A Right Royal Mix-up

Well, here's the next chappie, and a little earlier than you've come to expect. I hope you enjoy it… And for all you people who think this story's getting a little too long, you're probably right, but it's just so much fun to torture good ol' Lily and James, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon ;-D

Disclaimer – It bain't mine, unfortunablemente…

Chapter 19

            Lily and James weren't the only ones affected by the tabloid article. The royal houses of Beaumarre and Grandalia reacted with shock and anger.

            King Claude was fuming when Henri arrived at his chambers in response to an urgent summons. "What do you know about this wretched matter?" the king asked. "Is there any truth to it?"

            "I just found out about it myself, Your Highness," Henri replied cautiously. "I haven't had time to investigate."

            "Well, get on it, man!" Claude snapped. "I want to know if there's any truth to the woman's allegations."

            "I have people working on it at this moment," Henri assured him.

            "Do you realise what an embarrassment this is?" Claude paced the floor restlessly. "I sanctioned the engagement of my daughter to a worthless young pup who publicly humiliated her."

            "The story might not be true," Henri said cautiously. "Prince James doesn't seem the sort of man who would continue to carry on an affair after he was married. Which, according to the young woman, is his intention."

            "If it's true, we have a real mess on our hands. Can you imagine Gabrielle tolerating a mistress? What James did when he was a bachelor was his own business. I'm a man of the world, I understand these things. But once he's engaged, that should have been the end of it."

            "Perhaps he tried to end the affair and the woman was reluctant to accept the fact."

            "She has a compelling reason! If James is the father of her child, he's no longer an acceptable choice for Gabrielle."

            "I do think the prince deserves a chance to explain," Henri said tentatively. "Would you like me to talk to him?"

            "No. I want to hear for myself what he has to say. Contact him in the country and ask him to kindly return immediately!"

            King Damien also wanted an explanation, but unfortunately he demanded one, instead of asking for it. By the time he reached his son by fireplace, he'd worked himself into a state. Without any preamble, as soon as he appeared in the grate, he lit into his son.

            "That article about you was an absolute disgrace! I've overlooked your past escapades because they were relatively minor, but this latest episode is inexcusable! What do you have to say for yourself?"

            James immediately lost his own temper. "What do you want me to say? You've already had a trial and found me guilty."

            "Are you denying that you had an affair with the woman, or that she bore your child?"

            "That's what your telling me, isn't it?" James drawled.

            Damien made an effort to rein in his temper. "I'm asking you if the story is true," he said in a reasonable tone of voice.

            "You don't want the truth," James said bitterly. "You've made up your mind that I'm irresponsible. isn't that why you arranged to marry me off? So I'd settle down and stop being an embarrassment to you? Unfortunately, you'll have to find another bride. Gabrielle shares your opinion of me."

            "The girl is understandably hurt. It must be humiliating to read that your fiancé is deeply involved with another woman. But I'm sure that isn't the whole story."

            "You've certainly changed your tune," James remarked derisively. "A minute ago I was a disgrace to the Potter family and to Grandalia."

            "You know that's not so. I'll admit I should have calmed down before talking to you. You're aware of what a rotten temper I have. It's one of the traits I passed on to you." The king smiled for the first time. "I'm sorry for forgetting for just a moment how proud you've always made me. I'd like to hear the truth, if you'd still care to tell me."

            "I suppose I can understand how upsetting it was to have something like this hit you out of the blue," James said grudgingly. "I didn't have any warning either. I was as shocked as you were."

            "You don't know the woman?"

            "Not as well as she claims." James told his father the same story Remus had told Lily.

            "That's incredible! Is there really a baby?"

            "So I've heard, but I don't know whose it is. I only know it isn't mine."

            "This is an outrage! You can't let her get away with it!"

            "I don't intend to," James said grimly. "Tanya made a big mistake when she picked me for her fall guy. There are any number of men she could have chosen. She wasn't very discriminating when it came to lovers. That was one of the many reasons I never slept with her."

            "Do you think the publicity about your engagement gave her the idea? She wanted to bask in the limelight?"

            "It's possible. She'll get even wider exposure when the news breaks that the engagement is off," James said sardonically.

            "You can't do that, son! It will give credence to her story. Everyone will think you're still lovers."

            "I couldn't care less. The people who count will know it's a lie."

            "I realise you're angry and upset, but don't make any hasty decisions," Damien pleaded.

            "You don't understand, Father. It isn't my decision. Gabrielle doesn't want to marry me. She never did. It was an arranged marriage that was a bad idea to begin with."

            "I thought you were starting to care about her," Damien said slowly. "Your mother said you sounded very happy last time she fire-called."

            James's eyes were bleak, but he kept his voice unemotional. "Gabrielle wasn't as bad as I'd expected, but we're not right for each other. I can't see spending my life with a woman who doesn't trust me."

            "Surely if you told her what you just told me, she'd realise you're blameless."

            "I did tell her – or at least, Remus did. It didn't shake her conviction for an instant. I'm sorry for the embarrassment this has caused everybody, but that's all I'm sorry about."

            Damien sighed heavily. "All right. If you're sure you don't want to try reasoning with Gabrielle, I'll speak to Claude."

            James's square jaw set. "No, I'm a mature man. I'll clean up my own mess. But Father, in the future, please trust me to make my own choice."

            "I'm not likely to do something like this again," Damien muttered before his head disappeared from the fireplace with a quiet pop.

            The return trip to the palace was a lot less joyful than it had started out on Saturday. Lily and Ariadne flew on ahead with Robert, while James and Remus hung back, holding a hushed conversation between themselves. Robert also tried to make conversation, but only out of a sense of duty. His heart wasn't in it and neither of the girls were in the mood for chatting.

When they reached the palace he said to Lily, "King Claude is waiting to see you and the prince."

            "I can understand him wanting to talk to James," she said. "But I think they'd be more comfortable talking alone. I only came back here to pack my clothes."

            "My instructions were to escort you to the king's chambers," Robert said stubbornly.

            "This farce is played out," she exclaimed impatiently. "I told King Claude I was going home today and I meant it. We have nothing further to talk about."

            They argued back and forth, but Robert was even more adamant than Lily. He'd been given an order and he intended to obey it.

            Finally she said, "Oh, all right! It will be faster then standing here arguing with you. Tell the maid to start packing my things, Ariadne. Only what I brought with me. I'm not taking any of the others."

            "Isn't that a little foolish?" Ariadne asked. "What are they going to do with them?"

            "That's not my problem," Lily answered curtly.

            She didn't want to take home outfits that would remind her of the days and nights she'd spent with James. As though anything could keep her from remembering, she thought despairingly. But at least she didn't need to have constant reminders every time she looked in the closet.

            As she walked down the hall with Robert, Lily said, "I don't know if you're planning to tell James the truth about me, but –"

            "Oh, no!" he interrupted hastily. "Things are bad enough now, without complicating the situation."

"You mean, King Claude wants to be the only wronged party here?" she asked mockingly.

            "If the engagement is broken, nothing would be gained by telling the prince. I implore you not to say anything."

            "Don't worry, he won't hear it from me." Her eyes were bleak. "I'm not proud of my part in this thing."

            James was already in the king's chambers. He looked at Lily without expression. "We can get started now. Court has convened."

            "I think you'll agree that I'm due an explanation, but I'm sorry that you feel this is a tribunal," Claude said.

            "Your daughter has decided I'm guilty as charged, and I assume you have, too."

            "I like to think I keep an open mind."

            "It doesn't run in the family," James said, with the first sign of emotion.

            As Lily was about to answer angrily, Claude said, "It will be a lot easier for all of us if we try not to lose our tempers. Sit down, both of you." When Lily and James had reluctantly complied, in two chairs far removed from each other, the king continued. "First of all, I must ask you, James, is the story true?"

            "No, it is not," James said curtly.

            "The woman must have had some basis for naming you the father of her child."

            James told the same story he'd explained several times before.

            "If what you say is true – and I'm not doubting you," Claude added hastily, "then the woman must be made to recant her story. It's very damaging to your reputation."

            "I intend to get a retraction." James's eyes sparkled dangerously. "I'm going to demand a blood test. There's no way that child could be mine, and Tanya knows it. I want her to admit it publicly – like she made the accusation."

            "What if she refuses?" Lily asked slowly. James's complete confidence was convincing. He wouldn't chance a blood test if the results might be inconclusive, at best.

            "If she tries to stonewall or shake me down, I'll get a court order forcing her to have the baby tested. I'm also going to make the tabloid publish a retraction or face a lawsuit that will enrich some charity beyond its wildest dreams," James said with satisfaction. "I'll make it the beneficiary of the money I win."

            "I hope it doesn't come to that," Claude said. "I'd like to put this thing behind us as soon as possible so we can get back to normal."

            "Meaning no disrespect, sir, but my problems aren't your concern any longer, now that the engagement is off."

            "That's ridiculous!" the king said impatiently. "You've explained everything fully. There's no reason to call off the engagement."

            "Gabrielle already did," James said laconically.

            Claude looked at Lily in outrage. "You took it on yourself to do this?"

            "She is one of the people most directly affected," James reminded him.

            "I didn't exactly break the engagement, but I think it's the right thing to do," Lily told the king. "James and I never wanted to marry each other. It was your idea and his father's."

            "You don't know anything about –" Claude began furiously. Realising belatedly that he'd almost said too much, he stopped short and began again. "Every couple has problems in the beginning, but you'll work yours out. You and James will be good for each other."

            Lily stared at him incredulously. "How can you make your daughter marry a man she doesn't love?"

            James flinched for an instant, then his face set in austere lines. "The question is academic because we've both decided we can't go through with it. Isn't that right, Gabrielle?"

            She nodded mutely.

            Claude looked at them speculatively. They both looked more miserable than they should have, considering they were getting what they wanted. The king was convinced that he'd made the right decision in the first place. He felt guilty about the obvious feeling Lily had developed for James, but he also felt she would get over what was surely only an infatuation. Once he coaxed Gabrielle back, she would see the qualities in James that Lily had. The engagement mustn't be allowed to fall apart.

            "I certainly wouldn't want to force you into anything you were really opposed to," Claude said in a reasonable tone of voice. "I realise you didn't fall in love the way I'd hoped, but            I honestly thought you both liked and respected each other."

            "That's a valid assumption on my part," James said. "I'm glad I got to spend this time with Gabrielle. It wasn't all bad." His eyes met hers. "I'm just sorry things didn't work out."

            "I am, too," Lily said. "I really hope you find the right person for you."

            "As long as there is no animosity between you, it's a shame you're not willing to help James clear his name, Gabrielle," Claude said smoothly.

            "Tanya is the only one who can do that," Lily protested.

            "Not really. If you stood by James, people would begin to wonder if the story was true. But if you break the engagement, they'll be sure it is. "

            "Not after he proves he isn't the baby's father. When that turns out to be a lie, nobody will believe the rest of her story, either."

            "There will always be a lingering doubt. Everyone who has seen you in public considers you a happy couple. What other reason would you have for breaking up?"

            "People decide they're not right for each other," she said uncertainly.

            "Just coincidentally, after the fiancé has been accused of being involved with another woman?"

            "Don't pressure her," James said after gazing at Lily's troubled face. "It doesn't matter what people say."

            "Yes, it does!" she replied earnestly. "What he said is true. Everybody will automatically assume you were mixed up with that sleazy woman."

            James shrugged. "There's not much I can do about it." He slanted a glance at her. "I can't ask you to take part in a charade."

            The intrigue was getting even more complicated, Lily thought despairingly. The sensible thing would be to apparate straight home, but how could she do that to James? It was her fault he was in this position. The least she could do was not leave him here alone.

            "No matter what happens from now on, I'd like to think we became friends," she said. "And a friend is supposed to be there when you need one. I would never forgive myself if I deserted you now," Lily said truthfully.

            "That's very sweet of you, but this thing could drag on endlessly." James looked at her intently. "How long are you willing to stick by me?"

            "That's not something that has to be decided right this minute," Claude said quickly. "The two of you should go to Grandalia as planed and just concentrate on enjoying yourselves." When Lily gave him a mutinous look, he said, "You have to go with him."

            "Only if you want to," James said firmly.

            "Of course I want to," she answered, knowing it was unwise, yet true. But she couldn't help wondering if somehow the king had manipulated her.

            "Good. Then that's settled." Claude stood and walked them to the door. "We'll all meet in the library for a farewell toast before you leave."

Well, that was enjoyable, I love tormenting my poor characters…

I think next chapter's going to be with the parents still, just to prolong the suspense… Man, I'm evil :-

Tofu and scrambled legs…