Chapter 2

The maid's face went white. She stammered, unable to get a word out.

Grandma Agnes had lived most of her life, and she sensed at once that something was wrong. "Out with it! What's going on?"

The maid dropped to her knees and, in tears, spilled the whole story of how Freddy and I had traded places.

When she finished, Grandma Agnes's lips trembled for a long time. Then she pushed me aside, stood up, and headed straight for the door.

"Grandma Agnes!"

I hurried to stop her, but she seized my hand so hard her knuckles turned white. "Dennis, I'm going to help you."

I looked at her graying hair, and my throat closed up so tightly that I couldn't speak.

When she found my parents, Grandma Agnes struck the floor hard with her cane. "How far are you going to push Dennis?"

Father was taken aback for a moment, then frowned. "Mother, you're not well. Stay out of this."

"Stay out of it?" Grandma Agnes glared at him. "If I stay out of it, the two of you and your blatant favoritism will ruin Dennis's whole life!"

Mother spoke up impatiently. "My Lady Mother, don't make it sound so serious. Dennis is the older brother. It's only right that he helps Freddy."

Grandma Agnes was shaking with rage. "Playing favorites to this extent? Do you two even deserve to call yourselves parents?"

Father's expression darkened. "Enough! It's already been decided."

He shot me a cutting look. "And you had the nerve to go tattling to your grandmother? Come with me to the family chapel. You'll kneel there and think long and hard about what it means to be a brother."

I knelt in the family chapel all night.

The next morning, the moment I stepped outside, I came face to face with my fiancée, Joanna Belvin.

A smile crept onto my face, and I quickened my pace to meet her.

I'd just opened my mouth to call her name when Freddy slipped out from beneath the eaves and reached up to pluck a fallen leaf from her hair.

Joanna didn't pull away. There was even a faint smile on her lips.

The two of them walked side by side toward the main hall.

I stood frozen where I was.

In the main hall, my parents had already had tea laid out.

When I pushed the door open, Mother was joining Joanna's and Freddy's hands together, her face full of affection as she said, "From now on, we're all one family. Don't worry, Joanna, dear. Freddy... no, I mean Dennis now, is going to treat you well."

My head buzzed. "Mother, what are you talking about?"

Father glanced up at me, sounding impatient. "A man has to settle down before he can make his name. Freddy is about to become the Laureate, so naturally it's time to see to his marriage, too."

I thought I'd misheard. "But Joanna is my fiancée."

"That was before. The Belvin family's betrothal was to the heir of the LaValle family. Whoever is the heir marries her.

"If you married Joanna, what would that look like? Another son marrying the heir's bride? Can you imagine how that would sound if word got out?"

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. "Stealing my honors wasn't enough for you? Now you're stealing my marriage, too?"

Mother sighed. "Dennis, listen to me. Joanna will still be part of our family when she marries in. You and your brother are twins. What difference does it make which one of you marries her?"

"It makes all the difference!" A fire raged in my chest, burning so hot that everything inside me ached.

"Joanna and I are betrothed. We love each other. Switching the groom behind her back is an insult to Joanna, and..."

"This is just a temporary arrangement."

Joanna's voice cut in out of nowhere.

The argument I'd been making caught in my throat. I slowly turned to look at her. "You agreed to this?"

Joanna avoided my eyes. "In public, Freddy and I will pretend to be husband and wife. In private, it'll still be the two of us.

"Freddy said that once his position is secure, he'll switch your identities back in a couple of years. Then we can be together openly."

I stared at her face as if I were seeing her for the very first time.