Page 63 of Royal Academy

Sally grinned at him, “From before you arrived. The company that takes care of your cabin is owned by my grandmother. I do the books for her usually. But because I lived rather close to this cabin I also have been checking in and letting her know when repairs were needed.”

Benedict groaned, “I feel like such an ass.”

Sally laughed, “You should, someone that is such a terrible liar shouldn’t be in the business.”

“I’m not a terrible liar,” Benedict retorted, his cheeks turning pink.

“You are,” she countered, “And just think about all those dead angels you are saving by telling the truth.”

“That is a horrible thought,” Benedict shuddered, “Who told you that?”

“My gran, the same one who has bragged my entire life about her famous clients, Hazenbak royalty. Did you honestly expect to get away with it?”

Benedict rubbed the back of his neck, “I had rather hoped I would.”

“So, why are you trying to go on the lam?”

He made a face, “I haven’t committed an unpardonable sin if that is what you are asking.”

She shook her head, “No, although there are rumors that you and the Duchess girl… What was her name, Margaret or Melanie?”

“Melinda,” Benedict bit out.

Sally beamed, “Right! The rumor is that you and Melinda are no longer a thing and that she has been seen with…”

“One of my best mates, Luke.” Benedict frowned, “How do you know all of this?”

She shrugged, “TMZ? I mean, we have internet and American’s like to know all of the gritty details, we’re terrible that way.”

Benedict slumped back against the wall his head gently knocking it. “I was a fool to think that I could escape here. I just wanted some time to be me and not the prince of Hazenbak.”

“Is it so bad being him?” Sally asked with concern in her eyes.

Benedict found himself opening up about things that he normally would never dream of telling anyone let alone a stranger. There was something so comforting about this girl, he wasn’t sure what it was.

Sometime later after he had gotten up to throw another log onto the fire, Sally remarked, “Your father doesn’t sound like a very nice man.”

Benedict eyed her, “In my country, you could be court marshaled for that.”

Sally shrugged, “But we are not in your country, your high and mightiness. We are in the Smoky Mountains and you are just Ben, and I am just Sally.”

Benedict felt his heart lighten. He liked being Ben and Sally. He liked how easy it was to talk with her and how sweet she had been to listen as he rambled on for far too long about things that couldn’t interest her.

“I beg your pardon, Sally. I should never have lied to you.”

Sally smiled and shyly reached out to take his larger hand in hers, “I’m glad you did. Heaven knows I would never have had the courage to be so familiar with you otherwise. It was only that you were all stumbly and adorable as you tried to keep the ruse going. It was like a kid with chocolate all over his face insisting he didn’t eat the cookie.”

Benedict smiled, “That is quite an image you paint, but I think I know what you mean. And in response to your earlier comment, my father is one of the coldest individuals I have ever known. But in a lot of respects, he is behind me running away from home.”

Sally squeezed his hand, “And why is that?”

“Truth?” he whispered.

She nodded, “Only the truth between Ben and Sally.”

“I am terrified that I am becoming just like him.”

Sally drew back, “Why do you even think that?”

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