Being Selected

Chapter 6

After Group Date Week was over, six girls were eliminated. Cecilia, Sirina, Charlotte, Martha, Eve, and Ettie were eliminated, some filled with protest while others left without a word. Sirina complained that she didn't even get a chance, and that it was her maids fault she was late, but she was escorted out just the same. Now that there was only twenty-four of us, Weston assured us that he would begin spending individual time with each of us. From the rumors going around, he had only been on one, one-on-one, and that was with Lani. He had taken her sailing, but that was as much as she offered up. No one had been able to get a kiss yet, and many of the girls were conjuring ways they could change that.

"If he takes me to a movie, I'll ask to watch a romance to put him in the mood. After watching the couple on the screen kiss, there will be no way he will deny it," Spring gushed. Many of the girls were spending time in the Women's Room together. I mainly spent my time in the corner reading, or playing chess with whoever was around. Most of the girls would spend time on the couches where they just talked about the time they have spent with Weston. I had been invited by Kindle, who was still asking about the first night, but I continued to deny her.

"I don't know if that would work. It might make him want to leave sooner. I would rather have a private dinner with him, so I could get him to feed me. It would be so romantic!" Elisabet squealed.

The other girls began chipping in on their own ideas, when they all got silent. One of the maids had entered the room, and the only time they entered without a request from one of us was when a date was being handed out. She made her way over to me, and sat an envelope next to me. She curtsied before leaving. The moment she left all the girls crowded around me, some with looks of excitement, others with twinges of jealousy on their lips. I closed my book and sat it on the table. Slowly I picked up the envelope and opened it. I opened the letter and read the few words written.

The answer to your date is right in front of your nose.

When I didn't say anything, the girls started bending over me, trying to read what it said. They looked at me as if I had the answer. I flipped the note over to see if there was anything written on the back, but it was blank. I had no idea what the note meant, but I was determined to figure it out. I ran my fingers along the edge of the card, trying to find some clue. I ran my fingers across the back to see if there was anything pressed into the card. I found a small indent near the top left corner, and ran my fingers over it a couple of times.

"Someone get me a piece of paper and charcoal," I asked.

Luiza ran out of the room, and a few minutes later came back with an art case. She fumbled with the clasp, but eventually removed some paper and a small piece of charcoal. She handed it to me, and I quickly got to work. I laid the card down on the table with the paper on top of it. I began rubbing the charcoal over the corner. Five small letters began to appear. I had to squint to read them because the rubbing came out so faint, but I was able to decipher Smell. I took the card and brought it up to my nose, and I took a deep breath in. All the girls looked at me expectantly as they awaited the verdict. I was confused, because the card smelled faintly of lavender with a bit of the charcoal remaining. I took one more deep sniff before realization dawned on me. The lavender was the same lavender my maids used in my baths. I didn't say a word to the others, because my instincts took over as I ran out of the Women's Room. I made my way to my room and threw open the door. Weston was sitting on the bed, reading one of the books I had brought along with me. He looked up when I threw open the door and he sent me a smile that warmed my heart as much as my burning lungs.

"How did you know I would find you?" I asked.

"I didn't," he replied coolly, his smile never wavering. I looked at him in pure befuddlement, which caused him to laugh heartily. I perched myself at the end of the bed. Weston moved from where he was sitting so he could be right next to me. He stretched his arms behind him the tips of his fingers brushing up against mine.

"So what exactly did you have planned for today?" I asked.

"Well, I was hoping you would join me on a trip to one of my favorite rooms in the castle, and then afterwards we could catch a quick lunch. How does that sound?" he asked, teasingly.

"I wouldn't change a thing," I replied. Weston stood up from where he was sitting, brushed a few wrinkles from his pants and offered me a hand.

"My lady," he offered. I smiled at him to show I appreciated the gesture, and took his hand graciously. He held my hand as we made our ways through the halls. Many of them I recognized from all the time looking around. Weston told me little details about the decor. He explained that all the flower arrangements had lilies, except for in front of one portrait because at that queens time in the castle all the arrangements had lilac. After a bit of time, I realized we were in part of the castle I had never been in. I must have looked worried because Weston chuckled and I gave him a teasing glare. We stopped in front of a set of double doors that looked similar to the rest of the doors, but I doubted there would be anything ordinary behind it. Carefully Weston put his weight on it and the heavy doors opened to reveal the grandest library I had ever seen. Not only were the shelves higher than I have ever seen but they were made out of the same thick wood as the doors, but as I got closer I noticed all of the carvings. There were intricate leaves and flowers, the faces of animals peeking through vines, and insects so lifelike the only thing giving them away as wood was their lack of color. I traced my fingers over the spines of some of the books, all their titles written in silver or gold. I pulled one off the shelf and flipped it opened, smelling the worn pages. Weston led me over to a loveseat with a small table next to it, that had a short stack of books on it.

"I hoped you would like it," Weston said.

"I love it. I just can't imagine being able to read all these books in a lifetime," I said, dreamily.

"Well I hope you will start with these. I chose out some of my favorites for you," he said, handing me the titles. There were three in total and I knew once I finished my current book I would delve right into these.

"Do you have a way to keep track of all these books? As much as I love looking down rows for something I like, I would hope there is a way to find something faster," I asked. Weston nodded and took me over to a large screen that I had failed to notice.

"With this all you have to do is search keywords and it will give you a list of books related to that," Weston explained. He stepped out of the way so I could try and I tried to think of something to type in. I didn't want to give anything away, so I decided for now I wouldn't look for my list items. Instead I typed in "Weston Schreave". A list of recent history books came up, but the rest was just Schreave family histories.

"Looks like I can't find dirt on you that way," I shrugged. Weston laughed and I noticed the little sparkle in his eyes that appeared when he was happy.

"You're really cute when you laugh," I pointed out. He smiled and brushed his hair out of your face.

"You're cute too," he said.

"When I laugh or just in general," I teased. He put his finger on his chin as if he was thinking.

"I wouldn't say in general, because to me you are anything but general, I would say you are above cute, as if the word invented itself for you," he said as if he were announcing it to the world. I blushed trying to hide my face. He moved my face to look at his. His coffee brown eyes were a caffeine boost to my soul. Our noses were centimeters apart.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," he whispered, "I do think you are very beautiful." He moved his hand from my neck to my shoulder. I could feel his warm breath on my face, causing me to blush more. I waited for him to do something, instead of staring at me, because when he looked at me with such kindness, I felt as though traitor was written across my forehead, as if every wrong I ever committed was being forced to the surface, and I just couldn't take it, so I looked away.

"We should go," I whispered. He nodded, not daring to make a sound. He opened the door for me, quietly leading me back through the castle. We passed the vase of lilacs, the one vase that wasn't lilies. I looked at the painting of the queen and all I thought was what if she would have been a traitor like me and she wanted to use the lilacs to show she wasn't like any other queen. That's how I felt, like a lilac bush in a field of lilies.