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‘Which wild rumour?’ Alex asked blandly. ‘You know there are generally several salacious options.’

‘The one that you married Tilly in the royal chapel this morning.’

‘Not a rumour. Solid fact. Go ahead and confirm.’ He pressed a hand against the rough old stone, listening for his brother’s reaction.

Erik sucked in a breath. ‘I didn’t think you’d ever set foot back in that place.’

Not the direction Alex expected nor wanted to go. He’d never openly discussed it with Erik but of course his brother suspected. He’d once seen bruises. He’d once outright asked, but Alex had pushed him away because back then his brother had enough to cope with as their mother’s main support. And Alex had needed his brother to stay away with her, stay safe. Even though he’d lost time he could have had with them both.

‘It was the most convenient option,’ he clipped.

A pause.

‘Is this because of that stupid video that’s everywhere this morning?’ Erik asked. ‘I phoned Cristian to get it taken down but you’d already been on to him. You must’ve been quick.’

‘Not quick enough.’

‘So you went to her in person.’

‘Of course.’

Another pause.

‘You must feel strongly about her,’ Erik said.

Oh, the irony. ‘I do, yes.’

Very, very strongly. But Alex tensed—was it chagrin in his brother’s voice? Erik was meant to be in love with someone else and Tilly was not right for him. But Tilly would never have said yes to Alex if Erik had been there, which was why Alex had got to her first.

‘So it’s really true?’ Erik coughed.

Alex frowned. That wasn’t chagrin he heard, that was a smothered laugh.

‘Oh, hell, it figures,’ Erik added, muffling another laugh before Alex could answer. ‘I should have seen it. All those sparks. All this time.’

Yeah, well. The sparks were fury-based.

‘Is there anything else?’ Alex ground out.

‘Yes. Our father doesn’t think it’s true. Apparently you kissed the bride’s hand and he’s already investigating how it can be annulled.’

Alex tensed. ‘There was me thinking he wanted me married and happy ever after.’

‘Well, there’s another more hushed rumour that he had other marriage plans for her.’ Erik’s voice darkened.

‘Francesco,’ Alex growled. ‘Did you know about that?’

‘Not until today. I still can’t believe it.’

Alex released a breath. ‘That’s the rumour that needs squashing.’

‘Noted.’ Erik grunted. ‘But he’s not pleased, Alex.’

There was warning there. Concern.

Alex summoned sarcasm. ‘Is he going to send soldiers to extract her? Because that’s not going to go so well for him.’

Except it wasn’t sarcastic. He meant it.