Royal Package - Lili Valente Page 0,45

you’re doing the same thing,” Jeffrey counters. “You’re pretending to be someone you’re not.”

“It’s not the same thing,” I say, ignoring the prickling of my conscience. “Not even close.”

“And what if she’s pretending to save you and Elizabeth from a miserable marriage? Isn’t that more admirable than eating like a pig or jumping out of a helicopter and putting your life at risk because you can’t own up to what you want?”

I prop my hands on my hips, my eyes narrowing. “I can own up to what I want. I want out of the betrothal without breaking my promise to Grandfather, and I’m clear on exactly how far I’ll go to make that happen. And just because you’re scared of helicopters doesn’t mean my life was ever at risk.”

“I’m not scared of helicopters, and jumping out of them is absolutely dangerous. Look at the statistics. You’re going to be king in less than a month, Drew. You’re not a kid anymore. It’s time you started thinking about the consequences of your actions.”

His words sting, but I force a smartass smile. “Oh, please. I don’t know what you’re bellyaching about, Jeffrey. Last time I checked, you were next in the line. You’ll make out okay if I’m chopped up by helicopter blades.”

His eyes darken with anger, making it clear I’ve gone too far.

But so has he, and I’m not about to apologize for my choices. I’ve always put my country and my obligations to my family first. If I didn’t, I would have called off the engagement a long time ago.

“Fine.” The muscle in his jaw is tensing into a knot. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Wonderful. I appreciate your help,” I call after him as he spins on his heel and strides from the room.

And then I’m alone, the way I fucking like it, with two whole hours to kill before I have to meet Sabrina/Elizabeth for dance lessons in the gazebo. And I don’t want to call down to her room and ask if she wants to go over these plans for the veteran’s home renovation with me at all. Not even a little bit.

“Fuck,” I mutter, dragging a hand through my hair.

I have to get to the bottom of this. Soon. Before I do something really stupid like get attached to a woman I’ll have no choice but to tell goodbye.

Chapter Sixteen

Sabrina

It’s a beautiful day for revenge.

The sun is shining, and a cool, rose-and-herb-scented breeze wafts across the lawn as I make my way to the gazebo, carrying my high-heeled reception shoes in a velvet bag Greta thoughtfully supplied to keep them from getting scuffed before the wedding.

But of course, there probably won’t be a wedding.

Even if I manage to hold up my end of things until Lizzy gets here on the morning of the nuptials, there’s a very real chance Andrew will call it off before then.

So many things could go wrong.

Most obviously, there’s the chance he’ll figure out I’m not Elizabeth, lose his shit, and send me packing. But thanks to that stupid kiss, there’s also a chance he’ll want to kiss me again, get his feelings hurt when I refuse to repeat our lip-lock, and jump ship on the engagement before he ends up married to a woman who doesn’t like making out with him.

He seems to want Lizzy to be the one to call things off, but if the situation becomes sufficiently dire, I can’t imagine he’ll go through with the wedding.

Marrying a woman who stutters and refuses to speak on national television is one thing; marrying a woman who has no interest in banging you is quite another.

And I get that. I do.

I wouldn’t want to marry a man who wasn’t interested in an intimate relationship, and I’m far less sex-motivated than most men, especially a playboy prince who has a reputation for doing very well with the ladies. But I refuse to kiss my sister’s future husband again. I don’t care that she doesn’t mind. I mind. And if Andrew ever found out the truth, I’m sure he would mind, too.

Maybe I can fake a head cold.

Or pretend I want to wait until our wedding day so our second kiss will be really special.

Or maybe Andrew will decide waltzing with a woman who is as much of a disaster at dancing as he’s pretending to be at eating is all the excuse he needs to bail.

If I were putting caution first, I would set aside the urge to seek vengeance, behave myself, and let