Page 11

Chapter 11

Julius

I t took all of Julius’s self-control, honed from twenty-one years of royal life, not to pace the entryway. He was barely listening to the chatter of Olivia’s cousins. Where was the girl? How could she have been totally unprepared for his arrival? It seemed incredible that she really knew nothing about the traditions for the morning after the ball. Her cousins seemed convinced of her ignorance, though, and they seemed like artless girls.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs made him turn. Something clenched in his chest at the sight of Olivia descending alone, the picture of royal beauty in a light blue dress that emphasized her figure and elegant bearing.

She had already taken him by surprise with her earlier arrival. As someone who had always had to present a polished image, he had expected to find her disheveled appearance and general uncooperativeness off-putting. Instead, he had been knocked off balance by how beautiful she looked without any adornment or effort. In the short hours of their separation, he had already forgotten her beauty.

But that moment had been about her natural beauty. Descending the stairs, she was stunning on a whole different level. Seeing her dressed for their betrothal made it obvious why half his kingdom was convinced he had fallen in love with her. She looked every inch the princess, in both appearance and bearing.

That didn’t make the rumors easier to stomach, though. If anything, it made them worse. Apparently he had been besotted by a pretty face.

His hands clenched into fists, but he forced them to relax. Even after the terrible errors of the ball and the discovery that he had to go forward with a betrothal, he had thought his parents would quietly let it be known that a mistake had occurred. So he had been dismayed to learn that, instead, they expected him to do and say nothing to contradict the public’s impression of a passionate romance.

The whole business was humiliating. After a lifetime of putting duty to the crown first in all things, Julius had supposedly thrown all of that aside and begged his parents to accommodate some infatuation.

But lurking beneath the humiliation was an even worse fear. Currently, the public mistakenly believed him to have failed in his duty as crown prince, but they were excusing it away with romantic notions of love. If he was forced to spend much time with Olivia, they might soon see missteps they couldn’t so easily accept. He couldn’t even imagine the errors he might make in the coming weeks. No one had ever thrown him out of his well-practiced role like she did.

And to begin it all, she was running them late. Not that he could show frustration at that. He was permitted only the mask of a man in love.

“You look…lovely,” he managed to say in a straight tone. It wasn’t the love-struck effusions of a besotted groom, but at least it didn’t give away the turmoil within. “We need to leave immediately. The court will be waiting.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Olivia’s aunt said from behind her. The woman had been barely containing her glee since his arrival, and her excitement grated on his raw nerves. “I’ll pack her bags and have them sent to the palace this afternoon.”

“What? Bags?” Olivia tried to turn to her aunt, but Julius clamped down on her arm and pulled her inexorably toward the door.

Arriving at the palace a little late was forgivable, but if they didn’t get moving, they would be late enough that it would reflect poorly on both of them. The court was waiting in the summer heat, and the new royal couple had enough obstacles to overcome without upsetting the court further.

“We don’t have time,” he said when she seemed inclined to resist.

She finally relaxed, accepting the necessity, and he immediately let her go. Stepping back, he ushered her through the front door ahead of him.

“You could try being polite about it,” she muttered, making him frown.

But he decided it was better not to engage with that sally. He was already fighting hard to keep his emotions from snapping free of the tight hold he had on them.

She stopped outside the manor, blinking at the sight of the two saddled horses and the surrounding honor guard.

“We’re riding?” she asked.

A fresh worry hit him. “You can ride, can’t you?”

“Thankfully, yes.” She sounded as close to snapping as he was. “But only because I grew up on a farm. Neither of my cousins can ride, so in this, at least, you are fortunate I’m not a girl of the capital. Please do try to stop making assumptions.”

He nodded tersely before remembering the watching guards.

“Of course. I’m sorry for my oversight.” He managed a smile which he hoped was enough to fool their audience as he tossed her up into the saddle.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed as she settled onto the horse, but a glance at the surrounding guards made her flush.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said in a soft voice. Combined with the flush, it painted a more convincing picture than his efforts.

Something shifted in his chest again, and he pushed it ruthlessly aside and swung into his own saddle. Had his compliment earlier sounded as insincere to her as her thanks did to him?

They took off through the streets at a sedate pace, a necessary restriction as they followed the wide road that led through the heart of the capital to the gates of the palace. Their way was lined with crowds on both sides, and the waiting people burst into loud cheers at the sight of the prince and his betrothed.

Olivia blinked, clearly taken off guard by their presence, and he wondered if that was something else he should have warned her about. He was totally unprepared for a bride who knew nothing of royal traditions or court life. And even he hadn’t expected the crowds to be so large or so enthusiastic.

After her initial falter, however, Olivia took it in stride, smiling warmly and waving to the crowds. The people cheered even louder in response, and he reluctantly admitted that his parents had been right. The people loved the idea that he had chosen a bride for himself from among their own number. It was better than them thinking the royal family had been tricked into such a momentous decision.

As she waved, Olivia steered her mount close enough to his to allow for conversation beneath the shouts of the crowd. Despite the people around them, there was no one close enough to overhear their words since their guards had taken up positions ahead and behind, leaving enough room to give the crowds a clear view of the royal couple.

“Why is my aunt sending bags to the palace?”

Julius kept his own smile fixed in place, waving at a gaggle of small children who were enthusiastically throwing flowers into the road.

“If you’re concerned your clothes aren’t fit for the palace and would prefer a whole new wardrobe, I’m sure my mother will be happy to oblige. As my father said, you will receive appropriate care from us for the duration of our betrothal and beyond, if necessary.”

Olivia’s smile slipped for a moment before she pinned it back in place. “I’m not asking for new clothes! Are you telling me that I’m currently in the middle of moving to the palace? Permanently? Without so much as a by-your-leave—or even a chance to pack?”

“Of course you’re moving to the palace.” He fought the frown that tried to creep over his face. “What did you expect? The prince fetches his bride the morning after the ball. That’s always been the tradition. They’ve been readying a suite for you at the palace for weeks.”

Olivia arched an eyebrow before waving at a group of young men who were whistling at her a little too enthusiastically. Julius glowered at them, making a group of girls just beyond the men break into sighs and giggles.

“It hasn’t been prepared for me ,” she pointed out tartly.

“It wasn’t personalized for anyone,” he said impatiently. “Marigold’s identity was a state secret until last night.” He paused. “I suppose it’s still a secret.” He shot her a glance. “You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

“Of course not.” Olivia’s voice sounded brittle. “I was told to be a good girl and keep quiet.”

Julius stared at her, forgetting for a moment to smile and wave. What was she talking about? Who had dared to talk to her that way after she had been publicly revealed as the future crown princess?

The sudden and unexpected surge of protective anger faded as it occurred to him she might have been talking about him. What had his exact words been at their parting the night before? With all the chaos of everything that had happened, he couldn’t remember.

He rubbed the back of his neck. He had intended to counsel her not to discuss too many details of the evening’s events in the few hours they were parted—not until they could get their stories straight. But he had hardly been in his usual state of poise. He might have worded it poorly.

He sighed. He had been talking to Olivia, so he almost certainly had worded it poorly. She had that effect on him.

“If you’re talking about me,” he said stiffly, “that isn’t what I meant. I apologize for my poor communication. I’m sure you can understand that I was in a state of shock.”

Olivia gave him a sideways look that he didn’t like.

“Another apology,” she said, as if that was a bad thing.

He frowned before swiftly turning the expression back into a smile and giving an extra enthusiastic wave to compensate. If only he could go back to their first meeting and start all over again. Or better yet, if only he’d never gone walking behind Manor Row at all. If Olivia had been a complete stranger at the ball, they would surely have gotten off to a better start—one in which the Legacy aided their connection instead of abandoning him completely. Maybe then, Olivia wouldn’t make him so uncomfortable. Maybe she wouldn’t have the ability to worm under his skin and make him behave unlike himself.

“The apology is sincere, whatever you may think,” he said, wishing he didn’t sound so stiff.

Olivia turned her large, luminous eyes on him, their expression clearly unconvinced. He bit back a retort. It was hardly the time or place to begin an argument with his new betrothed.

They finally reached the end of the road, passing through the great gates in the outer wall of the palace and riding into the enormous courtyard beyond. However, the walls provided no privacy. They were merely exchanging one crowd for another.

Members of the court stood gathered together in front of the palace steps, and they turned as one to watch the riders arrive. Unlike the people of the city, they didn’t cheer or call to the prince and his betrothed, instead watching quietly as they rode through the courtyard. The prince led Olivia down the right side of the palace, grateful that they would have the chance to dismount away from the scrutiny, at least.

From the stiffness of Olivia’s riding stance, she felt the same. She wasn’t even attempting to smile at this crowd as she had done at the previous one.

Their honor guard melted away, and the two of them were alone when they reached the smaller courtyard between the back of the palace and the stables. Julius leaped from his mount and moved straight to Olivia’s side, reaching up his arms to help her dismount. He would show her that he knew how to be charming, with or without the Legacy’s help.

She accepted his assistance silently, sliding down the side of her horse until her feet hit the ground. When she looked up at him, the two of them were so close their clothes brushed against each other.

“Is there sincerity waiting for me here?” she murmured, referencing his earlier comment about his apology. “I’m not so sure about that yet.”

He stiffened, unsure if it was her words or her proximity that put him on edge.

“We’re all doing the best we can with a bad situation,” he said, heat rushing through him. “A situation that was not of my or my family’s making.”

“Thank you for the reminder that this is all my fault.” Her breath came sharper, her chest rising and falling and her cheeks flushing.

Julius stared down into her eyes, caught by their bright spark as the rising storm of heat between the two of them grew. He needed to calm the situation down—a skill at which he usually excelled. But as usual around Olivia, he couldn’t find the right words. He couldn’t find any words.

It was Olivia who broke the moment. “I’m already well aware of how you feel about having me as your betrothed. You don’t need to keep reminding me.”

For a strange moment, Julius wanted to tell her she was wrong. That she had no idea how he felt about their betrothal—sham or not. But then he remembered himself. He couldn’t afford to be shackled to the girl from the hill for the rest of his life—too much rode on his ability to fulfill his role at all times.

At the same moment, he realized that she didn’t even know the worst of it yet. He hadn’t yet relayed his parents’ orders about their supposed shared affection. She wasn’t likely to receive the news well now. He should have been more careful about keeping the conversation amicable.

“Regardless of how either of us feel,” he said carefully, “the public has formed their own impression of our situation.”

“I heard,” Olivia said, and he told himself the sensation in his chest was relief that he wouldn’t have to spell it out and not hurt at her sour tone. She really didn’t like the idea.

He skipped straight to the important point. “My parents informed me this morning that they intend to lean into the public perception rather than publicizing the case of mistaken identity. So they want us to…”

He trailed off, not quite able to say the final words.

“They want us to act the part?” Olivia asked incredulously. “Are you serious?” Her breathing sped up, her face growing panicked. “This is difficult enough for me as it is without adding anything more. I know nothing about life at court.”

“I’m sorry it’s so difficult to pretend any attraction to me,” he said, the words coming out more coldly than he’d intended.

He almost flushed at making his offense so obvious. As if he didn’t seem awkward enough already.

Olivia looked up at him, an arrested expression on her face.

“I didn’t mean…That is…I wasn’t trying to say…” Her face turned red, and she floundered to a stop.

Julius expected to feel a spear of triumph at not being the one flustered and stumbling for words for once, but instead he felt guilty and disappointed in himself. What had happened to his resolution to show her his famous charm? Wasn’t he supposed to be capable of putting anyone at ease?

With yet another flush, he realized that he was practically standing with her in his arms, her back trapped against the horse. For someone who made him so uncomfortable, she fit neatly inside his arms.

He stepped swiftly back, putting some distance between them. She stepped away from her horse more cautiously, her movement a signal to the grooms who had been hanging back. They rushed in to take the horse’s reins, and from the smirks on their faces, they hadn’t missed the accidental embrace. Julius and Olivia were playing their part well enough already.

Julius cleared his throat and offered her his arm, remembering what still lay before them. “We need to walk through the palace and join my parents on the front steps. They will make the official announcement of the betrothal from there.”

He half expected her to protest or make some complaint, but she merely took his arm and walked silently beside him through the long length of the palace. From the surreptitious glances she kept casting left and right, he suspected it was their surroundings and not his presence that had inspired a mood of respectful silence. Unlike Julius himself, the castle never faltered in its royal bearing.

He winced. Jealous of his own castle now.

His mother threw a look over her shoulder at them as they approached, and Julius could easily read her relief and impatience. They were brushing the edges of unacceptable tardiness. He should have hurried Olivia along more effectively instead of getting caught up in…Whatever that had been outside the stables.

The two of them stepped up to stand on his father’s other side, and the murmurs of the crowd died down.

“Welcome!” the king boomed out in a great voice, losing no time in addressing the crowd. “It is with great pleasure that I announce the success of my son’s search. He has found his bride!”

The crowd cheered—playing their role with muted effort, a contrast to the genuine enthusiasm of the people who had lined the street. The ordinary citizens were delighted he had chosen one of them, but the court were more cautious, still waiting to see if they had cause for offense.

Julius gazed down at Olivia, letting every bit of his admiration show on his face. It was easier than he had expected to manage a proud smile. And when she glanced shyly up at him before blushing and looking away, the murmur that ran through the crowd was warmer. Apparently his parents had read the mood of their people correctly. At least for the moment Julius and Olivia would have to sell their charade.

Part of him feared it would prove too difficult. But a smaller, more terrifying, part feared it might be far too easy.