NovelOnlineChapter 0241
Elva immediately perked upon seeing him. “Jul–an! Teach me the trick again.”
“She’s been practicing,” I said softly to Julian, like a secret.
“Then maybe you should show me.” Julian withdrew a quarter from his pocket and handed it to Elva.
I let go of her hand so she could move, though I placed my hand on the top of her head instead. I
wasn’t
going to let Elva out of my sight tonight, or likely any other night. Not until Jane was caught and the
organization brought down.
“Okay. Watch!” Elva held out the coin like Nicholas had taught her. Then with a flick of her wrist, the
coin
clattered down onto the floor. “Oh!” Elva bent and picked it up.
“An excellent attempt!” Julian said and clapped. “You’ll be a little thief–ah, that is, a little magician in
now time.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI scowled at him for the slip of the tongue.
Elva beamed at the praise. She held out the quarter to give back to him.
“You keep it, Elva. Keep practicing, okay?”
“Okay.” And she did just that, pausing only when I made her hold my hand again. Still, she persisted,
trying to learn the trick one–handed instead.
Julian smiled at me. “Well. Ready for the main event?”
“Yes.” I was ready to earn that money for charity.
Each candidate and benefactor was assigned their own servant, who would keep track of who spoke
with who, to avoid any overlap. They worked as something like handlers, leading the candidates or the
benefactors to the correct spots to speak with each other. Then they moved us away when our time
was
1. up.
Julian was charming when he wanted to be, disarming many of the sterner–faced benefactors with an
unexpected joke and an easy smile. Elva won the hearts of the rest. She insisted on showing her coin
trick, with limited success, to everyone we encountered.
“How darling,” said an older benefactor to her husband.
Julian leaned close to my ear and whispered, “See, she’s saving lives already.”
I didn’t roll my eyes, since I was being watched, but it was a near thing.
By the end of my hour with Julian, I had one confirmed commitment to my cause, and a half dozen
maybes. It felt like a victory.
“Well, Piper, I’m afraid this is where we must part.” Julian took my hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed
my
knuckles.
He was teasing. He had to be teasing. But his lips lingered at my skin for a half–second longer than
needed. When he pulled away, he didn’t look at me, instead his gaze shifted to Elva.
He patted her lightly on the head. “Keep practicing.”
“Thanks, Jul–an!”
Julian’s help had been immeasurable for the hour I had him, though I knew eventually I would have to
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmgo it alone. I didn’t mind all that much. I was determined to garner as much money for the orphanage
as I
could.
Yet, I couldn’t keep my gaze from looking across the ballroom, searching for Nicholas. I frowned when I
finally spotted him..
He stood directly between Olivia and Lilliana. Each was speaking to their own benefactor. They
occasionally would turn to Nicholas and try to include him, but as soon as one of them did, the other
would start up, stealing him away.
Nicholas’s face was a mix of confusion and discomfort. I doubted he could follow either conversation
when being constantly tugged between them.
Pity rose in my weary heart. I wished he could be free from this contest, and find love on his own terms.
A foolish notion, perhaps, given who he was.
Yes, he was a prince, but he was also a man. A good man, worthy of the most passionate love.
As if he could hear my thoughts, his gaze suddenly lifted, finding mine instantly. His eyes held me
prisoner, and I was willing.
I wanted little more than to move closer to him. To rescue him as he so often rescued me.
But there was a great length of space between us, bigger even than this room.
So my feet stayed still on the ground.
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