[Auspicious Happenings]

"Its no lie! I swear! I promise! She ran away with her gypsy lover, she didn't want to come to the palace... We made an agreement with your parents three years ago that a Swanson would marry into the royal family... We had no other choice! It was only supposed to be until the wedding, then I was to feign death. My family would be spared execution and our part of the bargain would be fulfilled..." Evan wept openly, shaking like a leaf.
His heart was in his throat, and he felt like he was going to die any minute.
__________________