PART 1

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess. Although she had many suitors, she had sworn off love and marriage forever. One of her reasons was that she wanted to annoy her parents, who had been trying to arrange her marriage since she was a small girl. As an only child, she was next in line to the throne, and without an heir, the royal line would end.

But the princess' main reason was that she didn't want to become the type of woman who spent her life making babies one after the other. One day, this would be her kingdom and she would to rule it, not some far-off prince who would take her power from her. She would not let that happen.

Her dear parents, whom she loved more than anything despite their constant meddling in her life, came to her one day as she toured the gardens and gave her some disastrous news.

"My child, you are of an age where you should be long married, and providing the kingdom with an heir…" her father began.

"Father, we have talked of this before," she said angrily, "and I will not marry."

"Elizabeth, do not interrupt your father," her mother scolded her.

"As I started to say, we know that you do not want to marry, however it would be best for the kingdom if you did. The Parker line will end with you, and so will our control of the kingdom. That is not an acceptable outcome." His steely gaze met hers, unwavering in its dominance. "Your marriage has been arranged. You will marry my advisor's son on the day of your twenty-first birthday in 4 weeks."

Elizabeth's face lost all colour and she was sure she was about to faint. "Who have you arranged for me to … to marry?" she asked, hoping they hadn't detected the quiver in her voice.

"Your father's advisor's son," her mother said, "Duke Maxwell Evans."

"No! No, I will not marry such a sniveling, pathetic, cruel, little man!"

"You will," her father boomed, "or you will never succeed me."

"I can't marry the Duke because … because I'm already engaged."

"What? Who are you engaged to?!"

"I … I cannot tell you."

"I demand to know to whom you are engaged to."

"Calm down, Jeff dear. Our daughter will tell us when she is ready."

"Fine. You will present your fiance to me on the night of the ball. You have two days. I will accept no excuses." Her father turned and stormed away. His threat hanging heavily on Elizabeth's mind.

It was only later, back in the safety of her bedchamber that she allowed herself to consider what she had done, and the terrible mess she had gotten herself into.

She had two days to find someone to pretend to be her fiance.

END PART 1