My lips remain sealed.
Slowly, his grin fades, and his expression becomes serious. His blue eyes are riveted to mine, his gaze intense. I feel like I must crack a joke, making a reference to his royal status, or to his good looks, or to his flawless suits, or—here’s a great one—to his bedroom skills. Anything to diffuse the tension. But I keep silent, words drying up in my mouth.
“Why, Lucie?” he asks again.
With a nonchalant shrug, I admit, “Because I’m in love with you.”
We stare into each other’s eyes.
Please say something!Don’t leave me hanging! You don’t need to use the L-word. Just say you care for me.
“I was going to do this later tonight once the dancing was over,” he begins.
I search his face. “Do what?”
“Take you to the gardens to a very romantic little summerhouse…” He drops on one knee and pulls a little black box out of his pocket. “But I guess I’m going to do it right here.”
Is this what I think it is?It can’t be! He planned this? When? How? I had no idea, not even the tiniest inkling he was up to something so big.
Oh wait, it’s a prank!Inside, there’s a gold medal like the one I got from Prince Richard to thank me for my helpful assistance. Or for my amazing blow jobs. That would be funny, actually. Cruel but funny.
Nah, that’s not like him.He wouldn’t prank me like that. I stare at the velvet box, my thoughts in turmoil.
“Lucie,” Max says, opening the box. “I don’t want you to leave my side. I hate the idea of you living away from me even if it’s just three hours away in Lyon. I don’t want to see you every second or third weekend. I don’t want a long-distance relationship with you.”
His words and—I won’t lie—the size of the diamond he’s presenting to me have tied my tongue.
“You may feel it’s too soon,” he picks up. “But here it is. I love you. You may no longer be the Key to the Key, Lady Lucie, but you’re now the key to my happiness.”
Oh, how I like the sound of that!
He draws a breath. “Will you marry me?”
I open my mouth, but my vocal cords don’t cooperate. They simply won’t budge.
Max peers at me.
“Yes,” I gasp. “God, yes!”
Exhaling with relief, he removes my glove and slips the ring on my finger.
It fits perfectly.
For a long moment, we both just look at it, while he holds my hand. I feel like I’m in a dream, transported into a fairy-tale universe. Then a thought wakes me up.
“Your brother,” I say. “But also your mom, your uncle, your entire family… They’ve been kind to me. They even gave me a medal!” I inhale before saying the hardest part. “Max, I don’t see how they’ll be delighted to hear this news.”
He stands up. “They already have.”
“What?”
“Well, not my siblings or cousins, I haven’t had the time to tell them yet,” he admits. “But I’ve spoken with Mother and Uncle Rich.”
“And?”
“Believe it or not, Motherwasdelighted.”
“And the reigning prince?” I ask.
