see him,” Margo whispered, joining in the conversation.
Lilian gritted her teeth.“I don’t.”
Her friends shared a knowing look that instantly made her regret asking.She focused back on Janelle and did her best not to put any more concern into Hawk.
“I think he’s not here because he’s considering resigning,” Alex said.
The words stole the air from her lungs.Her eyes snapped back to Alex.“What?”It was meant to come out as a whisper, but the pitch in her voice definitely bordered on hysterical.Two people in front of her turned around, frowning in disapproval.
But Lilian didn’t care.
“Like, from the faire?”
Alex nodded, lips turned down in a frown.“He told me during clean up.”
“But that will leave Janelle all alone.”
“Yeah, when the news about the Reject Woods came out, he felt responsible for not realizing it sooner.He’s been pretty down on himself ever since.”Alex’s eyes slid to her, filling in the blanks that maybe it wasn’t just the faire that had him depressed.
Lilian swallowed hard.
On stage, Janelle was finishing up her thank you speech as a man dressed in all black, wearing a wolf mask, walked toward her.His leather boots jangled as he held out an envelope.
Hawk?Her heart shook with hope.
But the hair was too short and the jawline dark with a well-trimmed five o’clock shadow.
