Page 11 of Forsaking All Others

More applause from the stupid women surrounding me as he spins away from them to face the cameras.

“And Bachelor Universe, here you have it: this year’s contestants, selected for their beauty, their brains, their wit, their bloodlines and their potential to become suitable royal brides. Tonight, their journey to find love starts as we and the bachelor begin to get to know them. And I can promise you that this season will provide breathtaking locations, passionate lamentations and…” he lowers his voice dramatically, “heartbreaking goodbyes.”

I roll my eyes and look away from the presenter and over to the bachelor where he stands off-camera, surrounded by women pressed as close as they dare and staring adoringly at him. He looks spectacularly uncomfortable. I could almost laugh out loud, but I don’t, because Starlen suddenly stops talking, holds up his hand to the cameras to indicate he’s done, and walks off set.

No goodbyes, no farewell, no good luck message. Nothing.

‘So much for being special.’

As the camera crew realign themselves, the director clears his throat loudly to gain the attention of the bachelor and holds up a sign telling him to walk outside and begin meeting the women one at a time.

“Ah, as much as I’m enjoying this party,” the Viscount announces, a slight frown creasing his forehead and belying his words, “it seems that if I’m to truly get to know each and every one of you I need to leave now, so I can have time alone with you individually.”

There’s a collective disappointed sigh, but he holds up his hand and smiles.

“The night is young; rest assured, I’ll speak to every one of you. I’m just outside these doors. After tonight, as you know, I’ll pick one of you for my ‘first impression’ one-on-one date.”

There are nods and sly smiles all around, but they quickly turn to incredulous stares as Thorun asks loudly, “What’s a one-on-one?”

8

The naturally-pretty blonde sips her drink and leans back in her chair, seemingly more comfortable than any of the other contestants who’ve had conversations with me tonight — Apart from the English woman who’d put her hand on my upper thigh and squeezed. But I don’t think that one will last long if the expressions on the other contestants’ faces when she returned to the mansion are anything to go by.

“So, you truly know absolutely nothing about this game?” I murmur my question to the Icelandic beauty beside me as I swirl my whisky and stare into its amber depths. “You don’t know the rules, the rituals, the aim…”

“No,” she shrugs, “although I don’t know why the other competitors were so rude to me about it. I assume the aim is to find out whether we’re compatible and, if so, to marry you. If not, I guess I leave empty-handed having had a unique experience. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as my grandmother says.”

‘Compatible? Unique experience?’

I uncross my legs and lean forward to look into her eyes, uncertain whether she’s an excellent liar or the most unfortunate woman I’ve ever met.

“You’ve seriously never heard of the Vampire Bachelor Games? The longest-running reality television show in history?”

She shrugs.

“We don’t have very good reception where I live, and I hardly know anyone who watches television anyway. I’ve never heard of these games; although I know about vampires, of course. I don’t live under a rock!”

“No, you live on one,” I smirk. “Grimsey Island is, as far as I know, nothing but an outcrop in the sea off Iceland known for birds, fish, and very little else.”

“I’m impressed you know that,” she smiles a genuine, wide smile. “It’s also the most beautiful place on earth.”

“It is beautiful,” I nod, my eyes not leaving hers, “starkly beautiful.” ‘As are you.’ “I visited once. I recall there were fewer than twenty people living there at the time.”

“About one hundred now,” she smiles, “and I know every one of them like the back of my hand.”

“I’ll bet you do,” I snort as I shake my head and catch the director’s eye. He’s giving me a wind-up signal and indicating that I should look towards the mansion where many more women still await their turn for a conversation with me.

They can wait. This woman is the most original and real that I’ve met.

“Did you know about this?” I look directly at the director as I ask the question.

“Cut!”

“Ah, if this is true,” he narrows his eyes at Thorun, “then it’s a first, in my time at least. I honestly just thought she was stupid.”

“I’m not stupid,” Thorun snaps. “I do all the books for the fish factory, all the inventory, nothing leaves or arrives on our island without my organisation!”

I frown as some of the crew snigger, and the director turns and berates them before focusing back on me.