Gigi ascended the stone stairs to the terrace. Around her a symphony of voices filled the air, accented by the bright notes of laughter. Across the grounds were tables set up and covered by silk umbrellas. Lounging beneath their shade were nobles, without a care in the world. Servants moved back and forth from a large banquet table, supplying the nobles with all means of nourishment.

Gigi glanced back, assuring herself that her previous, eager-eyed male companion had not attempted to follow her. Letting out a breath, she leaned against the palace's marble walls, soaking in the coolness. From her hidden perch, she watched the scene beyond the railing. Eyes flashed with intrigue, giddiness, and scandal. Bodies leaned forward in anticipation as others shifted, stirred and lost interest. Smiles ran through words and spoke of things hidden beneath them. Gigi was held captive by the sight of it all.

Her gaze eventually fell to the one person it seemed to always be drawn to. Raif stood on the outskirts of the party, deep in conversation with a group of men. He looked older when his eyes didn't hold a teasing glint. Gigi found it hard to pull her attention away, enchanted by the way his mouth curved in a half smile. Her own lips mimicked his.

"Are you avoiding me, Genevieve?"

Gigi started and turned to find Davin standing at the top of the steps. He held a glass of champagne in one hand and his other hand was lost in his pocket. Gigi flushed, her grandmother's suggestion from four days ago ringing in her ears. Swallowing, she fixed a smile onto her face.

"What would ever give you that impression?" she asked, the words sounding forced.

The edge of Davin's mouth twitched, though his eyes took on a critical look.

"Only the fact that you are," he said.

He sauntered over to the railing and rested against it. His gaze fell back to her and she felt trapped beneath it.

"If there is something I have done to offend you," he said, "tell me and I will right it. I only come off boorish, but I don't try to make it a habit of insulting my friends."

"You have done nothing," she said.

Davin took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving her. They seemed to read her as easily as one of his precious books.

"If it's nothing I have done, then it must be something someone has said to you in regards to me."

Gigi tensed, giving herself away. Davin gave a self-mocking chuckle.

"I can't begin to imagine the things you have been told about me." He took another lazy sip. "You should know it's all true."

Gigi felt a smile tug at her mouth. There was something about Davin that made her desire to care less about things. Under his easy manner and self-mocking tone, the weight of her grandmother's words lifted. She opened her mouth, her comment hovering around her lips, but closed it.

Davin gestured to her.

"Say what you must say and let's move on."

Gigi fought with the words a second longer then surrendered.

"My grandmother believes you would be a suitable match for me if I was to marry anyone."

Davin barely blinked at this news.

"I see," he said.

"Did you know about this?"

"It was a thought that crossed my mind when I noticed my mother and your grandmother giving each other very pointed looks upon our meeting."

Gigi shifted. "Was that your only thought on it?"

He looked at her, his expression slipping into a frown. "It was, was there something else I should have thought?"

"Tell me, do you have any intentions of proposing to me?"

Davin burst out laughing. Though it made Gigi blush with embarrassment, she couldn't deny the lightness that entered her chest.

"By the stars, no," Davin said. "Is that why you have been avoiding me? You believe I planned to lay before you ballads of my love and profess my desire to marry you?"

Gigi's blush deepened. Davin's amusement still played across his face.

"Don't worry yourself, Lady. I will make no such declarations."

Gigi relaxed and a relieved smile lightened her expression.

"That is welcomed news," she said.

Davin gave her a curious look. "Most ladies would take a different point of view. It would seem a slight for me to have no intention of proposing."

The contrast between her and all the noblewomen she had interacted with came into clear focus. From where she stood, she found herself at odds with all around her. Though she moved and acted with the same mannerisms it was a skin that still didn't fit.

"I am not like most ladies," she said, the words a confession.

Davin raised his glass in a salute.

"Then I believe you are the better for it. There are not many women whom I interact with that I care one whit about."

Gigi felt her heart warm at the words. Before she could inquire into who made his list, they heard footsteps approach. Thayer appeared, his hands held behind him, with Everly beside him, her hands folded demurely in front of her. They stood close enough for their arms to brush, but seemed distant.

They were a striking couple. Thayer's dark hair, eyes, and strong features offset Everly's pale, soft skin, blonde hair, and bright eyes. Though they presented a strong image, there was a rigidness about them that didn't echo the rumors Gigi had heard.

At the sight of the pair, all joviality fell from Davin's face. An expression of boredom took control, though his eyes lingered for a second on Everly. When she looked at him her usual smile was contained and the teasing glimmer her eyes normally shone with were dimmed. Thayer glanced between Davin's lounging figure to Gigi, who had stepped away from the palace wall. She curtsied, suddenly remembering her manners.

"Good afternoon, your Highness," she said.

He nodded towards her.

"Tell me, your Highness" Davin said, giving no form of a bow, "have you read any good books lately?" The question elicited puzzled looks. "Lady Everly was telling me she had a dull book for a companion the other night and was searching for something more interesting."

Everly's eyes went cold, but Davin didn't look at her. Thayer's puzzlement faded, his face resorting to a calm mask.

"I believe you to be better suited to answer that," Thayer said, his tone cool, "seeing how you roam the library more than me. Truly I envy you." The comment surprised Davin though he tried to hide it. "I do not have the time to aimlessly wander since I am busy being my father's ambassador."

The corner of Everly's mouth twitched upwards, as she barely concealed her smirk. Davin dipped his head.

"Of course."

"It is a pity," Gigi said, finding the words leaving of their own accord. The trio looked at her as if just remembering she was standing there. "Your library is beautiful."

Thayer's gaze softened. "I am glad you have made use of it."

Laughter and the sound of voices made the group pause and look to the stairs. Gliding up them were Claudia, Voila and Lavinia. When the trio noticed the group their expressions brightened, as their talk quickly ceased. They curtsied to Thayer, but almost at once turned to Gigi.

"Here is someone who will know if anyone will," Claudia said.

Gigi tensed, not knowing what she might know that they didn't.

"Indeed," Lavinia said.

"What is it that she's supposed to know that you don't?" Davin asked, his tone bored.

A smug glint entered Claudia's eyes, as she held information Davin didn't.

"You do not know?" she said.

Davin's response was an uncaring sip of his drink. Claudia shifted to the group, seeing if they knew. When she received blank looks in reply, she smiled.

"It appears Sir Clay made a boar of himself and proposed to a Lady far above his title."

Gigi froze, her face paling in embarrassment. Davin's cool gaze swept over her, but there was no judgment in his eyes.

"Why is this important to us?" he asked, diverting Claudia's attention away before it could land on Gigi.

"He is gone," Lavinia said, a note of amusement in her voice. "It was said because his father needed him to handle business in their Holding. But anyone who knows Sir Clay knows no one would entrust him with business. Clearly, he was sent away for his mistake."

Gigi's mind whirred with the information, trying to understand if this was because of her. Or because of her grandparents. Viola looked to the stunned Gigi.

"Genevieve, you spent so much time with him, we figured you would know who the poor Lady he proposed to was."

All eyes looked at her, expectant. She swallowed hard.

"I do not," she managed to say.

"I do," Davin said.

Every head swiveled to him.

"You do?" Claudia said, doubtfully.

Davin took another drink of his glass. "Yes."

The group stared at him, waiting. Gigi let out a steadying breath, relieved to be out from under their looks. Everyone's look except Thayer. His gaze lingered on her before pulling away.

"Lord Davin, please do share," Lavinia said, annoyance hovering just on the edge of her voice.

"It was Lady Isadora," he said.

No one said anything, then a laugh escaped Everly. She raised her hand, blocking the rest of it.

"Lady Isadora is seventy-three years old," she said.

"Then it makes sense why Sir Clay would choose to leave," Davin said. "Clearly he was drunk when he laid his heart for the lady."

Claudia, Lavinia, and Viola all gave him looks like they couldn't understand why he held the title of Lord. Everly's warm smile didn't fade, her laughing gaze still resting on Davin. His eyes darted to her and a touch of a smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Thayer's lips formed a thin line. He cleared his throat calling everyone's attention.

"For whatever reasons," he said, "Sir Clay left it is not for us to give speculations or judgments." His tone was not harsh but there was a subtle rebuke in them.

"Of course," Claudia said, her tone submissive. Before the moment could become serious, she turned to the group. "I propose we play a game of Hunt."

"Must we?" Davin asked, his tone saying exactly how much he disliked the idea.

"Davin do not be a bore," Claudia said.

"I find that I am whether I try or not." '

Claudia narrowed her eyes at him in frustration.

"I say that sounds like a wonderful idea," Everly said. "Shall we get more people? If Davin does not find it to his amusement than he can stay behind."

Davin looked at her, seeing the spark of a challenge in her eyes. He set his glass down and stood.

"Hunt?" Gigi said, unable to stop her confusion as it voiced itself.

Voila turned to her. "Have you never played Hunt before?"

Gigi shook her head. "Not to my recollection."

Lavinia waved a hand. "It is a simple game. While two people stay here, everyone else goes off to hide someplace. The point of the game to not to be found. If you succeed you win."

"The two people left behind try to find you. They are the constables," Lavinia added.

"You might know the game by its full name," Claudia said. "Vagabond Hunt."

The words struck Gigi and she found herself motionless. Embarrassment and anger roiled in the pit of her stomach. She forced herself to shake her head, stuffing the emotions away before they could burn her tongue with regretful words.

"I have never played it," she said.

"It is no matter," Claudia said. "It is easy enough. Since you do not know the grounds as well as the rest of us, we will leave you with someone."

She turned, looking for the right candidate.

"I will stay with her," Thayer said.

The words surprised the group, but no one said anything against it.

"Excellent," Claudia said.

Everly took a step forward, her face becoming more lively.

"Let us see who will win," she said.

For the briefest of moments, her gaze landed on Davin before flitting away. He moved forward.

"Let's." He strode to the stairs and descended, Everly right behind. Lavinia and Voila followed after them. Claudia looked to Thayer.

"I will spread the word. A wait of two minutes should suffice, your Highness," she said and was gone.

Thayer pulled out a watch from his pocket, glancing at the time. When he had returned it, he glanced at Gigi. Free from watching eyes, a piece of her emotions slipped into her expression. To her, Thayer's presence did not hold the same weight, he knew the truth. There was no facade she could play with him.

"You did not know," Thayer said.

Gigi's eyes snapped to him, the true force of her feelings hiding there.

"No, I did not know that your court amuses themselves with games about chasing my people." Gigi looked away. "But of course you would play part in this. That is why you gave the name of your Steward when you woke up in our camp, is it not?"

Thayer stiffened under her tone. "Yes. I did not know what demands you would make of me if you knew my true identity."

Gigi's glared at him. "We do not kidnap people."

Thayer did not rise to her anger. "I know this now. And you mistake my rash judgment for contempt. I was in a strange place with no clue to how I got there or whether you were friendly or not. I said what I did to protect myself. Your kind are far different from my own society."

"Different does not mean dangerous." She shook her head. "But I should not expect someone like you, who lives in a world like this to understand."

Thayer took a step forward, his face hard with indignation. "Do not mistake my title for ignorance. I know more of the struggles of my people than anyone here. I am always trying to ease their burdens."

Gigi faced him. "Yet you acted like we were your enemy."

"As I said you live a different way. I have never had dealings with your people. Stories were all I was ever told."

Gigi flushed with anger as it filled every inch of her.

"Stories like the ones told in this court?" she said. "Are they all true? Because from what I could see you felt nothing towards the Lady that is supposed to be your love."

Thayer's expression went furious, his brown eyes blazing.

"You step beyond your place. My affairs are my own."

His tone did nothing to make Gigi back off, the fire inside her burning too hot.

"Clearly," she said, "but you don't seem to care for your affairs or you both would look happier."

"I keep to the standards propriety demands of me. That is a weight your kind do not understand."

Gigi moved closer. "And for good reason. If propriety demands you act as if you care nothing for your betrothed I can't see why the whole court hasn't thrown away their society demands and become vagabonds."

"Because then we would be nothing better than common criminals."

Gigi's gaze was like ice. "I will not be a part of this slander. Find those 'vagabonds' on your own."

She spun from him and hurried away, his words still searing her thoughts.

**********************************************************************

Ho there!
(I feel like that is a more pirate greeting, whatever)

So...that did not go well at all. Jeez just when there was a spark of hope for Thayer and Gigi someone had to come snuff it out! Gosh will they're animosity never end?! 🤦🏽‍♀️

I guess we will just have to see!

Let's face it, Davin and Everly are adorable and deserve to be together. Too bad you don't always get what you want. 😕 That's life is guess. 🤷‍♀️

Story predictions! But they have to be done with all or half emojis! Go!

If you could be one fictional character who would you want to be?