I pace back and forth in my office, unable to sit still.

I shouldn’t have said those things to Victoria. I need her—in more ways than I want to admit. As hard as it is to admit, I don’t want her to leave—but I also don’t want to keep her here, if leaving is what she feels she must do.

What are you thinking? You must keep her here. If she leaves, I’ll be left alone with this madness. And considering Prince Reginald has finally come forward to collect on my debt, I know things are about to get even worse.

It seems like ages that I wait for her. For a horrifying moment, I fear she has left without telling me—but that can’t be possible. If she’d ordered a car, one of the staff would have come to tell me already.

I knew she wouldn’t understand, I tell myself, rubbing the back of my neck. I knew that someone of her status could never truly see why I must do this, why I must make these choices. This is precisely why I’m seeking a wife among the nobility—I need a partner by my side who trusts me to act in the best interest of Montovia and supports me in doing so. Not one who appeals to the selfish feelings I’m trying to shed.

I can’t stop thinking about what she said to me—that she cares about me. That this has gone beyond some physical need. I don’t want that. Emotions are too complicated, and hearing her say such things… It makes me all too aware of the fact that this thing between us has gone beyond the physical for me, too. And I can’t have that. I have a duty to fulfill, and I cannot allow myself to become distracted, not for anything.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity alone with my thoughts, there’s a soft knock at the door.

I straighten, clasping my hands behind my back in an attempt to calm myself. “Come in.”

The door opens, and Victoria steps inside. She has a folder in her hands, one of the things we gave her upon her arrival—and the royal arms of Montovia stare back at me from the glossy cover.

“Here are my notes,” she says. “And everything I’ve written so far. I hope it’s to your satisfaction.”

I don’t miss the touch of sarcasm in her voice. I find myself watching her closely as I reach out and take the folder. Her expression is blank, but her eyes are slightly red—has she been crying?

Something twists inside of me. I don’t want Victoria to cry. Not ever. And I certainly don’t want her to cry because of me.

“I’m sure everything in here will be more than satisfactory,” I say, tossing the folder on the desk behind me. “You do superior work, Victoria. That’s precisely why I hired you to help me with this.”

She won’t look me in the eyes. “Well, you have everything. May I leave for my flight now?”

“I…” I glance back at the desk. In truth, I was so distracted that I forgot to arrange for a flight at all.

“There’s no flight,” I tell her honestly. “I thought perhaps you might reconsider your decision to leave.”

She finally looks up at me. “My decision?”

“You were the one who first suggested it might be better if you returned home.”

“And you were the one who ordered me to come here with my bags packed and my final notes for you. You’re practically kicking me out.”

I frown. “I would never kick you out, Victoria. I thought you wanted this—to be free of me and this story. What did you call it? Travesty was the word you used, I believe.”

She shakes her head. “I’m not having this argument again. I think it’s clear to both of us that this whole thing was a mistake. It’s best if we end it here.”

My jaw tightens. “If that is what you wish. But know that it is your decision, not mine.”

Something flashes in her eyes. “Don’t put this all on me.”

“I’ve already asked you to reconsider your departure. I’m not sure what else you would have me say.”

She crosses her arms. “If that’s true, then you’re even more of an idiot than I thought you were. You really have nothing else to say, after everything you said earlier?”

I clasp my hands behind my back again, attempting to compose my thoughts. Yes, there are many things I could say—I need you here. I want to sleep in your arms again. I want to feel your skin against mine just one more time. Don’t leave me alone with this madness—but it would be ill advised to utter any such things aloud.

Still, as I look at her, I think some of my thoughts must be visible on my face because her expression slowly softens. I find myself stepping toward her again, looking down into those mesmerizing eyes of hers, aching to drown in her sweetness once more.

“Don’t go,” I say softly. “Please, Victoria, don’t go.” I raise my hand to her cheek, and my fingers gently graze her skin.

She turns her face, pulling away from my touch. “I don’t know…”

Something in her voice gives me hope. I just have to say the right thing, offer her the right words…but I must be careful if I don’t want to give up too much of myself in the process.

“Victoria,” I say. “I need your help.”

She lets out a laugh that’s almost a snort. “I wasn’t aware you ever needed anyone’s help.”

“Exactly. Do you realize how hard it is for me to admit that?”

Her gaze returns to mine. “Yes. Which is exactly why I made you admit before that you needed me to sleep. But we’ve already established that. It doesn’t change anything.”

“I need you for more than sleeping. I need…” I trail off, catching my tongue before I say something I regret. “Victoria, I know I cannot expect you to understand why I make the choices I do, but I know you see how important this story is to me. I need your help winning back the people of Montovia. Once they learn the truth about the scepter—”

“There are plenty of reporters who can do that.”

“None with your skill. None who…who…” I let my fingers fall to her neck. “None who can see me the way you do.” I swallow. “You’ve seen what this has done to me, Victoria. Not just the plane crash…all of it. You see. Even if you don’t understand my choices, you see.” My thumb brushes against the side of her throat. “I need someone who sees. I need someone next to me now who’s aware of the truth. It can’t be anyone in my family, and it certainly can’t be the citizens of Montovia. I must be strong for them. But you… You’ve already seen the cracks. And you haven’t gone running…yet. I can trust you.” I’m not even entirely certain what I’m saying anymore, so I stop speaking before I can betray too much.

There’s something in her eyes as she looks up at me—something that looks almost like compassion. Still, she gives the tiniest shake of her head.

“I… I don’t know,” she says.

“I want you to stay,” I tell her plainly. “I’m asking you to stay. All you have to do is tell me yes.”

She continues to stare up at me, a confusion of emotions in her eyes. I let my hand drift into her hair. The strands are so soft against my fingers. I want to bury my face in them, inhale her scent once more. Kiss her until she can’t breathe, until all thoughts of leaving are far, far from her mind.

My face lowers slightly toward hers. “Just tell me yes.”

Her lips part. “I—”

Before she can finish that thought, the door swings open behind us.

“Andrew, darling, I’ve been looking for you everywh—oh my God!”

That voice cuts through me like a knife. Instantly, I jump away from Victoria, spinning to find a gaping Lady Clarissa standing in the doorway.

Her eyes dart from me to Victoria, then back to me.

“What is going on here?” she demands. “What the hell is this, Andrew?”

This is bad. Very, very bad. If Lady Clarissa believes there is anything going on between me and Victoria, then all of this is over.

I step toward her, arm outstretched. “Ms. Simpson and I were merely discussing her story—”

“That did not look like you were discussing a story.” Clarissa stabs a finger in the direction of Victoria. “That looked like she was making a move on you.”

At least she believes it was Victoria making the advances and not the other way around, I think. I might still be able to save this and redeem myself in her eyes.

“Clarissa,” I say softly, touching her arm. “Ms. Simpson and I were just speaking. I assure you, she means nothing to me.”

Movement beside me catches my eye, and I turn to see Victoria striding toward the door.

“Victoria!” I call after her.

“I need to go,” she says. “I have a plane to catch.”

A plane? Fuck.

“Victoria!” I call again, but she doesn’t even pause at the door. I start to go after her, but Lady Clarissa’s hand closes around mine.

“What are you doing?” Clarissa demands. “Are you really going to abandon me to go after her?”

“Ms. Simpson is a crucial part of this—”

“And she’ll realize how foolish she’s being soon enough. She’ll probably come groveling back within the hour.”

Somehow, I doubt that. I start to pull away from Clarissa, to run after Victoria anyway, but Clarissa’s grip on my hand tightens almost painfully.

“How long has this been going on?” she demands.

“What?”

“This…whatever this tawdry thing is. How long has that whore been trying to seduce you?” Her eyes narrow. “Or is it the other way around?” She scoffs. “Really, Andrew, I might have expected this of one of your brothers, but you? Taking up with someone of her status?”

“I assure you, Lady Clarissa, you have nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, do I not? I heard that Princess Justine arrived at the palace this morning. That you had breakfast with her.”

I try to pry her fingers off of mine. “You were told from the very beginning that I would be courting several women,” I remind her. “Nothing has changed.”

“On the contrary. Everything has changed.” There’s a sharp, calculating look in her eyes.

“Lady Clarissa, I would request that you unhand me.” I have no intention of hurting her to escape from her grip, but I do not wish to be near this woman a moment longer. In fact, I think I might request that she be escorted out of the palace this very day. If I hurry, I might still be able to catch Victoria before she leaves.

But Clarissa shakes her head. “You are not going to get away with this, Andrew. You’re not going to parade a bunch of women in front of me or sleep with some commoner whore behind my back.”

“I may remind you that I’ve made no commitments to—”

“Then you’ll make one now. Put on this big public show if you want, but you will marry me.”

Her demand is so ridiculous that I actually let out a laugh. “And why the hell would I do that after this behavior?”

Her expression darkens. “Because your father wants it. And because if you refuse, I’ll tell him and the rest of your potential brides that you’ve been sleeping with Ms. Simpson this entire time. While I’m at it, I might as well tell the rest of the world, too. Can you imagine the headlines? Your brothers might get away with such behavior because they’re not going to be king, but I imagine the people of this country will be a lot less forgiving of you.”

My chest is tight. I feel as if she’s dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.

“Are you threatening me?” I ask her, my voice hard.

“No. I’m simply ensuring that this all goes exactly as it should. We are going to marry, Andrew. Have your pageant, but I want your promise that at the end of it we will be wed, or I will make sure the entire world sees the truth about you. And about Ms. Simpson. She’ll never find work again once I’m done with her.”

In the back of my mind, a voice is still yelling, You can still catch Victoria if you hurry. You can stop her. You can end this madness once and for all.

But when I look into Lady Clarissa’s eyes, I feel a knot of dread in my belly. She’s not bluffing—I have no doubt she will do exactly as she’s threatened.

“Well?” she says, raising an arched eyebrow. “Do we have a bargain?”

I want to refuse her—I know I should. I’ll be miserable with her as a wife, and she isn’t the sort of queen I imagined for this country. But there is too much at stake. Too much for me to lose right now. Too much for Victoria to lose…

Victoria. It all comes back to her, even when I’ve been trying so hard to emotionally disentangle myself from her. Maybe it’s better this way, letting her go—letting her escape this bloody mess I’ve dragged her into. She deserves better than this. Better than me.

“All right,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Wonderful,” Clarissa says, repositioning my hand on her arm. “Then why don’t you and I go for a walk, darling? I want everyone to see how quickly we’re falling in love.”