Chapter Five
The next morning, I am standing on the front balcony of the palace with the other Elite, our partners and the Royal Family, waving to the crowds here to see us off. I see camera's flashing and silently thank Anne for making me look radiant today. She dressed me in a peach-coloured day dress with an empire waistline and capped sleeves. My hair is down but curled. Our first stop is Likely, and then onto Columbia. We have to manage to get through nearly the whole of Illea in one month. King Clarkson has decided that we will be avoiding the Provinces with the most rebel activity however I believe avoiding them will only rile them up more. As we wave, every so often I look amongst our group and see Maxon looking at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. I try not to blush but it's useless.
"America, how're you feeling?" Kriss asks as we make our way down the steps to the cars. Jackson and I will be riding with Celeste and Hamish.
"Much better. Thanks for asking." I smile at her kindness but feel a stab of guilt in my heart. I know last night was wrong, but it felt so right to Maxon and I. Last night, in the hospital wing, Maxon and I had shared a kiss. He had promised me that no one would ever find out, but that made it even more attractive. I had stayed under the nurses care all night and came back to my room this morning to get ready, Jackson had been hostile until I swore it was just a ride around the grounds with Maxon and nothing more. I don't understand his change in character, he hadn't been this way back at home in Carolina. The rebels from yesterday were captured, King Clarkson plans on interrogating them according to Maxon. I hope they aren't tortured.
"We were all very worried. Jackson, I bet you're glad she's all okay for the trip!" Kriss joins Jackson into the conversation in a friendly tone. Jackson smirks.
"Indeed, although I think we should still be going home. You hit your head pretty bad." He says. If I didn't know any better, I might think he actually cared.
"Well, we will keep a close eye on her, won't we Maxon?" Kriss says to Maxon as he approaches.
"That we will. Now Lady America you'll be riding with Celeste as agreed." Maxon touches my arm softly. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Never better." I say softly. Jackson clears his throat.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Is it one of these cars?" Jackson nods to the shiny black cars beginning to line up in front of us. Maxon nods.
"Come on you. Get in." Celeste smirks as she comes over and opens the door of the car in front of us. I turn to Maxon.
"See you soon, Your Majesty." I give a small curtsy and get into the car after Celeste. Hamish and Jackson follow, talking about last night's party that I missed.
The car journey lasts a good hour before we arrive in Likely. The place is rainy and drab, as I gaze out of the window it seems a lot of it is in ruins, perhaps from the Northern Rebels. We reach the wealthier part however this isn't much better. I realise perhaps palace life has turned me into a bit of a snob when it comes to accommodation. Celeste reads my mind.
"Bloody hell what a dump. Who lived here again?" She asks to no one in particular as she looks out the rain splattered window.
"Janelle wasn't it?" I answer. She shrugs.
"Whoever it was clearly didn't last very long." The car pulls up outside of a large manor, it's nowhere near as grand as the palace however looks like it is clearly meant to house royalty. "Well, this this nice, except the weather." Celeste sniffs at the rain, she then looks at her delicate heels and sighs. I laugh, knowing we are both going to suffer in the mud. Hamish jumps out from the car and opens the door for Celeste, Jackson standing just behind him buttoning up his suit jacket. While Hamish helps Celeste from the car, Jackson just holds the door open for me. My cream kitten heels squelch in the mud. Brilliant. We all file into the entrance hall of the manor where the King and Queen are already waiting for us with Maxon and Kriss at their side.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be a member of staff to take you to your rooms and then we shall regather in about half an hour for lunch." King Clarkson announces. "The staff will take your bags up to your rooms so there's no need to go back to the cars for them. Please, dry off and take some time to rest before lunch. After lunch we will be touring the closest town." And with that King Clarkson and Queen Amberly left the room, perhaps to see to the details of our stay in Likely.
"How are we meant to do around thirty provinces in a month? I can't handle all this constant travelling." Celeste whines. I nudge her.
"Stop it, Clarkson will have you." I warn, she laughs.
"I'd like to see him try. See you at lunch." I turn to Jackson and take his arm.
"How are you feeling?" He asks.
"Bit of a headache but as long as the doctor says I'm fine I won't worry about it too much." I reply, following the butler that ushers us to our room.
"Good. I really was worried about you." Jackson says, his voice soft.
"Yeah, okay." I scoff, "You can't say that after how you treated me the other night."
"America, I'm sorry. I just got stressed about you and Maxon. There's a weird tension when he's near you. It puts me on edge." Jackson explains.
"I'm sorry Jackson, but that's no reason to hurt me!"
"It won't happen again, I promise." He smiles, and I have to forgive him. I can't hate him, part of me does feel tenderness for Jackson. It's just not love. My mother would say it could be one day, and that there's time for love later on but she's never been in an arranged marriage. Although I try to love Jackson, I just can't force it after how deeply in love I was with Maxon. I saw my whole future planned with him, children and everything and then I was discarded over a misunderstanding. I couldn't force that with someone else.
Lunch is uneventful, I do my best to not look at Maxon but can't seem to help it and every time I look up at him, he's already smiling at me. Subtly, he tugs on his ear and I eagerly return the gesture. Not sure how we will avoid everyone in such a smaller setting but I'm sure Maxon will find a way. Next to me, Natalie prattles on to a clearly irritated Celeste. I remember Natalie being a little air-headed in the Selection.
"Did you two write to each other?" Natalie asks, motioning to Celeste and me with her dessert spoon.
"We did. It seems towards the end of the Selection we struck up an unlikely alliance." Celeste smiles to herself.
"Alliance?" I laugh, "It's called a friendship, Celeste." All three of us laugh.
"You know what I meant. Let me tell you now," she continues as she stabs her gateau, "If I had it my way, America would've been the Queen." Jackson drops his fork with a clatter, I clench my hands around my cutlery.
"What?" Jackson asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"You must've known America was in the final two of the Selection?" Celeste looks genuinely confused.
"Celeste you can't say things like that, they might hear you." Natalie motions to the Royal Family sitting at the opposite table from us. Celeste shrugs.
"Let them. America was going to be the winner; I knew it and so did everyone else." I groan internally, knowing this will only make Jackson more insecure and wary of Maxon.
"No, I didn't know she got that far." Jackson says, looking from Celeste to me.
"I didn't think it would be important to mention." I mumble.
"Mention? Do you not read the news or magazines?" Celeste laughs.
"Is that why he gravitates to you?" Jackson asks. I shake my head.
"I don't know what you mean." I resume eating my pavlova but have suddenly lost my appetite. The subject is dropped, thankfully, when Maxon stands and grabs all of our attention.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you have enjoyed your lunch. Now, we intend to make our way into the centre of Likely and be home by around five this evening. Each day we will set off for each new province. Please make your way to the entrance hall." Maxon smiles, I can see he is tense still. He peers at his father, who makes no expression towards his son. It riles the fire in me that Maxon could still be subject to the king's abuse. We all gather at the entrance hall and make our way to the same cars. The group travel to central Likely where the largest town resides and flanked by many guards, make our way to the Town Hall. We are greeted by the Mayor and his wife, and there is a small press conference. All of us sit in a long line, camera's flash and reporters shout questions at us.
"Prince Maxon how is newly-wed life?" One of the reporters call. Maxon flashes his princely smile,
"It's been plain sailing, so far." Kriss seems dejected at his blunt response, but quickly smiles for the cameras.
"Princess Kriss, how have you adjusted to palace life?" Another asks. Kriss sits a little taller.
"I feel I've settled in nicely, it's a lot different to being in the Selection but I'm so much happier with my husband." She takes Maxon's hand on the table and I clench my hands together in my lap.
"Lady America, how does it feel being second in the Selection?" A voice calls. That one stings. I take a moment to laugh and smile, but really, I'm caught off guard. How am I meant to respond? No one briefed us, they said we wouldn't be asked questions. I catch Maxon whispering something into Kriss's ear to which she smiles and bats her eyelashes. I feel a stab of jealousy even though I know he's not mine.
"I feel…" I trail off, seeing King Clarkson glowering at me, "I feel very lucky, his Royal Highness the King has arranged my marriage to my wonderful fiancé, and I have benefited very well from the Selection. I hold no negative feelings over the whole thing, it was a competition after all."
"Why did Maxon not choose you?"
"I, um, he thought and thought about his decision. That is private to his Majesty." I stammer.
"Do you still love the prince?" Another one of the reporter's shout. Camera's flash and loads of eyes are on me, I begin to shake under the pressure, I feel completely stranded. Next to me, Jackson takes my hand, reminding me of his presence.
"I love him as my friend. We parted ways on good terms." I nod.
"Prince Maxon, do you harbour any feelings for Lady America?" Maxon is asked. I see Kriss next to him looking extremely uncomfortable, King Clarkson looks as if he is about to explode. Maxon clears his throat.
"I have feelings of genuine affection and care; Lady America and I are good friends." Maxon reiterates.
"Right ladies and gentlemen, I believe will we take our final questions and then wrap up the press conference." King Clarkson announces. For the first time, I am grateful for his commanding power.
The rest of the afternoon is in the dining room of the Town Hall, subjects come in and offer gifts to the King and Queen and the Prince. Maxon is great with his people, he takes the time to real listen to their problems and even when he can't help, he shows genuine remorse. He's so much more than his father ever has been and I can't help but beam with pride. Once everyone has been seen, the King and Queen thank everyone and take off to tend to other engagements around Likely while the rest of us are free to spend time at the manor. I head back with the rest of the Elite, tired from the day. The sun has begun to set when we reach the manor.
"Are you alright? How is your head?" Jackson asks, noticing my quietness.
"I'm fine, just tired. I might retire to the drawing room with everyone to read for a bit." I reply, taking off my coat and handing it to one of the many butlers swarming us.
"Okay, I'm going to head out with the gentleman." Jackson kisses my cheek and takes off with Hamish and the other men on the trip. As I head to my room to grab a book or something to entertain me, I feel a light tap on my back. I turn to see Maxon grinning from ear to ear.
"Hello, my dear."
"Hello you." I smile.
"Ear tug earlier? At lunch remember." Maxon says, pulling his ear again. I suddenly recall and gasp. "You forgot!" He feigns shock and hurt.
"No…maybe." I laugh. Jackson suddenly turns the corner and stops in his tracks, staring at the two of us giggling away. My hands are pressed against Maxon's chest, his hands loosely on my arms. My heart sinks.
"Ah Jackson. Brilliant timing. The doctor has asked to check up on Lady America, I just came to escort her personally." Maxon stands tall.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Jackson mutters, walking past us into our room.
"He didn't bow." I comment. Maxon shrugs.
"Shall we?" I take his arm. "Now, are you alright? Would you like to go to the doctor?"
"No!" I protest and Maxon laughs. He leads the way as we chat idly about the tour and how it will play out. He confides in me that he thinks it will do more harm to avoid the provinces where the rebels are rife, and I have to agree. We slowly make our way down to the wine cellar; I've never had a taste for wine but am thankful for the privacy. "Maxon I hope we aren't wine tasting." I say, looking at all the old bottles of wine.
"No, I just wanted to be alone." Maxon squeezes my hand.
"Why?" I ask, but he doesn't answer. Instead, he grabs me by the cheeks and pulls me in for a deep kiss. His lips move effortlessly against mine in a passionate kiss. How I've missed this passion. We kiss for a long while before I break away, slightly breathless.
"I can't stay long, Kriss is expecting me. I told her I was just seeing you to the doctor." Maxon sighs. I nod, disappointed but understanding. I am not the priority, I'm the one on the side.
Once I reach my room, Jackson is sitting up waiting for me. He stares at a spot in the floor and I sense his anger as I shut the bedroom doors. I don't want this argument, it's the same every time I come back later and every time, I feel guilty.
"America, I made myself very clear." Jackson starts.
"Jackson, I went to the doctor."
"Funny, I went there soon after you both left and you weren't there." He shoots back.
"It was a short visit, and I went for a walk around with Maxon." I say, slipping off my shoes and allowing Anne to undress me behind one of the large screens in our room. I miss the days of being single and alone sometimes.
"America, you are going to stop indulging whatever this is with Maxon. I've had enough. If you want to marry me, if you want money and stability, it ends. Tonight." Jackson threatens.
"Jackson that's not why I'm marrying you!" I snap as I pull on my robe.
"Oh, shut up." He yells. I turn to Anne and dismiss her, not wanting her to hear our argument. "Without me what would you do? You haven't played for anyone in years. Without me your family will starve again." He grips my wrists again. "I've given up with trying to love you. Or even trying to get you to love me. In all the two years you've not shown me half the attention you give him in the bloody dining hall. It ends." He tosses my wrists and stalks over to the bed, leaving me with tears in my eyes.