Chapter 10: The Queen of the River

On the third of March, I heard the governor’s daughter was going boating. Pearl insisted on watching, so I closed up shop and took her out early.

We packed a picnic—peanut butter sandwiches and lemonade—and staked out our spot by the water. Pearl’s excitement was infectious, her eyes wide as she watched the commotion.

The governor’s daughter was the apple of her father’s eye. He’d married her to a wealthy local businessman and granted her the city as her playground.

People gossiped about her in every corner of town, spinning stories about her power and beauty. No one could say for sure what was true.

Rumors about her were everywhere: some said her husband cheated, so she had him thrown out; others said she kept a lot of handsome lovers and did whatever she wanted.

The tales grew wilder with every retelling. Some folks said she once shut down Main Street just to parade her favorite musicians through town.

Anyone she fancied couldn’t escape her. In this city, it was rare to see handsome young men—once they reached high school, families sent them away, unless they wanted to get in her good graces and sent them to her willingly.

It became a kind of joke—“Don’t let your boy get too tall, or the governor’s daughter will snatch him up.” People laughed, but you could tell they were only half kidding.

No one knew what was true, but even the governor deferred to her. Her power was unmatched.

She was the queen bee of the city, and everyone danced to her tune.

We arrived early and found the best spot on the bridge.

Pearl dangled her legs over the edge, eyes shining as the boats came into view.

Her procession was grand—three painted boats, each three stories high. She loved white lace, and the boat shrouded in it had to be hers.

The sun gleamed off the lacquered wood, white lace fluttering like wedding veils. Pearl squealed in delight, pointing and clapping.

It was the one in the middle. Pearl chattered away, pointing excitedly. Besides the maids and staff, most on board were young, handsome men.

Some wore matching suits, others lounged on deck chairs, laughing and flirting with the maids. It looked more like a scene from a movie than real life.

All kinds of men—so the rumors about her keeping lovers weren’t totally false, though she herself was nowhere to be seen.

Pearl tried to count them all, giving up after she reached ten, giggling the whole time.

As the boat drew near, a gust of wind lifted the lace.

I held my breath, waiting for a glimpse of the woman who ruled the city’s gossip.

“Big brother, that’s my big brother!” Pearl pointed at the boat. I was startled, quickly covered her mouth. By the time I looked back, the lace had fallen.

My heart hammered in my chest. I squeezed her shoulder, warning her with my eyes to stay quiet.

But some people are unforgettable. See them once, and you’ll know them in a crowd.

Even hidden behind lace and distance, I recognized him instantly—his posture, the set of his jaw, the way he held himself apart from the others.

The governor’s daughter wore a white lace dress, her long legs faintly visible, a flower painted on her forehead, red at the corners of her eyes, her lips slightly parted.

She looked every bit the queen—imperious, untouchable, surrounded by admirers. The way she carried herself made it clear she knew she was untouchable.

And him, beneath her, his fair chest exposed. I could see his brows furrowed, his long lashes trembling. She tried to touch his lips, but he turned his head away. In that moment, he opened his eyes, and our gazes met.

I felt a chill crawl down my spine. The shame and anger in his eyes cut through me, making my breath hitch.

Time seemed to both stretch and stop—long enough for me to see the shame and anger in his eyes, short enough that I missed the little mole by his lip.

It was only a moment, but it felt like a lifetime. I looked away, heart pounding with helplessness.

The valedictorian, forced to submit to the governor’s daughter.

The reality of it twisted my stomach. The boy everyone admired, now just another of her possessions.

For a man of principle, this was worse than death. The man I saw now was nothing like the one from that night. For him to endure such humiliation, he must have something even more important than his own life to accomplish.

I trust him, I thought.

I hugged Pearl tight, whispering in her ear not to say a word to anyone. We watched the boats drift away, the city’s secrets floating with them.