A few days later, Liam learned that there were worse things than medical revelations, poison residue, and Arik being reasonable at emotionally inconvenient times.
There were fittings.
Specifically, there were engagement reception fittings arranged by his mother and Mirelle with the calm violence of women who had decided that if Liam was going to be used as bait, he would at least be bait in excellent tailoring.
Arik, coward that he was, had escaped.
Officially, he had a meeting with King George.
Unofficially, Liam suspected Arik had sensed the dangerous concentration of fabric samples, measuring tape, and maternal intent, and had chosen to face a compromised monarch instead.
That was romance, apparently.
