* * *
Sabrina: No, it was the navy sundress, and the stain came right out. The laundry service here is freaking incredible. I rarely have more than three dirty things in the basket before the laundry fairies wave their wands and my clothes are magically clean and pressed again. So that might be worth putting up with a lying sack of shit for the rest of your life. At least you’ll never have to do laundry.
* * *
Elizabeth: I like doing laundry.
* * *
Sabrina: Because you’re crazy.
* * *
Elizabeth: It’s soothing!
* * *
Sabrina: It’s not, but I’m sure you can arrange to do your own laundry if you’d like. So far, everyone here has been very accommodating and hospitable. Even Andrew. At least on the surface. But if he’s really faking the gross to scare you away, there’s one thing I don’t understand…
* * *
Elizabeth: What’s that?
* * *
Sabrina: Nothing. I’ll figure it out.
* * *
Elizabeth: Tell me. I’ll help you. And then I have to get back to work. I’m sewing seed pearls onto this bodice by hand, and it’s taking forever.
* * *
Sabrina: It’s really nothing. I’ll let you go.
* * *
Elizabeth: It’s the kiss, isn’t it? You’re wondering why he kissed you if he’s wants to get rid of you so badly.
* * *
Sabrina: He’s a womanizer, that’s why. You’ve seen his social media. He never passes up a chance to Tap That Ass.
* * *
Elizabeth: It’s Tap Dat Ass.
* * *
Sabrina: How would you know?
* * *
Elizabeth: I spend more time on the internet than you do. You pick things up.
* * *
Sabrina: Whatever. Either way, that’s why. And it’s gross.
* * *
Elizabeth: Or maybe he actually likes you.
* * *
Sabrina: Likes YOU, you mean. Let’s not make this any more confusing than it has to be.
* * *
Elizabeth: No, it’s you he likes, Bree. You’re the one who’s there. Not me.
* * *
Sabrina: Then I should get out of here! A random kiss is one thing, but I don’t want your husband to start liking the wrong sister. You’ve got to come take my place, Lizzy. Better yet, let’s take the fifty-thousand-dollar exit option, and I’ll jump on the first helicopter back to Rinderland.
* * *
Elizabeth: I can’t do that, Bree. I told you. I’ve made up my mind. I want to enter into this marriage with at least some of my dignity intact.
* * *
Sabrina: You don’t have to enter into it at all, though. Don’t you see? He was serious about the money, I could tell.
* * *
Elizabeth: I don’t care if he was! I can’t accept a bribe to dump my fiancé. That’s tacky and mercenary and just plain awful, Sabrina!
* * *
Sabrina: We could pay him back. Soon! It wouldn’t be a bribe. It would be a loan!
* * *
Elizabeth: No one else would see it that way, and Mama and Papa would never live down the shame of it. It would kill what little pride they have left. And I have my pride, too. I had the chance to take another path years ago, but I chose Andrew, and I’m standing by that choice. I just need you to hang in there, okay? And then I’ll be there, and you’ll never have to worry about Andrew or who he likes again.
* * *
Sabrina: I have a bad feeling about this, Lizzy. I don’t think I should stay.
* * *
Elizabeth: It will be fine! Just have some fun with him. Now that you know what he’s up to, you’ll be better prepared.
* * *
Sabrina: He really is begging to be revenge pranked.
* * *
Elizabeth: He is, and you’re the perfect woman for the job. Well, Zan would be the perfect woman, but you’re a very close second.
* * *
Sabrina: Thanks. I love and miss you.
* * *
Elizabeth: Ditto. And everything will be fine. I promise. I have a good feeling about this. In the end, it’s all going to work out the way it should. You just wait and see.
Chapter Fifteen
Andrew
“That’s insane.” Nick cuts a dubious look Jeffrey’s way and shakes his head. “There’s no way they sent the wrong sister.”
“Think about how much trouble we’ve gotten into in our lives, baby brother.” I brace my arms on my desk, leaning forward as I add, “Now imagine we’re identical twins that no one could tell apart.”
“Shit,” Nick breathes, his bronze skin paling as he leans against the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf behind him.
I haven’t touched a thing in the office since Grandfather died. The shelves are still filled with German philosophers and Greek politicians, and the room smells of old books and a hint of sweet pipe tobacco.
The scent makes it feel like Grandfather is here with us, ready to plot a path forward through this tricky situation.
I know he would still want me to go through with the match—once I made sure I had the right sister—but I don’t want a political alliance with someone I’ll hold at arm’s length for the rest of my life. I want a best friend I can trust to help me lead my country, a woman who chose me because she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.