A Royal Entanglement: The Young Royals Book 2 (39 page)

All I could think about was what I was giving up,
who
I was giving up.
 
The difference this time being that I was in love - truly, madly, deeply in love - with a man who wasn’t my groom.
 
The truth of it all was like a stab to my heart and I felt it crack in two.
 
Freddie had been
the one
.
 
And I had never even believed in such things as
the one
before.
 
But he was it for me and I knew I would never feel about some one else the way I felt for him.

I backed away from the mirror, my breaths shallow and thready, and I lowered myself to the chair by the door.
 
My hands shook and my heart raced as adrenalin poured into my system.
 
I didn’t want to do this.
 
I didn’t want to marry Bradley and give him a child just so my parents could go on living in the manner they were accustomed to.
 
Where was my father?
 
Shouldn’t he be here trying to talk me out of making this mistake?
 
Isn’t that what father’s did, didn’t they want only the best for their daughters?

And what about my mother?
 
I would’ve thought that a mother would not put her own daughter through such an ordeal.
 
Mother’s were meant to be selfless, they were meant to go without so their children could flourish.

But that only happened in a perfect world.
 
My father had never had that protective instinct and my mother had never gone without for my sake.
 
No one had looked after me or taken proper care of me so why did I think it would start now?
 
Those that should be the ones to look after me all had their own agendas so it was left to me to look after myself.
 
I had to be the grownup, I had to clean up the mess, but this time there was an expiration date.
 
At the end of the five years, I would walk away and never look back.

I stood, a steel-like strength infusing me as I brushed out the wrinkles in my suit and blotted under my eyes.
 
This was the last time I would feel sorry for myself.
 
I would own this decision and I would make the very best of an untenable situation.
 
My family estate would be saved and hopefully Lily would find a new and rewarding path and then at the end of the contract, I would walk away richer and stronger.

With a deep breath, I picked up the small bouquet of crimson peonies and walked out into the hall where Lily was waiting for me.
 
Together we walked down towards the chambers and the big wooden door that, when I walked through, would change my life forever.

A problem with the Avonlea merger had hijacked me this morning and now I was running late.
 
I had wanted to be on the steps of the courthouse when she arrived and intercept her before she went into the building.
 
I had so much to say to her, so many things to tell her and I wanted her to know all of it before she married Bradley.
 
But the damned phone had rung and I had been waylaid.

Now we were racing through the traffic snarled streets heading for the courthouse and my anxiety levels were peaking.
 
I had to get there in time, I had to stop the wedding.
 
Alex needed to know that I loved her, she needed to know that I wanted to take care of her.
 
I needed her to know that she didn’t have to go through with this farce and that she had options.
 
But it would all be for nothing if I didn’t get there before the ‘I do’s’ were muttered and the contracts signed.

Finally the car pulled up outside the courthouse and I scrambled out before the driver had a chance to open my door.
 
I tore up the steps taking them two at a time.
 
I was stopped at the doors and had to go through security before they would let me in the building and the delay was killing me.
 
I stepped through the metal detector and the alarm sounded.

“Check your pockets please,” the security guard said.

I pulled everything out of my pockets and dumped them into a tray before stepping back through the security gateway.
 
It beeped again.
 
I swore under my breath.

“Please remove your belt, sir,” the security guard said.

I did as he asked and slipped off my shoes as well, just in case.
 
I was prepared to strip own to my skivvies if that’s what it would take to get through the door and up to Alex.
 
Thankfully that wasn’t necessary and the next time I stepped through the metal detector, I was given the all clear.

I hurriedly put on my shoes and belt and shoved everything back in my pocket, except for the velvet case that held the ring, that I clutched tightly in my hand as I raced through the corridors in search of Alex.
 
There were too many people and they got in my way, slowing down my harried dash.
 
I was desperate to find her, but I didn’t want to cause security to come running after me.
 
A crazed man running through the courthouse halls was probably not a good sign and could end up with me flat on the floor and a taser in my flesh.
 
I tried to calm myself and walk hurriedly, but not too fast as to arouse suspicion.

I rounded a corner and skidded to a stop.
 
There she was, standing in front of a big pair of wooden doors, a small posey of flowers held in her hand.
 
Her face was stoic, it was a face I knew well.
 
Before I could get my throat to work to call out her name, she stepped through the doors and they closed with a thump behind her.

I stepped into the chamber and kept my eyes forward.
 
Out of my peripheral vision I could see my family seated in some of the chairs on one side and Bradley’s family seated on the other side.
 
The man in question stood at the head of the aisle and a judge dressed in black robes stood with him.
 
There was no music as I walked toward the two men, there was nothing to mark this as a happy or joyous occasion.
 
Just the clicking of my heals on the hardwood floor as I strode confidently to the front of the chamber.

No young girl dreams of her wedding day looking like this.
 
There were no smiles from any of the attending families, except maybe Kiki, but her’s was more of a self-satisfied look.
 
She was, after all, getting exactly what she wanted… and she was the only one.
 
Bradley was also getting what he wanted, but probably not the wife he wanted.
 
By forcing my hand, he had ruined any potential relationship we may have developed.
 
Ours would be a marriage in name only until that day when I could walk away free and clear.

The judge looked us over and I could tell that he was not happy with the circumstances of our union, but he could hardly refuse to marry us.
 
I looked at him defiantly, daring him to say something, but he just shook his head and opened the book that he held in his hands.

“We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in matrimony.
 
If there is anyone who can show just cause why these two should not be joined in marriage, please say so now or forever hold your peace…”

“Wait!”

“Wait!”

The familiar voice shot through me like a bolt of lightning and I turned, not really believing my ears or my eyes.

“Freddie?”
 
My voice was breathless.

“You can’t do this Alex,” he said, striding up the aisle, “I can’t let you marry him.”

“You can’t let me?” his highhanded declaration raised my hackles.

“That’s right,” he said, stepping up to me and taking the bouquet out of my hand and placing it on a pew before taking my hands in his.
 
His voice softened as he spoke again. “I can’t let you marry him until you know all the facts.
 
If, after hearing everything I have to say, you still want to marry him then I will step aside.”

I searched his eyes and saw his desperation.
 
I felt my head nodding without my permission and his worried look was replaced with one of relief.
 
When he didn’t immediately speak, I cocked an eyebrow at him.

“So start talking Lord Bingham,” I said.

“As you wish, Lady Fornette,” he said with a quick bow.
 
“Late yesterday afternoon I made a purchase, a house, an estate actually.”

I tapped my foot, urging him to get to the point.