Chapter 12. The Royal Seamstress

Lilly’s POV

“Oh, sh*t!” James cried out, horrified, as he stood holding the broken pitcher handle. Water cascaded across the table, drenching me and my dress.

I gasped in shock, feeling the cold liquid seep through the fabric and cling to my skin. James’s face turned crimson as he stammered an apology, but all I could think was that I would never be able to wear this dress again.

The ballroom fell silent, as if everyone had been commanded to stop. All eyes were suddenly on our table.

How embarrassing!

“Are you okay?” James asked, panicked. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—it broke when I picked it up, I—”

I didn’t respond at first, my mind reeling from the humiliation. The laughter and whispers around us felt like daggers; all I wanted was to disappear.

Slowly, I tilted my head to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with concern, and for a moment, my embarrassment faded as I recognized the sincerity there.

“I… I know it was an ac