Christmas was only one week away, and I was officially out of time. It was a great idea, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough. Maybe it was time to accept that Preston was as stubborn as me, and we were doomed to a life of driving each other insane. Hey, at least women tended to live longer than men.
Listen to me. I’m already longing for the day my currently young and healthy intended leaves this plane of existence.
That kind of thinking wouldn’t help today. I needed to think positive thoughts.
Getting up early enough to catch Preston before he headed to work, I dressed in a pair of black pleated skinny trousers and a cream cashmere sweater—I wanted my clothing to be as soft as possible for holding our tiniest Bellestonians. Tying my long hair back, I made sure not to wear any jewelry, not wanting anything to scratch the sensitive, thin skin of the babies we were going to see.
Taking a deep breath, I checked my appearance in my standing floor-length mirror one last time before venturing from my room and heading for the breakfast room, where Preston was likely enjoying his morning cup of coffee.
Most days, we staggered our morning routine to avoid running into each other over breakfast. Preston was slightly surprised when I entered the room earlier than usual, his raised eyebrows giving him away. Without a word, I stepped to the sideboard laden with cold meats and cheeses, along with assorted pastries and fruit. Placing a few items on a plate, I perched myself on the edge of the settee, enjoying a moment of peace before the festivities began.
Hearing Preston folding his newspaper—a clear sign he was about to leave—I cleared my throat.
Pausing, probably hoping he was hearing things, he asked, “Did you need something, Lucy?”
“Actually, I do,” I responded as I placed my plate on the coffee table.
Sighing, Preston was resigned. “What now?”
Throwing on my fake princess smile, the one he believed was the only one I owned, my voice was sickeningly sweet. “Today, you will accompany me to my engagement.”
Absorbing the news, he ran a hand down his face in defeat. “Where are we going?”
“No need to worry about that.” I purposely brushed him off. The shock factor was necessary today. “Just know that you will be escorting me as my intended. After all, by next week, the news of our betrothal will be spread across the world.”
Pleased, I watched his throat bob as he swallowed that hard truth.
There’s still time to get out of this, buddy, but the ball is in your court. Man up and do us both a favor by calling this ridiculous arrangement off.
Much to my chagrin, he stood, brushing imaginary wrinkles from his dress slacks with his hands. “When do we leave?”
Plucking a scone from my plate, I replied, “Be ready in an hour.”
“Fine,” he muttered as he left the breakfast room. The tension was evident in the straining tendons of his neck.
Good. I wanted him slightly aggravated at all times—it increased the odds that the pot would boil over at some point, and he’d say “uncle.”
I was putting all my eggs in this final basket. It had to work.
As we pulled up to the back entrance of our destination, a mixture of confusion and fear crossed Preston’s face. Alpine Slope Women’s Hospital was a specialty hospital, providing medical care unique to the female sex. While most of Remhorn’s residents were born here, there were also departments devoted to female-specific cancers and preventative care.
Allowing Myles to open the sedan’s back door, I stepped out, waiting for Preston to join me before we entered the building. My heels clacked on the polished vinyl flooring just inside the doorway, and I was instantly flooded with memories—this was the same entrance I used all those years ago when Jameson required the highly specialized care of the NICU.
“Princess Lucy!” Hearing my name called from further down the hallway, I plastered the perfect public smile on my face, snapping into the role forced upon me by an accident of birth.
“Ms. Dixon. It’s so lovely to see you again,” I greeted the public relations representative for the hospital. She was a younger woman herself, dressed in a conservative skirt suit.We’d interacted on many of my previous pre-arranged visits to the hospital over the years.
“The pleasure is all ours, Your Highness.” Noticing Preston beside me instead of hanging back like Myles, she dared to ask, “And who have you brought with you today?”
Yeah, I saw the way her eyes devoured him, and I had to tamp down a sudden surge of possessiveness.
Looping my arm through his, I clung to Preston’s elbow, peering up at him with an over-the-top fake smile, acting like he was the light of my life. “This is Preston Scott, my intended.”
My smile turned genuine when I heard the muffled choking sound he tried to stifle. Ms. Dixon probably hadn’t heard it, but I sure did. He knew that explaining our relationship to someone outside our inner circle at the palace would have the news circulating before the end of the day. It wasn’t an over-sensationalized media rumor when it came straight from my mouth.
Clapping her hands in glee, Ms. Dixon was quick to hide the jealousy in her eyes as she gushed, “How wonderful! Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, we are very excited. Aren’t we, darling?” I batted my eyelashes at the stiff man beside me.
