A Right Royal Mix-up – Uncut!

            Wow! I had some really great reviews for the last chapter – thanks everyone! I can't believe everyone thinks I'm that good ::blushes::

            Nearing the end of this fic now – only 2 chapters and an epilogue left. This is quite a short chapter, just to keep you going until I manage to finish the big 'Daddy finds out' thing. In addition to Angelique, we also find out about Remus and Ariadne – I wasn't planning on that, but so many of my reviewers wanted to know, I had to add it in! Well, anyway, hope you like it…

            Disclaimer – do I really need to bother? I'm not JK.

Chapter 27

            James was still asleep when Lily awoke the next morning. She got out of bed quietly in order not to wake him. After dressing swiftly, she tiptoed out of the door.

            She wasn't gone long, but James was up and agitated when she returned a short time later.

            Grabbing her by the shoulders he asked furiously, "Where the devil were you? When I woke up and you weren't here, I panicked!"

            "What could happen to me in a sleepy little fishing village?" she teased.

            "I was afraid you'd left me." He folded her in  his arms, holding her so tightly that she could hardly breathe.

            "I wouldn't do that," she said in a muffled voice. "Not without saying goodbye."

            "There won't be any goodbyes," he stated. "And just to make sure of it, I don't intend to let you out of my sight."

            "That presents a bit of a problem. I was going to ask you to leave me alone here for an hour or so."

            "No way!" he answered promptly. "There isn't time, anyway. We have to start back to Grandalia."

            "It's still early and we're not that far away. Please, James," she coaxed. "Go out and have breakfast. When you come back I'll have a surprise for you."

            His expression changed and he blew softly in her ear. "Why don't I surprise you, instead? We still have ninety-eight ways to make love."

            "Choose one while you're having breakfast." She laughed, pushing him gently through the door.

            "All right, but I'm taking the car," he called as he left protestingly.

            "We'll have to do something about your lack of trust." She closed the door firmly.

            Lily couldn't wait to use the bottle of hair dye she'd bought at the only drugstore in the village. It was time to take back her own identity.

            After applying the dye, waiting the required amount of time for it to take effect, then washing her hair, Lily wrapped a towel around her head while she put on her makeup.

            That didn't take long. She didn't bother with all the cosmetics that made Gabrielle look glamorous at any hour of the day or night. Lily used only a touch of mascara on her naturally long lashes, and applied lipstick to the natural contours of her mouth.

            After that she dried her hair without styling it. The result was a mass of fiery red-gold curls instead of the long, sleek style that was Gabrielle's signature. Lily lacked the expertise of a professional beautician, so her hair turned out lightly streaked with coppery strands. But her natural hair had been streaked in the sun. She looked like her old self again.

            Lily stared into the mirror anxiously. Would James find her as attractive? He was used to glamorous women. If he had second thoughts, it couldn't be helped. This was who she was.

            In spite of her fatalistic viewpoint, Lily was nervous about seeing James. She came out of the bathroom slowly when she heard his key in the lock.

            "I hope I stayed away long enough, because I'm not - " He stopped abruptly when he saw her, staring incredulously. "Angelique! You've come back!"

            "Do you really remember me?" she asked softly.

            "I never forgot you." He trailed a finger down her cheek. "I hope you don't mind that I'm in love with two women."

            "Which one do you like the best?"

            "Both of you are gorgeous, but I didn't fall in love with your lovely face," he said tenderly. "The warm, generous person inside you was what captivated me. That's the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

            His kiss was gentle at first, but her response increased the tempo. He pulled her closer, moving against her suggestively.

            "I thought you were in such a hurry to leave," she murmured.

            "Not when I can make love to the new woman in my life."

            "Men are so fickle."

            "That's something you'll never have to worry about." He nibbled delicately on her ear. "Two women are all I can handle."

            She wound her arms around his neck. "This one wants your undivided attention."

            "You've had that since the day I met you." He swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

            They made love slowly and sensuously, touching each other erotically. Lily wriggled with pleasure as James's hands and mouth explored her body intimately. She took equal pleasure in his groans of delight when she did the same to him. Giving mutual enjoyment was their goal and their reward.

            When desire escalated into unbridled passion, James joined their bodies, making them one. The same molten sensations throbbed from one to the other in an ever-increasing tempo, building to an explosive conclusion.

            They were bathed in a golden glow afterwards. "It just keeps getting better and better," James said, stroking her body languidly.

            "I know." She rubbed her cheek against his hard muscled chest. "I wish we could stay here forever. This is a magical place."

            "We make our own magic." He leaned down to kiss her one more time. "Let's go home and I'll prove it to you."

            The atmosphere at the castle in Grandalia was forbidding. Lily could feel it as soon as they walked through the massive front doors. People were standing around in little clusters, speaking in low voices.

            Remus came bounding down the stairs to greet James and Lily, having been informed of their arrival. "Where the devil have you been, James?" He looked harried. "Your father has been calling everywhere, trying to locate you."

            "I had some urgent, unfinished business to take care of." James smiled at Lily. "I gather he heard my engagement to Gabrielle is off."

            "He knows everything. You'd better go talk to  him. He's angrier then an insulted Hippogriff."

            "Is Ariadne still here?" Lily was concerned about having left her friend to face the king's recriminations alone.

            "No, she's staying at my parents' house," Remus said. "I thought it would be more comfortable for her, considering."

            "She shouldn't be blamed for what I did," Lily protested. "It was all my fault."

            "Ariadne said she urged you to do it."

            "I didn't need much coaxing. Don't be angry with her," Lily pleaded. "We wanted to tell both of you the truth, but things just got too involved."

            "Don't worry. Ariadne and I talked everything out." In response to James's questioning glance, he gave an exasperated sigh. "Yes, James, I told her about my… er… problem." He gave them both a big smile. "We're going to be married."

            "Congratulations!" James clapped him on the shoulder. "So are Lily and I."

            Remus's smile was replaced by a startled expression. "You can't do that!" he exclaimed.

            "Does that mean you won't be my best man?" James joked.

            "Be serious! I wish you could get married. Ariadne told me how you feel about each other. It's a really rotten break that you're not free to do as you please, but you're different from other men."

            "I'd like to think Lily would agree." James put his arm around her, smiling broadly.

            She couldn't return his smile. If even Remus knew that their union was impossible, what chance did they have?

            A servant approached diffidently. "The king was told you had arrived. He would like to see you in his study, Your Highness."

            "News travels fast," James said lightly. He took Lily's hand. "Okay, let's go invite him to a wedding."

            Remus's face expressed his deep concern as he watched them leave.

Next chapter – Lily meets the parents – for real, this time… urk!