Dating the Prince(30)

Libby ducked her head, cheeks turning an attractive shade of pink.  "Well, I don't think your mother would approve if I went on  international television without a professional stylist's help. Maggie  said the interview will be rebroadcast in at least seventy countries."

He heard the trepidation in her voice and took her hand, squeezing it  gently. "You'll do just fine. Stick as closely to the truth as you can  so we don't get tripped up in our lies, just like we discussed."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Oh, I almost forgot." Alex reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a  ring, identical to the one on Libby's left hand. He slipped off her art  deco ring and slipped on the new one.

"What's this?" she asked, holding it up so that sunlight glinted off the  stones, sending a rainbow of colors across the car's interior.

"Real diamonds."

Libby dropped her hand, one eyebrow raised. "Is that necessary?"

"Sara Greene knows the difference, and she'll be scrutinizing us very closely tonight."

At the studio, they were led to separate rooms to get ready. Alex  changed into the suit he was handed and sat in a makeup chair for nearly  half an hour before his patience grew thin and he refused further  primping.

The set of Sara Greene's talk show was arranged to look like a cozy  living room. Artificial plants were decoratively placed around the  space, and a cream-color love seat was angled toward an arm chair of the  same color. Alex fought the urge to tug at his tie as nerves overtook  him. He had feelings for Libby, and she had feelings for him. But they  were just beginning to explore the depths of those, and the thought of  lying about a wedding that wasn't being planned had him tense.

Alex knew the moment Libby entered the set because he sensed her  presence, like a shift in the air that alerted him to something magical.  He looked up and his breath caught. Maggie had stayed true to Libby's  sense of style. She wore a flowing blue dress that hugged her bodice and  flared out gently at the hips, just brushing her calves. It was more  formal than her usual choices, but still seemed entirely Libby. Her hair  fell around her shoulders in the soft curls he loved, and while she was  wearing makeup-something he rarely saw her do-it was subtle, letting  her natural beauty shine through.

Alex went to her, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug and  dropping a kiss on her cheek. He knew it was what Sara expected, but  that wasn't the driving reason behind his actions. He longed to be near  Libby like he longed for water on a hot day.         

     



 

Sara gave Libby a quick hug. "It's so good to see you again."

"You as well," Libby said. Alex wrapped her hand in his and she smiled up at him. "We're thrilled to be here."

"Just give us a couple of minutes to make sure the lighting is good and  the cameras in order, then we'll get started," Sara said.

They all took their seats as crew members bustled around the set.

"I'm honored you chose me for your interview," Sara said. "Although I  must say I'm also a little surprised to be doing this so soon. You two  were rather cryptic when we spoke at the prime minister's party. When  you dropped down on one knee, I was completely shocked. Never would've  believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

Alex wrapped an arm around Libby's shoulder. "You nearly blew my  secret," he said, keeping his tone light. "I was so worried Libby would  figure it out and I wouldn't get to surprise her."

"So it was a complete shock?" Sara asked.

Libby nodded, leaning into Alex. He wondered whether it was for Sara's  benefit, or because Libby simply wanted to be close to him.

"I had no idea he was going to propose. It was definitely a surprise." She squeezed Alex's hand. "A wonderful one."

A twinge of unease filled Alex's gut, but he tried to push it aside. He  had known Libby would have to lie during this interview. So would he.  But that didn't mean their feelings for each other weren't real.

"We're ready, Ms. Greene," a man wearing a headset and black T-shirt said.

Sara rested her gaze briefly on Libby, then on Alex. "Are you two ready?"

Libby's green eyes held a glint of fear, but also a steely  determination. When she spoke, her voice was bright. "More than ready,  Sara."

Every time she opened her mouth, Alex's admiration of Libby grew. "Ready," he agreed.

"Okay then." Sara gave a nod to the man in the headset.

"Rolling," he said. "In three …  two … " He pointed a finger at them, and a  green light blinked on overhead, indicating the set was hot.

"Today we have an extremely special treat for our viewers," Sara said,  smiling widely into the camera. "I have with me today His Royal Highness  Prince Alexander of Durham, and his brand new fiancée, Liberty  Claybourne, with an exclusive interview."

The tie around Alex's neck felt like a noose. He swallowed, fighting the  urge to loosen the knot. Libby's hand felt cold and clammy in his-the  only outward sign of her nerves.

As Sara continued to introduce the segment, Alex's mind frantically ran  over all the possible questions Sara might ask. Maggie had received the  list ahead of time and approved all the questions, but Alex hadn't had a  chance to go over them.

"Everyone's dying to know how you two met," Sara said, holding out her hands. "Would you mind sharing the story?"

They'd discussed this with Maggie, and determined that, if told in the  right light, the true story of how they met would come off as charming.  Maybe even help them win over the hearts of Durham. Alex listened as  Libby relayed the story, inflecting just the right amount of humor like  Maggie had directed.

"I guess that penny really was lucky," Sara said.

Libby laughed, leaning into Alex. He looked down at her, and she gazed up at him with those wide green eyes.

"Incredibly lucky," Libby said. "I feel beyond blessed."

"The whole thing is like a fairy tale," Sara agreed.

Alex talked and laughed as he and Libby answered questions for nearly an  hour. The whole thing felt very superficial, but he was used to that as  a prince. What he wasn't used to was seeing Libby put on such a show.  Where was the honest, straightforward girl who'd been putting him in his  place since the moment they met?

But of course she couldn't be that Libby in the interview, because Sara  couldn't know that this was an elaborate charade that had gone further  than anyone planned.

"It can't be easy being with Alex right now, especially with the media  backlash he's experienced since his breakup with actress Isla Martin,"  Sara said.

That single name snapped Alex's attention back to the present. He stared  at Sara. Something that approached disgust had his vision clouding.

Libby paused, her eyes flicking to Alex's. They hadn't covered this in  their discussions. Alex hadn't though that Sara would have the nerve to  bring up Isla.

"It hurts my heart to see how much pain Alex has been through in the last few months," Libby said finally.         

     



 

"And it can't be easy reading about his former relationships on the  internet." Sara's tone was light, but there was a predatory gleam in her  eyes that spelled trouble.

"I don't spend much time online." Libby smiled, but her grip on Alex's  hand was steel. "Well, I guess that's obvious, or I would've recognized  Alex immediately when we met."

"Isla is a well-known actress in both Durham and the United States.  Those must be tough shoes to fill, especially after such a short amount  of time. I think we're all a little shocked at how quickly your  relationship has progressed with His Highness."

Alex stood, yanking off his lapel mic. "The interview's over."

That seemed to douse Sara's attitude. She rose as well. "Your Highness, I-"

"This was not on the list of approved questions." Alex reached for  Libby's hand and pulled her to her feet. "To bring up old relationships  to my fiancée is not only unprofessional, but unkind. I expected better  of you, Ms. Greene."

"I'm so sorry." Sara was now scrambling, her sleek blonde hair suddenly  seeming a little limp. "Please, if you'll just sit back down, I  promise-"

"Let's go," Alex said to Libby.

She quickly set her own lapel mic on the couch and followed after Alex.  Moments later they were in a car, headed toward the palace.

"What happened back there?" Libby asked, her skirt sliding across the leather seat as she angled toward him.

"Sara went rogue." Alex loosened his tie roughly and threw it on the  empty middle seat between them. "Did you have a chance to read over the  questions Maggie sent?"

"Just briefly. I only got them maybe fifteen minutes before you arrived."

"Was there anything about Isla?"

Libby shook her head, her soft curls bouncing about her shoulders. "No,  nothing. That's why I was so surprised when Sara brought her up."