She looked at him, her eyes aglow with laughter, and smiled from ear to ear. He felt like an idiot. He had already messed things up.
“Have you?” she asked skeptically, clearly not buying it. “And why would you do that? I told you yesterday that your wound was healed.”
Reece reddened even further, toeing the dirt, looking down, not sure what to say. His entire life, being at the center of King’s Court, he had encountered thousands of people, and had felt comfortable speaking to anyone. Girls had always sought him out, and he had always had to deter their advances-and he had never felt nervous before. He was not used to pursuing girls. And this one was different. There was something about her that kept him off- balance.
“I um…I…guess…well, it was hurting a bit,” he said, not knowing what else to say.
She smiled, clearly not buying it.
“A bit?” she asked. “Well, if your wound was infected, it would hurt a lot. And it’s healing, so a little bit of pain is normal. Aren’t you a big strong warrior of the Legion?” she asked with a laugh.
Reece was flustered, not imagining it would go this way.
He turned to go, embarrassed, when suddenly she stepped out and laid two hands on his arm. She held up his arm and examined it with a professional eye, studying the wound. She ran a hand along it, then rolled back his sleeve.
Despite everything, the feel of her hand on his arm electrified him. It made it hard for him to think clearly.
“Your wound is just fine,” she said. “I am proud of my handiwork, in fact.”
“I came here to thank you,” Reece said softly. “For saving my life.”
“I thought you came because your wound hurt?” she asked, smiling, her eyes twinkling, clearly enjoying this.
Reece flushed.
“I didn’t save your life,” she added, finally rescuing him. “Your friends did. They got you here quickly. If they had waited any longer, nothing would have saved you.”
Reece nodded back, not knowing what else to say. He was stumped-and was impressed by her humility.
“So was there something else you wanted?” she asked, still smiling.
She was not going to make this easy on him. He looked into her eyes, playful, intelligent, and he felt that she was too smart for him. She saw right through him, and she had from the second he walked up to her door. She clearly wanted him to say what was on his mind, and would not let him off the hook until he did.
“Well…um,” he said, swallowing. This was not easy. He did not remember it being this difficult to speak to girls before.
“I suppose there was something else,” he said. “I guess…I am wondering…what you think of me? I mean…of us?”
“Of us?” she asked, laughing.
Reece reddened. He just could not get his bearings around her.
“I mean-I guess-I was wondering-if-do-you have a boyfriend?”
Reece finally got it out, feeling relieved that he did. He hadn’t felt this anxious in years. He had rather be back fighting that Forsyth than putting himself through this torture.
But now that it was out there, he looked up and met her eyes-now the ball was in her court. Now it was her turn to be flustered.
Selese blinked several times and looked away, then looked down and fidgeted with her hands.
“And what business is that of yours?” she asked.
“I mean you no offense, my lady,” he said. “I was just wondering-”
“I do not have a boyfriend,” she said.
Reece looked at her with renewed hope. But she still looked back at him proudly, standoffish.
“Nor do I wish to have one,” she added.
He looked back, puzzled.
“And why is that?” he asked.
“Because I’ve not found a man suitable for me in this village.”
“And what about from outside your village?”
“Travelers rarely pass through here. And when they do, I am too busy with my healing arts.”
“Well…I am passing through here,” Reece said.
She looked into his eyes, smiling.
“And?” she said.
Reece looked back, flustered. Why was she making this so hard? Was she not interested? It appeared as if she wasn’t. He was becoming exhausted.
“I am the son of a King,” he said, and immediately regretted it. He hated boasting; it was not who he was. But he was desperate and found himself flailing, and he did not know what else to say. It just came out.
“And?” she prodded. “What difference does that make?”
Reece did not understand her.
“To most women in this kingdom, that would make a great difference,” he said. “All the difference in the world.”
Slowly, she shook her head.
“I’m not most women,” she said. “I am not impressed by titles, or land, or riches. I will leave that for other women.”
He studied her, trying to understand her.
“What does impress you then?” he asked.
She seemed to think for a moment.
“Honesty,” she said. “Loyalty. And maybe…perseverance.”
“Perseverance?” he asked.
She smiled coyly.
“And what of your love life?” she asked.
Reece stumbled.
“I’m not presently engaged to any woman,” Reece responded, trying to sound noble and proper. “If I were, I would not be speaking with you.”
“Wouldn’t you?” she asked, smiling, clearly enjoying this. “And then why would a King’s son take an interest in a simple villager?”
Reese took a deep breath. It was time for him to tell her how he felt.
“Because when I look into your eyes, my lady, I see far more than a simple villager. I feel something that I’ve never felt for any woman. When I look at you, I cannot look away. And it takes my breath away to see you. My lady, I am in love.”
He was shocked and proud of himself. For the first time, he had stopped stumbling and had managed to get it all out, to say how he really felt. He could not believe the words had escaped. But they were all true. And now that they were out, it was her turn to react as she wished.
For the first time in their conversation, she seemed truly caught off guard. She blinked several times, and shifted, and he could see her cheeks flush.
“You speak strong words,” she said. “How am I to know they are true?”
“My lady, I never lie,” Reece replied, earnest.
She looked down and toed the sand.
“Words are just words,” she finally said. “They don’t mean anything.”
“And what does mean something?” he asked.
She shrugged, silent. He could tell that she was guarded, slow to trust.
“And then how do I prove my love to you?” he pressed.
She shrugged again.
“You have your world, and I have mine,” she said. “Sometimes worlds should stay that way.”
Reece felt his heart falling, and couldn’t help but feel as if she were telling him to leave.
“Are you asking me to go?” he asked, heartbroken.
