48. Unexpected Announcement.

[Luke]
"Jean, I should be working." Claire giggled as I tickled her feet, we danced until she got tired and I led her to the garden. The night was dark but the moon was full and shining in all its glory, the sky was clear and the wind blew gently across the garden.
The smell of flowers filled the air and I felt unbelievably calm.
Claire and I were seated on a bench and I had just found out that she was ticklish on her feet after helping her pull off her sandal heels.
She began to struggle not to giggle as I released her legs from the heels and when I realized that she was ticklish, I couldn't help but tickle her feet, she was so cute and she had beautiful pink toes, I sat beside her on the bench and draped her legs over my lap and I continued to subtly tickle her feet.
"What work?" I asked her.
"First I should be gathering information about the party, I will have to compile a report on everything that happened tomorrow."
"That's easy, nothing new happens at these kinds of events, it's the same thing that happened last time except everyone's faces are covered with masks."
"You seem very close to the royal family, closer than a regular employee would." She pulled her feet from my lap and placed them on her shoes that were lying under the bench.
"I would say that," I told her, clearing my throat silently.
I wish I could tell her everything but it was getting too complicated and I was too caught in my web of lies for the truth to set me free.
"I learned that the Prince also went to Harvard and the Queen also died of Cancer."
I closed my eyes and looked away from her as she spoke. I had been a little careless with SE information, I did not know how to spin it.
"Yes he did and yes she did, she was my mother." I sighed, deciding that the game was up and that it was time, to tell the truth. "She was the only mother I ever knew."
"I'm so sorry, I never knew you were an orphan, I can see now why you are so close to the royal family, they must have sent you to Harvard with the Prince because the both of you grew up together, Luke brothers." She looked horrified and then moved closer to envelop me in a hug.
I sat there stiffly, not knowing what to say and how to react but I guess it's like what they always say.
You don't need to lie to a woman, if she loves you enough, she'll lie to herself.
Then I guess Claire did love me enough.
"Claire, that's not, I'm—" I tried to tell her the truth again but she just stopped me.
"We don't have to talk about this, I truly understand and I don't wish to cause you any more pain, it's a party, let's go and enjoy it." Shoving her feet into her heels, she stood up and pulled me by the hand.
If only she had just let me finish, I sighed and followed after her.
"Can I have everyone's attention?" I rolled my eyes as the king held up a glass of champagne and hit it softly with a spoon.
The music stopped and the people shuffled and gathered around to listen to him.
I held Claire in my arms and we joined the crowd.
Sir Thomas stood beside the King like he always did and his eyes scanned through the crowd. I followed his eyes and noticed that they were locked on Liam and Megan who were holding each other and smiling.
"Luke my son, please can you come up here?" I shifted unconsciously but held myself as I watched Liam start to move towards the stage.
"Oh, don't leave her, bring the young lady with you." The King added.
I froze and began to hyperventilate when I realized what was about to happen.
I couldn't see Liam's expression because he had a mask on and the hat covered half of his face, Megan stood confidently smiling beside him.
"I know that all of you are aware of the relationship between my son, the Prince of Denmark, and Miss Megan the daughter of the late Baron, he was a good friend of mine." The King paused as the crowd burst into a round of applause.
"Aww, don't they look so cute." Claire clapped beside me and I was forced to drag my lips into a fake smile and clap.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." The King waved at the people.
Liam raised the hat up a bit and his eyes started to scan the crowd. I knew he was searching for me so I grabbed Claire's hand and pushed through the crowd till we were staying at a safe distance from the stage but also close enough for him to see me.
His eyes were open in alarm and he had no idea of what to do.
I tried to mouth to him the King's intentions but he didn't get it.
"I would like to announce the engagement of my son to Miss Megan, the ceremony will take place in a few months but this is the official announcement." Color seeped out of my face and I nearly fainted when I heard the announcement.
The people started screaming and clapping while I just looked at my friend helplessly, his eyes flashed hurt and I watched as Megan's expression skillfully changed from surprise to joy and she embraced Liam lovingly.
I signaled to Liam that we needed to switch after the announcement and I started to make plans to escape Claire, he let back his hat down and the King descended the stage cameras flashing and the music came back on.
My head hurt and I pulled Claire to the bar to get some drinks.
"A shot of vodka please, keep it coming, and give the lady whatever she wants." I felt so weak and my head began to throb annoyingly.
"What's wrong with you, are you okay?" Claire asked me but I just nodded my head and began to drown myself in the shots.
"Claire, where have you been, I've been searching for you all over." A man walked over and I began to growl slowly.
"Calm down, he's just my boss." Claire touched my hand softly when she noticed the death glare I was giving the man.
"Did you get anything?" He asked her when he got closer and I just shook my head.
I bloody hated the press and they were blood sucking parasites always looking to publish the next story irrespective of what it would do to the person involved.
I did not want to know what would happen if they found out that Liam and I had been switching and that I'd been dating a foreigner, they would have a field day.
"I'm going to the bathroom." I excused myself when her boss came closer, I was in no mood to be introduced to the man.
I searched for Liam in the crowd but he was too occupied, a lot of people were talking to him, probably to congratulate him on his engagement.
I managed to get his attention though and he made an excuse when I threw up the sign, I'd already had about four shots of vodka but I wasn't nearly drunk, it was still enough though to get me buzzed and a bit lightheaded.
"What the fuck just happened?" I asked Liam when he joined me in the dark halls.
"I'm as surprised as you are, you're engaged." He looked very unsettled.
"No, you're engaged," I said and he looked at me a bit puzzled. "A-are you drunk?"
"No way, I've just had like four shots." I frowned at him. "I'm going to kill that man one day I swear." I balled my hands into fists and turned to the wall behind me.
"Hey, stop that." Liam caught my hand before I punched the wall and I scowled at him.
"I need to hit something." I fumed.
"No, you need to calm down." He retorted in a loud whisper.
"What the fuck are we going to do, I'm not about to marry that bitch." I cussed, annoyed.
"Don't you fucking call her that." Liam grabbed my collars and pushed me to the wall.
"Get off me." I pushed him away and ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself down, I dropped to the floor and spread my legs in front of me.
"We need to tell the truth, I'm going to go back out there and tell the whole truth," I said and stood up hurriedly.
"What truth?" Sir Thomas came out of the shadows and glared at us.
"Why the fuck are you dressed as Luke?"
"Sir Thomas?" We both echoed in shock.
"Fuck." I sobered up immediately and sent a strong punch to the wall behind me.