Chapter 251


    Whatever Jane had said to Nichs must have been something horrific.


    “I’m okay, and Elva’s okay,” I said, hoping to soothe him and his prowling wolf. “If the worst she’s done is


    tarnish my reputation, then we can recover from that.”


    A storm raged in Nichs’s eyes, the green shing against the gold.


    “She threatened you,” he said and it came out a growl.


    “That’s nothing new.”


    “What she said… cannot be allowed…”


    “Whatever she said is just words. I’m here and I’m safe. She can’t touch me while I’m beside you.” 1


    That, atst, finally seemed to bring him some measure offort. He breathed in deeply, held it, then


    released. Some of the tension bled away from his shoulders. He closed his eyes, and when he


    opened them again, they were clearer.


    Slowly, I lowered my hand away from his chest.


    “I need to speak with the benefactors Jane insulted. If I apologize, then maybe…”


    and


    “I don’t think that will work,” Nichs said. “Their pride won’t allow them to ept your apologize. At


    least, not this soon.”


    “But I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I have to repair what she’s done.” 1


    “Even with me beside you, they will refuse to speak to you. The things she said to Mrs. Marble -”


    “Mrs. Marble? The ultra–richdy?”


    Nichs nodded, expression grim.


    This past week, all the girls had been talking about the wealthiest of the benefactors, Mrs. Marble.


    Everyone had her in their sights, déciding that whoever won her support, won the whole thing. I had


    never


    heard of her before, never cared to, but now I understood her influence.


    To insult her was to insult the whole of the nobility. The only thing worse would have been to insult the


    Queen herself. 1


    Blood drained from my face. “She didn’t talk to the royal family…?”


    “No,” Nichs said, and as bad as things were, that was at least somewhat of a relief.


    I spoke with Nichs a minute more, trying toe up with some kind of n to improve my situation.


    As it was, we wereing up short. Everyone – the benefactors, the candidates, and the guests –


    red


    at me as they past.


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    The camera crews, however, were all too interested in capturing my every expression. The producers


    meanwhile shouted out questions.


    “Prince Nichs! Did you and Piper make up?”


    I nced at Nichs. “We were fighting?”


    He nodded. “I had a few terse words for Jane. Before Terry intervened. Then I had to let her go.”


    Ten minutester, Nathan imed everyone’s attention. He stood beside the King and Queen on the


    lifted thrones at the middle edge of the room. He held a few papers in his hands.


    “We will now announce the organizations that the benefactors have chosen to support tonight,” Nathan


    said. We appreciate everyone’s time and generosity. Many good causes will be receiving donations this


    evening.”


    Nathan lifted his list and began reading the names of the benefactors and the organization they have


    chosen to support. One by one, he ticked down his list.


    Not once did I hear the name of the orphanage.


    Not even from those that had promised me to my face to support me.


    I supposed I couldn’t me them. Whatever goodwill I had garnered, Jane had taken apart in ten


    minutes of rudeness and insults.


    Tears welled in my eyes, unbidden, as Nathan continued down the list. Many of the names I didn’t even


    recognize. Had I truly missed talking to so many people?


    I felt ashamed. I failed those kids at the orphanage. And I failed myself.