The day after the "hunt" was the "jamboree." The air quotes this time were mine. "What exactly is a 'Jamboree' anyway?" I asked Maxwell. We were in my room, looking through my suitcase for, as Bertrand put it, an ensemble suitable enough to ensure Riley doesn't entirely humiliate House Beaumont.

"It's kind of like a festival. But, more private."

"Upper-crust only?"

He nodded, and briefly held up a black mini dress before tossing it aside. "Lawn games, dinner in the garden, and of course, lots of booze."

"Sounds like I need something rustic, yet elegant." I pulled out one of my favorite dresses that I had brought with me. I hadn't worn it yet, because it had always felt a little too casual, but now might be the perfect time to break it out. It was a white, spaghetti-strap baby-doll dress with a pink floral print. I motioned for Maxwell to turn around, and I slipped into it, pairing it with a brown belt and tall brown boots. "Okay," I said, and he turned back to see me.

He gave a low whistle of approval. "Very nice," he said, looking me from head-to-toe in a way that might have seemed lascivious if we hadn't fallen into a comfortable brother-and-sister relationship already. "I think Bertrand will approve."

With that dilemma sorted, we darted out of my room and headed towards the party. We passed Hana in the hallway, and she was frowning as she talked to someone on the phone. I slowed, and Maxwell looked back at me. "I'll catch up with you in a minute," I said quietly, and he nodded and left us alone. I approached Hana, and she smiled quickly at me before resuming her furrowed-brow-and-frowny-face.

"Yes, mother," Hana was saying. "Yes, I've tried gaining the court's favor...I've become friends with Prince Liam...Right...I'm not here to befriend him, I know."

Now it was my turn for a furrowed-brow-and-frowny-face. "Hana, you've been amazing," I whispered. "Nobody here has even half the talent you do."

She covered the phone and smiled at me, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "That doesn't mean anything to my parents unless I'm producing results." She uncovered the phone and continued speaking to her mother. "I know, you love me and only want what's best for me."

"Hana, you need to tell them what's best for you!"

She looked at me for a minute, considering my words, then her face grew into one of resolve. She nodded, and took a deep breath. "Mother, stop. There's more to my life than fulfilling your wishes. I've done everything you've ever told me to do, and...and it's made me miserable! If you really want me to be happy, then you have to let me figure out what that means for me." With that, she hung up the phone, sinking back so she was supported by the wall.

"Hana, I'm so proud of you!" I beamed.

"I can't believe I just did that," she said, her voice a little wobbly. But then she smiled. "I'm proud of me, too! Thank you for helping me."

"I didn't do anything," I said. "That was all you."

"You encouraged me, which was just what I needed to stand up for myself."

"That's what friends are for."

"I'm lucky to have a friend like you." She let out a quick, sharp breath. "Now, I'm sure I've delayed us both long enough. Let's go."

Outside, the party was in full swing. Nobles were milling about the lawn outside the manor, drinking champagne, eating hors d'oeuvres, and playing a variety of games. Croquet, badminton, and even archery were set up all around. Maxwell jogged up and the three of us wandered through the event. Maxwell's eyes lit up when he saw the archery targets. He quickly steered us in that direction. On the way, we bumped into Liam.

"Good to see you all," he said brightly. "Looks like Maxwell's set his sights on archery, huh?"

"You think they'll let me shoot an apple off someone's head?" Maxwell asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Hana warned.

"Heck, I bet I can do it blindfolded. I saw it in a video once." Without waiting for an answer, he sprinted towards the archery range.

"Should I call the paramedics?" I asked. It was a joke, but Liam actually looked a little worried.

"I'll keep him from hurting himself...or anyone else," Hana said. "You two enjoy yourselves." She ran after Maxwell with a stunning amount of grace.

After she was gone, Liam and I turned around to survey the rest of the jamboree. "Are you any good at ring toss?" Liam asked, motioning to a game set up nearby.

"I've never tried," I admitted.

"I promise I'll go easy on you," he grinned. He placed a hand on the small of my back to guide me towards the game.

It was a bit like horseshoes, and as such, I was not surprised when Liam beat me. Bad. So bad. "Let's just pretend this never happened," I suggested.

Liam grinned devilishly. "I'll only bring it up at the most humiliating of moments, I promise."

I shoved him playfully. "You're the worst."

"But I'm not the worst at ring toss!"

I shook my head, laughing. We looked around to see what we might do next. "You know," I said thoughtfully, "This all seems great, but I was rather hoping to sneak in some time alone with you."

"I'm always hoping for alone time with you, Riley. And, there is a hedge maze behind the manor." He took my hand and looked at me deeply. "Secluded. Quiet. Away from prying eyes..." he let the words hang in the air, and a few butterflies broke free of their cocoons in my stomach.

To cover my nerves, I teased him. "Another hedge maze? Is that a requirement for all your homes?"

"What can I say? My family enjoys them."

"Well, we did have fun the last time we visited one of your family's hedge mazes."

Acting as casual as we could, we meandered away from the party, then darted around the corner of the house and ran towards the hedge maze. Once we were around the first bend of the maze, we slowed down, strolling slowly, hand-in-hand through the maze of flower-covered arches. A soft breeze rustled the hedges, wafting the sweet scent of roses towards us. "This is nice," I said at last.

"I agree. Somehow, when I'm alone with you, I feel more like myself." He stopped, pulling me up short, and picked me up, twirling me around before setting me back down. "My best self, perhaps."

I laughed. "You're so happy today."

"I'm always happy when I'm with you."

I shook my head with a smile. He always said the sweetest, cheesiest things.

"And what about you?" he asked me. "Do you find yourself enjoying the time we spend together?"

It was strange to me how insecure he always seemed to be with me; like he was never sure what I really thought of him. I didn't think I was hiding my feelings very well; I was certainly not trying to. So, instead of teasing or giving a flippant answer, I answered in all sincerity, "I enjoy it very much."

"Good." He was beaming.

"Which, I think, means we should stay together forever. Keep on making each other happy."

"That's not a bad idea."

The butterflies in my stomach were multiplying like crazy. "So..." I said, taking his hand and pulling us forward to walk again. "Did you have a master plan to woo me here?"

"I thought we'd take a stroll, get lost in the maze, and never find our way out."

"Kidnapping, eh? I can't say I mind."

"I'm glad." As it so often did, his smile faded quickly into a serious expression. "I've been thinking a lot about the future. After the Coronation. I've been trying to imagine what kind of Queen you might be...if we were to wed."

We had reached the center of the maze by now. There was a fountain bubbling. I sat on its edge and let my hand drag through the cool water. "You don't normally talk so freely about the future," I mused.

"Maybe today, I want to. So, tell me. What would you want to do as Queen? How would you want to be remembered?" A smile played across his lips. "Would you be Queen Riley the Fierce? Or Queen Riley the Whimsical?"

"Queen Riley the Gorgeous?" I offered, which made him laugh. "No, but seriously," I said, looking up at him, standing above me. "I hope I would be known for...wisdom. I'd want people to look back on all the causes I championed and think, 'That queen really knew what she was doing.'"

He laughed again. "Alright," he conceded. "So what causes would Queen Riley the Wise champion in Cordonia?"

He was bringing out the tough questions today. I was used to this kind of thing from the Queen, and the press, and even Bertrand, but I was much more nervous about giving the right answer to Liam than to anyone else. "I would want to promote excellent and affordable education for all."

He nodded. "A lofty goal. It would take some time to implement, but I'd definitely want to live in your Cordonia."

"Thank you," I said, blushing a little.

Liam sat next to me, and for a while, we were silent, staring back into the hedge maze. Finally, I looked over at my Prince Charming. "Hey, Liam."

He looked back at me warmly. "Hey, Riley."

"Tell me a story about little Liam."

He smiled. "Gladly." He looked around for a moment, thinking. "This maze is very similar to the one at the Palace, but it has always felt so different. I've always had a soft spot for Applewood. We'd come here every summer, and it was really the only time when my brother and I were allowed to run and explore like regular kids. In fact, one summer, I was adamant that I didn't want to go home. So much so, that I hid in the basement when it was time to leave. I would have been in a great deal of trouble, except my brother took all the blame. He told my parents that we'd been playing hide-and-seek and he simply couldn't find me. So, they scolded him for starting a game too close to the time we were meant to leave, but they couldn't do much else."

"What a good big brother."

"He's always looking out for me. I told him I didn't want him to get in trouble for it, but he told me that he was always in trouble anyway, so a little more didn't matter. 'A duck in the pond doesn't mind the rain,' he said, 'it's already wet.'"

That made me laugh, but Liam looked suddenly sad. "I hope you get to meet my brother someday. He's not around much since his abdication."

"I would love to meet him."

"Now, it's your turn. Tell me a story about little Riley."

"Oh, I was nothing but trouble," I said. "Speaking of summer fun, one summer me and my best friend, Maggie, decided we were going to learn how to drive..."

"Okay..."

"We were only 10."

Liam laughed. "How did that go?"

"Well, we convinced her brother to let us drive his old junker in this open field behind their house. But, I was too small to see over the steering wheel, and I nearly plowed into the fence a few times. Then, because the grass was so dry, and his car was in such bad shape, it actually caught the field on fire! We stomped it out pretty quickly, though, so there was no real harm done. But he threatened us on pain of death if we ever breathed a word of it to their parents."

"Well, you've certainly not lost your taste for adventure," Liam said, wrapping an arm around me. "It's what I like best about you."

I let my head fall against his chest. "What else do you like about me?" I asked.

"I like everything about you."

I looked up at him, and he leaned down to kiss me. I turned, pulling him in deeper. As we pulled apart, Liam laughed. "What are you laughing at?" I asked, a little offended.

"I'm just so happy," he said.

"I can tell. You're happier, more care-free, than I've ever seen you. And...you're not usually willing to talk about after the coronation, in case...you know, in case you don't pick me."

"Well, I've been thinking a lot about that lately, and..."

"And?"

"And," he smiled, "I shouldn't say anything yet...not until I've gotten the approval of my parents and the council." His eyes sparkled. "But let's just say, I'm looking forward to the Coronation."

Just then, we heard chimes from across the grounds. Liam sighed and pulled me up. "That would be the official signal to end the games and assemble for dinner," he explained. "And I have to give the opening remarks at dinner, so..."

"So, we'd better go. I just hope you know the way out of here."

"I'll be your guide."

We walked slowly, but eventually we reached the beginning of the maze, and had to part for dinner. Before Liam's opening remarks, I meandered around the tables, lost in thought. I was so...giddy from the afternoon with Liam that I didn't notice Tariq until I nearly ran him over. "Oh!" I yelped, "Tariq, I'm sorry!"

Tariq smiled. "It's nothing. Really, Lady Riley, it's always a pleasure to see you."

Okay… I thought. To him, I replied, "How have you been?"

"As splendid as you look, my dear."

I couldn't tell if Tariq was gay, or just seemed it because of the accent and courtly manners. "Where'd that come from?" I asked.

"It came from the deepest recesses of my being. This event can hardly bear a star as bright as yours."

I was leaning towards the courtly manners thing. "Uh..." I stammered. "Thanks?"

"It fills me with such joy to hear you say that. You know, I have to tell you, after speaking with the other ladies here, I find myself having such an...appreciation for you."

Geeze, I thought, These nobles have to get out more. Talk to real people who aren't all obsessed with impressing the monarchs and buying fancy clothes.

"You're a breath of fresh, New York air," Tariq continued.

"I...don't think anyone has ever used fresh and New York air in the same sentence before."

He just kept going, unaware or uncaring of how awkward I was feeling. "The other suitors are absolutely boring. One only talks about her dogs. Another merely sulks. And don't get me started on Olivia."

"The other suitors each have their charms."

"If they do, I've yet to find them. The other suitors have good breeding, wealth, and manners. But they're absolutely dull. How disappointing. Where as you, Lady Riley. You grow more interesting every time we speak."

I wanted to point out to him that I had said about ten words in all of our conversations combined, but I honestly couldn't get a word in edge-wise.

"I must, however, take my leave," he said at last. "May you have a fantastic evening."

I shook my head as Tariq walked away, and Maxwell joined me. "There's our little social star," Maxwell said. "Was that Tariq you were talking to?"

"Yeah..." I said. "I guess we're friends now?" I didn't feel like getting into the whole weird conversation with Maxwell just then.

"Cool. Well, Bertrand and I just got a table. This way." He led me to a table, and we settled in for an uneventful dinner.

Later that night, when I was back in my room, I was still turning over the events of the day as I got ready for bed. I was just thinking of my strange conversation with Tariq when I heard my door opening. I spun around, undressed except for my bra and underwear, and saw Tariq entering the room! I shrieked, looking around for something to cover up with. I held a blanket in front of me.

"Goodness!" Tariq yelped. "Riley! Disrobing in my room. What a forward gesture!"

"Your room?" I sputtered.

"Please don't misunderstand. I'm not upset. I'm just surprised." I tried to interrupt him, but as usual, he was not to be stopped. "I suspected, but I never thought this would happen so soon." It was almost like he was talking to himself, rather than to me.

"Tariq, wait-"

He took a few long strides towards me and took my hand, making me drop the blanket. He placed my hand over his heart. "No. I must say this! Your feelings are most ardently returned. You've thoroughly enchanted me, just as you enchant everyone you come across. And now I know that you feel the same way about me."

I pulled my hand back, but before I could speak, he leaned in and planted his lips on mine! As I pushed him back, the door of the room swung open again, and I looked up to see Drake, with the angriest, scowliest, Drakiest face I'd ever seen.

"Get. Away. From. Her." He roared. Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Tariq by the shoulder and pulled him back.

"Unhand me!" Tariq protested. "How dare you enter my room without my permission!"

I felt like I was frozen as I watched the next few seconds unfold. Tariq squirmed out of Drake's grasp, spun around, and punched Drake squarely in the jaw. Drake reeled back, then tackled Tariq to the floor. They grappled intensely for a moment before rolling apart.

"Who the hell do you think you are bursting into my room?" Tariq yelled.

"This is Riley's room," Drake growled. "And I heard a scream. I think she wanted interrupting."

At the sound of my name, I snapped out of my daze. "Okay," I said firmly. "Everyone calm down! Drake, Tariq just misread the situation. Badly."

Tariq's face fell. "Then...you're saying...the feeling isn't mutual?"

"No," I said with as much force as I could muster.

"But...I'd heard..." he cleared his throat and straightened his suit. "It's no matter now. I was wrong."

"If you'd have let me speak, I could have cleared this up a lot sooner," I said.

"Let me apologize deeply, then, for how brashly I acted." He bowed. "Good night, Lady Riley. Whoever has your heart is indeed a lucky man."

As Tariq left, Drake slammed the door shut behind him. He turned to me, still breathing heavily from the fight and the adrenaline rush that must have come along with it.

"Drake," I said softly, all the anger gone from me now. "Thank you."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Aw, shucks, Harkness. Don't go all soft on me now."

"I mean it. You were there when I needed you."

"I'll always be here for you." The tenderness in his voice surprised me, and it must have surprised him, too, because he started back-pedaling pretty quick. "I mean, for Liam's sake, of course. Liam would never forgive me if something bad happened to you." He paused. "And you know what? I'd never forgive myself either."

I stared at him intently, trying to see into his mind. After a minute, I noticed that his eyes were lingering on me...all of me. I looked down and realized that I had let the blanket slip, and was standing in front of Drake mostly naked. I quickly wrapped the blanket tightly around me. "Uh, could you turn around for a second?" I asked. He did, and I slipped my dress back on. "Okay, thanks."

Drake cleared his throat as he turned back to face me. "Anyway," he said, "You can see why it looked bad. I heard a scream, saw you half-naked with Tariq all over you..."

"Yeah. I get it."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. He's an idiot, but I don't think he meant any harm."

Drake nodded. "Well, I should go before we really cause a scandal." As he headed towards the door, I saw him wince. He grabbed his side.

"Drake, you're hurt," I said, rushing to him.

"Nothing a few shots of whiskey won't fix."

"C'mere, let me take a look. It's the least I can do."

"I'm fine. Save your fussing for someone else."

I stepped in front of the door, blocking his way.

"Drake, you got hurt for me. I'm not letting you leave this room until you let me help you. You can start by taking off your shirt. I think he hit your ribs pretty hard. They could be broken."

"Wow, you've got a real bossy side to you, you know that?"

"You think I'm being bossy?" I said, my voice challenging. "Take it off, or I'm taking it off for you, mister!"

His eyebrows shot up and he jumped back. "Okay, okay, geeze!" He removed his shirt, and I could already see the beginnings of a massive bruise along his ribs.

I gently pressed along the ribs, looking for his reaction. He winced, but didn't make a noise. "I can't believe you got hurt because of me. This is all my fault."

"No," Drake said fiercely. "I got hurt because of Tariq. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault. Don't ever let yourself think like that, okay, Harkness?"

I nodded. "One of the servants fills this bucket with ice every night. In case of, you know, emergency champagne needs." I grabbed the bucket in question, and a washcloth, and created a makeshift ice pack. While I was doing so, Drake helped himself to the whiskey that was in my mini-fridge, stealing some of the ice for his glass. He held up a glass to me, but I shook my head. "I'm okay, thanks." As he took a sip of his drink, I pressed the ice pack softly against his bruises.

"Didn't realize you could be so gentle, Harkness," he said with a small smile.

"I've got a gentle side. I just don't show it off to you very often."

"I wouldn't mind seeing more of it."

I looked up at him and he caught my eye, then looked away quickly. I stepped back. "Well, I'm pretty sure nothing's broken. Hopefully the ribs themselves aren't bruised, but either way, it's going to be pretty painful for a few days, so take it easy."

"Will do, Dr. Harkness." He hesitated before slipping back on his shirt, then said, "I know I don't act very grateful for anything most of the time, but I do...care about you."

I gaped at him a little, and he quickly shook his head and made for the door. "I shouldn't be here," he grumbled. "I'll see you around." And just like that, he was gone.

I sat on my bed in the dark for a long while before undressing and climbing under the covers. It took even longer for me to close my eyes and sleep.