☽Ⓛ❈Ⓒ☾

I'm bursting with excitement as I get ready for my date with Bain. It's only been five days, but I really like him.

This situation is different from a normal one. Feelings are heightened in this close proximity and we're spending a lot of time with these guys, it's inevitable if you're attracted to them.

I put on one of my favourite dresses and some heels. Saffron, Florie, Winnie and Niki help me get ready. We chat about the guys as they help me to my hair and make-up, which only makes me more excited.

Spencer comes and picks me up. He escorts us everywhere because the castle is so damn big. We'd be getting lost all of the time if it weren't for him.

'Spencer?' I get his attention as he's leading me down a hallway.

'Hm?'

'Do you think you'd be able to take part in this process? I know you're the host, but I know there's a woman who would definitely be vying for your vote.'

Spencer's cheeks turn a very faint pink at my question. He clears his throat awkwardly.

'Uh, no. I don't think that would be appropriate.'

I frown. 'Oh, okay.'

He gives me a sympathetic smile. 'Mr Ardelean, whichever one of the bachelors he is, is my employer. It's not appropriate for employees to be getting involved,' he explains quietly.

He glances around, as if worried he will be caught.

'Oh, that's crap.'

My reply makes Spencer chuckle. 'Yeah, it is.'

He takes me to a smaller dining room. The space is decorated with candelabras and flower arrangements, it takes my breath away.

Positioned in front of the enormous window, is a table, beautifully laid with silver. Bain stands from the table as Spencer guides me inside.

'Enjoy yourselves,' he says and then disappears.

The door closing resonates around the room as Bain and I lock eyes.

He smiles and takes a step towards me. My feet close the rest of the distance, automatically taking me to him.

I step into his waiting arms and he hugs me close.

'You look beautiful,' he murmurs into my hair as he rests his cheek on the top of my head.

'Thank you,' I reply shyly. I take a step back. 'You look very handsome.'

He does. It's my polite way of saying he looks fucking sexy.

Bain pushes in my chair for me when I sit down. He sits opposite me and reaches for my hand across the table. He softly presses a kiss to the back of it and my stomach flutters, and not from hunger. Well, a certain type of hunger, anyway.

'Thank you for the Joffre cake, it was delicious,' he says, his eyes glinting with warmth.

'It honestly tasted okay? I've never made it before,' I confess nervously.

Bain grins. 'It was fantastic, just like my Grandmother's.'

That makes me smile. 'Yay, I'm glad!'

'As well as it tasting amazing, I also chose it because I knew you had made it. The other two desserts weren't personal. I knew the second Spencer announced that someone had made Joffre cake, that it was you.'

I feel breathless under his heated gaze. He's looking at me with such affection, it's intense.

'You remembered me talking about it on the first night. You chose it because it meant something to me, and I appreciate that.'

My cheeks warm under his compliments.

'Well, I wanted to show that...' I take a deep breath. 'That, I like you.'

Bain grins at my confession. He lifts my hand and kisses it again.

'I like you too, pisicuță.'

Servers come through and bring us our meal, breaking the moment.

We talk throughout our courses, enjoying each other's company. It's lovely to have Bain to myself, to not have to worry about someone watching us or interrupting our conversation. I have three hours of time with him and I savour every moment of it.

As the servers clear away our dessert, I think of a question I've been meaning to ask him. I rest my elbow on the table and my chin on my hand.

'What made you agree to this process? Or come up with it, if that's what you did,' I ask. 'You don't strike me as the kind of guy who would be short of willing women. Why this competition?'

Bain smiles at the question.

'I promise that a lot more will be explained in time. At the end, you will learn all about me and my friends. There are reasons behind everything we do, but let's just say, it is very hard to find the right woman.'

He looks deep into my eyes and I find myself falling deeper into his.

'A lot of women we meet are only after money or power. This way, we could date a random selection of women, who, yes, might have just wanted a free holiday, but you weren't aware of our money before you signed up for it.'

He leans back in his chair, breaking our moment. There is an amused smile on his handsome face.

'We thought it would be a bit of fun, and we could get to know you ladies well, whilst using specially chosen activities to test your strengths.'

I shake my head in amazement. 'Well, who am I to judge? I'm the one who signed up for the damn thing.'

Bain chuckles. 'Well, that's not entirely true, is it? Saffron made you sign up.'

I nod in agreement. 'Yes, she did.'

His smile widens. 'And I'm so glad she did.'

I look up at him and I feel myself leaning in closer.

'So am I,' I admit quietly.

Bain suddenly stands from the table, I mirror him and stand, too. He grabs my face and crashes his lips to mine. I hold on tightly to his arms for balance.

As his lips move ardently against mine, he softens his grip on me. His hands slide down my body, to my waist. He pulls me close, so that my body is pressed to his huge chest. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into my tiptoes to kiss him more strongly.

The door opening makes us break apart. A blush forms on my cheeks and Bain smirks knowingly.

Spencer clears his throat.

'I'm sorry to interrupt. Amity, it's time for me to take you back to your chambers.'

I nod sadly and glance back at Bain. He gently strokes my face and then presses a kiss to my forehead.

'Goodnight, pisicuță. I will see you tomorrow.'

'Goodnight, Bain,' I respond softly.

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Day six brings out the library competition.

The girls and I discuss what this could possibly mean, on the way to the library. Spencer sticks to the front of the group with Saffron, who is far more interested in him than any competition.

We're curious and all-ears when Spencer lets us into the most wonderful room in the castle. Row after row of books dons the space. It smells slightly musty, but in the best way.

'Ladies, welcome to your next competition. The royal library houses over half a million books. Every single one is in alphabetical order from the author's surname. I ask that you do not move them around, as I will be seriously pissed.'

We chuckle at Spencer's comment.

'The competition will involve three tasks. The first will require you to be light on your feet and move quickly. Hence, why I asked you to dress comfortably this morning.'

I listen intently, wondering what on earth we're going to be asked to do.

'You will be given a code to crack. You have your own desk to work at. On each desk, is a dossier that contains the instructions and clues to crack your coded message. Once you have deciphered the message, you must write it out fully and hand me the answer.'

I grimace and pull a face. I hope it's not riddles, I'm so bad at those.

'The first seven women to do so, will move onto the next round, whilst the remaining women will be sent back to your chambers.'

We all take seats at our assigned desks. When Spencer gives the signal, the time starts and we open our dossiers.

The code breaker is relatively easy.

For each letter of the code, we are given the code for the book, the page number, the line number and the letter number.

The first is: PP18, 259, 7, 14.

I jump to my feet and use the library coding system to find the book; Philip Pullman, The Northern Lights.

On page 259, line 7, the 14th letter is 'T'.

I write the letter on the first line and flick to the next instruction.

My progress is slow, but steady. The girls and I run around the library, finding books and scrawling down letters. The clues are not in order, making the message harder to decipher.

After fifteen minutes, I've managed to get this far:

T_ _ E _ A W _ _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ A _ N _ F _ _ _ D,

A _ _ _ _ E A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ O _ E _,

H _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ Y _ _ T _ E _ A L _ _ _ _ _ U _ _ A N _,

_ _ D _ T _ _ N _ T _ _ _ A _ H _ _ R.

It still doesn't make sense to me, but I push on. I barely have time to look at the other girls and see how they're doing, everyone is engrossed in their code-cracking. But I can hear the huffs and sighs of frustration echoing around the library.

My heart beat quickens as I decipher more of the code. A light bulb goes off in my head.

T_ S E _ A W _ R _ D _ N _ G _ A _ N _ F _ _ _ D,

A _ D A _ E A V _ N _ _ A W I _ D F _ O _ E _,

H _ L _ I _ F _ _ _ _ Y _ _ T _ E _ A L M O _ Y _ U _ _ A N _,

_ N D _ T _ _ N _ T Y _ _ A _ H O _ R.

I hurriedly fill in the gaps on the message. I practically stumble over my own feet as I rush over to Spencer. Saffron gets in just before me, winking at me as she hands Spencer her answer. He checks over it and nods with a smile.

I hand him my paper.

TO SEE A WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND,

AND A HEAVEN IN A WILD FLOWER,

HOLD INFINITY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND,

AND ETERNITY IN AN HOUR.

-William Blake, Auguries of Innocence

It's one of my favourite poems, has been since I was a child. Long before I could understand what half of the words meant. I realise that I included it in my questionnaire. One of the questions was about your favourite poets and I answered a few, one of them being William Blake.

Saff and I wait to one side, whilst the rest of the girls work on their codes. They come up one by one as they finish cracking them.

Spencer calls time after seven of us have handed in our answers. Winnie and Helene are last, surprising me.

I'm relieved as soon as Helene is out. That means I don't have to compete with her for Bain any more today. It feels good.

'Alright, ladies. Time for the second task,' Spencer garners our attention again.

'In this task, you will be solving riddles.'

FUCK.

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