Free A Royal Entanglement: The Young Royals Book 2 by Emma Lea

draped it around her shoulders before putting my arm around her and continuing walking along the path.
    “You’re saying no?” I asked, just to clarify her response on the dance floor.
    “I have to say no,” she said.
    “Are you going back to Bradley then?” I asked, my voice gruff.
    She stopped and turned to me, resting her hands on my chest and looking up at me.
    “No, of course not,” she replied.
    “Then why?”
    She sighed and looked away.   “My family,” she said.
    “I don’t understand,” I said, “They wouldn’t approve?”
    She chuckled humourlessly and shook her head, “The exact opposite,” she said, “They would be all over this, it’s what they live for.”   She turned her head back to me, “I couldn’t put you or your family through that.”
    I scoffed, “Don’t be silly.   They can’t be that bad.”
    She sighed, “They’re worse,” she said sadly.
    “I don’t care,” I said, determined not to let this opportunity pass me by.
    She smiled up at me.   “You’re sweet, Freddie,” she said, “But I really have to say no, for both our sakes.   This would be a PR nightmare for not only me, but your family as well, not to mention what it could do to the Queen.   My family are professionals when it comes to creating scandals and I can’t, in good conscience, drag you into one.”
    She stretched up and placed a chaste kiss on my cheek before slipping off my coat and handing it to me.   Then she turned and walked away from me.   But I wouldn't give up that easily.   I’d give her tonight and then I would step up the Freddie charm until she couldn’t do anything but agree to a fake relationship with me.

“Good morning Lord Frédéric,” Dalton the butler said as I walked into the breakfast room.   “You may want to read the papers before you eat.”
    “Thank you Dalton,” I said as I took the paper out of his hand.   This was not a usual occurrence, Dalton did not hand me the morning paper, nor did he suggest I read it before breakfast.
    I sat in my chair and flicked the paper open as Perry poured me a cup of coffee and it all became clear.   On the front page of the paper, where there should have been a photograph of our beautiful Queen Alyssa, was a photo of me dancing with Alex and the headline ‘The New Romantics - Romance sweeping the Palace’.
    I swore under my breath and stood to my feet.
    “I need a car, Dalton,” I said, “And Dayne.”
    “They’re waiting for you out front.”
    I strode through the halls and out the door.   Dayne was waiting for me and slid into the back seat beside me.
    “There’s more,” he said opening the paper to the two-page spread that had photos of me and Alex standing together throughout yesterday.
    I swore again.   Alex wasn't going to like this, not one bit.
    “Who’ve you spoken to this morning?” I asked Dayne.
    “No one,” he replied, “I wanted to speak with you first and get the official statement.”
    “She’s going to kill me,” I said.
    “It’s true then?” Dayne asked trying to sound casual and unsurprised, but I knew him too well for him to hide it from me.
    “I want it to be,” I replied truthfully.
    “And Alex?”
    “She has… reservations.”
    Dayne smiled and then tried to hide it but I saw it and I scowled at him.
    “She was worried about the publicity,” I growled at him.
    He nodded, not looking me in the eye, his face carefully blank.
    “Does the Palace know we’re coming?” I ask changing the subject.
    “Of course,” he replied.
    “It’s early.”
    “You know that Alex is in her office hours before anyone else.”
    “I don’t want anyone to show her the papers before I can explain.”
    “What’s there to explain?” he asked, “Did you leak them?”
    “Of course not, you dolt.   You would’ve known if I were going to leak something like this.”
    “So…”
    “So?” I turned to him, an eyebrow cocked.
    “I was just wondering how long it has been going on.   I