His Royal Ruse

y's

from behind the counter, wiping my hands on my apron. Mrs. Delaney had just walked out with her tart, and I was

ing it would be another supplier calling with inquiries. But, upon se

a's voice rang frantically and a li

hands, suddenly feeling my heart racing as if I had

erywhere, like, everywhere," she laug

t do you mean

Love in the Dales. It's got your face on it, outside Sweet Crumbs, and says that you two are engaged!" Emma's

while my stomach dropped, and t

G

, "It wasn't meant to happen. I

voice wilder than she had been. "What will you do? The media is all over it, and your bakery is getting so much atten

o cry. The pulse was thudding in my ears as I st

this. All I wanted was to protect Sweet Crumbs; I di

door swung again: this time it did not allow in

ce as ever, and yet surveyed the room as though hunting for something; he walked in. Ign

nder'

st visit, and it ended there. I caught a glimpse of Lily at the counter facing away from me, m

my throa

in person was a complete surprise. But I was

o talk," I said,

gave an affirmative nod and started walking towards me. I co

" I said very firmly, as the tension in my chest tigh

ise within her. "I didn't compel anyone to bel

n such a position that I look like a fool. If the truth gets to th

it, but the story has already gone viral. Everyone knows it. You go to court? Bring it he

of the situation. Still, it was true. The media would be unforgiving.

concentrate. "You don't know the

ot the benefit of this, Alexander. You're the one that's the darling of the media, who

kery as an act of love. The story was catching fire with my investors and clients. They were eating it up. The good publicity and t

of issue I could bulldoze my way through with money or legal act

e who had spent all morning trying to get things together. He nodded slightly at Lily

consider keeping this story about the

. Underneath it, frustration boiled. "

ankly, your investors are eating it up. The surrounding buzz is stronger than i

g and simmering. "So you're telling me an invente

mething that investors, clients, and even the media can latch on

eputation based on some ridiculous lie, but, truth be told, Marcus was right. The b

she watched the exchange. "What do you want me to do?" I asked her, the words leaving

though it softened. "I'm not the one who started this, Alexander.

. I hated the word about continuing this farce, but the stakes were too

?" I asked, my voice ti

ready getting skewed. It was fa

or worse, I had g

to Lily. "Fine," I said, my voice quieter now. "We'll keep up th

ion while we can. We play along. But at some time, Alexander, you're going to have to de

she was right: The public was already moving to the

k to Lily. "Fine," I said, my voice lower now. "We will keep up t

intest trace of a smile tu

lay along, at least for now. But a small, quiet part in me couldn't help but w