Sunday, I met Nolan’s third cousin, Tobias McAfee, at a tea house. Tobias was pleasant enough when he managed to pry his gaze from my breasts long enough to look me in the eye.

Monday, I went for a stroll with Nia’s former classmate, Samuel Tipton, which was moderately enjoyable until he kissed me goodbye and tried to choke me with his tongue.

Tuesday was the final straw. My aunt’s friend’s son Finneas Clarke took me to the Rosehill greenhouse and had the audacity to grab my backside. Too bad I didn’t keep Gryffin’s blade. Finneas deserved a good poke in the ribs.

By this morning, I’ve given up on men entirely.

Seelie men, anyway.

If Nia didn’t spend every waking moment on my heel, I would’ve gone straight to the well to see if Ever had returned from his hunt and ask how he fared.

Instead, I spend the afternoon helping Aunt Cordelia pack all her pies into boxes for transport. When evening finally arrives, I change into my new dress. Tiny flowers dot the ivory corseted bodice and lavender chiffon overskirt. The ribbons at the back are a celery green. I feel like a princess when I put it on—although finding a prince is the last thing on my mind.

With my hair curling down my back, I tuck one of the flowers Ever gave me behind my ear, just in case he’s back and decides to accept my invitation. When Nia sees me, she asks if I’ve changed my mind about Ronan.

I tell her that the flowers aren’t from the prince, and when she asks who gave them to me, I shrug and escape down the stairs with her flying down behind me like a banshee. Both of us come to a screeching halt when we see my aunt speaking to Trevor on the stoop.

My missing suitor offers a tentative smile. “Ladies, I apologize for barging in unannounced, but as I was telling Mrs. Quill, I just returned from Glassmarsh and had hoped to escort Kerris to tonight’s festival.”

Nia shoves me between the shoulder blades, and I careen forward, narrowly avoiding a collision with my aunt. “You go with Trevor, and I’ll help my mother with the pies.”

“I don’t mind helping⁠—”

My aunt waves me off as well. “No, no. You go ahead. We insist.”

Those two are as subtle as a bloomin’ plank to the forehead.

Reluctantly, I allow Trevor to lead me down the path to where everyone is emerging from their fear-induced hibernation.

Imagine being so afraid that you lose an entire day every week just to avoid your neighbors. Madness.

Trevor pats my hand where it rests in the crook of his arm, his smile warm and friendly. “I’m sorry I have been so inattentive of late. You deserve better.”