Page 34 of Royally Matched

Chapter Eleven

Max woke the day after the wedding, tired and worn out. After his disconcerting conversation with Starla, he had tried to find Lily to tell her what was going on. He wanted her to pray with him and discuss how they should move forward. Every time he tried to get her alone, however, she came up with something she needed to do for Margo. By the time the night was over, she claimed she was too tired to talk and anything they needed to discuss could wait.

“Would you like your morning espresso, Master Beaumont?” Patrick asked.

“You better make it a double, Patrick. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day.”

“Does this have to do with that wretched Starla woman?”

“I take it you know she’s staying at the palace,” Max stated with disgust. “I didn’t have a choice, Patrick.”

“It’s my job to make sure you are taken care of, Master Beaumont. Sometimes, that means keeping track of those around you. I’m aware Starla Stone was at the wedding.”

“Do you know why she tracked me down?” Max asked, concerned Patrick knew about the baby but had kept the information from him.

“I assumed she wanted to re-establish your relationship. She had been trying to get a hold of you, but like all your past women friends, I kept her from contacting you once you had moved on.”

“You’re right, I have moved on, Patrick. I’ve been so focused on the news Starla told me, I had forgotten that I’m not the same man I used to be. I have to forgo my espresso this morning. I need to go find Lily and talk with her about why Starla came back.”

After getting ready, Max headed to the guest area of the palace. He knocked on the door to Lily’s suite. A few moments later, she opened the door with a distracted look on her face. “What do you want, Max? I’m busy.”

He looked past Lily and noticed an opened suitcase on her bed. Two drawers were partially closed, and there were clothes scattered on the bed. “Are you going somewhere?” Max asked in confusion.

“I’m heading back to Karamay later this evening,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“Why? Is something wrong at the orphanage?” Max inquired with concern. “I can go with you now that the wedding is over.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m going alone. You need to stay here. You’re going to have your hands full enough in about seven months.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know about Starla being pregnant. I overheard you talking to her last night.”

It all made sense why Lily had been avoiding him now. She knew the truth and was trying to distance herself.

“Let me explain,” Max said, wanting her to understand. “It doesn’t change anything for me. I still love you and want to be with you.”

“We both know it doesn’t matter now. You’re going to have a baby, and that baby will be heir to the Triola throne. The king and queen will require you tomarry Starla to legitimize the baby. This means there is no future for us.”

“You don’t know that. Times have changed; that’s an old way of thinking.”

“Things haven’t changed that much, not in Triola. The royal family would never survive such a scandal. We both know Starla being pregnant changes everything.”

“It doesn’t have to. We can figure something out. Please, Lily, don’t do this.”

“You’re the Crown Prince of Triola, and begging is beneath you.” She closed the door as she added, “Goodbye, Max, I wish you all the best.”

As Max watched Lily disappear behind the door, he felt a part of his heart shrivel up and die. What was he going to do without her? Lily was everything to him. He couldn’t see his life without her in it.

Dejected, he walked down the hallway. Before he could make it very far, Starla found him and blocked his path. She had a satisfied look on her face as she said, “There you are, Max. I wanted to find out when you wanted to make the announcement about the baby?”

“What announcement?” he asked in confusion.

“Well, this baby,” she said patting her stomach, “is the future king or queen of Triola. Everyone needs to know.”

“This isn’t the right time,” Max stated dismissively.

Placing her hands on her hips, she glared at him and asked, “Why? It’s not like the circumstances will change? Does this have something to do with that stupid woman you were seeing here in Triola?”

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